Year 6 being feature detectives.
In Literacy we have been learning about non-chronological reports. As a part of this we have been looking at a range of examples.
In one of our sessions we became features detectives. We were looking for ‘generalising vocabulary’ (such as some, mostly, sometimes, often), and technical vocabulary (such as habitat, environment, resources).
Some of us then tried to find synonyms for some of the words. Synonyms are words that have the same meaning (happy, joyful etc).
This week, Year 6 have been looking at maths in a different way!
One of the areas we looked at was speed. Speed is not always the best way – sometimes mathematicians need to think deeply.
We played a game called 25. If you are interested – please ask your child to explain. It was a game that seemed very simple but made us think deeply about each move to ensure we won.
When we played this game, we used physical equipment, recorded it visually and with digits. All of these methods helped us think more deeply about what we were doing.
During Literacy today, children were using conjunctions to link 2 independent clauses. In addition to this, they were using purple pen to further improve their sentences – clearly showing the progress they were making.
Today in maths, the children have been comparing and ordering fractions. Using mathematical logic and visualisation, they have been predicting which fraction is biggest. After predicting, they have used mathematical reasoning to prove whether they were correct or incorrect.
Have a look at the purple pen (purple for progress) on the work in the pictures. This shows a super reflective learning attitude.
Keep it up Holly Class!
In Holly class, we’ve been discussing positive attitudes to learning. This has included the importance of working in ‘The Learning Challenge Pit.’ The pupils know that they will learn a lot more effectively if they are appropriately challenged and are experiencing some form of a struggle.
The children are now able to reflect on their learning and challenge themselves by moving onto more difficult tasks within a session. As you can see in the example, ‘Purple for Progress’ has been used to show a brilliant reflective learning attitude.
Keep it up Holly Class!
Today, Holly Class spent the day at TCS, along with the other primary schools in the learning community, to take part in a music festival.
The children from Hazeldown worked with sixth-form students to create their own version of Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape of You.’ This included a range a percussion parts, guitars, glockenspiels and singers.
This fantastic rendition was performed in front of family members during the evening show! The children also collaborated with the other schools to sing ‘Soemthing Inside So Strong’ and ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling.’
It was a fantastic performance. Well done to all the children: You did us proud!
The video of the performance is coming soon…
During the first two days back, year 6 have been learning about some of the festivals celebrated in France. Some of which have included:
Jour de l’An (Bonne Annie), L’Epiphanie and La Chandeleur
They have learnt some of the key phrases relating to the food eaten at the festivals.
In addition to the language skills, children have also made Breton Biscuits which are popular in Brittany.
Inspired by our Trash Bash topic, Holly class have written a song to help encourage people to look after our local environment.
Year 5 and 6 will be performing this during our celebration event on Tuesday 17th October.
This week in maths, we have been using our understanding of place value to play this game from Nrich. There are several variations of the game…
You could be nice, or you could be nasty!
Why not challenge a family member?
During the first two days of year 6, children have carried out a variety of activities which relate to our learning values. These have included teamwork games which promote collaboration and trust such as: the human knot and the trust run.
Furthermore, the children have been sketching their self portraits using ‘Austin’s Butterfly’ as an inspiration.
Just before the children went on residential, Year 6 were presented with their leavers hoodies by Sandra Reynolds (on behalf of the school governors). All were excited and appreciative to receive a hoodie that had all the names of their year group on it. Many have worn them everyday since and they have been very handy while away!
The evening activities have been great fun and all the children have enjoyed them.
On Monday they got to swim and jump in the lake:
On Wednesday evening, despite the rain, most children headed off to the woods to build shelters and to toast marshmallows on the fire, whilst some stayed back to socialise and play on the games that Colehayes provides
The children are having an amazing time at Colehayes so far! They are loving the activities, loving the house and grounds as well as all the amazing food.
Here are some photos from the week thus far of them conquering fears, building character and resilience alongside developing their teamwork and leadership skills.
