Year 6 Mrs Martin, Mrs Matthews & Miss Peck

Our Musical African Workshop

On Monday 19th February, we started our half term off with a bang - literally! To enhance our topic on Africa, we invited David into our school to deliver an African musical workshop. He has spent the last 25 years travelling to Gambia, in the western region of Africa, immersing himself in the many aspects of African music. The children were fascinated by what he had to say and thoroughly enjoyed expanding their knowledge of the many and varied musical instruments that were on show. By the end of the session, each class had perfected a performance complete with solo singers, expressive dancers and an extremely rhythmic band. What a wonderful time we had - as you can see from the photos below.

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We invited parents and carers to a Reading Workshop. They were getting a taste of how we teach reading in Year 6 and how we prepare the children for their SATs tests.

Our Year 6s enjoyed an 'Escape Room' type activity that involved a variety of maths challenges. They had to solve clues to unlock numerous padlocks in order to find the key, all against the clock.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Our Afternoon Tea Extravaganza!

On Friday 19th January, Year 6 invited one adult from their family to join us for an Afternoon Tea. Since the Afternoon Tea originated in Victorian Times it was a perfect end to our topic. Our first step was to research the history of the Afternoon Tea and to compile a pic-collage of our findings.

Our next step was to make the cookie dough and freeze it ready for baking on the morning of the tea. We also followed instructions to make our 3 tiered cakes stands and on the morning of the event we made 240 mini sandwiches (3 different types).

On the afternoon of the tea it was all hands on deck! The table runners were laid out, the cake stands were brought in (2 per table) and plates, serviettes, cups and coasters were arranged on every table. A selection of music ( Victorian music hall songs) was playing in the background in readiness. The children had also been working hard to create an 'Exhibition of Victorian Inventions' in the style of Prince Albert's Great Exhibition of 1851. Their work was displayed around the edge of the room and shared with their adults after the tea had been eaten. All proceeds from the sale of tickets (£2 per ticket) will be donated to our Year 6 charity - Oxfam. Everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon - the children's proud, happy faces said it all!

Science - Our Beak Investigation

At the end of December, we finished our science topic on Evolution, by conducting an investigation closely linked to the work of Charles Darwin. Darwin had noticed, during his time spent on the Galapagus Islands, that finches had different shaped beaks but why? He discovered that the finches had to adapt to their surroundings in order to survive. Those with the correct shaped beaks for the food source thrived and reproduced whereas those that did not died out - the survival of the fittest. This point was really understood by the children after our investigation - we used 4 different shaped beaks and 4 different foods. As well as scientfically proving a point, we all had a really fun afternoon.

Grandparents Christmas Crafts

On Wednesday 13th December, many of our Year 6 grandparents joined us to make Christmas Calendars. The children loved working with their family member and a great morning was had by all. Bacon sandwiches were enjoyed afterwards by the grandparents - the teachers were there to help!

The Christmas Panto

On Friday 8th of December, we visited The Palace Theatre in Mansfield, where we enjoyed a performance of 'Beauty and the Beast'. The show was amazing and the ice-cream, during the interval, added to the thrills! What a great afternoon.

History - Newstead Abbey

On Wednesday 29th November, we visited Newstead Abbey to learn all about a Victorian Christmas. We had an absolutely fabulous time!

Our morning greeting

Learning about toys and education.

Making herb bags in the kitchen.

Playing parlour games.

Maths - Arithmetic Workshop for Parents

We invited parents in to find out about our work in maths. We showed our rapid recall, four operations and times tables skills.

PE - Gymnastics

This half term, we are steadily developing our skills in gymnastics.

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History off the Page

We were lucky enough to experience a Victorian Day with History off the Page.

We made Victoria Crosses, Happy Family games, quills and matchboxes.

Art - Lino Printing in the style of William Morris

In Art we have learned how to Lino print, designing and creating our own tiles to print.

Maths - Practical Fractions

We have learned lots about fractions.

Grammar - Conjunctions

We have learned all about co-ordinating and subordinating conjunctions.

RE - Visit to the Mosque

On Wednesday 14th October the Year 6's travelled to the Open Centre in Derby where we enjoyed looking around mosque, dressing up in Asian marriage dresses and having henna patterns painted on our hands.

PE - Golf in the hall

In September, Year 6 enjoyed a golf session with an external coach. Even though it was raining and we had to relocate to the hall, everyone had a great time and improved their golfing skills.