Year 6

Art

During the autumn term, Year 6 were focusing on creating a 3D piece of art from a 2D drawing. This half-term, our art work took inspiration from Lubaina Himid a black British artist. Lubaina was the first black woman to win the Turner Prize (an annual prize presented to British artists).

As October is Black History Month, as a class, particularly thorough our guided reading lessons, we have explored black people and what happened to them in the past.

This year’s Black History Month theme is ‘Saluting our Sisters’. Through our exploration of our artist, Lubaina Himid, we feel we are saluting our sister, Lubaina, as we have discussed, shared and taken inspiration from her work.

At the beginning of their art journey, Year 6 explored a piece of work by the artist they were taking inspiration from. Together, they discussed and explored Lubaina Himid’s work called ‘Carrot Piece’.

As a class, they explored the themes which they thought were trying to be converted by the artist.

Next, the children explored using a grid to support them in copying drawings. This technique enabled them to focus on small areas of the whole drawing and will be crucial next week when they take these smaller drawings and scale them up A1 card.

Following on from this, using the same technique as last time - using squares to help us scale - the children scaled their A4 drawings to A2. The children then used copied ink line sketches to fill in their scaled up drawings. They were challenged to think about how they can use the black and white to create tone (light and shadow).

The final step was to use a Stanley knife, Year 6 cut their drawings out. In order to make them 3D sculptures, as done by the artist, they added a stand to our drawings. The drawings were then able to stand them up and they could see how our 2D drawing had become a 3D sculpture.

DT

For Design & Technology this half-term, Year 6 have been challenged to create a shop window display using the mechanical system of cams and followers.

Their first task was to cut the parts for their frames. They had to measure the wood and then cut it safety using saws. Using hot glue guns, the children assembled their frames before designing their followers, cutting their cams and creating the front and back of their shop windows. 

Music

Year 6 explored a piece of jazz music: Bacharach Anorak. Using the glockenspiels, the children followed the notes on the stave and played in time with the tempo.

Science

In their science learning, during the autumn term, Year 6 explored light and electricity. 

Whilst explore light, the children made periscopes in order to explore and explain how light reflects in mirror. It was so exciting and they never knew that guessing how many fingers could be seen by the person below would be so exciting! Year 6 also explore white light and discovered that white light is actually made from a spectrum of colours (like those seen in the rainbow). If you look closely at the prism picture, you can see a rainbow. 

We discussed how the rainbow (spectrum of colours) can be seen by light being refracted - changing direction when travelling through a transparent object.

Whilst learning about electricity, after recalling and discussion learning from Year 4, they learnt the scientific symbols for components in an electrical circuit and also discussed the difference between a cell and battery. After this, the children observed what happens when more volts and components are added to a circuit. During one of the lesson, Year 6 became a whole circuit themselves, lighting up a bulb.

Trips

ICE Narnia Experience

Wow, what an an exciting Friday afternoon! After a long journey to the church, Year 6 then went on another journey to Narnia. It was exciting to travel through the wardrobe and into Narnia. The children found out about C. S. Lewis and how he came to write The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

Exeter Blitz Tour 

Year 6 enjoyed their tour of Exeter learning about how it was affected by the Blitz.

They all learnt so much information and it was great to be able to link the city where they live to the history they ave been doing in class. 
Year 6 represented the school so well - their behaviour and enthusiasm being noted by the tour guides.

DT

For our DT this term, Year 6 have been asked to design, create a evaluate a savoury muffin suitable for a school packed lunch box. 

Beginning our learning, we discussed what seasonality is - we learnt how seasonality refers to the time of year fruit and vegetables are best suited to grow in the UK. We discussed this as using season produce is part of our design criteria. 

After conducting some product testing, it was time to design our savoury muffins. Year 6 had to follow the design criteria and work in partners to design what would go into their savoury muffins. 

Year 6 enjoyed cooking their designs. They used a variety of ingredients to create their chosen designs. They then tasted them and evaluated their products against their given design criteria. 

World Book Day 

World Book Day - Thursday 7th March 2024

To celebrate World Book Day this year, each class has decorated their door based on a book.

