Year 6

Year 6 is the year in which the children have the chance to take more responsibility for themselves as well as develop their role as independent learners.

In the Autumn Term we study the Ancient Egyptians, looking at how the River Nile influenced the development of the country, what the structure of beliefs involved, (looking at the different gods and goddesses), the afterlife and process of mummification and life in ancient Egypt. We also look at Egyptian art and the rules relating to it and canopic jars in DT. A visit from an ex-head teacher, who has designed games linked to our topic, adds both knowledge and fun. In addition to this, we also visit Haslemere Museum which secures knowledge about mummification and allows the children to handle genuine artefacts from the period.

Our Science involves looking at light and how it travels. This includes finding out about shadows, reflection and refraction.

In R.E. we explore the following questions:

· How is God three in one?

· How do Hindus worship?

· What do the Gospels say about the birth of Jesus?

In the Spring Term, we move onto a study of Rivers. There is map work on oceans, seas and rivers as well as a close look at the water cycle and flooding. The making of dragon boats has proved a popular DT project! We visit London and take a boat along the River Thames in order for the children to see how the waterfront changes.

Science work covers electricity, focusing on safety and learning about series and parallel circuits. The children will also test for electrical conductors and insulators. In this term, we also look term are at classification of plants and animals.

In R.E. we explore many different questions:

· Who did Jesus say I am?

· What does the Bible say about friendships and relationships?

· Adam, Eve, Christmas and Easter – what are the connections?

In the final Summer Term, our topic is Being Human during which we look at our senses, teeth and healthy eating, study the organs of the human body, drugs and alcohol and sex education. We also have the chance to design a breakfast cereal in D.T.

In R.E. we study some final questions:

· What is the Buddhist way of life?

· What was the significance of Jesus’ last commandment?

· What does the Bible say about moving on?

This is also the term in which we have the Year 6 production and residential trip to a PGL centre where we can safely experience all that an outward bound style of holiday can bring.

Through the year, we undertake ILTs (Independent Learning Tasks). These tasks allow the children to work more on their own (though with our support and advice, naturally) and really show what they can do in extending themselves. The ILTs are as follows:

· Autumn Term – Pop-up Book

· Spring Term –Bridges

· Summer Term – Welcome to QE Booklet

In English, we are following the National Curriculum and we aim to cover a broad range of topics which will include:

· suspense writing, dilemmas, biographies and autobiographies, play scripts, newspapers and poetry in the autumn term;

· formal letter writing, discussion and debate, mystery stories, planning and predicting, diary and instruction writing in the spring term; and

· recount writing, play scripts, poetry and short stories in the summer term.

In Maths, we follow the National Curriculum units:

· number and place value;

· addition, subtraction, multiplication and division;

· fractions (including decimals and percentages);

· ratio and proportion;

· algebra;

· measurement;

· geometry – properties of shapes; and

· geometry – position and direction.

The Year 6 pupils assume many responsibilities such as having the chance to become House Captains and Vice Captains, prefects and also the opportunity to take part in the Year 6 Production at the end of the year.

A very full year, I think you’ll agree!

The Year 6 team