TOPICS/CURRICULUM
Summer Term 1
Hello! We hope you had an enjoyable Easter holidays with family and friends. This half term we will continue to be busy academically as we count down to our forthcoming SATs and enjoy the start of summer. The Year 6 team has been impressed with the commitment and effort that so many children have shown when completing their SATs papers for homework. Thank you for all your continued support.
This term, in our Explore (Geography) topic, we are asking the question “Can National Parks be for everyone?” and discussing themes of rights, responsibility, respect and beauty.
This booklet will give further details of all the subject areas that the children will be learning.
Summer Term 1 Topic: Explore
We will be:
- Locating the countries of the UK and the counties of England;
- Learning about National Parks: what are they, why do we have them, who they are for, and how this can cause conflict;
- Focusing on the South Downs and, in particular, Devil’s Dyke;
- Comparing National Parks in the UK with those in the USA, in particular, Yosemite;
We will study a range of sources of information and focus on developing our map-reading skills.
English Learning
In English, we are writing a debate speech on the issue of whaling. Next, we will be focusing on narrative poetry (e.g. “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes). After that, we will read “Blue John” by Berlie Doherty. We will be using these inspiring text as the basis for our own creative writing.
In our guided reading sessions, we will continue reading and discussing “Holes” by Louis Sachar.
Mathematical Learning
This half term we are learning about:
- Time and timetables
- Coordinates – translation and reflection
- Statistics – line graphs, pie charts and calculating the mean
We will also be revising our learning from across Key Stage 2, especially written methods for multiplication and division, and for calculating fractions and percentages.
PSHE Learning
Our topic is citizenship. We will be learning about human rights, food choices and the environment, caring for others, recognising discrimination, valuing diversity and national democracy.
French Learning
We will conclude our learning about La Seconde Guerre Mondiale (The Second World War). We will be learning how to say the names of countries and languages in French, and developing the skill of gist-reading in a foreign language.
Scientific Learning
This half term our topic is evolution. We will be learning:
- That living things have evolved over time;
- How fossils provide a record of evolution;
- How offspring are similar to their parents;
- How animals and plants are adapted to their environment.
Music Learning
We will be exploring how music shapes our way of life, and learning about chords and structure.
Faith and Wonder Learning
We will be learning about inspirational leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, and finding out how their actions and beliefs influenced others.
Computing Learning
We will be learning about ‘Big Data’: how it is transferred, stored, analysed and used to transform society.
PE Learning
In Outdoor PE, will be practising the three disciplines of athletics: running, jumping and throwing. This will include sprinting, hurdles, and middle and long distance running.
In Indoor PE, our gymnastics learning will include leaps, rolls and vaults.
How can you help?
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- Encouraging your child to continuing to read regularly for sustained period of time (at least 20 minutes, 5 times a week).
- Supporting your child with learning their weekly spellings.
- Encouraging your child to complete homework tasks and to attend homework club if they need additional support.
We understand that some children may be feeling a little apprehensive about the forthcoming SATs. Please reassure your child – as we do in school – that they cannot “fail” the tests; they just have to show what they can do. Please offer plenty of encouragement and support.
Events/Trips planned for this half term
- Thursday 9th May: RNLI talk
- SATs week is the 13th – 16th May. We will be holding a breakfast club for all Year 6 children from 8am on each of these days.
- Wednesday 22nd May (a.m.): whole-class photos and individual leavers’ photos
- Wednesday 22nd May (p.m.): May Day celebrations - Year 6 children will have the opportunity to take part in maypole dancing.
If you have any resources you are happy to loan to us or have any particular knowledge about our topics, please let us know.
Class emails:
arundel@stmargaretsprimary.org.uk
bramber@stmargaretsprimary.org.uk
The Year 6 team
