Classes 2022-2023 -
Year 6 @ West Wick
Welcome to Year 6 @ West Wick
Class Teacher: Mrs Hewitt
LSA: Mrs Atkinson
Mendip Residential Presentation 2022
Useful links:
Top Marks is another useful website with free maths games to support all areas and concepts. Click here.
Term Five
Welcome back to the final two terms of Year Six. We are very excited for the wonderful opportunities we have on offer over the next few weeks. Please see the ‘What’s On’ information above for Year Six- specific events as we have a busy term ahead!
Church Value: Service
Should we adapt?
In our science-based learning theme, we will explore inheritance and evolution before moving onto how animals have adapted and reasons for this. We will spend time learning about animals that no longer exist and pose theories for why this is. Our scientist focus will be Charles Darwin, whose ‘Origin of the Species’ work we will explore to enhance our understanding of the theory of evolution.
English
In English, we will begin ‘Wonder’ by R.J. Palacio. Children will continue to hone their retrieval and inference skills through the study of this book. In writing, we will use our focus scientist Charles Darwin as an inspiration to write autobiographically in order to impress our secondary school tutors before moving onto explanatory texts linked to our science learning about how plants adapt.
Maths
We complete our maths curriculum with a unit of algebra before consolidating and revising key concepts. We will focus on honing our arithmetic, reasoning and problem solving skills before our upcoming assessments.
RE
Our RE focus this term is understanding and learning about Islam. Children will learn about the five pillars of Islam and the Qur’an through stories from the faith. We will then look at prayer and practises of those who practise the Islamic faith.
PSHE
Our focus this term will be ‘Relationships’ which will allow children to explore their relationships with themselves. We start with an ‘Expect Respect’ lesson from ‘Women’s Aid which encourages conversations with children about healthy relationships. We then discuss mental health and what makes for a positive mental outlook before moving on to what happens when relationships become difficult and how to manage these.
PE
Our REAL PE and FUNS Skills this term is static balance. Children will also play short games involving tactics and teamwork such as seated volleyball and benchball.
Art
We will explore the work of impressionists including Claude Monet and will try to emulate their brush strokes. Children will use oil paints to create a final piece ‘in the style of…’
French
After exploring the places in town, we will learn new vocabulary through the themes of ‘au marche’ and ‘au café’. Throughout the term, we will continue to revise the numbers to 20.
Computing
We complete our online safety learning with exploring passwords and a lesson entitled ‘think before you click’. We will then embark on a mini project where children will learn to code and debug before designing their own product using CAD (computer aided design) which they will publicise using a website forum.
Term Four
Welcome back to our Year 6 crew and families. We are looking forward to Spring and have a wonderful term of learning ahead and many exciting opportunities and adventures planned. Please remember to check twitter for our latest updates and examples of fantastic learning.
Church Value: Justice
Why do we remember?
We will continue our current learning theme by exploring key events during WW2 such as the Battle of Britain and the attack on Pearl Harbour. After recognising Remembrance through art, we will look as historians at the changes brought about following the end of the second world war, with a focus on Caribbean culture and influence. As geographers we will learn about how the geography of our world was impacted by war and as designers, will analyse, plan and design air raid shelter models to be fit for purpose.
Science: Animals including Humans
As Scientists, we will continue to examine the effects of lifestyle (such as diet and exercise) on the heart. Our scientist focus this term will be Leonardo Da Vinci; we will look at his interests in the human body in particular and his artwork linked to the heart.
English
Following the success of our descriptive writing unit, linked to our current war theme, we will move onto writing non-fiction, where children will be invited to write letters of application to join a spy organisation. Following this, we will be writing to entertain, creating longer narratives based on a modern piece of short film as inspiration.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar is taught alongside our writing and is linked fully, allowing children to put into practise what they have learned.
Maths
This term we will complete our Fractions and Percentages learning before moving on to ratio and proportion and then area, perimeter, direction and position.
In addition to our daily lessons, there will be weekly arithmetic practice and an expectation that all children are fluent in their times table and division facts.
RE
We will begin the term with continued learning about Gandhi’s life before moving on to learn about the Holocaust through the eyes of Rabbi Hugo Gryn. We will explore symbols of peace and peace -makers of the world before trying to answer ‘big’ questions such as ‘how should we live?’ and ‘who can inspire us?’
Art
As artists, we will explore propaganda posters and the part they played in the war effort in boosting morale and ensuring cooperation. We will use pencil, watercolours and ink and pen to draw in a 1940s style and design our own propaganda posters.
PSHE
Our Jigsaw piece is titled ‘Healthy Me’ which incorporates both physical and mental well-being. We will be visited by a local PCSO and then explore the following in lessons: taking responsibility for our own health and well-being, learning about different types of drugs and their uses and effects on the body, exploitation and how people can be made to do things against the law, the risks involved with gangs, exploring attitudes towards mental health and illness, and how to manage stress and pressure.
In addition to PSHE lessons, Year 6 children will also continue to deliver weekly Children’s Worship to support their skills in leadership and promoting our Church Value: Justice.
