Welcome to Year 6!

• Some important reminders:

  • PE is on a Friday. 
  • Football with Arj is on a Friday lunchtime. Please bring football kits to school to change into.
  • Children should bring their reading book to school each day and should have it signed by an adult at least three times each week.
  • Homework is given on a Friday and should be returned by the following Thursday.
  • Please remember to bring a water bottle to school each day.

Spring 1

This half term, children will be learning about World War 2.  Links will be made within DT lessons where children will research and design an Anderson shelter, which they will make during WW2 day. In English we will be reading ‘When the sky falls’ by Phil Earle’ and using it as a  basis for our own writing. Children will be using this text to look at the ways in which authors include historical facts and information within their writing whilst keeping the narrative interesting for the reader. In science this half term we will be learning all about light. We will begin by trying to answer the question ‘can light bend?’ and will experiment with torches in  order to investigate this. In PE this half term the children will be working with a specialist sports coach in order to learn the skills needed to play a game of hockey. They will learn the rules of the game and will be building on their team work skills throughout lessons. 

 World War Two Day

To support of unit of work around World War 2, the Year 6 children took part in a themed WW2 day.  Many of the children came dressed to school as evacuees.  The day began with the children making an evacuee name tag.  We then learnt all about the purpose of an Anderson shelter, what they were made from and how they were build. The children used a range of materials to make a model Anderson Shelter and even used mini Shredded Wheat as sandbags.  On the afternoon, the children learned about rationing and tasted some World War 2 food: Spam sandwiches, carrot and pickle and a dessert made from apple and condensed milk.  The food was not to everyone’s tastes.  The children also wrote messages using the Morse Code alphabet.  The children really enjoyed their day and it was a lovely way to end the history topic.

 Autumn 2

The children will be reading the story ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’ and this will   inspire their own writing.  They will write a narrative that has a tense atmosphere.  In maths, they will use common factors to simplify fractions; compare and   order fractions; add and subtract factors and mixed numbers and identify prime numbers. The children will learn which countries are found in Europe and the bodies of water which surround the continent.  The children will learn about the main parts of the circulatory system and will learn about the functions of the heart, blood vessels and blood. The children will explore the work of the artists Koren Shadmi and Pez.  The children will consider why people believe in a God and will use the terms  theist, atheist and agnostic. Using the Jigsaw scheme, the children will be celebrating difference.  

Year 6 Artists 

In art year 6 have been learning about the artists Korem Shadi and Pez. They explored their artwork and the meaning behind each piece. As a class we discussed our world issues can be represented through art. For their final piece, the children focused on the ‘Silent Polluters. They sketched the bottom half of their face from a photograph and added sketches which communicated emotion above and created a sunset background. All the pieces of art looked amazing, and the children worked very hard.

Sporting Events at Raich Carter

Year 6 have had two excellent sports visits to the Raich Carter this month. Earlier in the month, they enjoyed competing in a netball tournament. Some of the children were very excited to show off the skills which they have learnt in netball club. The children demonstrated their ability to pass and defend and worked well in teams. This week, the children took part in sports hall athletics. This involved splitting into teams and completing in a range of events such as javelin, chest push, triple jump and speed bounce. The children also did a range of track events. We were very impressed with how the children support each other in the events.

Autumn 1

This term the children will be learning all about the Victorians in their History lessons.  They will learn about Queen Victoria, the lifestyles of people in Victorian Britain and the social changes that occurred during this time. In English, the children will be reading a child's version of Oliver Twist and will write their own version of this story.  They will also write a news report about Oliver's crimes and become news presenters.  In Science, the children will be creating electrical circuits and using the correct symbols to draw them.  In DT, they will use their electricity knowledge to create a buzzer toy game.  In RE, the children will consider the Story of Creation In Christianity and consider where it fits with scientific explanations of creation. In Computing, the children will explore technology in the past, the present and the future.  

Beamish Museum 

The children visited Beamish Museum to learn more about the Victorians.  The children took part in a special Victorian lesson in the school.  The children had to refer to the teacher as 'Miss' every time they spoke to her and they were not allowed to slouch at their desks or have their elbows on the desks.  The children had to use a fountain pen and ink, which did prove a little bit tricky and messy. They practised using cursive handwriting.  As well as the lesson, the children explored the miners , miners' cottages and travelled on a tram.  They also visited the sweet shop and watched a demonstration of sweets being made. The children enjoyed their visit and it was a great way to bring the Victorians to life.