Ash Class - Year Six (Mrs Livesey)

Welcome to Year 6

A very warm welcome to Autumn 1 in Year 6. In our first seven weeks together, we have a lots to look forward to including our Topic assembly on 16th October and dress up as 'a word' day on the 18th October. Of course, added to all this excitement we have lots of fun learning activities to introduce us to life in Year 6.  Attached below is a summary of the subject focuses we will be looking this half term.

English

In English, this half term, we will be looking at 'Wonder' by R, J Palacio. 

Summary - August or "Auggie" Pullman, a ten-year-old boy living in New York City, was born with a facial deformity that has made it difficult for him to make friends. He lives with his parents, his older sister Via, and his dog Daisy. He has been homeschooled up until the fifth grade, but his parents have decided that it is time for him to go to a real school. They enroll him in Beecher Prep, a neighborhood private school, and take him to meet the principal, Mr. Tushman. While August is there, some of the kids who will be in August's grade take him on a tour of the school; one of them, Jack Will, is nice, but another, Julian, is noticeably rude.

We have begun reading the novel and the children are truly gripped by the events that have occurred so far.  We will be thinking about the thoughts and feelings of some non-fictional individuals who live every day in a world that can be so cruel.  We will be looking into the lives of Simon Weston, Katie Piper, August Pullman and Nathaniel Newman and imaging what life is like for them on a to day basis.

Throughout the unit the children will be creating wonderful writing pieces, poetry, biographies and art work.  They will begin to recognise how their words can impact on a persons life - in both a good and a bad way - and will look at ways we can help others.

In Maths we will be start the half term by focussing on our place value and number skills. To succeed in this area the children will need to become skilled at:

• Reading, writing, ordering and comparing numbers up to 10,000,000 and determine the value of each digit
• Rounding any whole number to a required degree of accuracy
• Using negative numbers in context, and calculate intervals across zero
• Solving number and practical problems that involve all of the above
• Solve addition and subtraction multi step problems in contexts, deciding which operations and methods to use and why
• Multiplying multi-digit number up to 4 digits by a 2-digit number using the formal written method of long multiplication
• Dividing numbers up to 4 digits by a 2-digit whole number using the formal written method of long division, and interpret remainders as whole number remainders, fractions, or by rounding as appropriate for the context
• Dividing numbers up to 4 digits by a 2-digit number using the formal written method of short division, interpreting remainders according to the context
• Performing mental calculations, including with mixed operations and large numbers
• Identifying common factors, common multiples and prime numbers
• Using their knowledge of the order of operations to carry out calculations involving the four operations
• Solving problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
• Using estimation to check answers to calculations and determine in the context of a problem, an appropriate degree of accuracy.

You can help your child at home by helping them to practice their times tables and division facts. Just ten minutes a day will make all the difference to their rapid recall.

 ‘I will not forget you. I have carved you on the palm of my hand.’ (Isaiah 49:15)

At Sacred Heart, Religious Education is at the core of the core curriculum, it is embedded in everything we do and say. As we start the new academic year we will start by looking at the theme of the Dignity of the Human Being. Throughout this area focus, we will talk about the gifts that we have and which ones we feel are the most important. We will reflect upon why we have these gifts  and consider what we should be learning to do with them as Christians believe that the diversity of the world and its people is God’s gift. Jesus in his life and gospel, challenges people to appreciate diversity and to create with it a harmony that reflects the unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 Our Geography based topic this half term is focusses on mapping and our local area. Throughout this half term, the children will develop their Ordnance Survey and digital mapping skills to locate Lancashire on a UK map and then their hometown. Using an Ordnance Survey map the children will browse the town and surrounding area, identifying physical and human features as they go. The children will investigate scale and co-ordinates by looking at the distances on a map as well as identify Ordnance Survey symbols on maps and work out what they mean. This will enable the children to identify and explain increasingly complex geographical features, processes, patterns, relationships ad ideas. In order to help the children gain the most from this unit of work, we will be taking part in some fieldwork in our local area. A letter regarding this activity will be sent home in due course.

General Class information

Reading

By Year 6, children are confident with reading, the task now is to ensure that children understand what they are reading.  It is important that they read a wide variety of genres and text types.  Fiction, non-fiction, leaflets, websites, newsletters etc.  The more children read and discuss the deeper their understanding becomes.  Encourage the children to explain what they have read, ask them questions and describe how they know the answers.  On occasion allow them just to read for pleasure, because they want to and they are enjoying it.  Read with them and continue to read to them.  Love books together!

PE

PE sessions will take place on Wednesday afternoons.  Please ensure children's PE kits are in school on this day and clearly labelled.

Snack & Water

Toast is available to children for snack.  Children must pay £1 at the beginning of the week for a slice of toast each day.  Children are able to bring in their own snack for playtime.  This can be a cereal/breakfast bar, fruit or veg.  Water will be available to the children throughout the day.  If you would like your child to bring in their own bottle, please ensure the bottle is clearly labelled with the child's name.

If you have any queries or just want to chat about your child's progress, feel free to catch me in the playground at the end of the school day, or alternatively make an appointment with Mrs Thompson in the school office.  

Mrs Livesey.