Year 6
Welcome to the Silver and Bronze Class page!
2022-23
Writing - w/b 22.05.23
Year 6 students have embarked on a remarkable writing journey, showcasing their growth as writers and their love for storytelling. By carefully selecting their favourite pieces from the year and engaging in the redrafting process, these young authors have created awe-inspiring works that reflect their resilience and attention to detail. From imaginative narratives to persuasive letters, their refined pieces demonstrate the power of creativity and the impact of deliberate revisions.
These redrafted pieces are proof of the effort and success of Year 6 pupils. Their polished works make them proud and show that they can take feedback and make their writing even stronger. We're celebrating their incredible talent and progress, and we're excited about what the future holds for these young writers. Their passion for storytelling will keep growing and inspiring others.
Art - w/b 15.05.23
Year 6 students have been putting their artistic skills to the test by creating their own portraits of King Charles III. Taking inspiration from official photos, the students have added their own personal touches by incorporating items of interest to the monarch. For example, they have replaced the St Edwards crown with a unique one made from leaves, which showcases the King's love of gardening and his commitment to the environment. The students have also used techniques such as graphite transfer to aid them in their creations.
In addition to their impressive artistic endeavours, the Year 6 children went the extra mile by creating a captivating wash for the background of their portraits. With careful consideration, they selected colours to evoke specific emotions, taking inspiration from the renowned artist Chris O'filli's iconic piece, "No woman no cry." This attention to detail further enhances the depth and meaning behind their artwork, showcasing the students' exceptional talent and artistic expression. These portraits are a wonderful example of the creativity and imagination of our young artists.
Coronation Celebrations - w/b 08.05.23
Year 6 students took part in a tea party celebration, marking the upcoming coronation of King Charles III. With great excitement, our Year 6 students dressed in their finest attire, with the colours of the Union Jack, and embraced the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of royalty. Amidst a delightful ambiance of laughter and cheer, the young participants indulged in a delectable array of treats. This enchanting event not only provided a joyous experience but also served as a valuable educational opportunity for our Year 6 students to delve into the history and significance of royal ceremonies, fostering a deeper appreciation for their country's rich heritage.
Moreover, the festivities were elevated by a series of engaging games that captivated our Year 6 students' attention. From the classic musical statues to an exhilarating round of royal trivia, our young learners eagerly embraced the challenges, showcasing their knowledge and enthusiasm. These games offered a platform for interactive learning, further developing their social skills and promoting teamwork, all while creating unforgettable memories. The tea party, along with the thrilling games, proved to be a resounding success, leaving our Year 6 students with cherished moments and a profound sense of anticipation for the forthcoming coronation of King Charles III.
English - w/b 01.05.23
Year 6 students have been hard at work crafting a newspaper article inspired by the thought-provoking book, "Rose Blanche" by Christophe Gallaz and Roberto Innocenti. The book follows the journey of a young German girl, Rose, during the tumultuous time of World War II. Intrigued by the events unfolding around her, Rose embarks on a quest to help the children in a nearby concentration camp. Despite her good intentions, her actions come at a great cost.
The children in Year 6 have been exploring the themes of the book and learning about the historical context of World War II. They have been honing their writing skills by researching and drafting their articles, and have also been developing their critical thinking skills by considering different perspectives and sources. Through this activity, the children have gained a deeper understanding of the impact of war on individuals and communities, and have been able to express their thoughts and opinions in a thoughtful and engaging way.
Getting Ready for SATs - w/b 24.04.23
With SATs fast approaching, Year 6 are working hard to prepare for the tests. We have been practising the types of questions that will be in the tests, and thinking about what we can do to make our answers the best we can.
We have also been helping each other, revising together and using the skills and knowledge from our learning throughout KS2.
One of the most effective techniques we've learned is called spaced repetition.
Spaced repetition involves reviewing material at specific intervals to reinforce your memory of it over time.This technique is particularly useful for learning and retaining large amounts of information, such as vocabulary or formulae.
Another technique we've learned is called active recall.Active recall involves testing yourself on material to strengthen your memory of it. This technique can be done through flashcards, quizzes, or other types of practice exercises.
