to Year 6 Kestrels class from Mrs Dyas, Mrs Lara and Mr Jackson.

Important information for this term:

• • • Boosters start on Wedneday 15th January (for selected pupils).  They will take place on the following days: 15th Jan, 22nd Jan, 29th Jan and 5th Feb.
    • Parents' Evenings will be on Tuesday 11th February (5:00-7:00) and on Wednesday 12th February (3:45-5:45).
    • Mock SATS will take place on the week beginning Monday 3rd February.
    • World Book Day is on Thursday 6th February - details to follow soon!
    • Year 6 Maths Cafe is on Friday 7th February - parents and carers are invited into the classroom at 9:15 to take part in some maths games and activities.

English in Spring 1

I

During Spring 1, we will continue to use the novel Holes by Louis Sachar as a stimulus for discussion of character, plot and setting and this exploration will lead to the main long writes of a formal letter and a non-chronological report. Specific themes of interest in the novel are those of: Justice; Friendship; Man vs Nature; Power; Money; Cruelty vs Kindess; Fate and Destiny. It is a fabulous, thought-provoking book that we are really excited to delve into with the children.

Literacy Skills:

• SPAG is intergrated into English lessons, but we will also focus on one specific grammatical device per week, so that we are gradually building a bank of knowledge across this area.
• Spellings are set and tested every week and pupils will be provided time to practise in class, whilst also being expected to work on them at home.
• A handwriting intervenion group is on going, for those children still developing their skills,  and two Reading Fluency Groups are being lead by Mrs Dyas and Mrs Lara across the week (for selected children). 
• Kestrelss are expected to read to an adult at home at least three times per week and this will be monitored in class; pupils working towards completing reward cards that lead to a prize awarded by Mr Lewis.
• After- school Reading Comprehension BOOSTERS are also going to be offered to a select few pupils, beginning this half-term, in order to offer further support to those deemed in need.

Maths in Spring 1

In Maths, we have begun the term looking at:

We will then work through the following units:

We will also be completing arithmetic assessments twice a week to help children build fluency and improve their skills. 

Times Tables continue to be a priority.  Children are encouraged to use TTRS, Doodle times tables and worksheets (available in the classroom) to continue to practise their skills at home.

Arithmetic intervention groups (for short 20 minutes sessions) take place in the afternoons with Mrs Lara to help children with areas where further practice is required.

 After-school Boosters, for a small select group, will begin this half-term and letters will be sent to parents whose children are being invited to attend.

Geography in Spring 1

Year 6 will study the unit  

Where does our energy come from?

We will be looking at the following questions to guide our learning: 

Why is energy important?

What is renewable energy?

How do the United States and the United Kingdom generate their energy?

What is the best way to generate energy?

Where is the best place for a solar panel in the grounds of Livingstone Primary School?

Science in Spring 1

Year 6 will be studying 

Living things and their Habitats: Discovering Experts Unit with Mr Jackson.

PSHE in Spring 1

Year 6 will be focusing on Being Responsible with a unit on Stealing. 

DT in Spring 1

Our unit in Design and Technology is:

Designing and making a cushion.

Here are few examples from last year:

PE in Spring 1

Swimming and gymnastics

Our PE lesson will be on Wednesdays and Fridays

Children in Kestrels class need to come to school dressed in their P.E. kit on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Bring your swim bag on Wednesdays!

You will need: blue t-shirt, black shorts/leggings/jogging bottoms and sensible, outside trainers.  Please ensure your child takes their earrings out on PE days.

Remember, the values you develop in sport will carry across into your academic work and all that you do in school and outside school.

Strive to be your very best!

We encourage Kestrels class to think about this question on a daily basis:

How do you demonstrate these values whilst being physically active, when playing competitive sport, during PE lessons and, most importantly of all, in your everyday life?

RE in Spring 1

Kestrels will be looking at

What difference does the resurrection make to Christians?

Music in Spring 1

Year 6 will be looking at Classroom Jazz and A New Year's Carol.

ICT in Spring 1

Mr Jackson is busy using Purple Mash to teach the children about spreadsheets.  

Spanish in Spring 1

Kestrels will be finishing their unit on El Tiempo (the weather) before moving on to their new unit El Tiempo Libre en la ciudad (Freetime in the city).

Homework in Year 6

Homework is set on a Thursday and is handed in the following Wednesday.

If your child needs support in school, Mrs Lara and Mrs Dyas run a Homework Club on Tuesday and Friday lunchtimes.

Spellings - please practise at home.  Spelling tests are every Friday.   

We will also be practising a range of spellings from KS2 ready for the SATS Spelling Test.

See below for this term's spellings: