Autumn Term 2011

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YEAR 6

Curriculum Reviews

Autumn Term 2011

Branksome Heath Middle School

YEAR 6 Curriculum Review - Autumn Term 2011

YEAR 6 TEAM
Ms Locke, Miss Hedges (soon to become Mrs Coole), Ms Collins, Mrs Irwin are the class teachers.. Additional Literacy & Numeracy groups will also be taught by Miss Tinsley and Mrs Robjohns.

INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the start of the Year 6 for you and your child. We recognize how important this year is and would like to take the opportunity to inform you of the areas of study within the curriculum for this term.

LITERACY
We are especially seeking to develop writing skills throughout the year. We will study a range of different texts this term, centred round our Humanities topics. We will use these to develop children's ability to write a narrative text, appreciate what is meant by biography and autobiography and be able to write non chronological and journalistic reports.

NUMERACY
The children will participate in a daily Maths lesson during which time they are split into smaller ability groups in order to tailor teach more successfully to their individual needs. All groups will follow closely the National Numeracy Strategy and so the same topics will be covered by all at different levels. These topics will be mental calculation, pencil and paper procedures relating to division and multiplication, place, value, money, real life problems, fractions, decimals and percentages.

SCIENCE
This term Science work will include a study of the human body and how it works, along with which foods are healthy and necessary for growth and development. A further unit of work on materials and reversible and irreversible changes will provide opportunities for practical experimentation.

HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY
This term we will be studying John Lennon's life as our History topic and life in Tynohir in the Welsh mountains during Geography.

MUSIC AND DRAMA
The children will be working on a Shakespeare play during the first part of the term, then learning about speed, temp, pitch and rhythm. They will learn to use and recognize a variety of musical notes.

ART AND DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
Topics will be rotated throughout Year 6. Over the year these will include:
Art skills (perspective, landscape and motion)
Dips for a picnic
Balancing mechanisms
Victorian samplers
Masks/puppets

PE/GAMES
This will consist of Invasion games focusing on Tag Rugby, Hockey, Football and Netball. Gymnastics will follow the themes of 'balancing' and 'rolling'.

RE
For the whole term children will be studying the religion of 'Sikhism' and finding out about its key beliefs, special places, books and festivals. Throughout their studies we will be drawing links and contrasts with other religions, especially Christianity.

ICT
All children will have the opportunity to work in our Computer Suite at least once a week. This term we will be learning how to stay safe on the internet and to add links to presentations.

PSHE
We recognize the value of Personal, Social and Health Education to all children in a sometimes stressful and dangerous world. Therefore, one lesson a week will be given over to this important area of the curriculum. This term children will explore a variety of issues as part of the Rainbow Scheme of Work. This term's themes are 'New Beginnings' and 'Getting on and falling out'.

HOMEWORK
The pattern for homework in Year 6, in accordance with school policy is half an hour a night. The pattern is as follows:-

Monday, Tuesday & Thursday -   Reading
Wednesday      Maths - this will be a separate     book. Other homework will be in their homework book
Friday               Project work on a person from the 1960s
(Explained in children's journals).

TRIPS/VISITORS
We hope Year 6 will be visited by a speaker as part of their RE studies in Sikhism.

We believe that a strong partnership between school and home is vital to help children succeed at their studies and would encourage you to support your children in their homework. For the project work especially, trips to the library or relevant local attractions are invaluable. A good dictionary and thesaurus are essential.

We hope this outline of the term's main areas of study is helpful to you. Please discuss any questions or concerns with your child's teacher.