Autumn Term
Our topics this term are Britain and WWII, and Britain since WWII. We start the first topic by watching the film adaptation of ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’ and reading extracts from the book, comparing the two. We link our literacy, geography and history work closely, by focusing on life for evacuees, the Blitz and the effect on civilians. Later this half term we write poetry, and write recounts as evacuees. In art, the children create Blitz scenes with water-colours and silhouettes. After the half term break we start the next topic which focuses on evolution and inheritance, while the children conduct independent research on the decades since the end of the war. In literacy, the children learn more about persuasive writing, modern fiction and the children write their own autobiographies.
In Year 6, Maths will be taught in class groups and the children follow the National Curriculum 14 in preparation for their SATs in May. Areas of focus are place value, the four operations (including mental strategies and written methods), decimals, fractions, measurement and problem solving and reasoning. To help the children prepare for their SATs and their final year in primary education, in Personal, Social and Health Education (PHSE) and Philosophy for Children (P4C) we discuss risks in the community and how to have a positive growth mindset, approach new challenges and become increasingly responsible as an individual.
We will become familiar WWII songs in music, identifying their origins.
As part of the catch-up recovery PE curriculum, the children take part in striking and fielding lessons, and athletics with Mr Harrington, followed by an orienteering unit. In RE, the children learn about Buddhism and Hinduism and, in Computing, the children learn about how to stay safe online and programming algorithms. Our design and technology lessons give the children the opportunity to research and construct WWII shelters. The children also learn about rationing and experience what can be eaten and made with the wartime restrictions. Finally, our science topics are ‘light’ and ‘evolution and inheritance’. We will follow the catch-up recovery curriculum and complete the Year 5 Growing Up before the Autumn half term break.
WWII Tea Parties
As we are currently unable to have our traditional World War II Tea Party and Assembly, we are going to have a day when children come dressed as evacuees. Our celebration day will be on Wednesday 11th November. During this time, we will take part in activities linked to World War II and hold a celebration-style assembly in class, where the children will share work produced. A letter detailing this can be found in Letters.
Costume ideas:
