Prep 6 Curriculum Brief

English

English

Spellings will continue in the same way as the Autumn Term and be based on the children’s own targets – focusing on Year 5/6 spelling rules. Spelling tests will continue to be held on Wednesdays and new spellings (10 in total) will be given each week.

Grammar – within our grammar work this term, we will look recap using devices to build cohesion within a paragraph and think about how we link ideas across paragraphs using adverbials of time and place or tense choices. We will also, recap how to link ideas across paragraphs by using a wider range of cohesive devices: repetition of a word or phrase and grammatical connections. In our second topic this term, we will spend time developing detailed paragraphs that help build a wider picture of a story.

As usual in our grammar, we will continue to recap key phrases and terminology.

Punctuation – in our punctuation lessons, we will revise key punctuation learnt in lower KS2 whilst recapping our ability to use brackets, dashes or commas to indicate parenthesis and learn how to use semi-colons and dashes to mark the boundary between independent clauses.

Reading/ Comprehension – in our reading this term we will continue to read our own target books but also read a variety of genres and gain a deeper understanding of different writing styles and widen our vocabulary. We will continue to answer comprehension questions that get us to support answers with evidence from the text and be able to identify key literary devices in our model texts.

Creative Writing – During this term, we will start the term by writing a poem based on Robert MacFarlane’s ‘The Lost Words’. We will then focus on writing an expanded piece of fiction based on Carloe Ann Duffy’s ‘The Tear Thief’. This will be a longer scheme of work where we develop lots of settings, characters etc within multiple, detailed paragraphs. As a result, it may take a longer period of time to complete.

Mathematics

Mathematics

During the spring term, Prep 6 will continue to have weekly times tables tests and a mental maths session. They will also enjoy some investigation work covering a breadth of topics. The children will be challenged to be problem solvers throughout the topics covered, applying skills to a variety of situations.

Converting units: metric measures; converting metric measures; calculating with metric measures; miles and kilometres; imperial measures.

Ratio: Using ratio language; ratio and fractions; scale drawing; scale factors; ratio problems; proportion problems; cooking recipes.

Algebra: 1-step and 2-step function machines; forming expressions; forming equations; solving 1-step and 2-step equations; finding pairs of values; solving problems with two unknowns.

Decimal numbers: Place value in decimal numbers; rounding decimals; adding and subtracting decimals; multiplying and dividing decimals by 10, 100 and 1000; multiplying and dividing decimal numbers by integers.

Fractions, Decimals and Percentages: Finding equivalent fractions, decimal numbers and percentages; converting fractions to percentages; ordering fractions, decimals and percentages; percentages of amounts in multi-step word problems.

Area, Perimeter and Volume: Calculating the area of triangles and parallelograms; calculating the volume of cubes and cuboids.

Statistics: Reading, interpreting and drawing line graphs; dual bar charts and pie charts; pie charts with percentages; calculating the mean.

Science

Science

In the first half term Prep 6 will be learning about living things and their habitats. They will be classifying living things, observing and recording living things and recognising similarities and differences in living organisms.

After half term Prep 6 will be learning about evolution and inheritance. This will include finding out about parents, offspring and variation, adaptations in animals and plants, living things and their habitats and the fossil record.

Geography

Geography

We will begin the term concluding our work on South America by looking at the different climates to be found across the continent. We will then move on to look at the topic of Trade and Economics, looking in detail at the goods traded between different countries and continents. The children will explore the UK’s trade links today and in the past, particularly with El Salvador, and discuss fair trade and the global supply chain.

 

History

History

This term Prep 6 will be learning about what it was like to be a child in Victorian Britain. They will consider what life was like for children in Victorian Britain, comparing rich to poor, comparing modern and Victorian schooling and looking at how children spent their leisure time. They will learn about the changes that took place for children in Victorian Britain.

Prep 6 will then be starting to learn about World War 1, including what elements led to the start of World War 1, what life was like on the front line, the involvement of animals and what life was like for the people of Britain during World War 1.

French

French

We will be moving on to Skoldo Book 3 this term. We will begin by looking at the subjects we study in school, the benefits of homework and which subjects we like and dislike. We will look at the grammar behind pronouns and consolidate our knowledge of etre, avoir and masculine and female adjectives. We will also be translating simple stories and singing songs to consolidate our learning.

