2022-23 Year 6 Learning

Term 1 - Our Island's Coasts

Term 1

The children have really enjoyed our topic of COASTS this term.  We have learnt about coastal management and designed our own sea defences. using our knowledge of how coastlines are transformed by natural processes such as erosion and deposition.   In Science, children pieced together evidence from pre-historic fossils and followed Charles Darwin's voyage of discovery on the Beagle. They learnt about Mary Anning and the fossil discoveries that she made along the Lyme Regis - Charmouth coast. We had a a fantastic day in Charmouth fossil hunting with expert Ed Drewitt.  Children found ammonites, belemnites and we even had the weather on our side!  Have a look at some of our pictures: 

Term 2- Extreme Landscapes

Term 2 

Our topic this term was 'Extreme Landscapes' and what a fantastic topic it has been! In Geography, we learned about hot and cold climates, mountains and volcanoes. We practised our OS map reading skills, learnt about Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's ascent of Mount Everest and used our DT skills to design and make our own exploding volcanoes!

To support our learning, we visited a local climbing wall - our very own climbing expedition! Back in school, we used this experience to support our instruction writing skills as part of our English lessons. We wrote our own reports about mountain-dwelling animals, reading the short story 'Way Home' and continued our learning about Shakespeare's plays. 

Have a look at some of the pictures from our fantastic climbing trip below...

Term 3 - World War Two

Term 3

Throughout term 3, the children have been getting their teeth stuck into our World War Two topic. They have practised a range of Historical Skills, including chronology, evaluating sources, historical enquiry and different interpretations of history. During our art lessons with Mrs Begen, the children have created wonderful WW2 inspired artworks, ranging from the Squander Bug featured in propaganda posters to biro sketches of Bristol during The Blitz.

To complement the topic, the children took part in a special WW2 Drama Workshop. The children had the opportunity to view and hold a wide range of photographs and artefacts, before using these as inspiration for freeze-frames. On top of this, the children re-enacted the process of being evacuated - accompanied by air-raid siren and bomb sound effects!

Check out some of the pictures below...

 Term 4 - Journeys

Next term our topic will be 'Journeys', in which we will learn all about the history of migration and immigration in relation to Bristol. Please see our Term Overview and Termly Newsletter below for more details.

Useful web links for Year 6 learning and revision:

SATs practice papers

Access to previous SATs papers (reading, SPAG and maths):

http://www.satspapers.org.uk/Page.aspx?TId=5

 SATs-style maths practice papers:

 https://www.emaths.co.uk/index.php/student-resources/past-papers/ks2-sat-2016-practice-papers 

 https://mathsmadeeasy.co.uk/ks2-revision/key-stage-2-sat-maths/

 English/SPAG (Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar)

National Curriculum definitions of grammatical terms which will appear in homework and class learning:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/335190/English_Appendix_2_-_Vocabulary_grammar_and_punctuation.pdf

National Curriculum spelling patterns and statutory words lists (giving examples of spelling patterns we will teach and the type of words the SATs will test):

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/239784/English_Appendix_1_-_Spelling.pdf 

Summaries, examples and teaching videos of key grammatical terms:

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/topics/zhrrd2p

Selection of games for revision:

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/english-games/7-11-years/spelling-and-grammar

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/english-games/7-11-years/punctuation

Maths

Summaries, examples and teaching videos of mathematical terms:

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/z826n39

Wide range of resources – from games to teaching aids and tests:

https://mathsframe.co.uk/

https://www.math-salamanders.com/free-kids-math-games.html

Maths arithmetic practice:

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/mental-maths

Small range of memory matching games:

https://claritymaths.uk/games/index.html

Really good web site (with lots of visual aids to help understand tricky concepts); it is American but, while not a direct match to the National Curriculum for Year 6, the ‘Grade 5’ learning and games would be a match for age – and you could always look at ‘Grade 4’ or 'Grade 6' to support/stretch as appropriate:

https://www.mathplayground.com/

Web site designed more for teachers, and includes lots of concepts aimed at secondary-age learning. However, there are some useful tools which show models and images that might help your child’s understanding if something is proving tricky to understand:

https://mathsbot.com/

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