Welcome to Year 6!
Meet the Staff:
Class Teacher: Emma Witham
Teaching Assistant: Chris Purchase
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Click here to read the Class Newsletter - TERM 1
Click here to read the Class Newsletter - TERM 2
Click here to read the Class Newsletter - TERM 3
Click here to read the Class Newsletter - TERM 4
Click here to read the Class Newsletter - TERM 5
Year 6 Learning Overview – Term 6
Core Text: The Watertower by Gary Crew and Steven Woolman
In Term 6, Year 6 pupils will be consolidating their primary school learning while preparing confidently for the transition to secondary school. Our learning will focus on independence, reasoning, creativity, collaboration and reflection. Through our core text, The Watertower, pupils will explore suspense, inference and mystery, while developing their writing and discussion skills across the curriculum.
English – The Watertower
This term, Year 6 will use The Watertower as their main text. This atmospheric and mysterious picture book will support pupils in developing their ability to infer meaning from both words and images. Pupils will explore how authors and illustrators create tension, uncertainty and suspense.
Children will:
- analyse character behaviour, setting and atmosphere;
- explore themes of mystery, fear, change and uncertainty;
- develop inference and prediction skills;
- write descriptive passages using precise vocabulary;
- create suspenseful narratives inspired by the text;
- use dialogue and internal thoughts to reveal character;
- revisit key Year 6 writing skills, including cohesion, punctuation, sentence structure and vocabulary choices.
As pupils approach the end of Year 6, they will also continue to refine their editing and proofreading skills so that their writing is accurate, ambitious and ready for the demands of Key Stage 3.
Maths – Algebra, Investigations and Preparation for KS3
In Maths, pupils will consolidate their Year 6 learning and begin preparing for the mathematical expectations of secondary school. A key focus will be algebra, where children will explore patterns, unknown values and equations.
Children will:
- use letters and symbols to represent numbers;
- solve simple equations and missing-number problems;
- identify patterns and describe rules;
- apply reasoning to mathematical investigations;
- explain their thinking clearly using mathematical vocabulary;
- revisit key arithmetic and problem-solving strategies;
- prepare for the transition into Key Stage 3 Maths.
Pupils will be encouraged to think flexibly, justify their methods and explore different ways of solving problems.
Science – Evolution and Inheritance
In Science, Year 6 will be learning about evolution and inheritance. Pupils will explore how living things have changed over time and how characteristics are passed from parents to offspring.
Children will:
- understand that fossils provide evidence about living things from the past;
- learn how animals and plants adapt to suit their environments;
- explore how adaptation can lead to evolution over long periods of time;
- investigate inherited characteristics and variation;
- learn about the work of scientists such as Charles Darwin and Mary Anning;
- explain how living things are suited to their habitats.
This unit will encourage pupils to ask scientific questions, use evidence and explain changes in living things over time.
Geography – Locational Knowledge and Human and Physical Characteristics
In Geography, pupils will develop their locational knowledge of the United Kingdom and countries around the world. They will explore key human and physical characteristics, making links between places, environments and how people live.
Children will:
- locate countries, cities, oceans and continents using maps and atlases;
- identify key features of the United Kingdom;
- compare human and physical characteristics of different places;
- use geographical vocabulary to describe locations;
- explore how physical features influence settlement and land use;
- consider similarities and differences between the UK and other countries around the world.
Pupils will continue to build their confidence using maps, geographical language and evidence to explain what makes places unique.
History – Local History
In History, Year 6 will explore aspects of local history, helping pupils understand how Greenwich and the surrounding area have changed over time. They will investigate the people, places and events that have shaped the local community.
Children will:
- explore significant historical features of the local area;
- use sources to find out about the past;
- compare past and present aspects of local life;
- understand how local history links to wider national history;
- ask historical questions and use evidence to support their ideas.
This unit will help pupils develop a stronger sense of place and understand the rich history of their local community.
Religious Education – Understanding Faith and Belief in Greenwich Borough
In RE, pupils will learn about faith and belief within Greenwich Borough. They will consider the diversity of religious and non-religious communities in the local area and reflect on how beliefs influence people’s lives.