We've also learned about the importance of setting goals and creating a study schedule to help us stay on track. By breaking down our revision into smaller, manageable chunks, we can make the process less overwhelming and more achievable. Additionally, we've learned about the value of taking breaks and getting enough rest to help us stay focused and productive. We've also practised using visual aids such as mind maps and diagrams to help us organise information and make connections between different concepts.
Finally, we've learned about the importance of practising past papers and seeking feedback from teachers or peers to identify areas where we need to improve. By incorporating these revision techniques into our SATs preparation, we feel more confident and prepared for the upcoming exams. We hope that these tips can be helpful for others who are preparing for exams or looking to improve their study habits.
English - w/b 17.04.23
During an English lesson this week, we read some more of the story, Rose Blanche. We discussed what is happening, and how the text and illustrations complement each other as they tell the story. Then we worked in small groups to create a freeze frame depicting a key scene. We had to be ready to share our character’s thoughts, using what we had read to help us and our ability to empathise with characters.
Art - w/b 27.03.23
Art Inspired by Chris Ofili
Our art topic this term has taken inspiration from ‘No Woman, No cry’, a portrait by Chris Ofili. We learnt about the background to the painting: how the subject of the portrait, Doreen Lawrence, lost her son to racial violence, and how she went on to be a community campaigner.
Our work started with a recap of colour mixing with paints, before we created a background for our own portraits, choosing a colour that reflected strong emotion and using a sponge instead of a brush.
We now have to paint ourselves on to the backgrounds we created.
Mathematics - w/b 20.03.23
In maths, year 6 have been learning about area and perimeter of triangles and quadrilaterals. Area is the amount of space inside a shape, and perimeter is the distance around it. We’ve been learning how to find the area and perimeter of all sorts of shapes, like rectangles, triangles and quadrilaterals. We’ve also been learning about measurements: metric and imperial measurements and how to convert measures between different units, like centimetres and inches.
Finding out the area of a triangle is the same as a rectangle where you multiply the length and width however for a triangle you would need to divide your answer by 2. To find out the area of a triangle, you need to look for a right angle to identify the base and perpendicular height which you multiply together before dividing by two.
We have been exploring drawing a range of rectilinear shapes and triangles of given areas or perimeters and looking for any relationships between these shapes. Did you know that the perpendicular height is equal to the vertical height sometimes? We learned about patterns in the area of a triangle.
Learning about area and perimeter is important for us since it helps us to understand the world around us. For example, knowing the area of a room can help to decide how much carpet to buy, and knowing the perimeter of a field can help to figure out how much fencing is needed.
Written by Hameem in Bronze Class
Library Visit - w/b 13.03.23
On Tuesday 14th March, Year 6 visited Manor Park Library.
We were reminded of the way a library is organized, and how fiction books are arranged in alphabetical order of the author’s surname. Non-fiction books are arranged differently: the Dewey classification system uses numbers for every subject. Then we had the opportunity to browse the books, sit and read, or use our library cards to borrow books if we wanted to.
Geography - w/b 06.03.23
During our geography sessions this week we used the information we had gathered over the past weeks relating to famous rivers around the world to aid our writing of a persuasive letter. The letter was written to the leader of the country in which the river of our choice was situated and the purpose was to convince the leader that the river should be protected from pollution and its harmful effects.
We had to include the geographical information we had found out as well as ensuring we had used persuasive features in our writing. We checked each other’s work, identifying the structure, language features and key persuasive features before editing and uplevelling our work. Finally, we published our letters with the intention of sending them to the various leaders around the world.
RE Day - w/b 27.02.23
During R.E. Day, Year 6 explored the question, ‘What are the sources of the story about what happened on Easter Sunday?’ We looked at the accounts of the resurrection of Jesus in the bible, and discussed who was involved, and how reliable they were as witnesses. We also created freeze frames for part of the Easter Sunday stories. Then we went on to think about Pentecost, when Christians celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, again using the accounts found in the Bible. Throughout the whole day, we kept coming back to the texts, considering what they actually told us.
