Hello Year 6!
It has been great to welcome you all into Year 6 and I hope you have enjoyed being back to school and are relishing all of the challenges that the year will bring. I have been amazed by your inquisitiveness and questions that you have had this week. I also hope you agree with me when I say we have had a good first few days back and we have thrown ourselves into the new school year before the real hard work begins in earnest next week!
Moving onto our learning next week, in English we will begin with revising grammar from previous years, and will begin our series of work based around the book, 'The Arrival'. This is a brilliant text which also happens to be a picture book. In maths, we will begin with a focus on place value with numbers up to 10 million. Science will begin with some basic ideas around classification of living things and in RE we will begin our new religion of study which is Buddhism, where we will be learning about who Buddha was. Our history topic will also begin. We will be looking at crime and punishment, with a focus this week on an overview of what this is. We will be identifying specific changes over the time period and how things have progressed rapidly in recent times. Computing this coming week will focus on using technology respectfully and safely.
This half term, we will be studying the following:
In English: The Arrival - This will lend itself to a wide range of writing outcomes which include extended own version narratives, letters, lists of rules, character descriptions, diaries and short reports.
Leila and the Blue Fox - This will lend itself to writing outcomes which will include an extended blog entry, poetry, informal messages, formal letters, short information texts, narrative and action scenes.
In maths, we will begin the year by working on place value; comparing and ordering numbers; and rounding numbers. We will then move onto: multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 or 1000, mental strategies, four operations, problem solving, factors and multiples, equivalents, addition, subtraction and ordering of fractions.
In science, our topic will be living things and their habitats, with a focus on classification. You will be describing how living things are classified based on differences and similarities and learning about many different forms of classification.
In history, we will be covering our unit of Crime and Punishment, which studies different elements of crimes and their punishments over time, and how they have influenced the modern day.
In computing, we will be focussing on using technology safely, respectfully and responsibly, and then moving onto understanding how networks work and how they can be used to communicate.
Our art lessons this half term will be focussed on craft and design, with a main interest in photography.
This week, you have also chosen your first reading book of the year. Please ensure that you read and record this in your Reading Journal at least 5 times a week, also completing a weekly reading task.
Your Reading Journal also contains your login details for Sumdog and Outlook, both of which can be accessed from home.
Home Learning in Year 6 – Please see the message below which is the one that was stuck in your Home Learning Journal.
In Year 6, we will ask your child to ensure that they complete the following compulsory learning at home:
- Reading 5 times a week and completing a reading journal activity once a week
- Practising spellings each week between the pre-test and test; writing their spellings at least 5 times and writing them into sentences in their Home Learning Journal (set on Monday and completed for Friday)
- Completing the piece of English and piece of Maths set each week (set on Wednesday and completed for Monday)
- Practising maths on Sumdog
- Completing the half termly project
If children do not complete/ attempt to complete the home learning, they will be given the opportunity to do so in the break/lunchtime of the day on which it is due (Monday for maths and English, Friday for spellings).
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
House Captains Home Learning (also stuck in your Home Learning Journal)
This week I am not setting specific maths or English learning but I would like you to write about what qualities that you have that would make you an ideal candidate for House Captain. Remember that this isn’t just for those wishing to put themselves forward for House Captain. The purpose of this activity is to reflect on all of your own positive qualities that you have and is a way of introducing me to them too.
I expect you to write at least a paragraph (though many of you will hopefully choose to write more) giving a full list and explanation of all of your positive qualities and why these would make you suitable for House Captain should you choose to become one. This is to be returned on Monday.
Should you wish to run for House Captain and produce more of a presentation, this is also encouraged. This additional work is due in by Tuesday 16th September. If it is in late, you are not likely to be able to use it.
Just to remind you all that you have PE on Tuesday (football), Thursday and Friday so make sure you have your kits in on these days.
Reminders:
- Next Wednesday we are at Crucial Crew in the morning.
Have a good weekend
Mrs Cresswell 😊
