Year 6 Curriculum

English

Our focus this term in English:

• Writing based on a Shakespeare play following a workshop held in school
• Writing an information leaflet about evacuation during World War 2
• Writing a non-chronological report about features of a wartime classroom following a visit to the RAF museum
• Writing a story based on Michael Morpurgo’s short story, A Giant’s Necklace

Maths

• Read, write, order numbers to 10,000,000, round numbers and order positive and negative numbers
• Calculate using formal column methods to add, subtract, multiply and divide as well as solve problems using these methods
• Identify equivalent fractions, decimals and percentages
• Add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions
• Simplify and order fractionsInterpret a variety of graphs including pie charts and line graphs
• Calculate and convert imperial and metric measures.

The topic this term is World War Two

Science

• Learning about how light travels
• Investigating what happens to shadows during the day
• Investigating how light can be seen around a corner
• Investigating what makes a circuit work
• Investigate how adding and removing components such as bulbs, switches, motors and buzzers affects a circuit
• Drawing a variety of circuit diagrams using the correct symbols

Art and Design and Technology

• Researching the artists Henry Moore and Evelyn Dunbar
• Using pencils and charcoals and other media to create different shades
• Drawing figures in different orientations
• Creating a sketch in the style of Henry Moore
• Design a winter-themed product and apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control it

History

• Using historical sources to research how World War 2 began
• Understanding what happened during the Blitz in London and why children were evacuated
• Learning about the rationing that took place during World War 2
• Experiencing what school life was like during World War 2
• Comparing how London has changed since World War 2 began
• Understand the contribution commonwealth citizens made to the war effort
• Understanding the changes that have happened in Britain since the war ended

Music

Following the Charanga scheme of music. They will listen and appraise classroom jazz before improvising their own section using glockenspiels.

RE

• What is reality? What does ultimate reality mean?
• What is real?
• They will explore these ideas in relations to their own beliefs and those of Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Humanists.

Spanish

• Describe the features of their homes (e.g. rooms, furniture and household objects)
• Revise Christmas vocabulary such as snowflakes, candles, fireplace and snow.

Computing

• Learning how to write and moderate a digital blog.
• Experiment with variables to programme a Crumble board (Raspberry Pi).

PE

Handball, Dance and Swimming

English

• Legend of St George and the Dragon – Using the structure to write their own narrative.
• Explanation text – How does human activity affect the Amazon Rainforest?
• Composing information texts about real and imaginary animals.
• Write a persuasive letter based on ‘The Island’ by Armin Greder.

Maths

• Use ratio language and solve problems involving the relative sizes of 2 quantities.
• Solve problems involving similar shapes where the scale factor is known or can be found.
• Use simple formulae to express missing number problems algebraically.
• Recognise and write decimal equivalents of any number of tenths or hundreds.
• Recognise and write decimal equivalents of fractions.
• Round decimals with 1 decimal place to the nearest whole number.

The topic this term is Rainforests.

Science

• Learning about how animals and plants adapt to their environment and how this leads to evolution.
• Classifying animals and plants and describing their different characteristics.
• Comparing various habitats.

Art

In Art we will be:Exploring the work of Frank Bowling and creating an art piece that illustrates our pupils’ origins.

Geography

• Locating South America on a map and identifying key countries, cities and oceans.
• Identifying and describing the physical and human features of the Amazon rainforest.
• Using maps, graphs, and images to investigate weather patterns in the rainforest, explaining temperature and rainfall using knowledge of climate zones and global position.
• Explaining patterns of cause and effect in the rainforest, including how climate change, forest fires, and deforestation lead to habitat and species loss.
• Comparing life in the Amazon rainforest with life in a major city, such as Manaus.
• Identifying and describing key features of the Amazon River.
• Comparing the Amazon River with the Thames and the Nile, including differences in length, tributaries, natural resources, and their role in trade.

