Welcome to Year 6 – Diamond Class!

Y6 Meet the Teacher 2024-25 Sats Meeting

Maths

For the first two weeks this term, we shall be looking at the place value of numbers up to ten million. We will learn how to compare and order numbers, how to round numbers and how to calculate with negative numbers. We will then move onto using the formal calculation methods for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. These will include column methods, long and short multiplication, and long and short division. After this unit, we will learn about fractions. This will include equivalent fractions, adding and subtracting fractions, multiplying and dividing fractions and finding fractions of an amount. Our final unit for Autumn term is converting units of measurement between metric and imperial, and miles and kilometres. The children will also be practising their times tables using TTRockstars but also using the App 'One-minute maths' from White Rose maths. To practise using both of these at home, you can download them both, free of charge, from the internet.

English
We shall begin the term with a unit linked to our History topic on WW2. For guided reading, we shall read a book called 'When We Were Warriors' which is about evacuees. In writing lessons, we shall read a book called 'Star of Fear, Star of Hope' which is about a young Jewish girl living in France during the Nazi occupation. We will secure our use of basic punctuation as well as develop the skills needed to write a 'flashback' story focusing on vocabulary choice to imply certain emotions. We shall learn spellings and read for pleasure, every day, and will have regular handwriting practice until the children have developed a joined clear handwriting style. The children will be expected to read at least three times a week at home to help them to develop their decoding skills and comprehension.

History & Geography
We shall be studying the theatres of war during WW2, the axis of powers and the significant figures from all the countries involved. We hope to visit the local cenotaph on Remembrance Day and will read a selection of poems we will have written about the war. The children will also learn about the main aspects of the Holocaust and will make comparisons between the treatment of Jewish people at this time and our No Outsiders text 'The Island'. We will learn many key facts through our Autumn performance of 'War – What is it good for?', giving children the opportunity to use their growing oracy skills and learning to speak like a historian.

We shall further develop our history skills by considering causation, evaluating evidence, impact/pace of change and significance of evidence, and will continue to build upon the Golden Threads of history running through our curriculum by examining this crucial period in relation to the concepts of Leaders, Invasion, Religion, Communication and Innovation.

In November, as part of our residential trip to London, we will be engaging in a WW2 workshop at St Paul's Cathedral and visiting the Natural History Museum.

Science
In Science, the children will be learning about light; how it travels in straight lines and how it interacts with different types of objects. They will investigate: shadows and how they change; how light splits; reflects; and how coloured light mixes. They will learn to work scientifically by planning lines of enquiry, using measuring equipment and recording results. They will also begin to learn about electricity, investigating simple circuits and drawing diagrams. They will also find out about what affects the brightness of a bulb.

Creative
In D&T this term, the children will be building upon their textiles skills from last year to design and create waistcoats. After the half-term, the class will use the knowledge they have gained from science to create an electronic steady-hand game. In Art, we will be studying the work of several artists from varied times and cultural backgrounds. In music, the class will have the privilege of learning the guitar from a Love Music Trust peripatetic teacher.

RE
For the first half-term, we shall study the key aspects of Hinduism and consider how beliefs about God have changed over time. After half-term, we shall think and reflect on how religious and non-religious people explain suffering. We shall explore the roles of 'Father, Son and Holy Spirit' (Trinity) in the Christian view of God. We shall also think about why Christians say Jesus is the 'Son of God'; the 'Christ' and both 'God and man', and explore what the Old Testament prophesied about the Messiah/Jesus.

PE
In P.E. we shall have the pleasure of SCG's company. Their excellent PE coaches will teach the children on a Thursday morning and Friday afternoon. Children should wear their full school PE kit on that day, making sure they have warm layers and jogging bottoms when it the weather is cold.

Later in the year, the children will participate in Forest Schools with Mrs Smith, focusing on geographical fieldwork skills. Children will need to come to school in their outdoor clothes and shoes or trainers, but bring their wellies for the afternoon (ideally in a carrier bag in case they get muddy before bringing them home).

Computing
In Computing, we will begin the year with a focus on online safety and how to safeguard ourselves and others on the internet. In the second half of the term, we will move onto coding – brushing up on the skills learned in previous years and developing these in order to create 2D computer games with movement, sound and options.

Mr Blenkiron