Thank you to Geoff from St John Ambulance for delivering such a detailed, interactive and engaging first aid session!
Year 6… Can you remember how to:
- Help someone who is choking?
- Put someone in the recovery position?
- Dress a wound?
- Help someone whose nose is bleeding?
With the temperatures soaring and year 6 being hot inside, we decided to take our learning out into the shade where we could feel the cool breeze!
Sewing, mod-roc, GarageBand and reflections all took place outside and the outcomes were fantastic! I’m sure we’ll be doing the same tomorrow if ths heatwave continues!
This afternoon, Year Six have had fun exploring the app ‘Scratch’ on the chrome books. They have learnt how to take photos of themselves, record their own sounds, make a game and create a settings. They have worked collaboratively and independently to develop their programming skills. There has certainly been a lot of laughter and fun with this learning.
It was a delightful surprise when Mrs Belfield visited year 6 this afternoon.
Thank you for helping with the sewing!
A talented writer from year 2, showed great risk taking by coming to share her fabulous story with the whole of year 6! Everyone was amazed at the quality of her writing, her vocabulary choices alongside her beautiful handwriting.
Two hazels were earnt and a very impressed year 6 were left in awe of what a child in year 2 was producing!
A very productive afternoon was had in Year 6 with everybody actively doing something creative linked to our topic of Native Americans. Maps of North America were made that identified the locations of the different tribes, large class totem poles were added to and covered in papier-mâché and the patterns for their moccasins were created in preparation to for their sewing this week.
We’ve had a great afternoon creating some Native American beats together as a class and within groups. We looked at dynamics including crescendos, diminuendos alongside introducing instruments in turn.
Thia afternoon Year 6 have spent time working collaboratively with their peers to create a map of North America. Not only did they have to negotiate with one another, but they also had to identify all of the American states as well as where the different tribes were located within the regions. They have all been very creative in their approach, and problem solved as they went.
A great day was had by all on Friday at Crealy Adventure Park. As we arrived, we raced straight towards the water slides and ‘Twister’. Many overcame their fears by taking risks, people were empathetic with one another and everybody had smiles on their faces, even though they had wet bottoms from going down the slides!
We were threatened by downpours regularly, but none came until 4pm which meant we got to stay outside and play on most of the rides. It wouldn’t have mattered if it rained though as the favourite rides and activities seemed to involve water! Thankfully, everyone bought a change of clothes!
The log flume, the rollercoaster, the flying machine were all but some of the favourites of many, but the massive game of tag played in the indoor area was a highlight for many.
Lots of tired children returned to school after a long, hard day playing, but full to the brim with smiles and ideas for the next writing topic.
Year 6 have had a great afternoon creating some fantastic artwork with the help from Mrs Parr, a professional artist and teacher. She taught them the signifcance of feathers for the Native Americans and how to mono-print with effect. I’m sure you’ll agree that the final outcomes are amazing and really effective.
Every Year 6 child got to experience and learn how to print and how to take their art to the next level. It was great to see them explore and experiment with a different type of media.
This morning the Year 6’s were visited by some current Year 7 pupils from TCS and their new year head: Mrs Mayne. They learnt about what to expect when they start at the school and reassured that everyone is really friendly and will help them, especially if they get lost!
Their visit certainly put the year 6’s at ease, with many more feeling excited about what lies ahead.
Well done year 6! What a fantastic SATs week! You all had super positive attitudes and demonstrated all of our learning values really well to tackle the tests. You’ve made us all really proud.
What a great start to Monday morning for year 5 and 6. We were greeted by an amazing story teller, Clive Pig, who shared some amazing stories and songs from North America.
Keep an eye out for photos from the rest of the activities from the rest of the day!
This afternoon, year 6 have been explaining their learning from the last 2 topics: Another Level and Inter Outer Space.
They have thought carefully about presenting their work in a creative way and have used impressive writing techniques to explain their in-depth knowledge of the scientific concepts.
