Year 6 Teaching Staff
Class Teacher: Mr Lee
Teaching Assistant: Mrs Campbell
Teaching Assistant: Mrs Campbell
Gethsemane
September 2011 Rights and Responsibilities
As part of our work on creating a safe, stimulating and successful learning environment, pupils identified that they had the following Rights and Reponsbilities:
We have the right to have the best education possible, but the reponsibility to try our best at everything.
By Ria Tozer
We have the right to make mistakes, but the responsibility to learn from our mistakes.
By Lenny Hill
We have the right to have a say, but the responsibility to accept other people's opinions.
By Lauren Brewster
We have the right to have a clean classroom, but the reponsibility to keep the classroom tidy.
By Charlie Mears
We have the right to be listened to, but the responsibility to listen to others.
By Jay Hill
We have the right to drink clean fresh water, but the responsibility not to waste it.
By Nathan Pym
We have the right to play, but the responsibility to look after playground equipment.
By Hayden Saxton
We have the right to play sport, but the reponsibility to play fairly.
By Tom Blackham
We have the right to be treated with respect, but the reponsibility to respect others.
By Ruby Humphries
We have the right to be proud of our religion, but the responsibility to respect the beliefs of others.
By Jack Woodthorpe
We have the right to go on computers in the classroom and in the ICT Suite, but the responsibility to go on safe and sensible websites.
By Abbie Owen
We have the right to have the best education possible, but the reponsibility to try our best at everything.
By Ria Tozer
We have the right to make mistakes, but the responsibility to learn from our mistakes.
By Lenny Hill
We have the right to have a say, but the responsibility to accept other people's opinions.
By Lauren Brewster
We have the right to have a clean classroom, but the reponsibility to keep the classroom tidy.
By Charlie Mears
We have the right to be listened to, but the responsibility to listen to others.
By Jay Hill
We have the right to drink clean fresh water, but the responsibility not to waste it.
By Nathan Pym
We have the right to play, but the responsibility to look after playground equipment.
By Hayden Saxton
We have the right to play sport, but the reponsibility to play fairly.
By Tom Blackham
We have the right to be treated with respect, but the reponsibility to respect others.
By Ruby Humphries
We have the right to be proud of our religion, but the responsibility to respect the beliefs of others.
By Jack Woodthorpe
We have the right to go on computers in the classroom and in the ICT Suite, but the responsibility to go on safe and sensible websites.
By Abbie Owen
September 2011 Autumn Term Learning
September 2011 Forces In Action
Pupils applied their knowledge of a variety of forces, including magnetic attraction, gravitational attraction and friction. Children learned about the changes in motion which occur when forces act on an object. They consolidated their understanding that forces have direction and can be measured.
October 2011 Maths in Motion Challenge
Six pupils from Year 6 and a further two pupils from Year 5 represented the school at the Maths in Motion Challenge at Exmouth Community College. During the two morning sessions the children had to design and then race the ultimate Formula 1 driving machine. The design information was put into a computer programme which created the car, and then the pupils raced their cars against others to see if their car is the best. This event helped children to develop their estimation, measuring angles, scales, percentages, accuracy, time-keeping and team work skills.
October 2011 Friendship Song
Pupils completed work on Getting On an Falling Out by identifying behaviours who 'heat up conflict' and 'cool down conflict' as well as singing the Friendship Song with Mr Perkins:
Chorus x 2
We've got a problem.
We can work it out,
Let's get together,
That's what it's all about,
Got to build it, build it high,
Got to build it, build it high.
Don't give in because you fail your first attempt,
Don't start shouting, what the point in argument?
Let's stand united, take the challenge in our stride,
Just remember that we're on the same side.
Chorus x 1
Don't start blaming someone else when things go wrong,
That's wasting precious time and we don't have too long,
No use in panic when the situation is grim,
Trust in teamwork and let the game begin!
