English – Summer 1 – Island: A Story of the Galápagos by Jason Chin

This term, we will be continuing to explore Island: A Story of the Galápagos, which tells the story of how the Galápagos Islands were formed and how life developed there over millions of years. The book also introduces the voyage of Charles Darwin aboard the HMS Beagle and explains how his discoveries helped shape new scientific ideas.

Our final piece of writing will be an historical newspaper article about the voyage to the Galápagos. Children will write in a formal journalistic style, reporting events clearly and accurately as if they were living in the 19th century.

Targets

• Use passive verbs to create a formal tone

• Use a range of verb forms correctly, including progressive and present perfect

• Use a wide range of cohesive devices to link ideas

• Use organisational features such as headlines and sub-headings

• Use colons to mark boundaries between independent clauses

We will study examples of historical newspapers and explore how discoveries were reported, helping children to write with clarity, cohesion and an understanding of the period.

Spelling - Sum 1 - Spellings will be issued weekly, based on patterns the children have learned on the Monday. These need to be practised throughout the week.

There are also additonal spelling patterns I would like the children to revise if possible, these are found here:
https://featherstonewood.herts.sch.uk/files/files/Year-6-Words-SATs.pdf

Maths – Summer 2 – SATs Revision

In preparation for the end of Key Stage 2 assessments, we will focus on revisiting key areas of the curriculum through targeted revision sessions. Pupils will practise a range of arithmetic and reasoning questions, developing confidence in applying known methods across different contexts.

We will use past SATs-style questions to familiarise pupils with the format and expectations of the tests. Emphasis will be placed on problem solving, showing clear working out and selecting efficient strategies. Regular feedback will support pupils in identifying gaps and improving accuracy.

Intervention groups and tailored support will continue to ensure all pupils are secure in core skills and able to approach the assessments with confidence.

Other topics - Sum 1

History – Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

• We will understand the Triangular Trade, exploring routes between Europe, Africa and the Americas and identifying the goods traded at each stage

• We will examine the Middle Passage and investigate life on plantations, including the experiences, treatment and resistance of enslaved people

• We will write from the perspective of an enslaved person, developing empathy and historical understanding through diary writing

• We will explore the abolition of the slave trade, learning about key figures such as William Wilberforce, Olaudah Equiano and Harriet Tubman

• We will make links to the present by investigating modern slavery and how it is being challenged today

Computing - Data & Information

• creating and formatting spreadsheets, entering and organising data, using simple formulas and functions, sorting and filtering information, creating charts and graphs, and using spreadsheets to analyse data and answer questions.

PE - Dance

• exploring dynamics, linking actions into sequences, using movement to portray a story, developing control, timing, coordination, expression, and performance skills.

RE – End of the Earth

• Can I explain what a scripture text means, including both its simple meaning and its deeper message?

• Can I use religious and theological vocabulary to explain how scripture links to Christian beliefs?

• Can I describe what Christians believe about the Resurrection and how God is revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

• Can I explain why Jesus is called the ‘new Adam’ and make links between the Old and New Testament?

• Can I describe how Christians show their beliefs through their actions, both in the past and today, including links to a saint?

• Can I explain how a charity shows its Christian faith through the work it does?

Science – Evolution and Inheritance

How do living things inherit characteristics from their parents, and why are offspring similar but not identical?

How do animals and plants adapt to their environments, and how does this link to the theory of evolution through natural selection?

What can fossils and scientists such as Mary Anning and Charles Darwin teach us about how living things have changed over time?