Year 6

Dear Year 6,
 
As I told you in the Summer, I am so pleased and proud to be your teacher.  I know that we are going to have a terrific year together.  We will work hard in class but will always make sure that we make time for fun, laughter, play and enjoyment.
Year 6 is a family where we look out for one another.  We are a team.  We are a unit.  We are St Joey's.  Rest assured I will endeavour to ensure that each and every one of you has a positive, productive and happy experience in Year 6. 
It has been wonderful to meet lots of parents and carers already and I look forward to meeting and being in regular contact with all families/guardians in Year 6.  Remember how important it is to be in school, in class and making progress.  Every day is a new opportunity where we can learn new things and consolidate new skills!
Together, we can and we will do great things.
 
Mrs Lyon xx
 
 

English

In English, our class text is ‘The Place for Me: Stories about the Windrush Generation’ by Dame Floella Bejamin et al.  With a forward from Dame Floella Bejamin, this book contains twelve stories from the Windrush generation and celebrates how immigrants to Britain have enriched British life and culture.  In our writing lessons this half term we will be practising and incorporating our grammar and sentence skills to produce an information leaflet about a period in Black history.   Through regular practise, we will be trying to use the following in our extended writing:

  •          Use expanded noun phrases to convey complicated information concisely
  •          Apply persuasive language
  •          Use passive verbs
  •          Link ideas across paragraphs using a wider range of cohesive devices
  •          Use clear organisational features

 

Mathematics

This half term we will be studying Fractions:

 

  •          Simplifying fractions
  •          Fractions on a number line
  •          Comparing and ordering fractions
  •          Adding and subtracting fractions
  •          Problem solving with fractions
  •          Plotting coordinates in the first quadrant
  •          Plotting coordinates
  •          Plotting translations and reflections
  •          Reasoning about shapes with coordinates

 

Fluency skills

Each week, we practise and refine our fluency skills in our ‘Minute Maths’ sessions and complete weekly arithmetic tests every Friday.

 

Times Tables and TT Rock Stars

Learning and knowing your Times Tables is important because:

  •          It makes mental arithmetic easier and faster
  •          It helps children to understand number and number relationships, and to see patterns
  •          It is fundamental to many maths topics, such as fractions, division, and reasoning
  •          It can boost their confidence and prepare them for adult life

Pupils are encouraged to practise their multiplication and division skills by regularly logging on to TT Rock Stars to master these vital skills.

At home

At home you could help your child(ren) by encouraging them to log on to TT Rock Stars each evening and practise for 10 minutes each evening.  Little and often is key

 

RE

This half term our topic is Justice. The children will learn that God called the prophets from the Old Testament and learn about the different ways they responded. They will learn that the prophets spoke out against injustice and that some prophets were persecuted because they spoke out.

They will learn that Christians are called to work for justice and find out about individuals who have been persecuted for speaking out against injustice.

The children will learn that Advent is a time of waiting and hoping for the birth of the Messiah at Christmas and understand that the birth of Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.

At home:

You could help your children by:

• thinking about how your family could support the work of CAFOD • visit www.cafod.org.uk to learn more about CAFOD and its work in the developing world

• include an intention for people fighting injustice in your prayers with the children.

 

Science

Our topic is Living things and their habitats.  This topic will help the children identify kingdoms of life to classify living things within those kingdoms.  The children will be introduced to the Linnean system of classification and will be able to develop their practical scientific skills through investigating mould growth on bread and mushroom spore dispersal

Geography

In Geography we will be looking at Why population changes.   The children will be able to:

  •          Identify the most densely and sparsely populated areas
  •          Describe what might influence the environments people live in
  •          Define birth and death rates
  •          Define migration-push and pull factors
  •          Explain why some people have no choice but to leave their homes
  •          Discuss causes of climate change and its impact on the global population

 

Design & Technology

 

In our DT lessons we are making waistcoats! The children will be designing their own waistcoat in accordance with a specification and design criteria to fit a specific theme. The children will be:

  • Annotating designs.
  • Using a template when pinning panels onto fabric.
  • Marking and cutting fabric accurately, in accordance with a design.
  • Sewing a strong running stitch, making small, neat stitches and following the edge.
  • Tying strong knots.
  • Decorating a waistcoat – attaching objects using thread and adding a secure fastening.
  • Learning different decorative stitches.
  • Sewing accurately with even regularity of stitches.
  • Evaluating work continually as it is created.

 

Homework

Each Friday, your child will come home with homework tasks based on that week’s learning.

This may consist of:

  •          Spellings
  •          A reading comprehension which relates to work already covered in class
  •          A piece of maths depending on what the current maths focus is
  •          Grammar

 

At home

Ways you can support your child(ren)

  •          Ensure there is a quiet place and set time at home each evening for them to complete/practise homework tasks. 
  •          Discuss the homework tasks with your child