Chorus x 1
Build it high,
Build it high,
Build it high.
Chorus x 2
We've got a problem.
We can work it out,
Let's get together,
That's what it's all about,
Got to build it, build it high,
Got to build it, build it high.
Don't give in because you fail your first attempt,
Don't start shouting, what the point in argument?
Let's stand united, take the challenge in our stride,
Just remember that we're on the same side.
Chorus x 1
Don't start blaming someone else when things go wrong,
That's wasting precious time and we don't have too long,
No use in panic when the situation is grim,
Trust in teamwork and let the game begin!
Chorus x 1
Build it high,
Build it high,
Build it high.
October 2011 Macmillan Coffee Morning Raises £243.00
On Friday 21st October 2011, Year 6 pupils hosted a Macmillan Coffee Morning inside the Year 6 classroom. Alongside the tea and cofee, pupils organised and ran fundraising games and sold homemade cakes. In addition, pupils from all classes were invited to bring in copper coins and cover two giant coffee cups.
The skills developed by organising and running this event include teamwork, responsibility, communication and social skills and the ability to work to a deadline.
The skills developed by organising and running this event include teamwork, responsibility, communication and social skills and the ability to work to a deadline.
October and November 2011 Year 6 London Residential
Pupils from Year 5 and Year 6 enjoyed a four day/three night residential trip to London. The trip included visits to: Tate Modern; the British Museum; the Houses of Parliament (incuding an interactive workshop about democracy and parliament); the Natural History Museum; the Imperial War Museum and the Science Museum (includinig a lively workshop about forces in bridges). Pupils also had the opportunity to view London from 135m on the London Eye.
November 2011 Practical Numeracy
Year 6 have been developing their numeracy skills by calculating different types of averages, representing data in different ways, reading measurement scales accurately and converting from one unit of measurement to another. Pupils collected athletics data for the average running time, the average numbers of jumps and then average distance thrown. In the hall, pupils measured weight, length and capacity and converted their answer to another unit of measurement. In addition, some mathematicians have been working with Mr Perkins on a data handling/problem solving project called 'How Far? How Fast? How High?. This project has develops data handling skills in order to answer questions and investigate a hypothesis. Can we predict the likely World Records for London 2012?
November 2011 Learning About Learning
Year 6 pupils used the image of Usain Bolt to consider and identify those behaviours, actions and attitudes which speed up or enhance our learning (in green) and those which slow down or prevent our learning (in red). These ideas were separated into behaviours, actions and attitudes at home, in classroom and on the playground. It is hoped that our classroom display will inspire pupils to achieve their maximum potential.
On the playground
Including other pupils in games will make other pupils feel safe and secure.
Gossiping at playtime can create anxiety amongst other pupils in the classroom. It affects the courage and confidence of other pupils.
Having fun and playing games with everyone helps you socialise and develop friendships with new people in the school.
Invading the personal space of other pupils and playing roughly.
At Home
Reading before bed, practicing your times tables and using educational resources like Education City.
Arguments with members of your family because you will think about it all day and this will affect your learning.
Having a good night’s sleep and eating a healthy diet will help with your concentration levels.
Watching television late at night when you should be asleep. You will be tired during lessons on the next day.
In the Classroom
Challenging yourself and working in the stretch zone.
Working in the comfort zone or in the panic zone.
Sitting and working with a variety of people – not just your friends because sometimes they distract you and prevent you from learning.
Daydreaming and not listening to instructions because you will not know what to do in your work.
Listening to other people’s suggestions and ideas helps you to learn new facts.
Distracting other pupils puts you and others off their work.
On the playground
Including other pupils in games will make other pupils feel safe and secure.
Gossiping at playtime can create anxiety amongst other pupils in the classroom. It affects the courage and confidence of other pupils.
Having fun and playing games with everyone helps you socialise and develop friendships with new people in the school.
Invading the personal space of other pupils and playing roughly.
