English

In English this month we have been learning how to effectively write to inform.  Using our topic – Unity in the Community – as a stimulus, we read positive news stories from around the UK and looked at the ingredients that made them effective.

One of the first things we noticed was the tone; we looked at the different levels of formality within different newspapers (tabloids vs broadsheets) and how writers achieve a more formal tone.

We also looked at the voice and when the active or passive was used.  We learned how to add in extra information using brackets, commas and a pair dashes.

After interviewing our very own Mrs Jas D, we learned how to go from indirect speech to direct speech and how a reporter does this seamlessly within sentences.

We are now planning our own newspaper reports to inform the reader about how our communities have united.

Maths

We have been learning to use our times tables to solve multiplication problems. We have used 5- digit multiplication with 2 or 3-digit number. We have also been learning that division is the sharing of a number and can use the formal written method of long division to solve division problems. We are able to identify when our answer has a remainder.

We have been solving number and practical problems involving place values. We can read write and understand what each digit represents in 6-digit numbers. We can apply our knowledge to addition and subtraction using place value. When we say ‘place value’, we mean the value of the digit, according to its place in the number. We also understand that the 0 is used as the place holder.

Music

Due to Covid restrictions, we have been unable to sing in large groups or use instruments across bubbles this term.

Despite restrictions, I have been really impressed with the focus and participation of year 6. So far this term, year 6 have listen to a song called ‘Memories’ which has focussed on caring for others in times of need. They have used the chime bars to play a melodic ostinato (short repeated tune) as an accompaniment to the song.

In addition, they have learnt to read and write notes on a stave. They have learnt that the notes in the spaces (starting with the bottom space) spells ‘ F A C E ’ and the notes in on the lines use the acronym: Eddie’s Green Boots Don’t Fit

The children understand how important it is to write the notes accurately on a stave and how the placement of the note determines the pitch.

Panjabi

In Year 6 children have been learning 6 sets of Panjabi letters. Children are reading and writing words by using these letters. This month they have also been learning how to make simple sentences in Panjabi like kp (ieh kp hY) and some children have been using adjectives in their sentences. Some children can read and write words and sentences with Kanna and Siharee symbols. For speaking and listening our topic for this term is different seasons of the year. Our main focus is on Autumn because they can see the changes in the weather and surroundings, so they can relate it to learning about different colours as well. We have also focused on the wellbeing of children during the pandemic, we have done this through a light discussion of what activities the children undertook during lockdown, as well as new ways to relax and have fun.

Physical Education (PE)

In PE we have been focusing on getting our fitness back with lots of exercise!  Children have been working hard on improving their stamina by running, speed walking and skipping!

Children have been taking part in the daily mile walk as well as participating in shuttle runs which have been designed to increase in difficulty from week to week.

Skipping has fast become a very popular hobby at our school and children will be lucky enough towards the end of this month to meet and skip with the Skipping Sikh!

PSHE

We have been learning about “Being me in my world” We have compared our school life with children in Ghana who work on a cocoa plantation. We have understand the difference between wants and needs by looking at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. We have also looked at different stories and made comparison to identify the needs that were met or not met for different individuals.

We were able to empathise with two different children to compare how the unmet needs might affect them and their ability to learn.

Religious Education (RE)

In RE this month we have been answering the key question: what is the best way for a Muslim to show commitment to God?

We have learned about the five pillars of Islam: Shahada – believing that there is one God and Muhammad is the messenger of God; Salat – praying 5 times a day; Zakat – donating money to charity; Sawn – fasting and Hajj – a pilgrimage to Mecca.

The children spoke to a guest speaker about charitable organisations in Slough that help vulnerable people by providing food and clothing.  The children shared their experiences of helping people less fortunate than themselves.

Science

In science this month, we have been learning about the circulatory system.  We began by researching the different parts and their functions: the heart, blood vessels, blood and lungs.

Next, we learned how blood transfers nutrients, oxygen and waste around the body by diffusion and osmosis.  We did a fun experiment using skittles to show the ‘nutrients’ diffusing from a high concentration to a low concentration.

We also designed an experiment to answer the question ‘does exercise affect pulse rate?’ which we found that it does and then we learned the reasons behind it.

Finally, we discussed keeping ourselves healthy with a balanced diet to get the correct nutrients that need.  We researched the different components of food and the positive and negative effects of them (eg. Sugar). We also looked at the many benefits of exercise.

Sikh Studies

In Sikh Studies this term, pupils have been learning about the 8^th Guru, Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji and what happened in history during the small pox epidemic in India during the 1600s. Children have been learning facts about Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji and also the story about what the 8^th Guru did during the smallpox epidemic in India.

They have then used what they have learnt to write either their own story in 3^rd person of Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji during that period in time or a diary entry in 1^st person of someone living in that time during the epidemic.