PE
In PE this term, we will be developing our Health and Fitness skills. Our FUNs skills this term are coordination footwork and static base
French
In French in term three, we will explore our opinions of celebrity houses, sports and interests. We will learn about ‘la maison’ and ‘ma chambre’ to learn new vocabulary about bedrooms within houses. We will end the term by learning about Bordeaux and exploring what we might find ‘en ville’.
Term Three
Church Value: Perseverance
Learning Enquiry: Why must we remember?
We will start our first learning theme by learning about lineage and our current monarchy. Following on from our Vikings learning in Year 5, we will learn about what happened after 1066 and create a timeline from that point until modern day. We will then research and learn about the reasons for the start of World War I and begin to understand the impact of the war and its legacy. As historians, we will explore why the war happened and could it have been prevented, and learn about the Treaty of Versailles. As geographers, we will locate the countries involved in World War II and identify the main trade routes.
Science: Animals including Humans
As Scientists, we will be learning to identify and name the main parts of circulatory system, describe the functions of the heart, blood vessels and blood and describe the ways in which nutrients and water are transported within animals, including humans. Our weekly lessons will involve a wide range of activities from research and scientific diagrams to practical activities such as dissecting a pig’s heart and making a blood model! We will work scientifically to set up an enquiry to measure pulse rate before and after exercise, and learn to write an effective evaluation.
English
We will start the term by looking at thought provoking images from Britain during the Blitz which we will use as a stimulus to write short-burst descriptive extracts, focusing particularly on using techniques to build suspense and tension. We will move on to write letters home in role as evacuees, linking our writing to our anchor text Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar is taught alongside our writing and is linked fully, allowing children to put into practise what they have learned.
Maths
This term we will focus on securing multiplication and division before applying this to problems involving area of a variety of shapes. We will then move on to fractions and percentages.
In addition to our daily lessons, there will be weekly arithmetic practice and an expectation that all children are fluent in their times table and division facts.
RE
As theologists, we will focus on the Gospel, beginning with the sermon on the mount and the Centurion’s Servant. We will ask ‘What would Jesus do?’ with regards to subjects such as poor health and will learn about the leprosy mission. We will consider whether or not enemies can become friends and explore the concept of generosity.
PSHE
Our term three Jigsaw unit is ‘Dreams and Goals’. After setting personal learning goals, we will determine our own steps to success as well as exploring our dreams for the World. We will complete the term by participating with Children’s Mental Health Week where the 2023 theme is meaningful connections with others.
In addition to PSHE lessons, Year 6 children will also continue to deliver weekly Children’s Worship to support their skills in leadership and promoting our Church Value: Perseverance.
PE
In PE this term, we will be developing our gymnastic skills Our FUNs skills this term are dynamic balance, both independently and with a partner.
Music
As musicians, we will be developing greater accuracy in pitch and control. We will learn how to identify pitches within an octave when singing and use our knowledge of pitch to develop confidence when singing in parts. Our musical skills will be explored through the World War II, ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’.
DT
As designers, we will design and program a navigation tool to produce a multifunctional device for trekkers using CAD 3D modelling software. We will develop our skills of producing an informed design brief, using CAD and pitching and explain the product to a guest panel.
Computing
We will begin the term with online safety learning focused on creating a positive online reputation and capturing evidence. We will then move on to learning about computing systems and networks through a project linked to World War Two: Bletchley Park. At the end of the term, we will celebrate Safer Internet Day with activities to support children further in staying safe online.
Term Two
Learning Enquiry Performance of Understanding
Y6 have prepared a series of podcasts to explain their most recent learning enquiry, ‘Why is Power Important?’
Learning Theme: Why is power important?
As historians, we will continue to expand our knowledge and understanding of the Ancient Greeks through an exciting and hands-on ‘Ancient Greek Workshop Day’ delivered by ‘The Past Presents’. This will include sessions on the growth of government, the Olympics, Greek Gods, Gorphons and Gryphons, and discovering more about the battles of Thermopylae, Marathon and Plataea. We will study the different City States of Ancient Greece and consider their legacy, with a particular focus on the Olympics. Moving away from Ancient Greece, as geographers we will speed forward in time to examine trade and whether or not it is fair. We will look at the UK’s current trade with Greece and other countries around the world as well as democracy and how we use our power for the greater good. We will end our Learning Theme with an overview of Alexander the Great and finally we will link to our next topic by considering what happens when power is abused.
Science: Light
As Scientists, we will be learning about light. We will gain an in-depth understanding of how light travels, how we see objects (including learning the different parts of the eye and their function), the cause of shadows and the difference between reflection and refraction. We will use concept cartoons to explore our scientific thinking and work scientifically to investigate shadows.
English
We will continue with our exciting class text; Rick Riordan’s ‘Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief’ through which we will develop our reading skills while deepening our understanding of the Ancient Greek learning theme. We will also be using our core text to explore the discussion theme ‘which mythological beast would make the best sidekick for Percy?’ before moving onto writing our own escape story based on the Greek myth ‘Icarus’ (inspired by the Pie Corbett retelling).
