2024/2025- Term 6

English

This term in English, pupils will be using the exciting mystery novel Malamander by Thomas Taylor as inspiration for their writing. Set in the misty seaside town of Eerie-on-Sea, the story follows Herbert Lemon, the Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel, and Violet Parma, a bold and curious girl searching for her missing parents. Together, they uncover secrets about a legendary sea creature known as the Malamander.

Using this gripping story, children will write in a range of styles to entertain and persuade, drawing on all the writing skills they have developed throughout the year. They will focus on creating atmosphere, building suspense, and using persuasive techniques to express opinions and influence readers.

This unit will give pupils the chance to be imaginative, develop their author’s voice, and apply grammar, vocabulary, and structure confidently in their writing.

This term in reading, we are continuing to develop our fluency by focusing on key elements of Expression, Automaticity, Rhythm and Phrasing, and Smoothness. These skills help students read more confidently and with greater understanding. To support this, we are exploring a range of engaging texts. Our core novel, Malamander by Thomas Taylor, combines mystery, fantasy, and adventure, encouraging students to think analytically and interpretively as they follow the story’s unfolding events. Alongside this, we are reading the non-fiction text A Natural History of Magical Beasts, which allows students to explore imaginative creatures through an informational lens, helping them distinguish between fact and fiction. We are also studying Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven, using it to analyse how tone and mood are created through language. These texts are carefully chosen to reinforce themes of adventure and friendship, helping students make meaningful connections across genres and deepen their overall reading experience.

                                                  Maths

This term in Maths, pupils will be developing their skills in a range of important number and problem-solving areas.

They will learn how to read and interpret tables and timetables, helping them apply maths to real-life situations. Pupils will also practise multiplying 4-digit numbers by 1- and 2-digit numbers, and dividing 4-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers, using formal written methods.

Children will solve problems using all four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division), including those involving decimals. They will also learn how to multiply and divide whole numbers by decimals, building confidence with place value and accuracy.

In measurement, pupils will convert between different units, such as centimetres to metres or grams to kilograms. They will also explore square numbers and investigate the properties of regular and irregular polygons. 

This unit supports pupils in building strong calculation strategies and applying their knowledge to a variety of mathematical contexts.

You can support our learning at home by encouraging us to access Times Table Rockstars and helping us learn our KIRFs. 

KIRFs (Key Instant Recall Facts)

Science- What is the Human Life Cycle?

Pupils will explore how humans grow and change from before birth through to old age.

Children will learn that a baby develops in the uterus, not the stomach, and that the human life cycle includes several stages: gestation, infancy, childhood, puberty, adulthood, ageing, and death.

We will focus on the physical changes that happen during puberty, which are different for girls and boys. For girls, changes include: growth spurts, development of pubic and underarm hair, breast development, wider hips, voice changes, increased sweat and oil production, and the start of menstruation. For boys, changes include: growth of genitals, facial and body hair, increased height and muscle growth, a more visible Adam’s apple, and the voice breaking.

Pupils will also learn how the human body continues to change as it ages, and how these changes affect our lives.

This topic is taught in a sensitive and age-appropriate way, encouraging questions and discussion in a safe, respectful environment.

RE- How can we Express Belief Through the Arts?

This term in RE, pupils will explore how different religions use creativity to express their beliefs. They will learn that some religions use art, music, and dance as part of their worship, while others choose not to show images of God or religious figures.

Children will look at examples of religious artwork and compare how different faiths express their ideas through creative forms. They will also explore how music and dance are used in religious celebrations and ceremonies around the world.

This unit helps pupils understand and respect the different ways people show their beliefs.

History- Who should go on a £10 bank note?

This term, pupils will explore the question: Who should go on a £10 bank note? They will learn about significant people from British history and why they are remembered today.

Children will begin by looking at who currently features on bank notes and why those individuals were chosen. They will then research and compare the lives of key historical figures, including Alfred the Great, Queen Elizabeth I, Ellen Wilkinson, Betty Boothroyd, William Tuke, Mary Seacole, Lily Parr, and Betty Snowball.

Through debates, group work, and presentations, pupils will consider what makes someone historically significant. They will use their learning to decide who they believe deserves to be the next person featured on a bank note and present their ideas in a creative way.

This unit encourages children to think critically, use historical evidence, and develop their speaking and listening skills.

PSHE- How can we keep healthy as we grow?

This term in PSHE, pupils will be learning about mental health and emotional well-being. They will explore what mental health means and understand that it’s about how we feel, think, and cope with challenges in everyday life.

Children will learn that it’s normal to experience a range of emotions—even at the same time—and that these feelings can change over time. They will also learn healthy ways to manage emotions, such as talking to someone they trust or doing something relaxing when they feel sad, worried, or stressed.

As part of this unit, pupils will also explore the topic of grief and loss, learning that it’s normal to feel upset when we lose someone important and that grieving is a process that takes time.

Throughout the unit, children will be encouraged to talk openly about their feelings and understand that it’s okay to ask for help. They will identify trusted people they can talk to, such as friends, family members, or teachers.

This unit supports children in building emotional resilience and knowing how to look after their mental well-being.

PE

In their outdoor lessons tennis the children will be progressing to learn the skills of volleying the ball and serving the ball before using all the skills they have learnt in a game situation. In their indoor lessons Y6 will be fine tuning their gymnastics skills, using inverted and mirroring actions. In their indoor lessons Y5 will be improving their swimming skills. Beginners will be learning how to swim, improvers will be refining their breaststroke, backstroke and front crawl, whilst the more confident swimmers will be looking at a range of self help life saving skills.

Computing

This unit on Variables in Games explores the concept of variables in programming through games in Scratch. First, learners find out what variables are and relate them to real-world examples of values that can be set and changed. Then they use variables to create a simulation of a scoreboard. In other lessons, which follow the Use-Modify-Create model, learners experiment with variables in an existing project, then modify them, before they create their own project. In Lesson 4, learners focus on design. Finally, the learners apply their knowledge of variables and design to improve their games in Scratch.

Spelling