Curriculum Statement
Year 6
Term One
September 2015
LITERACY
At the start of the year we will check over our grammar
and punctuation to remind pupils of learning last year. Later on children will be
looking at formal writing. The main focus will be on guide books and the language
they use to appeal to people. We will be learning from real guides and having a go
at guiding people around school.
In another topic this term will be looking at examples of biographies and autobiographies. These non
-fiction texts allow your child to see the world through the eyes of another. We will read many different
life stories to try to understand how they are written. The children will be learning all about ways in which
these accounts are written and what type of language is used. They will learn that
an autobiography is written by the person whom the story is about, whereas a
biography is a recount of someone else’s life. Later in the term children will be
learning all about journalistic writing and how newspaper reports are published. We
will also explore and experiment with how to write a newspaper report and look at
different non-fiction texts to discover how they are constructed.
Later this term we will be studying extended narrative writing. This reinforces work
on narrative, dialogue and settings from previous knowledge. Using a variety of stories, children will
explore different texts and analyse ways in which the author has conveyed their message to the reader.
They will create their own linear stories using texts they have already read as a guide. The children will
learn how to write sustained stories, using their knowledge of story elements: narrative, settings,
characterisation, dialogue and language of story. These skills are an essential element to extended story
writing which helps to keep the story understandable, at a steady pace and exciting to the reader.
Moreover, it further develops children's engagement with, and motivation for, fiction writing, through
exploring and then creating the kind of quest-type text adventure that forms the basis for many
electronic games. This will encourage your child to become an independent thinker and develop a
creative and enquiring mind. At the same time, it will allow children to engage in more complex texts that
will assist them in undertaking literacy work in the following term.
Also this term we will be concentrating on aspects of poetry. We will be learning the language of poetry
and how to construct a poem using new vocabulary learned in the classroom. We will be looking closely
at the power of imagery, digging deeply into hidden meaning in text and exploring ideas. We will also be
finding out about poets from around the world and learning some classic poems.
Relevant books/authors:
Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone, The Diary of Anne Frank - Anne Frank; Alice in Wonderland - Lewis
Carroll; Sue Palmer—Writing for Children ; Stig of the Dump - Clive King and Edward Ardizzone; The Diary Of a
Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney;The Story of Tracey Beaker - Jacqueline Wilson; Another Forgotten Child - Cathy Glass;
Related websites/resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/english/reading/ (highly recommended)
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/ks2literacy.htmll
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/literacy.html (highly recommended)
http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/literacy.html (highly recommended)
Vietnamese Literacy
During the first half term we will be studying Fiction genres. We will read the
wide range of genres. The children will be exploring further the features of
science fiction stories, legends and detective stories.
In another topic this term will be looking at examples of biography and
autobiography. These non-fiction texts allow your child to have knowledge
about Ho Chi Minh. We will research and plan a biographical newspaper article
about Uncle Ho. The children will be learning about the features of
autobiography; writing Ho Chi Minh’s autobiography .
In the second half of the term we will lead to our next topic of the term; a brief revisiting of poetry in
‘Finding a Voice’ . In this exciting topic the children will learn the language of poetry and how to read a
poem to full advantage. They will also explore an issue meaningful to them and, at the same time
read, respond, analyse and evaluate a range of poems about that issue, they will then write their own
poems in response to the issue. Later in the term children will be learning all about journalistic writing
and how newspaper reports are published. We will also explore and experiment with how to write a
newspaper report and look at different non-fiction texts to discover how they are constructed.
Vietnamese Studies
In this term, we will studying about Geography and History of Vietnam. During Vietnamese Studies
lesson, all of children will have some activities to explore new thing about Vietnam.
Relevant books/authors:
Ngoài hành tinh - Davido Russell; Cuộc chiến với hành tinh Fantom - Nguyễn Bình; Người vận hành
thời gian - Justin Richards; Cho tôi xin một vé đi tuổi thơ - Nguyễn Nhật Ánh; Kính vạn hoa - Nguyễn
Nhật Ánh; Góc sân và khoảng trời - Trần Đăng Khoa.
Related websites/resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/vietnamese/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZJDNSp1QJA
http://socnhi.com/
http://www.ybook.vn/ebook/64/cuoc-chien-hanh-tinh-fantom
Modern Foreign Languages
Modern
Foreign
Languages
develops
language
proficiency and fosters critical thinking about our own
and other cultures. As part of this, they will look at
festivals, such as the ‘Day of the Dead’. In lessons
children will be learning about countries that speak
Spanish, their culture, festivals and how they are
linked to our own. Also, children will be learning
language skills in Spanish. This gives children an
opportunity to understand the world around them as
well as make comparisons between our own culture.
TOPIC—
‘They See the World Like This’
Later in the term the work in Year 6 takes on an artistic feel for our new topic of ‘They See The World Like
This’. Children will be learning that people have been making impressions of the world since prehistoric
times when they painted animals on the walls of caves. Children will create their impression of the world
through art. They will learn that that the study of art is concerned with visual expression and
communication of a particular view of the world. Furthermore, they will learn how to consider works of art
in terms meaning, design, materials, technique, place and time. They will be looking at the different
techniques used by artists such as ‘Impressionism’ and giving their opinions on their work. This helps the
children to understand that the work of artists is influenced by their environment and that artists have an
effect on the environment.
Related websites/resources:
http://kids.tate.org.uk/
http://www.eduweb.com/pintura/
http://www.drawingwithshapes.com/
Building a Village
In the second half term children are going to find out about the places where
people live. In our ‘Building a Village’ topic they will look at types of housing in a
range of countries as well as different historical periods and societies. We will
consider why people choose to settle in a particular area, and look further into
issues such as the affordability of buying or renting a house, convenient transport
links to their place of work, availability of good local schools and hospitals, a
variety of shops, restaurants and recreational amenities. Children will be
contrasting modern day life with that of their ancestors, who would have been
more concerned about fulfilling their most basic human needs – a fresh and
reliable supply of water, food and fuel supplies, the availability of local building
materials and a defensive location to protect them from hostile neighbours. This
will enable children to look at the wider picture and get a sense of continuity especially in their own
country and community.
These topics will allow the children to have a greater understanding of their own country.
How you can support at home:
•
If you have travelled, please discuss your travels around the world with your child. Talk about your
trip and how you travelled there, where you stayed and maybe new friends you met. This will fire
your child’s mind for adventure and give him/her a sense of the excitement of travel.
•
Please allow your child to watch some interesting television programs on geography - tourism in
particular - and what types of tourism and methods of travel are now on offer.
•
It would be very helpful if you would allow your child to read some tour guide material or allow them
to visit the local tourist information centers.
Related websites/resources:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/places/find/vietnam/
http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/vietfacts.htm
MATHEMATICS –
This term’s work reinforces and extends areas previously covered. The
oral and mental activities involve addition and subtraction (including
decimals) and multiplication and division of whole numbers. Children
continue to develop skills, counting on and back in steps of 0.1, 0.2,
0.25 and 0.5, doubling two digit numbers (including decimals) and
multiples of 10 to 1000 together with corresponding halving. They will
also learn how to multiply and divide multiples of 10 (including decimals)
and derive quickly the division facts corresponding to tables up to 10 x
10. Estimating, approximating, ordering and rounding numbers to 1 000
000 together with written methods using columns for addition and subtraction (including decimals),
short multiplication and short division will be taught. Ordering common and decimal fractions, finding
equivalences, ratio, proportion and percentages are extended. Line graphs and bar charts with
grouped discrete data, simple probability, acute and obtuse angles, 2-D, 3-D shapes, perimeters
(including formulae), measures and shape and number sequences are all developed. Calculator skills
will also be extended.
How you can support at home:
The maths work your child is doing at school may look very different to the
kind of ‘sums’ you remember. This is because children are encouraged to
work mentally, where possible, making personal notes to help support their
thinking. Even when children are taught more formal written methods they
are only encouraged to use these methods for calculations they cannot solve
in their heads.
Here are some ways in which you can help your child.
•
Play mental maths games
•
In the shops — look at prices, add/subtract/divide money
•
Try a range of calculation — estimate first then use a calculator
•
Practise times tables together — make a game or competition
Related websites/resources:
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/maths/
http://www.mad4maths.com/parents/links/
http://www.mathszone.co.uk/
P.S.H.E. – In PSHE we are learning all about our new beginnings. This looks at beginning new
experiences such as coming to a new school, making new friends and understanding new ways in
which to learn. We will be exploring how we can learn to think independently and look after
ourselves. We will be brainstorming many important questions about our social welfare and thinking
of new ways in which we can help others. We will also be learning how to think about ourselves, learn
from our experiences and recognise what we are good at. We will also learn about each other and
look at issues of respect, personal cleanliness and self-respect. During the first term we will also focus
on our BIS ‘Golden Rules’. Each week, the children have an opportunity to discuss a ‘Golden Rule’ and
how they can adhere to these and support each other. We will look at how we can be good friends
and care for each other and our belongings. Finally, we will look at how we can try our best, not only
in class, but also in our relationships.
SCIENCE – In term 1A we will be looking at ‘Living Things and there
Environment’. This topic is looking at classifying animals and how they have
changed to suit their environment. The desert is one of the most inhospitable
places on Earth yet it is home to a great variety of wildlife with plants including
cacti and animals such as the gila woodpecker, the wind scorpion and the
meerkat. How is life in the desert possible without water?
In Term 1B we will be looking at Evolution and Inheritance. First there was
the big bang! Then life began on Earth 3.8 billion years ago. But when did
humans arrive and where did we come from? If we can find out the answer to
these questions perhaps we can figure out where we are heading in the
future…
How you can help your child at home: Encourage your child to take part in the research side of
the homework. The more that they can learn at home the better it will help them in class. They can
also research about famous scientists that existed and made amazing discoveries; like Charles Darwin
and Carl Linnaus.
Related websites/resources:
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/rocks- minerals-landforms/fossils.htm
www.fossilsforkids.com/
http://evolution-for-kids.blogspot.co.uk/
news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/find_out/guides/tech/aliens/
newsid_2636000/2636827.stm
www.charliesplayhouse.com/great-links-for-kids.php
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY - Children will use word processing
software to produce a technical drawing plan and learn how to use different layouts for various
activities. They will evaluate of a word processor and the content of their tasks and talk about how
they could improve future work. The children will identify the different elements available in a
multimedia environment such as graphics, text, animation, sound and hyperlinking. They will be given
the opportunity to reflect on their new skills and how they might best apply them in the real world.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION - In Term 1, children will develop a greater understanding of common skills
and principles including attack and defense in game situations. In rackets, children will learn the basic
skills required to play racket sports, including, grip, stance, body positioning and simple techniques
required to send the ball/shuttle to an opponent. In dance and gymnastics, children will be able to
compose and control their movements by varying shape, size, direction, level, speed, tension and
continuity. In swimming, children will begin to understand the principles and skills of water safety
and survival and children will also enjoy swimming as an activity for relaxation as well as for
competition.
MUSIC - Year 6 will explore how different cyclic patterns can fit together. They will learn how to
perform a cyclic pattern with an awareness of different parts. In the second half of the term the
children will learn how lyrics and melodies are used together in songs.
We do hope that the above information will be useful for you when supporting your child’s homework
and discussing his/her learning. Should you have any further questions please contact your child’s
class teacher.