Year 6 Autumn term 2023 - Curriculum Letter

Year 6 – Autumn Term

We have been delighted with the children’s efforts and enthusiasm during the first week of this new year as well as their sensible attitudes towards one another. They are already showing themselves to be excellent role models for the whole school.

The following is an overview of this term’s learning. 

ENGLISH

The children will be developing their writing skills to produce pieces in a range of genres and styles. Initially, we will be producing writing based around our class novel, Holes by Louis Sachar. After practising narrative skills inspired by the situations and characters from Holes, focusing on the sophisticated use of dialogue and atmospheric settings, further writing opportunities this term will demonstrate the children’s understanding of rivers and flooding from their learning in geography.

Reading will continue to be taught throughout the week and will cover fiction, non-fiction and poetry.  Please continue to support your child’s reading by ensuring that they read at least 5 times per week and providing at least one signature each week in their reading record. Reading records will be checked each week.

Spelling and grammar is taught in context within our English lessons plus discrete sessions for spelling. The children will have lists of spellings based on the strategies taught in class as well as words identified from the National Curriculum that they are required to learn to spell. 

MATHS

Maths is taught daily. Key concepts this term will include:

  • ordering and comparing numbers up to 10,000,000
  • using negative numbers in context, and calculating intervals across zero
  • multiplying and dividing numbers by 10, 100 and 1000 giving answers up to three decimal places
  • identifying common factors, common multiples and prime numbers
  • multiplying decimals with up to two decimal places by a one-digit number
  • multiplying multi-digit numbers up to 4 digits by a two-digit whole number using the formal
  • using written methods of long multiplication
  • solving problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
  • dividing numbers up to 4 digits by a two-digit number and solving problems involving division
  • using coordinates in four quadrants and translating shapes
  • simplifying, comparing and ordering fractions
  • recalling and using equivalences between simple fractions, decimals and percentages
  • finding missing angles within shapes
  • describing and classifying 2d and 3D shapes
  • understanding the order of operations and use of brackets in calculations 

As with any subject, developing the children’s confidence and enjoyment is absolutely essential. In order for the children to enjoy success, it will be important for all children to develop their quick recall of number bonds and times tables facts. If these have slowed down through a lack of practice or there are still tables that need to be memorised, these skills can be rapidly improved with short spells of daily practice. TT Rock Stars remains useful for this purpose. All children have a login to access this. 

SCIENCE

During this half term the children will be learning about electricity and developing their understanding of circuits. This will link with work in DT when the children will design and make a board game with an electrical circuit. After the half-term break, the children will be exploring the way light behaves, including light sources, reflections and shadows.

GEOGRAPHY

The children will be learning about the water cycle, features of a river along its course and the location of significant UK rivers.  After half term we will be studying the human uses of rivers and the causes of flooding. 

ART

The children will be painting landscapes linked to our geography topic and developing a range of watercolour techniques. We will also be learning about David Hockney’s approaches to landscape painting. 

COMPUTING

After half term, the children will be learning about computing systems and networks. We will also continue to consider the importance of online safety, this will be supported by workshops delivered by the police. 

FRENCH
During this term, the children will learn about ‘au café' practising words and phrases relating to food and ordering at a café. 

RE and PSHE

In RE we will consider what is the best way for Muslims to show their commitment to God and then in the second half term we will be studying Christianity and considering the question, how significant is it that Mary was Jesus’ mother? Our work in PSHE will focus on being me in our world and celebrating differences.

MUSIC

After half term, the children will be learning about jazz and will have opportunity to improvise by using selected notes from a scale when performing to a musical accompaniment.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION (PE)

PE for the first half term will focus on invasion games starting this half term with basketball and football followed next term with tag rugby and a fitness unit of work.

PE days are currently Monday and Wednesday for 6MV and Wednesday and Friday for 6J 

HOMEWORK

A range of maths and English activities will be set to reinforce the learning in class. Homework will normally be set on a Monday with an expectation that it will be ready for discussion in class on the following Monday.

If you do have any questions about the curriculum, please do come and speak to us at the end of the school day or contact us by email using [email protected]

SATS Week 2024

13 May 2024

Wishing our fabulous Year 6 children all the best for this week of SATS.
We are super proud of you all.

Non-uniform Day

10 May 2024

On Friday 21st June we will have a non school uniform day.  Children are able to come to school wearing red, yellow or orange.

OPAL Stay and Play

22 Apr 2024

Thank you to all who came along to our event on Saturday morning.
It was so lovely to see so many of our new families too.

Dunalley Literature Festival

19 Apr 2024

Wednesday 22nd – Friday 24th May.
We are looking forward to celebrating Dunalley’s Literature Festival in a few weeks when many...

Year 5 Athletics Squad

19 Apr 2024

Year 5 Athletics Squad took part in the Gloucestershire Inter- Primary Schools Athletics Competition with volunteers from both 5J and 5R.

CAKE SALE 18/4/24

13 Apr 2024

Please bring all of your NUT FREE animal themed cakes and bakes along to our cake sale which will be held after school in the playground.

Curriculum Information

12 Apr 2024

Thank you to families for joining our curriculum infomation sessions this week!
It has been lovely to see you in school.

NEW - Dunalley Diddies

07 Mar 2024

Open to parents/carers of babies 0-1yrs old, on Wednesday afternoons, 1.45pm-3pm. For more information pop along and speak to Hannah Street in...

Easter Holiday Camp

04 Mar 2024

With the Easter break less than 4 weeks away, with our award-winning multi-activity camps running throughout the Easter holidays!

Year 6 Trip

01 Mar 2024

Our Year 6 children enjoyed an adventurous trip to Swindon Steam Museum on Friday.
Their outfits for the World War 11 experience were just fabulous.