Latin

Latin

We learn Latin using Minimus, a Latin course for children, based on the lives of a real Roman family living at Vindolanda. We will continue to consolidate our knowledge of verbs, adjectives, adverbs and look in greater detail at positive and negative commands. We will also expand our Latin vocabulary for military life and shopping. We will, as always, keep looking at how Latin has influenced the English language and enhance our understanding of Roman life through the myths they told.

RS

RS

In this Spring Term, Prep 6 will understand what ‘Epiphany’ means and read information to decipher the reality from the myth.  We will also look at how to recognise the reality of Jesus’ humanity through the stories of his life. During our ‘Multi-Faith Week’ we will be learning about the traditions of Judaism. After our half term break, we will study Lent and develop the children’s understanding of the events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection and how and why Christians celebrate Easter.

Art

Art

Expressive self- portraits inspired by pop artist Andy Warhol and contemporary collage artists Carme Magem and Arnaud Bauville, will be the theme of prep 6’s artwork this term. We will explore a range of materials and painting techniques and look at facial proportion and expressive features. A personal, mixed media self-portrait piece will be our goal!

Music

Music

P6 will begin the term with a trip to see the BSO; we will do some preparation and follow up work connected with this. They will also begin to prepare songs to teach the rest of the school for the Interhouse Music Competition towards the end of term. The children will learn how to lead a rehearsal and prepare a piece for performance. Alongside this, they will brush up their ukulele and recorder skills, and think about how to arrange a simple instrumental piece for a small ensemble performance.

DT

DT

Due to the exploratory and ‘spontaneous’ approach in this subject, we will often go off in different directions depending on the ideas and interest of the children. And so the formal lesson plans are often deviated from to preserve a flexibility and originality of approach.  New projects often ‘evolve’ from the children’s ideas in the sessions and it is an important part of the approach and style in this subject  to maintain this flexibility and spontaneity.  This generates a feeling with the children that they are going on a ‘journey’ in this subject each term. The formal lesson plans are only intended to be used as a basis and guide to the type of work and projects that are covered and are not intended to be rigidly adhered to.

 

Weeks 1, 2 and 3  – Fairground Ride designs designs using plywood and card bases, PVC tubing, ball bearings, blockwood, laser plywood, modelling card and high density modelling foam. This project involves designing and making miniature versions of different fairground rides, involving different types of movement, artwork and ideas.

Weeks 4 and 5 – Board Game designs starting with roll a dice. Card or plywood base, design and make players/pieces and incorporation of instructions.

Weeks 6 and 7 Designs involving experimenting with fixed and moving pivots to create different types of movements with chosen models.  Materials include modelling card, styrofoam, laser ply, blockwood and dowelling.

Weeks 8 and 9 Miniature torch/light designs involving simple circuits with switch, bulb and battery connected in series.

Weeks 10 – Three dimensional models using a variety of materials to create a ‘structure sculpture’. Important considerations are appearance and aesthetics.

Citizenship

Citizenship

This Spring Term Prep 6 will continue to explore the themes of:  Democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.  They will continue to work on their debating skills when exploring these topics.

ICT

ICT

This term pupils will complete an internet investigation – History of Communication – producing brief biographies of important figures.  Recap coding with Scratch ahead of set group task – designing and coding a simple Maths game.  They will also use the lessons to continue support for other subject areas.

Drama

Drama

This term the pupils will be learning acting and performance techniques and developing an understanding of timing. They will also be learning how to create characters on stage. They will be learning scripts and being able to play set characters. Towards the end of term, they will be introduced to the school production.

PE/Games

PE/Games

P.E: Basketball. Handling, dribbling, movement into space and passing skills will be developed, especially in small game situations.

Handball. Learning the fundamentals and rules of the game. Passing and moving into space, attacking and defending and developing these skills into game situations.

Games: Cross Country, Football and Netball. Skills will be developed through various drills and activities, with game situations. Pupils will be asked to think about team and positional play.

PSHE

PSHE

In Prep 6 we will be eploring how the media, including online experiences, can affect people’s wellbeing – their thoughts, feelings and actions.  We will discuss that not everything should be shared online or social media and that there are rules about this, including the distribution of images and that mixed messages in the media exist (including about health, the news and different groups of people) and that these can influence opinions and decisions.  Prep 6 will learn to  evaluate how reliable different types of online content and media are, e.g. videos, blogs, news, reviews, advert and to recognise unsafe or suspicious content online and what to do about it. We will explore how to respond to and if necessary, report information viewed online which is upsetting, frightening or untrue and discuss and debate what influences people’s decisions, taking into consideration different viewpoints.