At Home
Reading before bed, practicing your times tables and using educational resources like Education City.
Arguments with members of your family because you will think about it all day and this will affect your learning.
Having a good night’s sleep and eating a healthy diet will help with your concentration levels.
Watching television late at night when you should be asleep. You will be tired during lessons on the next day.
In the Classroom
Challenging yourself and working in the stretch zone.
Working in the comfort zone or in the panic zone.
Sitting and working with a variety of people – not just your friends because sometimes they distract you and prevent you from learning.
Daydreaming and not listening to instructions because you will not know what to do in your work.
Listening to other people’s suggestions and ideas helps you to learn new facts.
Distracting other pupils puts you and others off their work.
November 2011 NSPCC Dance-a-thon
Pupils from Year 6 participated in a Dance-a-thon to raise money for NSPCC. Pupils had to dance for an hour (divided into three twenty minute periods of continuous dancing), some wearing Disco Wigs and Disco Glasses. Year 6 were awarded a special NSPCC certificate for the highest percentage of pupils involved within Key Stage 2. The total amount raised by the school was £2,491.
November 2011 SPSA Christmas Fayre Origami Christmas Decorations
Pupils from Year 6 made origami Santa Clauses, Elves and Christmas Boxes for sale at the SPSA Christmas Fayre. These decorations were sold on a Year 6 managed stall at the Christmas Fayre and it was not long until they had sold all the Santa Clauses and Elves. In addition, Year 6 pupils managed a gift stall and wrapped the gifts using wrapping paper and ribbon.
December 2011 Late Night Christmas Shopping in Budleigh Salterton
Members of Year 6 joined pupils from other classes and entertained the local community with some amazing African drumming.
December 2011 Rehearsal for the Christmas Performance
Pupils have played a variety of drum instruments with increasing confidence, skill, expression and awareness of their own contribution to a group or class performance. They have been encouraged to be creative and improvise with solos.
December 2011 Christmas Performance at St Peter's Church
On 12th December, Year 6 ended their World War Two topic by singing Silent Night in English and in German to help people remember that it was not just the British soldiers and their families who suffered at Christmas.
Year 6 had been thinking about war and conflicts this Christmas, including Afghanistan. Olivia Yarwood and Katie Brindley shared a poem which they had written to people understand what it is like for soldiers to miss their children and children to miss their parents at Christmas.
Photographs of the event will follow.
Year 6 had been thinking about war and conflicts this Christmas, including Afghanistan. Olivia Yarwood and Katie Brindley shared a poem which they had written to people understand what it is like for soldiers to miss their children and children to miss their parents at Christmas.
Photographs of the event will follow.
December 2011 - Dissolving
Each crystal of sugar is made up of millions of molecules of sugar (containing hydrogen, carbon and oxygen). These molecules are held together tightly to make up a crystal. Pupils acted out the role of molecules of sugar and molecules of water as a way of discovering what happens when water and sugar are mixed.
The molecules of water moved about and they freely bumped into the molecules that made up the sugar crystals. Sometimes they pull away some of the sugar molecules. The water particles then surrounded the sugar molecules, which because they were so small, could not be seen in the water solution because they fit into the spaces between the water particles.
The molecules of water moved about and they freely bumped into the molecules that made up the sugar crystals. Sometimes they pull away some of the sugar molecules. The water particles then surrounded the sugar molecules, which because they were so small, could not be seen in the water solution because they fit into the spaces between the water particles.
January 2012 Spring Term Learning
January 2012 Higher Level Thinking Skills
Year 6 are developing their range of questioning and reponse skills in order to develop higher level thinking. Our 'Class Orange', based on upon six types of questionning, helps ensure that we extend and deepen our learning.
January 2012 Penpal Letters
Year 6 pupils are preparing to play an active role as citizens by developing an understanding of the range of national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the United Kingdom though the Penpal Project. Each pupil has at least one penpal from Brayton Junior School in North Yorkshire.
