Literacy and Maths

During this half-term in Literacy, we will be writing a range of different types of text around the book ‘Stormbreaker’ by Anthony Horowitz. We will consider how characters are introduced and how we can show their personality traits through actions. We will be using lots of our drama strategies to explore this. We will also write formal letters and instructions in role as a character.  Later on in the unit, we will be writing our own story in the style of Stormbreaker.

In Numeracy, the children will move onto revision lessons, looking at areas of the maths curriculum that they have identified as needing more coverage before the SATs.  We will then finish off the term looking at key strategies to support the children moving forward to high school.

We continue to complete weekly arithmetic papers to allow the children to practise  and develop confidence in their calculation skills.

Please continue to promote homework each evening of completing the weekly spelling set on a Tuesday, reading and times tables practise.

SATs - Just a reminder that the SATs are taking place this half-term, and it is essential that all children are in school on time as we will be beginning at 9am promptly. As with previous years, children will be able to come into Year 6 from 8.30am to help settle any nerves and speak to us about any worries.

The SATs are Monday 12^th –Thursday 15^th May.

Gulliver’s Valley-Further to our meeting last half-term, we visited Gulliver’s Valley during the Easter holiday and met with the manager. We were able to see the park, look at the activities we will be involved in and see our accommodation.  Hopefully, we will have confirmation of our activities to share with you and the children soon.

If you haven’t already, please could you return your child’s waiver form so they are able to take part in the inflatables and climbing activities,

English and Maths

This half-term, we will be reading  Journey back to Freedom by Catherine Johnson.  This book is based on the story of Olaudah Equiano, a slave who bought his freedom before writing an account of his life as a slave.  We will be writing flashbacks in character and retelling the story in this role, whilst also sensitively learning about the impact of slavery from ancient to modern times.

We will also be learning about Harriet Tubman, a slave known for leading over 300 people to safety, writing a biography and thinking about the motivational speeches she produced whilst making the difference she made.

In Maths, the children will explore position and direction before moving onto statistics - looking through the different ways data can be presented before finishing the half-term by studying shape.

We continue to complete weekly arithmetic papers to allow the children to practise  and develop confidence in their calculation skills.

Please continue to promote homework each evening by completing the weekly spelling set on a Tuesday, reading and timetables practise.

English and Maths

During this half-term in English, we will be studying the life of Ernest Shackleton. We will find out about his plans for an expedition and the crew he took with him.  We started by immersing ourselves in what the life of an explorer of Shackleton’s standard would have been like and, over the term, we will write letters of application to be on his crew and take part in mock interviews. We will consider the feelings of members of the crew during the journey, create soundscapes and write diary entries and motivational speeches. Linked to this, we will research Antarctica – the landscape and the animals – to create a non-chronological report. 

In Maths,children will continue to develop their skills of understanding and using decimals. They will find out about percentages and learn how to find the percentage of an amount.  Violet class will continue to have weekly arithmetic tests so any practise the children have at home in learning their times tables will be very beneficial.

Science

Our topic this half-term is evolution and inheritance.  We asked the children to complete a family tree over Christmas, which we will be looking at later in the term.  It would also be great if children could bring in some photographs of them when they were younger and also if as parents, you were able to share your 'baby' pictures to support our discussions about what characteristics are inherited.  We would need these by week 3 of Spring 1 term.

SATs Club

A letter went out at the end of last term explaining that Mrs Anstey will be running a SATs club on a Wednesday after school.  Thank you  to those parents who have responded to show interest and places will be confirmed with you shortly.  

Not all children will be asked to attend after school as we also hold booster sessions during the school day, but having that additional hour to provide this support is invaluable.

English and Maths

In English, we will be studying biography and autobiography.  We will focus on courageous and significant figures, including Malala Yousafzai, and consider how to write a biography on this person.  Children will have the opportunity to write their own autobiographies too. Following this, we plan to study the book Oranges in No Man’s Land by Elizabeth Laird and will write our own stories from a different perspective.

In Maths, children will build on their knowledge of calculations, learning how to add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions. They will develop confidence in placing fractions on a number line and in finding fractions of an amount. The children will also develop their understanding of coordinates. This half-term we will have a weekly arithmetic test. Any practise the children have at home in learning their times tables will be very beneficial.

Crucial Crew

You will have had the letter regarding the trip to Crucial Crew on Friday 29th November.  The cost of the trip for parents is £10 and school will be subsidising the remainder of the fee to attend.

Please can reply slips and payment of £10 be in school by 22nd November.

Residential- May 2025

The Year 6 residential is an overnight stay at Gulliver's Valley theme park in Yorkshire and this will be taking place from 22-23 May 2025.  Letters regarding overall cost and when a deposit is required will be going out shortly. 

Homework 

The children will continue to bring home reading books each day as part of the daily homework.  These are checked each day and this is recorded as you may have seen in their reading record.

It does make a real difference if the children have the opportunity to enjoy and share their books with their parents, although by Year 6 it is expected that children are able to independently read and record asking for an adult signature afterwards.

Spellings will continue to be given on a Tuesday and tested the following Tuesday.

P.E

P.E days will continue to be Monday and Wednesday - as the cold weather draws in, children are welcome to wear black tracksuits (no logo) for when they are outside.