Welcome to Life at KPS for Year 6

Mrs Nanda and Mrs Jabble warmly welcome you to Year 6.

The aim of this page is to highlight some of the fantastic learning that has been happening in Year 6, this page will be updated monthly, with photographs and information about the learning we have completed during the month.

We hope you enjoy looking through these updates and do discuss your child’s learning with them to celebrate their success. We look forward to any suggestions you may have to make your child’s learning a pleasant experience.

January 2022

Art

During our art lessons we analysed the symbolism in portraits and photographs. We discussed and reviewed photographs to understand how light and tonal range are used effective in photography; light/dark and position to portray different emotions.

Our children went on to explore photography and how it is used to create effect – light /dark, tonal range; and the effect it has on the expressions.

Computing

Pupils have been working on the use of spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel. They have started with the basics: learning what a cell is and how it can be referenced.

They have progressed to learn how to format cells and then the worksheet as a whole. When formatting cells, we have examined how to change the font, increase or decrease its size. Year 6 have also learnt how to add colours and borders.

English

In English this term, we will be writing to entertain our readers. We will be using our knowledge from history, especially the battle of Bosworth and the Battle of Hastings to write an epic battle scene. We will attempt to scare our readers too.

We have started to examine the features of a text that is written to entertain. Our children are exploring the impact that vocabulary can have on the reader and the importance using sentences of different structures and lengths.

History

In history this term, Year 6 are studying Medieval Monarchs. We have studied the key events that led to the Battle of Hastings and the battle of Bosworth from the Medieval period in English history. We have also learnt how and why Henry triumphed in the battle, as well evaluating the relative importance of the key factors that led to Henry’s victory.

Our children have successfully constructed informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information. This was especially important to understand who seemed to be in the strongest position before the battle.

Maths

We are learning about fractions this term. Fractions in Year 6 maths not only extend pupils’ knowledge from KS1, but also act as the foundation from which several other topics – such as decimals and percentages – are developed.

Therefore, it’s essential to ensure our children approach them with confidence. They are learning to solve lots of problems involving fractions, decimals, and percentages. They will simplify fractions using common factors and will practise multiplying fractions. The key words for this section are common factor, numerator, denominator, improper fraction, and mixed number. They have leaned to use common factors to simplify fractions, compare and order fractions. They have also learnt to add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions writing the answers in their simplest forms.

Music

I have been very proud of the attitude of the students this term.

The children have begun to learn how to play the ukulele. By following a PowerPoint, they have learnt how to hold, tune and strum a ukulele. They have begun to play chords C and A Minor and move between them in time to a pulse beat.

I have used a website called ‘ukualiens’ which allows the children to play along to current music which they thoroughly enjoyed.

Panjabi

In Year 6 this term we are learning all 7 sets of Panjabi letters and revising our previous learning by reading and writing words and simple sentences with different symbol. Children are also working in Panjabi books. For speaking and listening our topic for this term is traditional sports of Panjab.

First, they shared their experiences with the whole class if they have seen or been to any of these sports to watch. After that we looked at the pictures and learnt the names of different sports in Panjabi. Children prepared a presentation and presented it to the whole class, which helps them to builds their confidence as Panjabi speakers.

Physical Education

Children in Y6 have been learning to play Hockey.  They have been practicing the skills needed to play the sport by taking part in stick and ball dribbling drills designed to improve control of the ball and hockey stick.

Fitness is a key factor when playing Hockey so we have been taking part in strenuous warm ups which have also helped warm us up in this cold weather!  We have learnt the correct way to hold the Hockey stick as well as run with the stick while keeping ourselves and those around us safe.

Children will be working on quick footwork skills and teamwork to improve on their game play.  These skills are transferable to many other team and individual sports and we will be discussing this in our lessons.

PSHE

Continuing with celebrating differences. To know some of the reasons why people use bullying behaviours. Children were given a variety of statements and they had to decide whether they were bullying or not bullying.

Children worked in pairs to decide this and had to justify their answers. They also had to explain how each in the scenario may be feeling and keep in mind the following fact: “Bullying doesn’t just happen once, it is deliberate and unfair”.

Children had to use empathy and explain how being bullied in the scenario could affect them and how to manage their feelings in that situation and what they could do about it.

Religious Education

Continuing with the topic – Christianity.

We explored what Epiphany is and when and how it is celebrated. Epiphany celebrates the end of the twelve days of Christmas. Children learnt about the three kings and where they came from and the meaning of the three gifts that they gave to Baby Jesus.

Children completed a quiz to test their knowledge and understanding.

We were extremely lucky to learn and talk about Lohri, a Panjabi cultural festival. Students spoke about the festival and how they were going to celebrate this special time with their families.

Science

Everything Changes

In this challenging unit, our children will learn to build on their knowledge of living organisms and how they are adapted to particular environments. They will be introduced to the idea that variation in organisms results in the species becoming better adapted and that the process of natural selection.

We have also introduced our children to microscopes and their use in scientific study. We have described the function of all the various parts of the microscopes from the magnification lenses to the arms that hold the specimen slides in place. The children thoroughly enjoyed using these to examine both prepared slides and water droplets under a microscope.

Sikh Studies

This term in Sikh Studies children have been looking at Sikh history and creating a timeline of all the different historical events in Sikhi. Children looked at different years and had to work out what significant events happened in Sikh history on those particular years.

In the end they decided to create a timeline of the Guru’s period and were given a set of years to put in order and label the different historical events that took place on those dates. For example, years of Gurpurabs of different Guru Sahibs and their Shaheedis too.