The quality of writing produced by our Year 6 pupils in their initial letter impressed Mr Elliott and a number of pupils were awarded the Headteacher Award in recognition of their overall sentence/paragraph construction, descriptive detail and cursive handwriting.
Pupils were very excited when they received a reply to their initial letter in January. Over the next few weeks pupils will be planning, drating and writing a reply.
The quality of writing produced by our Year 6 pupils in their initial letter impressed Mr Elliott and a number of pupils were awarded the Headteacher Award in recognition of their overall sentence/paragraph construction, descriptive detail and cursive handwriting.
Pupils were very excited when they received a reply to their initial letter in January. Over the next few weeks pupils will be planning, drating and writing a reply.
January 2012 Say No To Bullying
Year 6 pupils have been considering: what bullying is; how it feels; why people use bullying behaviours; how we can prevent and respond to it; how children can use their social, emotional and behavioural skills to manage their feelings and tackle bullying, and ways in which pupils can encourage children who use bullying behaviours to make other choices.
Pupils have developed their emotional literacy through circle games, debate, presentations, drama and the creation of a class emotional literacy wall focussed on the differing emotions associated with 'feeling left out' and 'feeling included'.
Year 6 Class Charter Against Bullying
We have the right to have conversations, but the responsibility not to tease or gossip or talk behind people’s backs.
We have the right to joke, but the responsibility not to offend someone.
We have the right to play in a group, but the responsibility to include everyone and not to invade someone’s space.
We have the right to have fun, but the responsibility not to get too over excited.
We have the right to make mistakes, but the responsibility to learn from them.
We have the right to play with equipment, and the responsibility to share.
Pupils have developed their emotional literacy through circle games, debate, presentations, drama and the creation of a class emotional literacy wall focussed on the differing emotions associated with 'feeling left out' and 'feeling included'.
Year 6 Class Charter Against Bullying
We have the right to have conversations, but the responsibility not to tease or gossip or talk behind people’s backs.
We have the right to joke, but the responsibility not to offend someone.
We have the right to play in a group, but the responsibility to include everyone and not to invade someone’s space.
We have the right to have fun, but the responsibility not to get too over excited.
We have the right to make mistakes, but the responsibility to learn from them.
We have the right to play with equipment, and the responsibility to share.
January 2012 Electrical Circuits at Exmouth Community College
On 10th January 2012, pupils from Year 6 enjoyed an exciting science lesson at Exmouth Community College. Firstly, pupils identified conventional symbols for some electrical components and were introdcued to some more complex components, e.g. variable resistors. Pupils made predictions about whether series circuits were complete and whether bulbs would light. Following which, pupils constructed series circuits from diagrams using conventional symbols and tested their predictions. This event also provided an opportunity for pupils to ask questions about transition to Exmouth Community College.
January 2012 Egyptian Day
On 13th January, pupils from Year 5 and Year 6 enjoyed an Egyptian Day at St Peter's Church of England Primary School, hosted by The Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM). As would-be archaeologists the children, through artefact handling, studying of images and dramatic role play, learnt to piece together evidence about life and death in Ancient Egypt. As well as increasing their knowledge and understanding of life in Ancient Egypt, pupils developed their higher level thinking skills by making inferences and deducations about Egyptian life and incorporated evidence into their explanations.
January 2012 Electrical Circuits at Exmouth Community College
On 24th January 2012, pupils from Year 6 enjoyed a second exciting science lesson at Exmouth Community College. Firstly, pupils completed an electricity vocabulary matching activity. Pupils then investigated the effect of chaning the numbers of bulbs and batteries within a series circuit. Pupils then extended their knowledge and understanding by making parrallel circuits. Within this learning activity pupils had to predict and observe the effect of changing the position of a switch in a parallel circuit. When open, would the switch turn one light off or both lights off? Pupils then applied their understanding to circuit diagrams.