Oracy - w/b 20.02.23
This week in PSHCE we played a game called Just A Minute which is an 'oracy' based game. The aim of this game is to get as many points as possible. We can talk about any subject we want for a minute. The topic we spoke about was the person that means the most to us. We received 1 point for every second we spoke for, that’s not as easy as you may think though because if you hesitate or pause it is the opponent's turn. Also if you say the same word two times, you lose a point. The aim of this game is to help people learn their 'oracy' skills and get more confident. Also children should also know how to think of things faster about a certain subject.
Written by Ibrahim from Silver Class
PHSCE - w/b 06.02.23
We always start our PSHCE lessons with something to focus our thoughts and still our minds before our learning. We often use a Cosmic Kids meditation to help us do this. It’s a great way to calm ourselves, and is particularly helpful this week, during children’s mental health week, in reminding us how we can keep our minds working well, so that we make the most of every day.
Design Technology - w/b 30.01.23
In today's DT session we have been learning about kites as we are soon going to make one for a particular client. During the session we began by looking at where and when kites originated and we were able to research all about kite world records and the structure of kites. Another thing that we were looking at was how kites fly, the materials used and how they can turn swiftly in the air. We looked at a young 16-year-old boy called Homan Welsh who assisted in the creation of the Niagara Falls bridge using a kite. We have understood the parts of a kite such as the spine, reel, bridle, cover, flying line, spar, frame and tail.
One of the most interesting things I learnt in today’s lesson was that some adults have kite fights where they try and cut the reel of another kite, therefore meaning the owner can no longer control the flight of their kite.
Written by Ashaz – Silver Class.
Reading - w/b 16.01.23
At Sir John Heron, we are allocated days where we are allowed to go to the school library and on certain days at DEAR time, our class goes to the library or the reading garden. I really enjoy when we get to go to the library as we have a huge array of books we can choose from, which is much larger than the choice of books on offer within our classrooms. Not to mention, Sir John Heron students remember to complete an AR quiz every term to decide our reading level, this is supported by our quizzes we complete each time we finish an AR book to check our understanding of texts. Reading is an important skill and part of life because we read on a daily basis to help us learn information, read contracts, find new jokes or even scripts for TV shows and movies.
By Arohi in Silver Class
English - w/b 09.01.23
During this lesson, we read chapter two of ‘Street Child’. After talking about what happened, we worked in small groups to create a freeze frame for part of the chapter. Based on our reading of the text, we had to think about how we could depict each character effectively through our body posture and facial expression. We also had to think of a suitable caption for our freeze frame.
Christmas Fayre Preparations - w/b 05.12.22
Christmas Fayre Preparations Are Underway!
Year 6 will, as usual, run the Christmas Fayre. We have sorted out teams, captains and vice-captains, so now need to make things to sell.
We have started with our ever-popular handmade notebooks. Each one is unique, and will be sold either individually or as part of a set. The team selling the notebooks still has to fix prices, and think about advertising, but we’re all excited to be getting things ready for the big day.
Computing - w/b 28.11.22
Our topic this term is “We are interface designers”. Over the past several weeks, we have designed an original app. and considered what each page would look like. Although our app. could be on any theme, such as sports, religions, or SATs revision, the main consideration was ease-of-use and accessibility. After drawing out our ideas (called wireframes) we started using Google Sites to create our app. Although we are not finished, we are very happy with what we have created so far.
Design Technology - w/b 21.11.22
We have just started our new D.T. topic - Pizzas. We will eventually be designing and making our own pizzas, so to start thinking about possible toppings, we tasted a variety of fruit and vegetables. After tasting each one, we had to discuss the taste, texture, smell and appearance with our partner. This helped us to think about which tastes we could combine for our pizza. We all enjoyed tasting the fruit and vegetables, although lots of us weren’t sure about the celery!
Oracy - w/b 14.11.22
In Year 6, we like to do as much talking as possible, because this helps us in our learning. In Guided Reading, we always spend one lesson each week discussing the three key questions for the text we are reading. To help us structure what we say appropriately, we use a range of sentence stems when we begin speaking and responding to others. We have found that using sentence stems like these helps to keep the discussion going, which lets everyone say what they want to.
English - w/b 07.11.22
Throughout this week Year 6 have used the short story ‘Amelia and the Long Armed Killer’ written by Joseph Coelho as their inspiration and stimulus to begin planning and writing their own mystery story. The children have focused on ensuring they have a theft or crime which has taken place, a courageous detective, adequate details of the suspected culprits and even a red herring within their story. From vocalising their ideas to each other and their groups, the children then began creating the world in which the mystery story took place, making sure to have a contained location which therefore limits the amount of suspects for the crime which has taken place. We are looking forward to delving deeper into our stories and making sure the reader is on tenterhooks for a cliff hanger in each chapter written.
English - w/b 31.10.22
During English this week, we have been reading a short story from the collection ‘Happy Here’. The story we have been unpicking is called ‘Amelia and the Long Armed Killer’ written by Joseph Coelho. During the tale, the protagonists are stuck on a cruise ship when a terrible storm and terrible incident occurs, Amelia and her friends try to seek out the truth. We worked on our summary skills by discussing the main parts of each chapter as well as creating thought showers about each character and their personality with evidence from the text.
'So far I have enjoyed reading how Amelia was very helpful and determined to help find out who the criminal was and how she enlisted her friends and family to investigate their theories.' - Justine and Rayann, Silver Class
Art - w/b 17.10.22
In our art topic this half term, we have focussed on cityscapes. We looked at the work of two artists, Stephen Wiltshire and John Virtue, discussing their differing techniques and the overall impact of their pictures. Then we used their techniques for ourselves, experimenting with using low energy and high energy as we created images. We then spent time looking at perspective, and how shadows can create depth in pictures. Finally, we made marks by covering black card with white charcoal and using an eraser to remove varying amounts of charcoal so that different effects were created. For our final piece, we used that same technique to created part of a cityscape scene. We were all very pleased with what we had accomplished!
RE - w/b 10.10.22
During R.E. Day, Year 6 explored the question, “How do people express their faith through the arts in Christianity?”. Throughout the day, we considered the way Christians have used art, music, drama and dance to express aspects of their faith. As we learnt more, we added to a large mind map we created in our books. After looking at examples of how art has been used, we created our own modern-day icons. We also listened to some examples of Christian music, and discussed what was being expressed, and how different styles of music might affect the listener. We finished the day by using everything we had learnt, in a piece of writing explaining how faith is expressed through the arts in Christianity. We had a very busy, but rewarding day!
Science - w/b 03.10.22
Our science topic this term is ‘Evolution and Inheritance’. We have started to explore the idea of adaptation in animals and plants (which describes the way animals and plants adapt in order to survive their habitat), and have explored the way Charles Darwin proposed his theory of evolution. We used Now Press Play to enter the world of Darwin, amongst others, and think about how the idea of evolution impacted scientific thought.
Reading - w/b 26.09.22
In Guided Reading this term, we are reading poems connected to landscape. This week, we read ‘My heart’s in the Highlands’, by the great Scottish poet Robert Burns. We have talked about some of the vocabulary Burns used, making sure we understand what it means, and have spent time discussing three key questions about the text. This gave us lots of opportunity to explore the meaning of the poem by using our oracy skills. We also used the theme of the poem to think about places that are important to us.
Mathematics - w/b 19.09.22
During Mathematics in the last few weeks we have learned all about place value and how to add and subtract using a variety of methods. We have also learnt about negative numbers and how these are used in real life such as within a thermometer when measuring temperature, money in bank accounts and even basement floors in a building. In today’s session we have been practicing how to use counters to add and subtract, especially when trying to find missing numbers. Some of the trickier questions included exchanges which you had to look out for before completing the question. We must check our answers so that we know the correct solution. I would like to use this information when we work through decimal and fraction work.
Ibrahim – Silver Class
English - w/b 12.09.22
We have started this term’s English lessons by reading poems by Joseph Coelho, from his book, Overheard in a Tower Block. After reading and discussing the poems, we worked in small groups to create a performance of one of the poems. We had to think about what the poet was saying in the poem, and how to get that across to the audience through the way we used expression, pace and volume. Some of us also decided to include actions to emphasise words or phrases within the poem. We were pleased with our performances, and look forward to using our performing skills in the future.
Welcome back! - w/b 05.09.22
This week we arrived back at Sir John Heron in Year 6 and created pieces of work to display in our classroom to showcase our personality as well as our artistic selves. We have also been learning about Ancient Greece, its effect on modern day life and how it comprises thousands of islands. In our ‘Now Press Play’ session we were acting as Athenians and learnt that Spartans declared wars in other states in Greece. We also pretended to pay for items in a market using Ancient Greek money called drachmas. Soraiya mentioned how much she enjoyed this experience as she felt like she was able to see what life was like in Ancient Greece.
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Year 5
2021 - 2022
Design and Technology - w/b 11.07.22
In DT we have created musical instruments based on the book ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’. In the book, the main character, William, has bad anxiety so the purpose of our instruments is to calm him down. We therefore had to consider what kind of noises would be soothing and how we could create something which would make a soothing noise. After designing our instruments we then selected everyday materials to create them. We experimented with different methods and refined our designs until they fit the brief. In the end we think they turned out very well!
French - w/b 04.07.22
This term in French, we have been exploring the patterns and sounds of language through songs, rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words. We have learned to speak in sentences using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures. Our focus has been the beach scene. We are now able to construct a sentence in French that describes the setting of a beach. We are able to describe the colours, the weather, the number of people and what month/date it might be.
Science - w/b 27.06.22
This week in science we tested the boats we built to see if they match the criteria for a racing boat. We chose the design and materials based around whether they were buoyant (floated) and streamlined for speed. We raced our boats to see whose design best fit the criteria and then evaluated our final products afterwards. We had a lot of fun testing them out to find who had the fastest boat.
Reading - w/b 20.06.22
This week in guided reading we have been exploring the legend of Hercules defeating Cerberus, the three headed hound of the Underworld. We demonstrated our understanding of the story through summarising the story with a haiku poem, and acting out the scene of Hercules capturing Cerberus with a freeze-frame.
Mathematics - w/b 13.06.22
In this lesson, we learnt how to make triangles within a circular pegboard. It was a problem solving activity that challenged our ability to think outside the box and find multiple solutions to making as many triangles as we possibly can. To help us solve this problem, we made the triangles using a peg board and elastic bands. Once we understood the concept of how to make the three-sided shape, we were able to replicate our findings by drawing it.
English - w/b 06.06.22
This week in English, we have been familiarising ourselves with the main characters of ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’. To do this we have been creating roles on the wall for Tom and William to explore the facts and emotions attached to each character. We then made inferences about the characters based on the text and wrote these on post-it notes.
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations - w/b 23.05.22
This week was Jubilee Week! In honour of the Queen, we have dedicated an entire week to celebrating her and her success as our monarch for the last seventy years!
We began our week in style, having a tea party with our classmates. We made some tasty treats for the occasion: scones, fruit salad, jam sandwiches and banoffee pie. It was absolutely delicious!
The next day, we designed and made our own coronation dresses and used the Queen’s coronation dress as inspiration. We did this using cards, newspapers and masking tape. The final products were incredibly chic.
Finally, we have made a wire mobile that represents all the best things about being British.
Art - w/b 09.05.22
In art this week we have been preparing our etching plates for our intaglio printing. To do this we came up with our own hurricane patterns based on zentangle and Shoo Raynor patterns. We then traced these onto our foil etching plate before etching them deep into the foil using nails. We had to make sure it would be deep enough for the ink to go into the grooves and transfer onto the paper.
Mathematics - w/b 02.05.22
Today in Mathematics, we learned how to use our logical reasoning skills to help us solve a problem. We first recapped our prior knowledge of square numbers, multiples and factors. This knowledge helped us with solving a problem that involved multiplying and dividing. We represented our solutions using manipulatives which helped us visualise our steps in solving the problem.
French - w/b 25.04.22
Our unit this term in French is: Je suis le musicien (I am the music man). In this lesson, we recapped our knowledge of nouns: all French nouns are either masculine or feminine. We practised pronouncing the names of six instruments and wrote the masculine ones in blue in one column (le piano, le saxophone, le violon) and the feminine (la guitare, la batterie, la clarinette) in red in another. We then split as a class into two groups: one for masculine nouns and one for feminine nouns. Each group had to repeat their nouns. We played an animation, pointing out that the masculine instruments are preceded by du (je joue du piano/du saxophone/du violon) whereas the feminine instruments are preceded by de la (je joue de la guitare/ de la batterie/de la clarinette).
