UKS2 News
Read on to find out what has been happening in years 5&6
Year 5
Our new History topic this term is World War I, and this week we’ve begun exploring how and why the war started. The children have been learning about the complex web of alliances and empires that contributed to the conflict, and how rising tensions eventually led to a global war. Using maps of Europe from 1914, they’ve been able to see how geography played a crucial role in shaping events and alliances.
In maths, we’ve been investigating square numbers and cube numbers, using unifix blocks to help visualise and deepen understanding. We also revisited multiplying and dividing numbers by 10, 100, and 1000 which is a great opportunity to build on learning from Autumn Term 1. Next week, we will begin our new fractions topic. The children will start exploring the relationship between numerators, denominators, and the whole, using manipulatives to make this new concept more concrete and engaging.
Our science learning continues with last term’s topic: Properties and Changes of Materials. This week, we delved deeper into irreversible changes and set up an experiment to investigate the conditions that cause nails to rust the fastest. Next week, we’ll be concluding the topic by exploring how to recover a substance from a solution by applying our critical thinking skills and everything we’ve learned in the topic so far.
In English, we’re continuing our work with Cloud Busting by Malorie Blackman. This term, our focus has shifted from poetry to exploring playscripts. The children enjoyed performing a scene and practising their presenting skills, while also identifying the key features that make up a playscript. To support their writing, we revisited an exciting part of the story, recapped the plot, and created story maps to help plan their own playscripts.
This week in DT, we introduced our new topic: Bridges. The children used iPads to research different types of bridges. They then had a go at sketching various bridge designs and noting down key facts about each one. This research has provided them with a strong foundation of knowledge to build upon as we move further into the topic.
Finally, in RE this term, our focus is on Judaism and Islam. This week, the children explored the rites of passage within both religions, identifying key similarities and differences between them. Through discussion and comparison, they began to understand how important these traditions are in marking significant milestones in a person’s life.
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Spelling rule: Words with ‘silent letters’ Key words: doubt lamb debt thumb solemn autumn column knight knuckle knot |
Spelling rule: Words with ‘silent letters’ Key words: wrestle wrapper island aisle debris mortgage castle yacht guarantee guilty |
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Key Messages: 11th November - Anti-bullying Workshop 14th November - Odd Socks Day 21st November - Nasal Flu Vaccination 24th November - Moonstone Class Assembly 9am 25th November - Peridot Class Assembly 9am 26th November - Starlite Class Assembly 9am
Year 6 Welcome back, Year 6! We hope you all had a wonderful and restful half-term break. It’s been fantastic to see how quickly everyone has settled back into school life and embraced the routines of our busy final year at primary school. The children have shown great enthusiasm and maturity as they dive into their new topics, which are becoming increasingly more challenging and exciting. Their positive attitude, teamwork, and curiosity are already shining through - setting the tone for another brilliant half term of learning and achievement! In maths, Year 6 have been tackling the four operations with fractions: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. This unit can be quite challenging but the children have shown fantastic perseverance and a real willingness to learn. We’ve been exploring a range of different methods to suit all learning styles, from visual models and practical activities to more formal written approaches. By comparing and discussing these strategies, pupils are developing a much deeper understanding of how fractions work and how the operations connect. In English, Year 6 have loved using their creativity to design their very own species of animal, which has become the focus of their non-chronological reports. Linking closely with our Science topic on evolution and adaptation, the children have been thinking carefully about how their creatures have evolved to survive in their unique environments. Alongside this exciting content, we’ve been concentrating on using a range of grammatical devices, such as relative clauses and colons, to add depth and additional information to their writing. Across the wider curriculum, Year 6 have begun their new history topic: The Battle of Britain. We’ve been exploring how World War II began, which countries were involved and the key events that shaped this important period in history. In Science, our focus has been on early theories of life and how scientific understanding has developed and changed over time. The children have been fascinated by the progression of ideas, from ancient beliefs to modern evolutionary theory. We’ve also been making thoughtful links to RE by comparing different end-of-life rituals across a range of religions, encouraging respectful discussion and a deeper appreciation of cultural diversity.
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