The children have been working in their triads to complete the tasks included in our topic ‘Another Level.’
With a heavy science focus, children have learnt about food chains, adaptation and plant life. Furthermore, they have developed their art skills by drawing animals and the parts of plants and flowers.
Today’s speed tables!
This afternoon, Year 6 have been working in their trio’s to identify the different parts of a flower, understand what each of their functions are as well as learn about the life cycle of plants.
they had many questions and had to really problem solve each what each of the elements were and the job they do, but all managed it alongside working with their peers collaboratively.
Do you know what the features are for each part of the flower?
Here is today’s speed table.
Sorry it is late guys! Good luck on beating your previous time!
What a great day year 6 have had! Despite the early start, their spirits were high as we set off on our looonnnngggggg coach journey to Bristol. Upon arrival we were whisked off to the planetarium where we travelled to space, to multiple planets, before having a chance to explore the rest of the centre.
So much fun was had and a lot of learning took place also.
Thank you to all the parent helpers, but particularly Mrs Calladine and Mrs Hardee from everybody in year 6.
Here is your next instalment of ‘speed tables’ – see how fast you can get it done!
Have a go at your speed tables. Can you answer these quicker than your last go at them?
Remember you need to practise these words daily to help improve your spelling!
Congratulations to the year 5 and 6 boys who played in the football tournament last night!
Out of the 7 teams who participated, Hazeldown A won the competition and Hazeldown B finished a respectable 4th overall.
It was a fantastic event with some really close games. There were some spectacular individual performances, super collaboration within the teams and most importantly, a great effort from everyone who participated.
Well done!
Have a go at this speed table!!
Today, the children used their drama skills to retell a fable. They had to portray the character’s emotions by concentrating on their facial expressions and body language.
How fast can you complete these speed tables?
Here is Monday’s speed table for this week. Use your new arithmetic book to complete it in. This book does need to be back in school tomorrow though, so don’t forget!!
Keep showing that growth mindset and have a go at these speed tables. Can you beat your time from yesterday?
Here is your third speed table for you to have a go at. Make sure you are working hard on improving the speed in which you are completing these!
Here is your second speed tables to practise. Answer them as quick as possible and write the time of how long it took you to complete it.
How can you support your child leading up to SATs?
Dear Parent/Carer,
We are quickly approaching the SATs week and thought it would be helpful if we clearly explained the activities that your children should be doing in the next 9 weeks. Regularly completing additional work at home will certainly improve their knowledge and confidence in preparation for the tests. Therefore, the tasks listed below are essential to complete several times a week. Furthermore, it will help to prepare them for secondary school (as the home learning expectation increases significantly).
- Reading- Your child needs to be reading their book 5 times a week (Recommended 15 minutes) This might be independent but it is also beneficial to read with an adult
- Spellings- They must be practising the list of 10 spellings (from their group) at least 4 times a week. Additionally, they need to be learning all the words from the year 5 and 6 word list. (Choose a few each week to focus on). Helpful tip: repetitively write down the words in a creative way – word pyramids, bubble writing, different colours for certain letters etc.
- Speed tables– these will be blogged on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday which will be accessible on the website. Children will however get the opportunity in SOLE time to copy them down in their home learning books. They should take no longer than 5 minutes a night and they should be aiming to improve their score and pace each day.
- Arithmetic practice- 2 papers will be sent home a week. One handed out on a Friday (which will be handed in on a Monday so we can go through it as a class) and another handed out on Monday and back in for Thursday.
If your child experiences any difficulty with any aspect of home learning, we are happy to go through it with them during lunchtimes.
Half term
Over half term, please can children:
- learn the words from the year 5/6 word list (these were given out in year 5). The list is also available on the website. They will be tested on random selection when we return.
- Carry out the speed table challenge
- Complete the arithmetic practice paper
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Hardee, Miss McManus and Mr Goodenough