SPRING 2
Our learning question for Spring 2 was:
‘As historians, what crimes and punishments were committed in the past and how has this changed over time?
Writing
In Year Six, the class immersed themselves in Floodlands, a thrilling novel that sparked their imagination and creativity. As part of their learning, they wrote detailed character descriptions, using figurative language to bring the characters to life. With advanced punctuation, they crafted sentences that added depth. This helped the children enhance their writing skills while deepening their understanding of the book’s vivid world.
The children also wrote a powerful narrative based on a memory flashback, diving deep into their emotions to bring the moment to life. Through their words, the class explored the complexity of emotions and learnt how to create atmosphere through their choice of vocabulary and sentence structure.
Reading
We have continued to work on the key skills needed to understand a text with particular focus on inference.
Maths
We started this half term with Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages where students built on their understanding of fractions and explored decimals and percentages in greater depth. Fractions: Simplifying and comparing fractions, adding and subtracting fractions with different denominators, and converting between mixed numbers and improper fractions. Decimals: Understanding the relationship between fractions and decimals, including rounding decimals to different places and ordering decimals. Percentages: Converting fractions and decimals to percentages, and solving problems involving percentages of amounts. The children also explored how to calculate percentages, such as finding 10%, 25%, and 50% of a number.
Science
In Science, Year 6 studied Classification, learning how living organisms are categorized based on their characteristics. Our key learning included: The Five Kingdoms: The children gained an understanding of the five main kingdoms of life – Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists, and Monera (Bacteria). Next, we looked at the Linnaean System where we explored the classification system created by Carl Linnaeus and how it helped, and continues to help, scientists organise living organisms. We then moved on to Classification of Animals and Plants: The students classified a variety of species based on shared physical features, behaviours, and habitats. Finally, we explored The Role of Classification in Science when we discussed how classification helps scientists organise knowledge about organisms and understand their relationships.
History
In History, we explored the fascinating topic of Crime and Punishment Through the Ages. We discovered how crime and its punishments have evolved throughout history, from the Anglo-Saxon period through to modern-day practices. We investigated Early Punishments: How did people in Ancient and Medieval times deal with crime, and how did punishments like stocks, pillories, and the death penalty function? We also explored The Evolution of Laws: How did laws change with the growth of society and governments? Then, onto The Victorian Era where we focused on the rise of prisons, police forces, and the Industrial Revolution’s impact on crime and punishment. Finally, we considered Modern Day Crime and Justice: How does our legal system today compare to the past? What reforms have taken place, and what does the criminal justice system look like in the present? We used a range of primary and secondary sources to help students understand the historical context and how our modern justice system came to be.
PE
The children had a fantastic time in their PE lessons, playing both hockey and tennis. They learned the basic skills of hockey, focusing on dribbling, passing, and shooting, while working together as a team to score goals. On the tennis courts, they practiced their serves, volleys, and footwork, building their confidence with every rally. The children enjoyed the variety of the activities, challenging themselves to improve and having fun in the process. Their teamwork and determination shone through, making each lesson exciting and full of energy.
Music
In Music, the children had a fantastic time during their trumpet lessons with a specialist external teacher. The sessions were filled with excitement and energy as they learned new skills, from mastering the basics of playing to understanding music theory. Each lesson was engaging, with the teacher providing clear guidance and plenty of encouragement. The children enjoyed the hands-on experience and the opportunity to develop their musical abilities. By the end of the course, they had made impressive progress and were excited to continue exploring the world of music.
PSHE
In our PSHE we have been learning how to take responsibility for our health and make choices that benefit health and well-being. We have learnt to know about different types of drugs and their uses and their effects on the body, particularly the liver and heart. We have explored what it means to be emotionally well and can explore people’s attitudes towards mental health/illness. Children can now recognise stress, and the triggers that cause this, and understand how stress can cause drug and alcohol misuse.
Upcoming Events
SATs week Monday 12th May – Thursday 15th May
IOW PGL Monday 19th May – Friday 23rd May
Homework Reminders
Homework will continue to go out on a Wednesday, to be returned on the following Monday.
Thank you for another great half term! We look forward to all that is to come in our second half of Year 6