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Year 6

Spring Term 2024 

Maths

In the run up to the SATS in May we are focussing on our problem-solving skills and ensuring the children have all the strategies they need to tackle more complex questions. Written methods remain a focus and we are working hard on practising the strategies that are both quick and accurate. Number and calculation work remain a key to both problem solving and arithmetic and we are making sure that they remain at the heart of our teaching this term. We are working hard to fill any gaps in the children’s knowledge to help them with their transition to secondary school in September.

Literacy

We are continuing to build up a range of different writing styles to suit different genres and purposes. We are linking with our Topic work by using books and stories about travel and different places in the world as an inspiration for our writing. There are even more opportunities to write independently this term covering all manner of writing styles. We are also looking at spelling patterns and our use of grammar and punctuation. In addition, we are working to improve our reading skills, especially focussing on retrieving information, summarising and inference.

Science

This term the children will be investigating materials and how they change. First, we will begin by testing the properties of a range of materials, before looking at how some dissolve, what a solution is, and evaporation. Finally, the children will compare reversible and irreversible changes. We will be conducting many experiments and investigations and considering what speeds up the processes of dissolving and evaporation. We will also look at ways of reversing a process.

Topic

We will begin our Topic lessons with a study on the history of the Maya. We will find out about this Central American civilisation and how it compared to some of the great ancient civilisations around the world. The children will identify modern day countries where the Maya lived and investigate their number system and discover what they grew and ate. In addition, we will look at the theories of why some Maya cities thrived while others declined. Meanwhile, in our Geography topic we will look at the Americas, focussing in particular on North America. Children will have the opportunity to utilise their map skills to explore the continent and individual countries. Lessons will include looking at the human and physical features of the USA and a comparison with the UK.

Music

In music we will look at the “Blues” genre of music. The children will listen to examples of music and how they have been composed, whilst understanding the cultural and historical influences on the style. Students will break down the music and learn to play chords, a walking bass, and also improvise using a “Blues Scale”, using online keyboards.  Students will perform on their own, as well as in a group, listening to each other and developing their ensemble skills. Students will also compose their own lyrics in the style of the Blues, reflecting on current social issues.

 

RE

Our RE focus this term is pilgrimage. We will look at different religions and consider why people choose to make pilgrimages and what they hope to achieve by doing so. The children will be able to consider the different forms of pilgrimage and consider what kind of journeys these include. They will also investigate how pilgrimages are different to holidays or other types of travelling.

PSHE

Our lessons in personal, social and health education will this term look at why we worry. We will consider ways to identify the reasons why we become anxious, understanding how it is a normal part of life and how to cope with these feelings. Our focus will also be on our lives online as we consider the issues surrounding making friends and the dangers that come with this. There will a further online theme as we look at in-app purchases and how to manage these in a sensible and responsible way.

Art

This term we will begin by working on a range of observational skills and colour mixing, exploring tone, tints and shades. Linking to our work on the Mayas, we will design a range of masks. Following this, we will explore the Japanese artist, Hokusai. We will study his famous wave and volcano pictures and consider ways that we can personalise his ideas by using a variety of artistic materials and techniques.

PE

In PE this term we are focussing on our team work with basketball and dodgeball. As well as playing lots of games we will focus on the skills needed to be successful in both of these areas. There will also be a chance for the children to show their creative ideas in a unit on dance. Meanwhile, there will be an opportunity to develop our hockey skills, before moving on to playing small sided games.

DT

In our Design Technology unit this term we will be creating a Mexican feast. We will design menus taking into consideration what is grown locally in North America to tie in with our learning in Topic. We will then create samples to taste and evaluate.

Computing

In Computing this term, we will be further developing our coding skills by creating variables needed to create more sophisticated games. We are revisiting the coding platform Scratch and using the skills developed in previous years.  The children will have a chance to create their own games using the variables they have created. We will then move on to using spreadsheets and using formulas to save time with our calculations