Welcome to the Year 6 page!

Here, you'll find everything you need to stay connected with our Year 6 journey. We'll keep this page updated with important announcements, homework assignments, curriculum highlights, trip information, and snapshots of what we're learning in class.

Check back regularly to see what’s new, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions. We’re excited for a fantastic year ahead!

Dates for your diary: 

Monday 16th September 2024 - Science Museum (Light) 

Monday 11th November 2024 - RAF Museum (WWII) 

Wednesday 13th November 2024  - Financial Literacy Visit (PSHE)

Thursday 14th November 2024 - Remembrance Assembly - Parents to attend at 9:00am 

Tuesday 28th January 2025 - Pig Heart Boy Performance - Unicorn Theatre.

Friday 7th March 2025 - 9 am Parents SATs Preparation Meeting 

Thursday 3rd April 2025 - Henry the VIII's wives workshop at Tower Bridge

 

Spring 

Year 6 Curriculum Overview – Spring 2

Welcome to the Spring  term in Year 6! Here’s an exciting glimpse into what our pupils will be exploring across different subjects this term:

English: Shackleton’s Journey – Expedition Simulation

To bring Shackleton’s Journey to life, children will take part in an immersive expedition simulation. The classroom will be transformed into a base camp with tents, sleeping bags, and a map of Antarctica. Pupils will receive “boarding passes” for the ship Endurance and work in teams to tackle survival challenges.

Writing Focus:

• Setting Description – Writing a vivid description of the Antarctic base camp to entertain their peers.
• Motivational Speech – Encouraging fellow explorers who are feeling tired and discouraged, using persuasive language.

 

The Tudors

This term, children will explore the Tudor period, a time of significant political, social, and cultural change. They will learn about influential monarchs such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, examining their impact on England, including the English Reformation and the establishment of the Church of England. By analyzing historical sources, comparing Tudor life with the present, and discussing governance and societal changes, pupils will gain a deeper understanding of how this period shaped modern Britain.

Science: Evolution and Inheritance

In science, pupils will study how living things change over time through adaptation and evolution. They will explore how fossils provide evidence of past life and learn that while offspring inherit traits from their parents, they are not identical. By examining examples such as the long necks of giraffes or the thick fur of arctic foxes, children will develop an understanding of how adaptations help species survive and evolve over generations.

Design & Technology: Food for Life

Children will learn about the differences between processed and whole foods and how to make healthier food choices. They will develop their cooking skills by making bread and pasta sauces while also planning and preparing a balanced daily menu. This hands-on project will help them understand the benefits of nutritious eating and how food impacts overall well-being.

Religious Education: Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Other Worldviews

Pupils will explore key religious beliefs and worldviews, gaining a deeper understanding of different faiths. They will learn about significant festivals such as Vaisakhi (Sikhism) and Vesak (Buddhism) and discuss important questions about beliefs, values, and traditions.

Personal, Social & Health Education (PSHE)

• Family Dynamics – Understanding different family structures and the importance of care and support.
• Democracy & Decisions – Learning about responsibility, decision-making, and being an active citizen.
• Media Literacy & Digital Resilience – Exploring internet safety, responsible online behavior, and the risks of digital technology.

Computing: Variables in Games

In computing, children will explore the role of variables in game design. They will experiment with how variables affect gameplay, refine their coding skills, and enhance their problem-solving abilities through debugging and iteration.

Reading for Pleasure & SATs Preparation

Children will continue developing their reading comprehension skills while preparing for SATs. They will practice answering questions with accuracy, speed, and depth while also exploring a variety of genres to foster a love for reading.

This term promises to be an engaging and enriching experience, filled with exciting learning opportunities and hands-on activities.

Year 6 Curriculum Overview – Spring 1 

Welcome to the Spring  term in Year 6! Here’s an exciting glimpse into what our pupils will be exploring across different subjects this term:

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Year 6 - English: Pig-Heart Boy

In English, we will be reading the book Pig-Heart Boy by Malorie Blackman. In this story, we will learn about Cameron, a boy who receives a pig’s heart to save his life. The book will help us explore big questions like whether it is right to use animal organs for humans, and how people might feel when they are faced with difficult choices.

We will also focus on some important scenes in the book, like when Cameron struggles with the idea of having an animal’s heart inside him. We’ll think about his emotions, the choices he has to make, and what this means for his life.

As part of our work, we will discuss ethical issues like using animal organs for transplants and write arguments to explore different viewpoints. We will practice expressing our opinions and learning how to make strong arguments based on what we read.

Geography: Investigating Our World:

In this geography unit, pupils will learn about different climate zones, biomes, and vegetation belts. They’ll explore how things like latitude and longitude affect the Earth’s environments, including the role of the Equator, Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and the Prime Meridian. Pupils will discover how these features influence climate patterns and ecosystems around the world.

