Cherry Tree Academy
Year 6 - Oak
Welcome to Oak Class
Class Teacher: Mrs Helsden
LSA: Mrs Hannaway
Current Class Book: Boy in the Tower
Things to remember
Daily: PE kit, Reading book, snack and drink bottle.
Weekly: Fridays we mark spellings, GPS homework and maths homework. There is a homework club on Thursday lunch for those who prefer to complete it in school. This is with Mrs Helsden.
PE Kit: Mondays, but this could change so leave it here all term please.
Class Email: oak@inspiresmat.co.uk
I am able to talk to you after school. Please talk to me about anything you feel needs discussing. We can always make an appointment if it needs more time.
In Oak we have really developed our growth mindset and know that we are all working on the year 6 curriculum. We set expectations in our learning as high but we are given the supportive resources and materials to help us to get to that high level of learning. This means that we all finish year 6 as close to year 7 ready as we possibly can. Our reading texts are high quality, our writing texts are high quality and our maths questions are high quality. We reach for the stars and find a path to get there.
Maths
This term, in Maths, we are working on revision strategies and techniques to revisit and then embed all of the wonderful mathematical learning we have completed. We will revisit a maths topic every day and we will have many adults, in the class, to ensure we are understanding the concept. We will build on any mathematical concepts we have learnt and find quicker and more effective ways to answer questions.
Please support this learning, at home, by completing Method Maths questions. This can be found here:
English
In Year 6, we are working hard to build the key skills that children need not only for their SATs, but also for a smooth transition into secondary school and beyond.
In reading, we are using a range of different practice papers and high-quality texts to develop essential comprehension skills. These include finding and retrieving information, making inferences, explaining vocabulary and summarising ideas. By exploring a variety of question styles and text types, pupils become more confident, fluent readers who understand and discuss what they read. We regularly use a range of reading papers to help children master these skills and become familiar with different question styles. These are vital skills for secondary school, where children are expected to read independently across all subjects.
In GPS (Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling), we are focusing on understanding how language works and how to use it effectively. We are using a wide range of punctuation, sentence structures and ambitious vocabulary to improve the clarity and accuracy of their work. To keep learning engaging and enjoyable, we are using interactive games such as Pointless and Deal or No Deal to reinforce key grammar and spelling concepts. These skills are then applied in our foundation writing and in any future writing the children complete, helping them to write clearly and confidently across the curriculum.
All of these skills are important not only for success in school, but also for everyday life. Being able to read carefully, understand information, communicate clearly and write effectively are essential life skills that support children in the future - whether in further education, the workplace or everyday situations.
We are proud of the progress the children make and continue to support them in becoming confident, independent learners.
GPS revision can be supported using spag.com here:
Science
In science, we want to ensure we are secure with our scientific knowledge and vocabulary, so we have been making steady progress with our science topics. Having already completed our light, electricity and classification of living things, we have moved to study Evolution and Inheritance before we move to the circulatory system. Science is one of our favourite lessons this year and ensuring it is embedded and mastered has been key to our success.
Foundation subjects
In Year 6, we thoroughly enjoy our foundation subjects and take pride in the creativity, curiosity and enthusiasm we bring to our learning.
In music, we are exploring rhythm and composition using Dragon Beats on the iPads. We are creating our own pieces by mixing a range of instruments and sounds, allowing us to experiment, perform and develop our confidence as young musicians. The children are particularly enjoying composing their own tracks and sharing them with others.
In art, we have recently completed our exciting Roy Lichtenstein unit, where we study his bold, pop art style and apply these techniques to our own work. We also draw inspiration from a range of other artists to develop our ideas and techniques. We are now moving on to a photography unit, where we are excited to apply our growing understanding to create our own images. This helps to prepare us for KS3 art and photography lessons, building both confidence and creativity.
In French, we continue to make strong progress with our conversational skills. We practise speaking, listening and responding in a range of everyday situations, helping us to build confidence and fluency.
In geography, we deepen our understanding of South America, exploring its countries, physical features and cultures. This topic sparks great interest and curiosity, as we learn more about the wider world.
We are proud of the enthusiasm and effort shown across all foundation subjects, and we enjoy developing a wide range of skills that support our learning both now and in the future.
Useful resources:
Spellings
As mentioned above, the class will have a list of spellings to learn each week. The spellings are a combination of words from their year group list, words from the class book and words that children have chosen themselves from book checks. A weekly test takes place and records are kept to track improvement in spellings.
Times tables
It is really important for the children to know their times tables. Here at Cherry Tree Academy we have found a fun way to learn our times table. Times Table Rockstars! Children can have their own rockstar name, they can listen to rock music as they learn their tables All the children have been given usernames and passwords- if you’re unsure please ask the class teacher. Click the link below to access:
Homework
Each week, the children are expected to complete an activity from each book and hand them in on Friday to be marked. The activities to be completed, will be set each week. There is also a termly project that can be completed and is attached below.
