Welcome to Life at KPS for Year 6

Mrs Nanda and Mrs Vitellaro 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.

November 2021

Art

In Art we thought about the following questions when focusing on our designs: To what extent did Peruvian history influence our designs? What influenced us to create our patterns?

We developed our knowledge of designing through observational drawings by using the style of Peruvian artist Olinda Silvano. We used a variety of techniques to add interesting effects. Our designs reflected a mixture of using pastels and water colouring techniques.

We used the image of a llama/rainbow mountain and used our observational skills to sketch the image adding interesting detail and effects.

Computing

Pupils have been working really hard on their PowerPoint Presentations on Mount Picchu. They have been learning what makes a good poster and developed the following skills: how to use their text box tools, picture tools, hyperlinking of slides and how to disable animation in order to present the presentation on a large screen to a bigger audience. Some children are now ready to add in an audio file and we will be recording some video clips to insert a video file too. Children also learnt about a radio button and how it can be used.

English

We have now published our final pieces of writing for this topic; we wrote an advertising blurb about Peru and then wrote in role and provided Trip Advisor reviews.

We really enjoyed writing in role as different holiday-makers including as an older couple who had some complaints about the hotel and a young boy who had a great time with his family; role-playing as these people really prepared us to write in varying levels of formality.

I am very impressed with the vocabulary the children used and the beautiful descriptions of Peru – it really helps to create a picture in the readers’ mind.

Geography

This month we have been learning about biomes and climate zones.

We learned the differences between six of the main biomes: tundra, desert, savannah, rainforest, grassland and forest.

We looked at where int eh world each biome is located and whether there is a connection between the equator (the warmest place on earth) and the biome/climate zone.

Next, we will be looking at the features of each zone and how animals and plants have adapted to live there.

We have also continued to test ourselves on the continents, countries, oceans and major cities using our class map display.

Maths

This term we have been solving mathematical problems using short and long division. We also looked at how factors help to solve division of three/four-digit numbers with a two-digit number.

We looked at how to differentiate between common factors and multiples. We applied our knowledge and skills to use common factors to simplify fractions as well.

We discussed what Prime are and how to identify first 20 prime numbers; we would be able to utilise our skills to identify prime numbers in one hundred grid as well. We used our knowledge of multiplication to solve square and cube numbers.

Music

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

The Children have further developed their singing skills and pitch, in particular singing in 4 parts.
They have discussed rules to create a first class performance and have followed them well.
The rounds they have sung are the moon round and a Christmas ostinato.
Instrumentally, they have learnt about the 12 bar blues and accompanied the song ‘Green onions’ using the 12 bar blues structure on the chime bars.
In addition they have begun to improvise using specific notes to complement the melody.

Panjabi

In Year 6 the main focus of this term was on Guru Nanak Dev Ji because we celebrated the Prakash Dehara of Dhan Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Children were practicing their parts to say in the assembly in Panjabi and were learning the shabads by heart. As well as learning the three teachings, we learnt about their meanings and how to incorporate them into our lives.  We then looked at a story called Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Haridwar. Year6 children were main pupils holding this assembly so they took part in as Panjabi speakers and other sewas such as doing Anand Sahib and Ardas and serving Langer.

Physical Education

This month in PE the children in Y6 have started their Junior Leader program.

Junior Leaders take part in a training program where they learn a range of playground games and then practice setting up the games and organizing them for younger children in Key stage 1.

Once the children have learnt the games and necessary organizational skills to set up and arrange these games they start to teach the games to youngers children during their Lunch times.  This gives our children in Y1 and 2 the chance to play a wider range of sports/games during their Lunch times and also teaches our Y6 children lessons regarding responsibility, organizing, team work and time keeping.

The children have practiced the games by teaching Y2 during their PE lessons and by the end of the month they will start their new roles in the school as Junior Leaders!

PSHE

This month we are learning about Celebrating Differences.

We are learning that there are different perceptions about what normal means.

We watched a video clip of a young boy with a Visual impairment who talked about how this affected his life.

We were able to identify what strengths he had,how he wanted to be treated by other students in his school and how he felt about his disability.

For a clearer understanding we did a class activity imagining if a visually impaired child came to our school, how can we as a school can help and support that child.

Religious Education

We have been continuing with the theme Beliefs and Practices and what is the best way for a Muslim to show commitment to God.

We looked closely at the fourth pillar of Islam ‘Sawn’ and during the month of Ramadan every year, Muslims do not eat or drink at all during the hours of daylight.

For a clearer understanding we watched a video and we had to jot down why Muslims fast? We learnt that fasting is a way of showing that Muslims are living in the way that God wants and also remembering people who are hungry.

We revisited all the other pillars of Islam to make sure that we have a clear understanding of the topic covered.

Science

This term we continued with our biological module and our children were fortunate enough to witness a sheep’s heart being dissected! This meant that the children were able to visualize the heart’s anatomy as well as getting the opportunity to feel the heat tissue. They also used microscopes to see what the heart muscle looks like close up.

In addition, the children also had the opportunity to listen to the CEO from General Electric talk to the children about renewable energy as part of the new STEM ENTUSE project. Mr. Kevin O’Neill was very impressed by our children’s knowledge and the “challenging questions” that they were asked. He stated, “I feel really energized after listening to the children today!”

We will keep you posted on how our projects are progressing – watch this space!

Sikh Studies

This term in Sikh Studies we have been looking at historical Gurdwaras in India and learning the history about them. The most famous historical Gurdwaras we have looked at Sri Nankana Sahib and Sri Harmandir Sahib.

Children looked at the history of each Gurdwara and also a recent video diary/documentary of the Gurdwaras to see what it looks like from inside and outside.

This has helped the children write a diary entry as if they were there. Others have written a fact file by using all the facts learnt of the history linked to each Gurdwara.