After our enjoyment at reading ‘Letters from the Lighthouse’ by Emma Carroll, we decided to decorate our door to represent the book.

I’m sure you’ll agree, it looks great.

Well done, Year 6! 

'Drop Everything & Read'

Whilst planning our writing for our own Varjak Paw stories, the bell rang signalling that it was time to ‘drop everything and read’.

Year 6 enjoyed this opportunity to delve into the pages of their current book! 

During the afternoon, Year 6 enjoyed some paired reading with children from Year 2! It was great to see them excited about sharing what they are reading as well as reading and listening to Year 2 read their books!

Geography

In Geography, as part of our learning and focus on climate change, we met Elhaji, a nine-year-old boy from The Gambia, North West Africa. He works cleaning shoes and taking people’s shopping home for them.

We explored reasons why he is doing this by considering the human and physical geography which has caused this to happen.

Another case study we looked at was Starcross in Devon. We discussed how the community of Starcross have been advised to make flood plans. We explored what happened during February 2014 when the water rose reaching the top of the flood gate (used to prevent flooding) and nearly toppled the railway embankment. The water reached 3m high, with the railway embankment, which protect 600 properties and infrastructure for Starcross, being 4m, it was very close to over flowing. The Environment Agency has warned that in the next century, sea levels will rise by 1m  - this could be catastrophic for the population of Starcross.

Year 6 thought that more money would need to be spent to improve flood defences and thought that it was important the residents continue to plan and prepare for flooding - particularly in the winter months when prolonged bad weather is likely to occur. 

In our penultimate lesson, we identified and located countries in the northern and southern hemisphere which are being affected by climate change. We discussed the effects global warming is having, including heatwaves, earlier springs and ocean warming, and used a map and atlas to locate the countries these effects were happening to.

We also learnt about greenhouse gases and how they are becoming trapped in the Earth's atmosphere leading to the sun's rays also becoming trapped resulting in the Earth's temperature increasing. 

PE

This half-term, with Mr Christian, Year 6 have been working on their core strength and flexibility as they have worked together to create different partner balances.

The children then practised of jumping off apparatus in PE with Mr Christian. They have been trying to do tuck, pencil, star jumps. They have also practised vaulting over the apparatus.

Year 6 have also been developing their skills at playing badminton. For a lot of us, this was a new skill and so required perseverance and patience. 

Art

This half-term, our focus for art is activism, with the aim of using different techniques to create our own poster about something we are passionate about.

During our first lesson, we explored the artist Luba Lukova. We looked at lots of her pieces and discussed what we thought the meaning behind them was.
The children showed great insight and we thought some of Luba’s ideas were very creative.

As artists, the next stage of our project was to prepare the backgrounds four our posters. We took inspiration from Shepard Fairey by using a mixture of collage and paint for our background.

Our next step was to use a range of stencilling ideas to create and convey our messages on our posters. We used making tape and paper to create stencils before placing paint on top and peeling away our designs. 

When we finished our posters, we each reflected on our chosen message: why we chose it and how we conveyed it.

This half-term, as you will have seen from previous posts, we have taken inspiration from the artist Luba Lukova. She is an artist from New York who creates striking images to convey the human condition, fairness and justice.

Taking inspiration for her work, Year 6 designed and created some of their own activism posters.

As you will see, peace featured quite heavily. When reflecting upon their choice, the children felt that with several conflicts happening currently in the world, peace was the most obvious answer to what they wanted it make a stand and change about.

I'm sure you'll agree they look great. Well done, Year 6; you have been thoughtful as always!

PSHE

Dreams and Goals

In PSHE, we have been thinking about our dreams and goals.  we have discussed what our personal dreams and goals are, both short and long term and considered what strengths and supports we have that will help us achieve our dreams. We considered family, friends, determination and resilience to be important strengths and support.

As part of considering dreams and goals, Year 6 were asked to think about what their dream for the world is. It was quite a big ask but, as always, Year 6 were considerate and thoughtful!