Spelling, punctuation and grammar is taught alongside our writing and is linked fully, allowing children to put into practise what they have learned.
Maths
We will begin the term with new learning around order of operations and mean average before moving onto drawing, composing and decomposing shape. After an assessment week which will give children the opportunity to practise their skills in a test situation, we will spend time consolidating new arithmetic learning from the two first terms of Year Six.
We continue to teach fluency alongside our daily maths which includes: morning activities focusing on arithmetic skills, Friday problem solving and a weekly arithmetic challenge.
RE
We will begin the term with continued learning about Gandhi’s life before moving on to learn about the Holocaust through the eyes of Rabbi Hugo Gryn. We will explore symbols of peace and peace -makers of the world before trying to answer ‘big’ questions such as ‘how should we live?’ and ‘who can inspire us?’
PSHE
We launch our Jigsaw ‘Celebrating Differences’ learning with a whole school book titled ‘All Are Welcome’. Year 6 will be asked to create a poster with images that show warmth and interest in uniqueness, and the winning designs will be displayed in the school reception on each site. Following this, sessions will explore empathy and our attitudes towards ‘difference’. We will discuss what it feels like to be excluded and (in line with Anti-Bullying Week) will explore solutions to bullying.
In addition to PSHE lessons, Year 6 children will also continue to develop their leadership skills through weekly Children’s Worship as they become more independent in their planning. This term the theme is ‘Trust’ and there will be opportunities to discuss this important value with regards to Remembrance, Anti-Bullying Week and Christmas.
PE
In PE this term, children will benefit from two sessions with our Athletics coach who will support children in developing their running, throwing and jumping skills using the Sportshall Athletics strategies and rules. In addition to this, we will continue our development of tag rugby.
Term One
Why is power important?
We will begin our first learning enquiry by asking ‘What power do I have?’ where the children will explore their own power within our school community. We will then learn about power at trust and government level.
Through a study of Ancient Greece, we will further explore the idea of power. As historians, we will consider how the Greeks organised their power. We will welcome ‘The Past Presents’ to work with our children in an exciting workshop to further explore the legacy left to us by the Ancient Greeks.
As geographers, we will look at we will find out where the Ancient Greeks actually lived and how this might have looked different to modern-day Greece. We will link this knowledge to our existing understanding of our own British geography (from recent KS2 studies such as the Romans and Vikings) and explore how Ancient Greece added to its power.
Science: Electricity
As Scientists, we will build upon our learning from Year Three and learn to draw accurate circuit diagrams using the correct symbols and terminology. We will explore a variety of simple and parallel circuits in a range of situations such as burglar alarms and traffic lights. We will examine why certain circuits work and other ‘non circuits’ do not and will investigate the effect of increasing different components within the circuit. We will use concept cartoons to explore our scientific thinking and learn about our key scientists, Michael Faraday and Nikola Tesla.
English
We begin an exciting new text; Rick Riordan’s ‘Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief’ through which we will develop our reading skills while deepening our understanding of the Ancient Greek learning theme.
We begin our writing unit with the opportunity to delve into the world of politics where children will create own political parties and furthermore write and present their views. We will then use a film-inspired Greek myth ‘Orpheus & Eurydice’ to write our own narratives.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar is taught alongside our writing and is linked fully, allowing children to put into practise what they have learned.
Maths
This term will focus on Number. We will revisit and consolidate our understanding of place value and secure knowledge of the four operations in our written methods. We will then move on to revision of fractions. New learning will include dividing fractions by whole numbers and the formal method of long division. In addition to our daily lessons, there will be weekly arithmetic practice and an expectation that all children are fluent in their times table and division facts.
RE
Our first unit – ‘How can we live and who can inspire us?’ asks us to think about positive examples which people have given that show us how to live, and to learn about values and commitments that have inspired or been taught by founders of faith or communities, leaders, believers and specific communities. In term one we will revisit the Creation Story and reflect on our own character traits, learn and understand about atonement and explore the qualities of Guru Nanak, Desmond Tutu and Gandhi.
PSHE
Our term one Jigsaw unit is ‘Being Me in My World’. These sessions will allow the children to learn and reflect on their place in both our community and the wider world. We will start by unpicking the habits of learning and setting own learning goals before learning about roles within our school. Children will then be invited to consider themselves as a local and global citizen and what this means to them, others and our environment.
In addition to PSHE lessons, Year 6 children will also develop their leadership skills as they take on the role of Children’s Worship leaders across the school.
PE
In PE this term, we will be developing our physical skills through rugby and hockey sessions. Our FUNs skills this term are coordination ball skills and agility, reaction and response.
Music and French
Through music we will explore the value of ‘thankfulness’ and begin using worship through song to prepare for our Family Worship in October.
In French, we will learn to conjugate the verbs ‘avoir’ and ‘etre’ before learning about time through the topic of ‘la routine’.
Computing
We will begin the term with lessons about online safety before moving on to programming and using the language of python in order to code.