Miss Noonan (Class Teacher)
Mrs Read (Support Staff)
- Year 6 Reading Intent (152KB)
- Year 6 Intent (188KB)
Summer 2023
It’s fair to say that Year 6 go from strength to strength! Our reading text this term has been Philip Pullman’s ‘Clockwork’. We have been inspired by this text to create our own stories that keep our reader hanging on. Year 6 have been show-casing their writing using all the skills they have learned: fronted adverbials, synonyms, dialogue, varying sentence length, purposeful repetition, pronouns and conjunctions – all peppered with their own twist of course!
As we got into the swing of SATs preparation, our statistics topic in Maths included constructing our own dual bar charts, reading and interpreting pie charts (including those that use percentages) and how to calculate the mean. As part of geometry, we revisited angles and learned how to calculate vertically opposite angles, angles in a triangle and the properties of circles. We rounded off with the nets of 3D shapes. Continuing into position and direction, our mathematicians learned how to read and plot points in four quadrants, to solve problems with coordinates and finished with a refresh on reflection and translation.
In our Science topic of ‘Evolution’, children have been thinking about which of our features are inherited and how living beings adapt to their environment, leading to evolution. Our Geography topic ‘North America’ has seen us explore the countries and capital cities of North America. We have compared the temperature, precipitation and daily sunshine hours across this vast continent. Children have researched the manmade and naturally occurring geographical features of North America. They will then move on to the different time zones within North America and think about how these compare to European time zones. We have no doubt that our next History topic ‘World War Two’ will be eagerly anticipated!
As with many Year 6 cohorts up and down the country, this term has inevitably focused on KS2 SATs. The children’s eagerness to do their best has shone through and that is all we can ask. During SATs week, they started each day at 8am with a hearty breakfast of fruit and pastries – a chance to laugh away any last-minute nerves before tackling the morning’s tests. During the afternoons, children have kept busy with PE and our DT topic ‘bird boxes’. This has been an opportunity for children to measure and saw their wood, before using nails and wood-glue to carefully construct homes for our feathered friends. As in keeping with SATs tradition, after the hard work comes a treat (in our case – pizza!). After many heated debates on the justification of pineapple on pizza, Hawaiian made the list!
Year 6, you have navigated a tricky SATs week – not only smashing it, but making it look effortless in the process. We are so proud of you – well done!
Spring 2023
Year 6 have continued their amazing start and have been super busy! The children have been reading Kiran Milwood Hargrave’s ‘The Island at the End of Everything’ in their Reading lessons. This is a thought-provoking and heart-rending tale describing friendship, equality and how we treat those who are different. This has supported our English writing – discussion texts. As Year 6 become more skilled writers, they’re learning to compose a balanced argument – using synonymous phrases, purposeful repetition and pronouns to aid cohesion, and deftly presenting both sides of an argument.
At the very start of the term, we explored metric and imperial units of measurement. We learned how to convert between miles and kilometres and solve problems that use mixed measures. We have also studied ratio and proportion. Children learned to work systematically around a shape to ensure that all sides were enlarged by the same scale factor. Our mathematicians were finally able to apply their knowledge of ratio and proportion to adapt recipes. More recently, children have eagerly embraced their new ‘algebra’ topic and are keen to get their teeth into it!
In Science topic ‘Classification’, children have been classifying livings things using Carl Linnaeus’ system of classification. More recently, children carried out their own experiment to find out how micro-organisms (yeast) reacts with different substances.
Our RE topic ‘Sacred Texts and Stories’ has enabled us to explore significant stories from different religious worldviews. This has inspired much debate as children think about the moral or what the story is trying to teach us.
Our Geography topic ‘Climate Change’ has helped children explore both the reasons for and effect of climate change on our planet. Children have been much inspired and enthused to reverse the devastating effects of climate change.
Our Art topic ‘Exploring Identity’ is all about creating layered portraits from different angles.
For our Computing lessons, children have become publishers! They have worked in teams to compile their very own class magazine detailing their experiences at Manland to date. Sections include: most likely to …, highlights, favourite memories, teachers of past and present and an interview with the Headteacher! Our budding journalists have collated and compiled their own content, decided on layout and pictures for their pages.
Year 6 have enhanced their contribution to our school community with members joining the School Council and Eco Committee. Whilst the Eco Committee have been able to draw on their learning from lessons, the School Council have helped to organise a very successful toy sale to raise funds for our school.
Autumn 2022
Year 6 have had a supersonic start to the year and have certainly hit the ground running! In our Reading lessons we have been studying David Almond’s ‘Skellig’. In English, we have been examining a range of texts that use suspense in their writing. These include extracts from ‘Ruby Redfort, Look Into My Eyes’, ‘The Messenger Bird’ and ‘Clockwork’. Year 6 have been drilling down into the details that authors use to create suspense and keep us hooked. They will be inspired by these details to create their own piece of writing and keep their own reader hanging on!
Having re-visited place value in Maths, we are now investigating the most efficient method to solve a calculation and providing justifications for our choice. This has led to many interesting debates in the classroom over the most efficient methodology! Daily times-table practice has seen children enthusiastically trying to better their own scores week-on-week. It has been lovely to share in their delight as they shave tenths and hundredths of seconds off their times each week!
In Science we have been finding out about the anatomy of the human eye and how we’re able to see. Our RE topic ‘Buddhism’ has inspired much debate within the classroom! Children have been exploring the Buddhist concepts of ‘wants’ versus ‘needs’, karma and samsara. It has been really interesting to listen children articulate their opinions and relate these to their own world view. Our History topic this term is ‘The British Empire’. We have been finding out how the British Empire became so influential and dominant over the rest of the world, the role of the East India Company in helping this to happen and the demise of the Empire. Our Art topic has enabled us to find out more about Pablo Picasso and the Cubist movement. Year 6 have been recreated their own self-portraits in the Cubist style.
We have been so impressed with the effort that candidates have demonstrated in their House Captain speeches! Voting day saw children using a variety of persuasive techniques – even dressing up! Children drafted and practised speeches, supporting each other beautifully in doing so. We have no doubt that our House Captains will represent our school beautifully and do an amazing job. As we get ready for our class assembly, Harvest Festival, Manland’s Open Morning and Rotary Carols, Year 6 certainly have a busy term! We’re sure they’ll take it in their stride and do a great job.
