Owl Class - Years 5 & 6

OWL CLASS GALLERY

 Welcome to the Owl Class page.

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Welcome back to the Spring term. This term our new topic is, ‘What is Life Like in China?’ The children will be finding out all about China’s location, some of its rich and varied history, what China is like today (in both cities and rural areas), and some of the pressures and environmental challenges facing China. We will also find out about written Mandarin, Chinese myths and the Chinese New Year festivals. In March, we will have a day of learning about the Shang Dynasty and Chinese ribbon dancing, with visiting experts.

 In literacy, we will be continuing to write about Australia, completing our leaflets about the School of the Air, a school for children living in remote locations in the Outback. Once we have built up our topic knowledge of China, we will research the Chinese zodiac: how it came to be, how it works, and what the meanings of the different animals are. We will be writing non-fiction texts that explain how this complicated system works, and how it is still used by the Chinese today.

We will continue with faster reading sessions three times a week, followed by sessions on close reading and fluency, to work on our reading comprehension skills.

 In maths, we will be working on multiplication and division, before moving on to more in-depth work on fractions and decimals. Year 6s will also begin ratio and proportion, and algebra, before moving onto decimals and percentages.

In science, we will be looking, before half-term, at the classification of animals and plants, based on the system devised by Carl Linnaeus; after half-term we will move onto the subject of evolution and inheritance, and the work of Charles Darwin.

 In RE, we will be looking at the meaning of Moksha in Hinduism, and how many different pathways can lead to spiritual enlightenment.

In computing, we will continue our coding, making games in Scratch that rely on variables and operators. We will also be designing 3D objects, using CAD (computer-aided design).

Homework this term will continue to be focussing on the maths skills taught each week, and there will continue to be an emphasis on knowing the times tables; all times tables up to 12x12 should be learnt by heart. All pupils are reminded to continue practising these, as having a good times tables knowledge is vital for Upper Key Stage 2 maths. Spellings should also be learnt throughout the week.

 Year 6 pupils now have the revision books and timetables to follow, with specific tasks to complete each week. Extra SPAG tasks will be given out throughout the term, as needed. Homework will be given out on Fridays, and books are to be handed back in on Wednesdays. Times tables and spellings tests will be on Wednesday mornings.

 Brass instruments should be brought in on Mondays, and children should come in to school in their PE kits on Tuesdays. There is no swimming this term.

Class Teacher: Mr Haynes

Teaching Assistant: Mrs Edhouse