RE

We will be exploring the following questions:

• What is the story of Plato’s Cave and what does it teach us about knowledge and truth?
• What might people think are real but aren’t?
• How might things be different to what they look like?
• How can trying new things help us?
• Why is it important to find the truth instead of accepting what we first see or hear?

Spanish

We will be learning to talk about

Our School

• Objects in the classroom; pencil case, pen, pencil
• Subjects in school.
• Favourite subjects and least favourite subjects and describe why.

At the shops

• Revise language learnt in Year 4
• Look at the different shops and learn their names e.g. bakery, butcher.
• Interpret shopping lists.

Computing

The children will be learning about

• Learn how to safely use and get the most out of the internet.
• Making and editing a video.

PSHE

The children will be learning about

• Learn about the risks of drugs and how it is portrayed in the media.
• The different types of relationships, respect and equality.

Music

We will be following the Charanga Music Scheme and we will be focusing on the song ‘Happy’.

English

Our writing outcomes this term in English:

• Poetry/Narrative: Children will explore the classic narrative poem The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes and write an imaginative retelling of the story.
• SATs Survival Guide: Children will write an informative guide for Year 5 pupils, offering advice and insight about the SATs.
• Fantasy Narrative – Ruin: Inspired by the short animated film Ruin, children will write a first-person fantasy narrative.

Maths

• Revising previous topics in preparation for SATs.
• Drawing, comparing and classifying 2D and 3D shapes, describe the position of shapes.
• Interpreting and constructing pie charts and line graphs, including working out the modal number.
• Identifying compass points and use a compass

Science

• Identify and name the main parts of the human circulatory system, and describe the functions of the heart, blood vessels and blood.
• Recognise the impact of diet, exercise, drugs and lifestyle on the way the human body functions. 
• Learn how the body changes during puberty and how humans reproduce.

Art

In art children will be exploring graffiti art in which they will:

•  Explore the work of Banksy
•  Use different elements of art e.g. tone and pattern to create their own graffiti
•  Experiment with a graffiti style of writing in sketchbooks
•  Create and develop ideas that are important to them, through using stencilling

D & T

In D&T children will be taking part in a project in which they will:

• Research different pastries before designing and making their own
• Develop ideas for packaging
• Learn how to advertise their product
• Calculate how profitable their product is

Geography

In geography children will conduct a local study on how Colindale has changed over time and evaluate the continuing changes by identifying reasons. They will be:

• Using Google Earth
• Going on a local area walk
• Looking at current plans for Colindale’s redevelopment

PHSE

Money and Me

• Develop an understanding of the concepts of interest, loan, debt and tax
• Consider the links between money and wellbeing. For example, knowledge of the risks of gambling

 Moving On

• Discuss and develop a range of problem-solving strategies and self-care techniques, including relaxation, for dealing with emotions, challenges and change around transition, in particular, to their secondary school
• Recognise that they may experience conflicting emotions, and when they might need to listen to their emotions and find ways to overcome them

Puberty and Relationships

• Know that communication and permission seeking are important
• Know when it is appropriate to share personal/private information in a relationship

Sex Education**

• Know some basic facts about conception and pregnancy
• Describe the decisions that have to be made before having children including age of consent

**These lessons are non-statutory. If you would like to withdraw your child from these lessons. Complete the form and hand it in to your child’s class teacher or email it to the school office.

History

In history, children will be researching the reasons why their families migrated to Colindale by:

• Talking to family members
• Identifying push and pull factors for migration
• Researching events that led to their families migrating to London
• Creating a presentation to showcase their research

Spanish

How they are feeling:

• Revise different emotions from year 3  
• Going to the doctors.
• Describing pain or how they feel

Holiday Time:

• Revise transport
• Tell the time in 5 minute intervals
• Asking what time it is
• Describe their favourite holiday
• Clothes items: trousers, shorts, t-shirt, jumper, coat, skirt, hat, sunglasses, gloves, swimsuit, shoes, sandals

End of Year 6 Performance

In order to put on a high-quality production, the children will be:

• Learning and performing songs
• Learning lines and performing in character
• Making props and designing programmes advertising their show