Children will:
- explore different faiths and beliefs represented in Greenwich;
- consider how people express their beliefs through worship, festivals, values and community life;
- discuss similarities and differences between different worldviews;
- develop respectful questioning and discussion skills;
- reflect on the importance of tolerance, respect and community cohesion.
This learning will support pupils in understanding the diverse communities around them and the importance of living well together.
Design Technology – Cooking and Nutrition: Bread Making
In Design Technology, pupils will be focusing on cooking and nutrition through bread making. They will learn about ingredients, food preparation, hygiene and the process of designing and making a food product.
Children will:
- explore different types of bread and their purposes;
- learn how ingredients work together;
- practise measuring, mixing, kneading and shaping dough;
- understand the importance of food hygiene and safety;
- design and make their own bread product;
- evaluate the taste, texture, appearance and suitability of their final product.
This unit will help pupils develop practical life skills while also encouraging creativity and evaluation.
Computing – Programming: Creating a Solution to a Problem
In Computing, pupils will use programming skills to create a solution to a problem. They will think carefully about how technology can be used purposefully and how programs can be designed, tested and improved.
Children will:
- identify a problem that can be solved using programming;
- design an algorithm to achieve a goal;
- use coding skills to create a program;
- test and debug their work;
- evaluate whether their solution is effective;
- refine their program based on feedback.
This unit will strengthen pupils’ computational thinking, problem-solving and resilience.
Music – Music Technology: Grime
In Music, Year 6 will explore music technology through the genre of Grime. Pupils will learn how beats, rhythm, lyrics and digital tools can be combined to create expressive and modern music.
Children will:
- explore the features of Grime music;
- listen to and discuss examples of music technology;
- create rhythms, beats and patterns;
- experiment with digital sounds and loops;
- consider how lyrics and music can communicate ideas;
- compose and perform their own music using technology.
This unit will allow pupils to develop their creativity while exploring a significant contemporary music genre.
PSHE – Changing Me
In PSHE, pupils will focus on the theme of “Changing Me”. This unit will support children as they reflect on growing up, managing change and preparing for secondary school.
Children will:
- discuss physical and emotional changes as they grow older;
- explore feelings linked to transition and change;
- consider how to manage worries and build confidence;
- reflect on friendships, identity and personal goals;
- prepare for the move from primary to secondary school;
- celebrate their achievements and personal growth.
This unit will help pupils develop confidence, self-awareness and a positive mindset for the next stage of their education.
PE – Athletics
In PE, pupils will develop their athletics skills, focusing on running, jumping and throwing events. They will work on improving technique, stamina, speed and personal performance.
Children will:
- practise sprinting and longer-distance running;
- develop jumping techniques;
- improve throwing accuracy and distance;
- take part in individual and team challenges;
- measure and compare performance;
- show resilience, sportsmanship and determination.
Pupils will be encouraged to set personal targets and recognise the importance of effort, improvement and fair play.
French – Describing Weather
In French, pupils will learn how to describe the weather. They will build their vocabulary and practise speaking, listening, reading and writing in French.
Children will:
- learn key weather phrases;
- describe the weather using simple sentences;
- practise pronunciation and conversational language;
- read and understand short weather reports;
- write simple sentences about the weather;
- make links between weather, seasons and locations.
This unit will help pupils grow in confidence when using French in practical, everyday contexts.
Preparing for Secondary School
Alongside the curriculum, Term 6 will be an important time for transition. Pupils will be supported to reflect on their time at Nightingale, celebrate their achievements and prepare for the exciting move into Year 7.
Across the term, we will continue to develop:
- independence;
- organisation;
- resilience;
- respectful communication;
- confidence in learning;
- readiness for Key Stage 3.
We are incredibly proud of our Year 6 pupils and look forward to celebrating their final term at Nightingale Primary School.
We look forward to a successful and rewarding term. Thank you for all the support you provide at home – it truly makes a difference.
The Year 6 Team