Later in the lesson, we consolidated our knowledge by playing snakes and ladders. The rules were:
- Take turns to throw the dice and move your counter from Départ to Arrivée.
- If you land on a square with a question, your partner asks you the question and you must give the correct answer, or else move back two squares.
- If you land on a square with a heart, say if you like the instrument or not. Move back two squares if you can’t say it.
- If you land on a ladder, move your counter up.
- If you land on a snake, slide your counter down. Example: A Tu joues du violon? B Oui, je joue du violon. / Non, je ne joue pas de violon. h? J’aime le piano. / Je n’aime pas le piano.
Mathematics - w/b 18.04.22
This week in year 5, we have been introduced to decimal numbers. To understand the place value of decimal numbers, we used a place value chart and counters to make numbers. We then learnt how to add fractions using the place value chart. We now understand that ten tenths make one and ten hundredths make one tenth. We must remember to exchange when we have ten or more in one column.
Science - w/b 28.04.22
This week in year 5 we have been learning about the physical and internal changes that occur in old age. We learnt that not all changes can be seen. For example, an elderly person has a weaker immune system than those in the stage of adulthood. Their weaker immune system means that they are more vulnerable to diseases or illnesses. However, a baby’s immune system is also just as fragile as an elderly person. This is because they are still in the process of developing their immunity. To help us consolidate our knowledge, we created a table to sort the physical and internal changes of the elderly. Then some of us wrote a short, persuasive letter to convince an elderly person to make healthy lifestyle choices in their diet.
English - w/b 21.03.22
This week in year 5 we have been writing our narrative piece based on the book we are reading: The Varmints. We have been building up to this over the last couple of weeks by writing setting descriptions which explore how the Varmint feels in his surroundings at the beginning and middle of the story. We have been learning lots of new vocabulary such as ‘serene’ and ‘bucolic’ in order to write interesting and descriptive narratives.
Reading - w/b 14.03.22
This week in year 5, we have been doing a range of reading activities. We have visited our amazing school library, gave book recommendations during DEAR (drop everything and read) time and compared and contrasted different types of vertebrates. In guided reading, we are focussing on non-fiction texts that explore the wonders of animals and nature. We now know the difference between cold-blooded and warm-blooded vertebrates. For example; Amphibians are ectothermic creatures, who rely on sunlight to regulate their body temperature whereas mammals are endothermic and rely on their fur.
RE - w/b 07.03.22
We have had some very exciting RE visitors in Year 5. In RE we have been learning all about Christianity and were lucky enough to have a priest visit us to explain how the teachings of Jesus have shaped his life. We then had a visit from a Humanist to show us an alternative viewpoint and we were able to discuss how there are some similarities and differences between Christianity and Humanism.
RE - w/b 28.02.22
This week, year 5 had a visit from Faith in Schools. We met a vicar from our local church in Manor Park: Father Lee and our Faith in School’s worker: Eguolo. In our session, we learned about the significance of Easter to Christians and how they show their devotion to their religion and God. Father Lee demonstrated the importance of following the acts of Jesus by washing the feet of Eguolo. We were told that Christians sometimes perform this act to remind ourselves that we are all equal in the eyes of the lord.
Geography - w/b 21.02.22
This week in geography we have been learning about climate change and its effect on extreme weather in the UK. We looked at the links between climate change, pollution and global warming and took notes on everything we learnt.
We used these notes to hold small group debates about a number of hot topics. We discussed: whether all plastic should be banned, if everyone should become a vegetarian and ways of cleaning up our oceans.
To help us become good debate partners we followed the Oracy Guidelines and gave feedback to our peers about what we did well and how we could improve next time. We also assessed our own progress, the risks we took and which debating skills we could improve on to become better at debating in the future.
Design and Technology - w/b 07.02.22
This week in DT, year 5 have been baking sweet and savoury scones. Over the last couple of weeks we have learnt about nutrition, seasonal foods and the history of scones. We have also written up our recipe ready for the big day! We were lucky enough to have a Michelin star chef, Gavin Gorden, visit us to teach us how to bake delicious scones and together we followed the recipe and had a lot of fun baking! Our scones looked great and tasted even better, we have all had a wonderful time learning about scones in food tech.