Mr Farleigh briefly dicussed Year 7 science at Exmouth Community College whilst showing pupils a bunsen burner and making the colour of the flame change. This event also provided an opportunity for pupils to ask questions about transition to Exmouth Community College.
Mr Farleigh briefly dicussed Year 7 science at Exmouth Community College whilst showing pupils a bunsen burner and making the colour of the flame change. This event also provided an opportunity for pupils to ask questions about transition to Exmouth Community College.
January 2012 ICT Animation at Exmouth Community College
On 26th January 2012, pupils from Year 6 participated in an exciting ICT animation lesson at Exmouth Community College. The task was linked to the Olympic and Paralympic mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville.
February 2012 Numeracy Learning About Time
Working in teams based upon their Numeracy tables, pupils created their own one-step and multi-step problems in relation to a CBBC TV schedule. Having identified a question, pupils had to find the answer (showing their working), and have their method/calculation peer assessed, before taking part in a class quiz using their own questions. Pupils were encouraged to ensure that their question was in the challenge zone for their target audience.
February 2012 Numeracy Ratio and Proportion
Pupils solved verbal problems involving direct proportion by scaling quantities up or down when making Cool Citrus Punch. The whole class got involved calculating the ingredients needed and squeezing the lemons, limes and oranges. Numeracy has never tasted so good!
February 2012 Year 6 Assessment Evening for Parents
On 9th February, parents attended a Year 6 Assessment Evening.
The intentions of the evening were as follows:
The intentions of the evening were as follows:
- To introduce parents to the Year 6 assessment and tracking procedures.
- To explain the language used when assessing the levels at which pupils attain.
- To explain the changes to national curriculum assessments, particularly in relation to English (Writing).
- To share examples of previous national curriculum assessment papers.
- To offer parents an opportunity to ask questions about the Year 6 assessment and tracking procedures.
February 2012 100 Word Challenge
Pupils have started to write 100 Words in response to a visual or word based stimulus. Please visit our 100 Word Challenge Blog.
February 2012 Electrical Circuits Kinaesthetic Learning
Using skipping ropes for wires, whiteboards for batteries, yellow hoops for bulbs and blue hoops for resistors, pupils completed kinaesthetic investigations into electrical circuits to consolidate our understanding about how circuits work and the effects of changing circuits.
February 2012 Quests
Tom stimulate the learning about quests pupils had to: walk through the swampy lands until you find a green cone; travel on horseback to the ICT Suite; wwim through the rapids towards the Wooden Stage; sleep and heal their powers in the Garden of Destiny (The Secret Garden); fight the fierce dragon (the green frog bin); traverse the canyon (climb the length of the monkey bars); collect the final clue from the Wicked Wizard (Mr Lee) and once they had found the gold dance a merry jig in front of the Year 6 classroom!
March 2012 National Science and Engineering Week
As part of National Science and Engineering Week (9–18 March 2012), two 'real scientists' from the University of Exeter Biosciences department led a range of learning experiences focussed on plant biology, interdepdendence and adaptation, and micro-organisms.
The morning activities including learning new scientific WOW words to describe the parts of plants, acting out the process of photosynthesis, writing persuasive advertisements for fertiliser, and completing a hypothesis led SC1 investigation. In the afternoon, pupils walked to the River Otter Nature Reserve in order to identify animals and plants in a local habitat and examine how they are suited to their environment.
Thank you for the fantastic parental support when visiting the River Otter Nature Reserve.
The morning activities including learning new scientific WOW words to describe the parts of plants, acting out the process of photosynthesis, writing persuasive advertisements for fertiliser, and completing a hypothesis led SC1 investigation. In the afternoon, pupils walked to the River Otter Nature Reserve in order to identify animals and plants in a local habitat and examine how they are suited to their environment.
Thank you for the fantastic parental support when visiting the River Otter Nature Reserve.