Science

As part of our learning about evolution and inheritance, Year 6 discussed Charles Darwin and his expedition to the Galápagos Islands in 1835. We discussed what he noticed about the finches in the island and in particular their beaks.

We learnt that the birds with larger beaks were able to survive on the part of the island where big seeds were the food source, which meant they were able to eat and reproduce, passing in the big beak characteristic, whereas the smaller beaked birds, who couldn’t eat the large seeds, either died so therefore couldn’t reproduce or had to move to a different part of the island to find food.

After discussion Darwin’s discoveries and theory, we conducted a small experiment seeing which beak type could eat the most food. Using four different beak types, we tested how much food could be picked up in 10 seconds. We then used this information to determined which bird would survive to reproduce and pass on its characteristics and which bird may die.

This half-term, we have been learning about animals including humans. Our main focus has been on the circulatory system. We learnt about how humans have a double circulatory system (this is because the blood passes through our hearts twice), we learnt about what is in our blood and the functions of the different cells and how water and nutrients are transported around the body.

After discussing the evolution of Darwin's finches, we moved on to discuss the peppered moth. We learnt how the changes to environment led to the black peppered moth being able to survive, therefore being able to reproduce and pass on their black winged characteristic. 

How does exercise affect our heart rate? ❤️

As scientists, this afternoon we conducted an experiment about what happens to our heart rate after different amounts of exercise.
Before we conducted our experiment, we hypothesised (predicted) what we thought might happen. Based on prior experiences, most of us hypothesised that our heart rates would increase.

During our learning about hearts, we used stethoscopes to listen to our heart beats. In the ‘real world’ we discussed that doctors and vets would use stethoscopes in their jobs. ❤️

Exciting Science Opportunties 

Science Session with Sumita and Iana - Thursday 8th February 2024

This afternoon, we were joined by two microbiologists, Sumita and Iana, from Exeter University to teach us and let us explore micro-organisms.

We discussed good microbes, such a yeast and those found in yoghurt and bad microbes such as mould and viruses such as covid ans cholera.

We were shown the shapes of different types of bacteria and the four basic shapes of bacteria. We discussed how we can't see bacteria with the naked eye but if we use a microscope we can see the bacteria.

Using microscopes, we looked at fungi growth in a petridish. We also enjoyed looking closely at our jumpers, hair, eyes and a variety of other things.

The children also placed their hands in agar. Sumatra will incubate these plates and send us photos of any bacteria which grow.

Another exciting opportunity was provided when Year 6 had to identify types of fungi and prescribe medicine to help fix the type of fungus. Year 6 were hen able to use the scientific microscope from the university to look at fungi - it was really exciting and amazing to see!

Some upcoming science will focus on microbes and so this has been a great start to the children's thinking.

A massive thank you for Sumita and Iana for their time and efforts. Year 6 really enjoyed their time this afternoon exploring microorganisms and seeing what it is like to be a microbiologist scientist.

Germ Plates

Following on from our session last half-term, Shauank's mum incubated our agar plates and has sent photos of the bacteria grown!

Trips

ICE Life Exhibition 

IOn Thursday 25th January 2024, Year 6 walked to Belmont Chapel to experience the LIFE exhibition, where they discussed and explored the life of Jesus.

It was an interactive experience with videos, iPads and quizzes and the children were asked to consider their own opinions of Jesus.

It was a great learning opportunity and will link really well with our upcoming RE unit after half-term.

Year 6 have worked incredibly hard this half term. They have been writing Anatomical Reports about the human body about the human body in English, learning about the rise and fall of the British Empire in History and classifying animals based on their characteristics in science. The children also worked hard to revise their mathematical knowledge and honing their reading skills in preparation for their SATs. They were focused, resilient, and gave it their all - well done. We could now be more proud of you. They really enjoyed sharing a SATs breakfast each morning which was kindly provided by FOSSS and organised by Mr Walden and Mrs Goff.

The children had a great treat last Friday, making pizzas, playing board games and then relaxing with a film and popcorn.

There is a lot of exciting things coming up for the Year 6’s as they approach their last half term at St Sidwell’s such as their residential, the Year 6 production and their secondary school transitions.