They’ll also study how time zones work and how the Earth’s rotation affects our daily lives. By using maps and globes, they will develop skills to understand temperature changes across the globe and how humans interact with the environment. This unit will help pupils see how everything on Earth is connected.

Science: Living Things and Their Habitats
In this unit, pupils will explore classification systems and learn to categorise living organisms. They’ll discover how microorganisms, plants, and animals can be grouped into broader categories, focusing on vertebrates (e.g., fish, mammals) and invertebrates (e.g., insects, worms). By examining observable traits, pupils will understand the importance of classification and apply criteria to sort various living things accurately. This topic will deepen their understanding of the diversity of life and the ways we organise and study the natural world.

Art: Distortion and Abstraction
This project encourages creativity through the exploration of abstraction and distortion. Pupils will investigate how distortion can change the way we perceive images and create their own abstract artworks inspired by music. Through experimentation, they’ll learn to express emotion and creativity in new and exciting ways, developing their skills and expanding their artistic vision.

Religious Education (RE): Worship
In this unit, pupils will explore the diverse ways people worship across different faiths, including Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, and other world views. They will gain a deeper understanding of the practices and rituals that help individuals express their spirituality and connect with their beliefs. This exploration will provide pupils with insights into the importance of worship in various cultures and faith traditions.

PSHE: Moving On
This term, our PSHE lessons will focus on key aspects of mental wellbeing and online safety:

• Mental Wellbeing: Pupils will learn how to understand, manage, and improve their mental health.
• Mental Health and Online Safety: We’ll explore the impact of the internet on mental wellbeing, including raising awareness about online safety, potential harms, and how to protect themselves in the digital world.

Through these lessons, pupils will gain valuable tools for navigating life’s challenges while supporting their mental health and staying safe online.

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We look forward to an enriching term of learning and discovery!

 

Maths

In Year 6, students are introduced to ratios and algebra as part of their math curriculum. They learn how to understand and use ratios to compare quantities, solve problems involving proportions, and simplify ratios. In algebra, they begin working with simple equations, using symbols (like letters) to represent unknowns, and learn how to solve basic algebraic problems. These topics help develop problem-solving skills and prepare them for more advanced mathematical concepts in secondary school.

Autumn 2

In Year 6, our Autumn 2 term will be packed with exciting subjects and activities! Here’s what we’ll be focusing on across different topics:

History: World War II

We’re going to explore the history of World War II, learning about the causes, the major events, and especially how the war affected everyday people. This includes learning about life on the “home front,” the experience of children who were evacuated, and how people adapted to rationing and air raids. We’ll also discuss the courage people showed during challenging times, especially in Britain. One of the most exciting parts of this term will be our trip to the RAF Museum, where we’ll take part in a wartime classroom workshop. This will let us experience what school was like during WWII, right down to practicing blackout drills and air-raid procedures, and help us imagine how children our age would have felt back then.

English: Exploring Goodnight Mr. Tom

This term’s book, Goodnight Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian, is set during WWII and follows a young boy named Willie Beech who is evacuated from London to the countryside. This novel will help us understand what life was like for children who had to leave their families behind.

Our English work will focus on two major projects:

• Newspaper Report: We’ll be writing our own newspaper reports as though we’re journalists during WWII! We might cover events like an air raid or an evacuation, and we’ll learn how to write headlines, organise our work into clear paragraphs, and add quotes for extra detail.
• Narrative Writing: Inspired by Goodnight Mr. Tom, we’ll each write a short story, focusing on building strong characters and settings. Our stories will explore themes like friendship, bravery, and overcoming challenges, helping us understand what children like Willie experienced during the war.

Science: The Heart and Circulatory System

In Science, we’ll be learning about our heart and how it works with the circulatory system to keep our bodies moving and healthy. We’ll study how blood flows through different parts of the heart, and how arteries, veins, and capillaries work together to deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. We’ll also look at ways to keep our heart healthy, including how exercise, diet, and overall lifestyle make a difference. Through experiments, like testing our pulse rates, we’ll get hands-on with our learning to understand how the heart works under different conditions.

Maths: Fractions and Measurements

Our Maths lessons will be focused on two big topics: fractions and measurements.

• Fractions: We’ll work on simplifying, adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions. We’ll also learn to switch between mixed numbers and improper fractions and solve real-world problems using these skills.
• Measurements: We’ll focus on converting between different units of measurement, like length, weight, and volume, and explore how to calculate area, perimeter, and volume. ​​​​

Trip to the RAF Museum

Our trip to the RAF Museum will be a highlight of the term! During the wartime classroom workshop, we’ll go back in time and experience school life as it would have been during WWII. This means practicing air-raid drills, using ration books, and learning what blackout restrictions were like. The experience will bring history to life and help us relate what we’ve learned in class to the lives of children who lived through the war.

This term is set to be full of discovery and connections across history, English, science, and maths. We’ll be building critical skills like writing, problem-solving, and scientific thinking, while immersing ourselves in the experience of WWII from different perspectives.

Year 6 Timetable