YEAR 6 SPRING TERM
Welcome back and a happy new year to everybody. We are looking forward to an exciting and challenging term ahead.
WRITING
The children will continue to develop their writing skills to produce pieces in a range of genres and styles. This writing will be based around our class novel, Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian. We will be writing in role as characters from the book as well as writing narrative based on evacuation. Our attention will then turn to other genres of writing based on our history topic.
GUIDED READING
Guided reading will continue to cover fiction, non-fiction and poetry and will be supported by our novel, Goodnight Mister Tom. These sessions will prepare the children for the upcoming reading test. Please continue to support your child’s reading by ensuring that they read at least 5 times per week and they record this in their reading record.
SPELLING, PUNCTUATION AND GRAMMAR
Spelling and grammar is taught in context within our English lessons as well as discrete sessions for spelling and grammar in preparation for the grammar, punctuation and spelling test in SATs
MATHS
Maths is taught daily. Key concepts this term will include:
The children are working incredibly hard in our lessons but many would still benefit from regularly practising their recall of times table facts. It would also be useful to practise telling the time (in both analogue and digital) as well as posing time problems as they arise in day-to-day life (such as, If the film is ninety-five minutes long and we start watching at 7:15, what time will it finish?).
SCIENCE
During this term, the children will be learning about evolution and inheritance. In this unit the children will be learning that living things have changed over time and that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth millions of years ago. They will also recognise that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but normally offspring vary and are not identical to their parents. They will also learn to identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution.
HISTORY
When studying World War Two, we will explore the causes of the conflict, as well as examine the key Allied and Axis powers involved. Later, we will focus on significant events such as the Battle of Britain, a pivotal turning point in history. We will also delve into the experiences of evacuees and the impact of the Blitz, particularly on Cheltenham. Additionally, we will visit the Steam Museum in Swindon to participate in their World War Two-themed events, offering a hands-on perspective on this critical period in history.
ART
The children will explore the Pop Art movement and make their own collages inspired by the techniques and themes of artists such as Peter Blake and Eduardo Paolozzi. They will us collage techniques to create a different book cover for Goodnight Mister Tom.
COMPUTING
After half term the children will be learning all about spreadsheets. Children will be taught how to organise and format data to support calculations while also being introduced to formulas. We will continue our work on online safety and focus on managing online information, privacy and security.
RE
During the spring term, the children will be answering the following key questions:
Key Question: Is anything ever eternal?
Key Question: Is Christianity still a strong religion 2000 years after Jesus was on Earth?
PHYSICAL EDUCATION (PE )
PE will take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (6LJ) and Tuesdays and Fridays (6NJ) in the first half of the term. During the first half term the focus will be on Commando Joe’s and dance. In the second half of the spring term, we will be learning how to play tennis and rounders.
FRENCH
The children will be developing their verbal skills as well as reading and writing in French. The focus for this term is related to ‘En classe’.
PSHE
We are working on identifying dreams and goals for the future and how to take steps to achieve them. Next half term’s focus will be on relationships.
HOMEWORK
Homework will be set every Wednesday, this term. We expect it to be handed in on the following Wednesday. The children have two books - grammar, punctuation and spelling and maths. Spelling lists continue to be put into their yellow spelling book to be practised and learnt at home.
Many thanks for your continued support.