Bear Class (Year 6) 2023 - 2024

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to the class page for Bear Class.

Here you will find all of the exciting and wonderful things that your child will be learning during their time in Year 6. If you have any questions, please use Class Dojo or speak to a member of our team at drop off/ pick up.

Thank you 

Autumn 1 

In English this half term, we will be looking at the book 'Star of Fear, Star of Hope' by Jo Hoestlandt

In a sensitive and poignant portrayal of the events of the Holocaust, Star of Fear, Star of Hope introduces children to this difficult, but important topic.

Stars at morning, better take warning.
Stars at night, hope is in sight.

Helen recalls her childhood during the Nazi occupation of France and the mounting persecution of the Jewish people. On the eve of her birthday, Helen is excited to celebrate with her best friend Lydia. But when a fearful woman appears at Helen's house, Lydia suddenly wants to go home early, and Helen can't understand why. Does it have to do with the yellow star that both Lydia and this woman are wearing? Why are people in hiding and using strange names? What is Lydia afraid of?

Set during the World War II Nazi occupation of France, this is a powerful story of friendship, fear, and the hope we must always hold dear.

In our writing lessons, your child will have the opportunity to show off their creative flare and write for different purposes across the year. Writing in different styles will enable your child to become a better communicator and reader. 

In reading this half term, we will be delving into the text, 'Poems from the Second World War' by Gaby Morgan. This book will link perfectly to our English and our History. We will be looking onto different poems written during the war and focussing on skills such as:

We will be using our different VIPERS skills: Vocabulary, Infer, Predict, Explain, Retrieve and Summarise to improve our understanding of what we read.'

'Reading for Pleasure' has great amounts of benefits for your child. In Year 6, we ensure your child has time to read for pleasure and each day, we set time aside to read our class book for pleasure. 

Benefits of 'reading for pleasure':

Inspires imagination and creativity.

Enrinches cultural awareness and understanding. 

Increases empathy and improves relationships with others.

Lifts well-being levels and improves mood.

Improves progress in vocabulary, spelllings and even maths.

Encourages children to take a screen break.

Read with your child every day even if it is just 2 minutes- this can make all the difference. 
Record in their reading diaries to ensure that your child is receiving their stamp for their book from the vending machine, or reading buddy. 

You could ask your child about what they think might happen next in the story, how do they think the character is feeling, who is the author and what do they do. 

In maths this half term, we will be covering the topic of Place Value. During the math unit on place value, students will delve into the fundamental concept of understanding the numerical value of digits within a number. They will learn how to break down and interpret numbers based on the position of each digit, realizing that a digit's placement in a number determines its significance and value. Students will explore the decimal system, gaining proficiency in identifying and naming place values, such as ones, tens, hundreds, and beyond, extending to decimal places like tenths and hundredths.

During our maths topics, there is a large focus within TimesTables. We will, therefore, be building on our times table knowledge as we will be using this to help us solve our maths problems. 

Children will have ongoing access to their TT Rockstars logins at home. I will set your child specific times tables for them to practice. Please ensure that your child is practising them at home as it is very beneficial for their learning.

If you have misplaced your child's login, please drop me a message on Dojo and I will resend for you.

This half term in science we are going to look topic, Animals including Humans. This unit will build upon learning from their previous year groups. Children will embark on an exciting journey into the fascinating world of biology and anatomy. Throughout this unit, they will delve into the intricacies of the human body, exploring topics such as the circulatory system, respiratory system, and digestive system. They will learn about the vital role these systems play in sustaining life and maintaining overall health. Additionally, students will broaden their understanding of animals, comparing human biology to that of other creatures, examining the similarities and differences. They will also investigate the importance of nutrition, exercise, and personal hygiene in promoting well-being. This unit will empower students to make informed choices about their health and develop a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of all living beings on our planet.

Your child has learnt a new language during their time in Year 5, and that language is French! This half term, we will be going back right to the start to look back at all our learning throughout the year. We are also going to make sure our pronunciation is 'belle' ready for Year 6!

In History this half term, we are learning all about The World Wars! Teaching the unit called "The World Wars" is an essential and enlightening journey through the tumultuous chapters of human history that were World War I and World War II. This unit serves as a window into the complex web of political, social, and economic factors that led to these global conflicts. Delving into World War I, students will explore the intricate alliances and triggers that ignited the Great War, examining the devastating toll it took on societies and nations worldwide. Moving forward to World War II, the unit provides a profound understanding of the rise of totalitarian regimes, the Holocaust, and the monumental battles that reshaped the world. It is a poignant opportunity for students to not only grasp the significance of these wars but also to appreciate the enduring lessons they offer in diplomacy, human resilience, and the imperative of working towards lasting peace.

Your child will have a music lesson each week where they will learn to play and explore their musical abilities. This half term we will be looking at Ancient Worlds. The children will explore Ancient Greece with music inspired by Theseus, Orpheus and Echo. 

We will also look at singing Food and Drink! They will be serving up a feast of chants, songs and performances. Composing word rhythms, singing a round, and creating musical recipies!

Your child will have 2 PE lessons each week. Their days this half term are Tuesday and Thursday. Please ensure they come into school in their PE kit on these days. This half term we will be developing your child's orienteering skills as well as learning how to play rounders! 

 Mondays- Each Monday, your child will be given 10 spellings to learn over the course of the week. They will complete a spelling test each Friday, and, if they receive a mark of 10/10,  they will get a Dojo point. They will have opportunities to learn their spellings each morning in class, however, extra practice at home is essential.

Thursdays- Each Thursday, your child will be given either maths or English homework (alternating weeks). Homework is expected to be in the following Tuesday via the portfolio section of our class Dojo page. Children who have completed their homework on time will be given a Dojo point. 

Every day- Your child should read as often as possible when not in school and this should be logged via the Go-Read app, if you can not access this, simply write on a scarp piece of paper the name of the book your child has read aand the pages they have read and we can log this for you. 

Please note: I will often upload additional activities and links for your child to support their learning at home, however this is not specific homework, this is just a little extra for them. For example, I may upload interactive links to games that I know they will like. 

Other useful links:

Please see below links to useful websites for your child to use when they are at home. I will be adding to the list throughout the course of the year so please make sure you check for updated links.

Oxford Owl - Linked to our phonics Read, Write Inc programme https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading/free-ebooks/   

Story Nory - A range of stories by classic authors as well as poems musicals and fairytales. https://www.storynory.com/archives/classic-authors 

Story Berries- Read along with audio clips. https://www.storyberries.com

Monkey Pen-  Free downloadable children’s books in PDF format. https://monkeypen.com/pages/free-childrens-books

Free Children’s Stories-  https://www.freechildrenstories.com

Keeping Safe Online-  www.esafety.gov.au/kids 

Topmarks- A great way for children to practise many of their maths skills https://www.topmarks.co.uk/Search.aspx?Subject=16&AgeGroup=3

Newsround is a very good outlet for your child to watch each day to gain a wider understanding of what is happening not only in our country, but the rest of the world. We will be watching newsround every afternoon in class.