Year 6 - Science - Building Robots

This term, the children in Year 6 have been learning about electricity in their Science lessons. 

The children built upon their prior learning of of electricity from Year 4, by revisiting components, how they are represented within a circuit diagram and the role they play in a wider, functioning circuit.

Year 6 enjoyed exploring the differences between cells and batteries, and series circuits to parallel circuits. However, after identifying different parts of a circuit, the children were given the final task of building a robot.

Equipped with a cup, pens, wires, motor, propeller, cell and some tape, the children began building their own electronic writing device. This was a brilliant way for the children to put their knowledge of electricity into a practical investigation - a child from Linden exclaimed that they if they wanted to  "[..] do this investigation again, before we break up for the half term!"

Some electronic devices worked within the first go of constructing the robot, others did not. However, Year 6 took this as an opportunity to not be deflated at the disappointing result, but rather to think along the lines that most physicists do - if we were to do this again, what variable would we change? What could I do to ensure a different result next time?

Please enjoy some pictures from our robot building lesson! 

Similes and Metaphors in Year 6

This term in Year 6, we are writing a tale of fear.

In our tales, we hope to create an intense atmosphere and a feeling of suspense. Therefore, we studied an image of an eerie setting and discussed how we can create similes and metaphors which intrigue the reader. This included discussing the use of appropriate comparisons as well as relevant adjectives, verbs and adverbs.

Below are some pictures of us working in groups to mind map some of our ideas.

 

Mini Chef with Year 6 Linden

This half term, Linden Class took part in their Mini Chef lesson, where they made and sold a roasted pepper and sweet potato soup.

Prior to this, the children had a lesson in the classroom where they learnt about seasonality and which foods grow in the United Kingdom during Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. They then discussed how food is imported from around the world and the impact of eating sustainably. 

Below are some photos of the children chopping onions and sweet potatoes and blending the ingredients together.

They had a great time! 

Year 6 Elder - minichef

Year 6 Elder spent Friday morning cooking a delicious Lancashire Hot Pot which they went on to sell in the playground at the end of the day. We chose the recipe based on our current learning about seasonality and food miles.

Year 6 - Personal Development

Our current theme in Personal Development lessons is 'Celebrating Difference'. This week in Year 6, we have learned about Roberta Cowell, racing racer and fighter pilot who was the first known British transgender woman to undergo gender reassignment surgery in 1948.

We discussed the challenges she may have faced and how her friends and family might have supported her.

We also discussed ways we could treat people who have differences to ourselves, in order to show equality and kindness.

Year 6 - RE - 'End of Life's Journey'

 Religious Education in Year 6

'End of Life's Journey'

This Autumn term, the Year 6 students have built upon their knowledge of the ways in which different religions celebrate and remember the lives of deceased loved ones.

Below, you can see images from a lesson which involved the students investigating the following question: 'Do all religions have the same beliefs about what happens after we die?'

Within this lesson, the children were placed into groups and conducted research using iPads, research papers and books in order to gain information about how different communities (both religious and non-religious) cope with loss and help people who are bereaved. In doing so, the groups become experts on various communities and presented their findings to the class. Whilst each group presented, the rest of the class recorded notes in their Thinking Journals which developed both their understanding and their ability to identify key facts/information.

The students and teachers found this lesson particularly interesting and had rich conversations about the way in which atheists and Humanists mark the death of a loved one and how these practices relate or differ to those of religious people. Before finishing the lesson, the students considered the idea of symbolism by looking at both the image of a circle and a straight line and discussed how this related to the beliefs of death and reincarnation. 

Linden Class student - "I believe I am a Humanist; this is because I believe that when people die, their life comes to a complete end and no part of them continues to live on.' 

Birch Class student - "When a person dies, a Humanist ceremony includes readings, music, poems, eulogies and anything that was important to that person - it is a way of saying goodbye to them."

Year 6 - Maya Day!

 Ancient Maya Day

Last week, Year 6 enjoyed an immersion day which allowed them to explore this half term's new topic: 'The Ancient Maya'.

During the day, the students enjoyed discussing the Ancient Mayan civilisation and can now recall who they were, where they lived, why they are considered significant and what traditions they experienced.

Below, you can see the students creating Mayan headdresses, making (and tasting) Mayan hot chocolate, ordering the beginning and end of the Ancient Maya on a timeline and playing the Mayan ball game of pok-a-tok.

Did you know that the most important people in the Ancient Mayan civilisation, such as priests and nobles, wore large and extravagant headdresses?