Friday 27th September 2024

The children have enjoyed another busy week. This week the children continued our cross-curricular topic on the whole school book Flotsam. Learning about the true story of a flotsam camera being discovered in Asia.

This week the children completed a primary maths challenge paper and discussed the strategies they used to solve the more challenging questions. The children were then shown methods to simplify calculations and work more efficiently through a timed paper. The children also completed a mental arithmetic paper focusing on mental methods to perform quick calculations. Our main topic this week was BODMAS; factors, multiples, and creating factor trees using prime numbers. We taught the children to apply their knowledge of factors and multiples to more challenging worded-problems in particular those related to time.

e.g. Two trains leave a station at the10 am Train A leaves every 20 minutes and Train B leaves every 45 mins when will be the next time both trains depart at the same time?

In English, we continued to focus on the book - Flotsam. The children explored the more surreal pictures from the book completing a wonder, observe, and infer activity. Expressing their views and perceptions of the pictures from the story and any questions evoked from them. In creative writing, the children wrote stories inspired by the same fantastical images.  We also completed an exam paper exploring both multiplication and written answer styles and focusing on tailoring our answers according to the marks available and elimination. In guided reading,  the children explored the lyrics to the song ‘Defying gravity’ discussing what the song was about and the significance of the title and meaning behind specific lyrics. Our grammar topic was the use of apostrophes and their use for both omission and possession.

In computing the children finished filming and editing their advert for the Melville underwater camera. Using persuasive language and humour.

This week we continued our half-term science topic  - Classification of living things. The children recapped the seven living processes.  Then researched the features of the five vertebrate groups: Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles and Fish. Discussing warm and cold-blooded animals and creating top trump cards of specific animals.

In geography, we began our changing world topic. Learning about human and physical features in geography and exploring those specific to the United Kingdom and recapping what they have learnt with an online quiz.
 

This week we have moved to focus on non-verbal reasoning in particular analogies and in VR we explored letter codes. Focussing on timing and efficient strategies to approach questions in particular marking up patterns.
 

 Questions to ask your child 

What does the word 'benevolent' mean? Can you use it in a sentence?

What does BODMAS mean?

Can you define a factor/ multiple/ prime number? What are the common factors of 24 and 36?

What are vertebrates and invertebrates?

How can you classify them?

Can you name a warm-blooded vertebrate? Which animal did you make a top trump card for?

What are the seven living processes?

Which song did you listen to in guided reading this week? Did you like it? What was it about?

What was the advert you filmed about?

When do we use an apostrophe? What does omission mean? Can you write a sentence with an apostrophe for possession and omission?

Shabbat Shalom,

The Year Six team

Friday 20th September 2024

The children have had a very busy week. This week the children continued our cross-curricular topic on the whole school book Flotsam.

 This week the children completed a primary maths challenge paper and discussed the strategies they used to solve the more challenging questions. The children were then shown methods to simplify calculations and work more efficiently through a timed paper. The children also completed a mental arithmetic paper focusing on mental methods to perform quick calculations.

In English, we focussed on our new book - Flotsam. The children wrote to express their opinions using Point, Evidence, Explain(PEE). Expressing their ideas on the topic of should sea creatures be kept in aquariums. The children wrote scripts for an advert to persuade customers to purchase the underwater camera from the Flotsam book.  We also completed an exam paper exploring written answer styles and focusing on tailoring our answers according to the marks available. In guided reading,  the children explored an information text about Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution. Our grammar topic was the use of articles to make sentences specific using a or an. 

In art and computing the children created a poster and filmed an advert for the Melville underwater camera. Using persuasive language.

This week we also started our half-term science topic  - Classification of living things. The children recapped the seven living processes. Then went on to learn about the classification of living things learning about Aristotle’s ladder of life and the classification of animals.

In geography, we began our changing world topic. Learning about human and physical features in geography and exploring those specific to the United Kingdom.
 

This week we have moved to focus on non-verbal reasoning in particular like figures. Focussing on timing and efficient strategies of elimination.
 

 Questions to ask your child 

What does the word 'anomoly' mean? Can you use it in a sentence?

What is a negative number?

How would you complete the following long multiplications:

124x26

45x34

96x85

How would you complete the following division? 1533 divided by 13.

What are the seven living processes?

Who was the first person to classify living things?

What does variation mean?

Do you think sea creatures should be put in aquariums?

Who was Charles Darwin?

Why is he famous?

What is the rule when using the a/an article? Are there any exceptions?

Shabbat shalom,

The Year Six team

Friday 13th September 2024

The children have had an engaging first full week back. This week the children began a cross-curricular topic on the whole school book Flotsam.

In maths this week, we began our place value unit. The children looked at completing  challenges requiring them to use their understanding of number to complete calculations using all four operations. This week the children completed a primary maths challenge paper and discussed the strategies they used to solve the more challenging questions. The children were then shown methods to simplify calculations and work more efficiently through a timed paper.

In English, we started work on our new book - Flotsam. The whole school is studying this book at the same time so the school has been decorated with artwork from all the pupils last week to represent the sea and the beach. The children worked on their prediction skills and adapted these predictions when they received more information. They wrote a text to accompany a picture from the book and described what they expected to see on the camera film discovered in the flotsam. Later in the week, the children drew pictures to accompany their camera film descriptions. We also completed an exam paper exploring both multiple choice and written answer styles. In guided reading,  the children explored texts from the book Holes by Louis Shachar and a short illustrated story titled the dot.

This week we also started our half- term science topic  - classification of living things. The children learnt about the seven living processes and created posters using the acronym MRS GREN to help remember them all.

On Tuesday next week, the walls will be adorned with pictures of the children that they drew in their art lesson this week. Each child was provided with half of their face and asked to draw the other half. They all worked incredibly hard and showcased their artistic skills. I was so impressed by their efforts. Please do come and find your child’s art piece.

The children received their first pieces of homework this week - they were all given a diary to note dates of homework and due dates to help them organise themselves and show their maturity as they enter their final year at Kerem. Please encourage them to complete this homework to the best of their abilities and return it to school by the due date. Homework is generally due on Monday and Thursday. Should there be any problems with the homework, do not hesitate to contact me on the Year 6 email address. 

In PSHE, we looked at 'Zones of Regulation' and the importance of identifying and naming our emotions. We went on to discuss the nuances and complexity of dealing with a variety of situations and what to do when we are overwhelmed with any emotion.

This week we have continued to focus on verbal reasoning in particular word meanings and identifying synonyms and antonyms.

Reminders:

• Next Tuesday (17th) we are hosting a Meet the Teacher event. Parents are invited to attend from 18:45. 

• Interventions will be starting on Monday 16th September at 08:15. If your child has been invited to attend an intervention, please ensure they arrive promptly to ensure learning can start immediately. 

Questions to ask your child 

What does the word  guffaw mean?

What is a negative number?

What are the solutions to the following questions?

-3+4=? 

-5+-6=?

x/5+20 = x what is x?

What are the seven living processes?

What does excretion mean?

What is flotsam?

Which language is the root of the word flotsam?

What did you describe on the box brownie camera film? 

Shabbat shalom,

The Year Six team

Friday 6th September 2024

We have had an excellent start to the academic year. This week we have discussed how to be effective learners and the expectations we have for the children this year. The children were explained the prefect application process and the responsibility they have as the oldest class within the school. It has been amazing to see them come in with maturity and a positive mindset.

In maths, the children went over the key vocabulary of number including: factors, multiples, highest common factor (HCF),  lowest common multiple (LCM) and prime numbers. Following on with a prime suspects elimination activity to identify all the prime numbers below 100. This was based on the sieve of Eratosthenes the Greek Mathematician.On Friday the children completed a primary maths challenge paper. Focusing on their approach to more challenging questions.

In art and design the children began to create a 3D camera.

In English, the children wrote a letter to their future selves, which they will read on their last day of at Kerem. Implementing and showcasing the skills they have developed over the past year. The children also had an opportunity to read with their buddies in the library.

Polite reminders

Please can all children have personal items labelled.

No necklaces or bracelets.

To be wearing the correct uniform.

Date for your diary

Meet the teacher will take place on the evening of Tuesday 17th September.

Questions to ask your child

What did you enjoy this week?

What did you find challenging this week?

What are Kerem characteristic cards?

Did you meet some new teachers?

What is a factor/multiple? Can you explain it to me?

What is a box Brownie?

Which prefect position would you like to apply for?

Wishing you all a restful shabbat.

The Year Six Team