A guide to your child’s learning this half term.

 

Light Fantastic!

 

Spring 2 – Year 5 and 6

 

Class 3 – Elder

 

Mr Beahan, Mr Heynes, Mrs Callard and Miss Grant

 

 

Topic

The main focus of learning (Light Fantastic) this term relates to our science, design and technology and computing aspects of the curriculum. The theme will link to as much of our learning as possible.

 

In reading and writing, we will be looking at:

• Recount writing based on our recent visit to London.
• Narrative writing based on the ‘horror’ genre of Frankenstein.
• Continued comprehension style questions whilst studying the book ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley.

 

Grammar and punctuation work includes: selecting language that shows good awareness of the reader, describing settings, characters and atmosphere; integrating dialogue in narratives to convey character and advance the action, using a range of devices to build cohesion (e.g. conjunctions, adverbials of time and place, pronouns, synonyms) within and across paragraphs and maintaining legibility in joined handwriting when writing at speed.

 

Spelling:

• A range of Y5 and Y6 spelling words from the National Curriculum. These will be taught with a range of different spelling games each day and sent home to learn each Monday.

 

Reading: You can help your child at home by:

• We are having an increased focus on reading this term, so please encourage your child to read regularly and complete one reading log in their journals, which should be handed in every Wednesday.
• Make sure your child reads for at least 20 minutes daily, recording this in their reading record and writing at least one detailed comment.
• Ask your child to talk about the book they are reading and talk around the story (using skills of inference and deduction).

 

Help your child to practise and learn their spellings from the Year 5 and 6 list by asking them to:

 

Look at the word. Say the word. Cover the word. Write the word. Check the word. Ask your child to think of a strategy to help them learn this spelling. E.g. hidden words, saying the word phonetically, breaking them down into syllables etc.

 

 

Maths

• Geometry – Pupils should be able to recognise and use reflection and translation in a variety of diagrams, including continuing to use a 2-D grid and coordinates in the first quadrant. Reflection should be in lines that are parallel to the axes. Focussing on the properties of shapes, they should be able to use angle sum facts and other properties to make deductions about missing angles and relate these to missing number problems.

• Fractions, decimals and percentages.

 

 

Other Subjects…

 

Science – Light – Pupils will design and make a periscope and use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain how it works. They will investigate the relationship between light sources, objects and shadows. They will look at a range of phenomena including rainbows, colours on soap bubbles, objects looking bent in water and coloured filters.

 

PE/Games – Striking and Fielding games and swimming.

 

RE – Children will study the bible story of Jonah and the whale before learning why Easter is important to Christians?

 

PSHE – Difference and diversity.

 

Music – Children will learn the skills of music appreciation using Camille Saint-Saëns ‘Carnival of the Animals’.

 

French – ‘Carnaval des animaux’ – linked to the music curriculum, children will learn the names of some animals in French and describe the noises they make, how they move, their appearance and their habitats in French.

 

Computing – Use the software ‘Flowol’ to control and sequence events using algorithms and flow charts. (E.g. traffic lights)

 

Design and Technology – Pupils will design, make and evaluate products using electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors]

 

 

Mr Doar, our STEM ambassador, will also be supporting the children’s D&T and computing learning this half term.

 

Home Learning

 

Children will be given one piece of English and Maths homework that will either develop, consolidate (or even extend!) our learning in class. They should spend at least 20-30 minutes on each piece, completing it to the best of their ability. Children will also receive weekly spellings to learn.

 

Mr Heynes will hand out English homework and spellings on a Monday, to be completed and tested by the following Monday. In a separate book, Mr Beahan will hand out Maths homework every Thursday, to be handed in by the following Thursday.

 

As well as weekly homework connected with the week’s objectives, children will also be asked to complete a termly project. Please see the separate sheet with further information. This needs to be completed by the week beginning the 30 March 2020.

 

Y6s will also be receiving weekly English and Maths booster homework in their CGP books.

 

• Named PE kit needs to be in school every Friday. Please make sure your child has appropriate clothing and shoes for outdoor PE.
• Swimming kits are needed every Tuesday from 25 February up to and including 24 March. Please provide a swimming hat, wherever possible.

 

Useful Websites:

www.purplemash.com

www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/daily10

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zbssgk7 – light and dark

www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/revision/Science/lightshadows.html

www.topmarks.co.uk/english-games/7-11-years/spelling-and-grammar

www.spellzone.com/word_lists/listen_test.cfm?wordlist=2255

www.primarygames.co.uk – Try Hi Lo Fractions, Power Pods, Fraction Run

 

For online safety:

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

 

Please do not hesitate to contact staff at school if you have any questions regarding your child’s learning.  Thank you for your support.

 

 

For parents/carers of children in year 6. 

 

Dear Parents/Carers

 

Your child will be taking their end of key stage SATs in May 2020.  We hope the information below will help you understand your child’s SATs tests in a little more detail.

 

What are SAT’s?

 

SATs (Standard Attainment Tests) take place at the end of year 6 and are designed to test pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the key stage 2 programme of study. All year 6 children across the country are tested in English and Maths and this gives the government a clear picture of what standards look like. It also helps parents compare their child’s progress with children of the same age nationally. This is the third year that a year 6 cohort has been tested on the new curriculum that was introduced in September 2014. Consequently, the testing process has been changed to previous years to account for this.

 

What will my child have to do?

 

English grammar, punctuation and spelling test (SPAG)

Paper 1 – short answers (45 minutes)

Paper 2 – spelling (15 minutes)

 

Reading test (60 minutes)

 

 

Maths tests

Paper 1 – arithmetic (30 minutes)

Paper 2 – reasoning (40 minutes)

 

Maths tests

Paper 3 – reasoning (40 minutes)

 

 

What happens to the tests?

 

Tests are sent for external marking. Schools usually receive the results in July. Parents will be given a copy of their child’s test results and teacher assessments. The results of the school are used to inform school ‘performance tables’.

 

What do the results mean?

 

It is important to understand that children cannot ‘fail’ SATs. The information is used as a snapshot of where children across the country are currently working. Since the removal of the ‘old’ levels, the government has had to think of a new way of measuring attainment. From 2016 onwards, the raw score from each test will be converted into a scaled score and each child will receive an overall result indicating whether or not they have achieved the required standard on the test.

 

What is meant by ‘scaled scores’?

 

It is planned that 100 will represent the ‘national standard’. Each pupil’s raw test score will therefore be converted into a score on the scale, either at, above or below 100. The scale will have a lower end point somewhere below 100 and an upper end point above 100. A child who achieves the ‘national standard’ will be judged to have demonstrated sufficient knowledge in the areas assessed by the tests.

In July 2020 for publication of test results, each pupil will receive:

• A raw score (number of raw marks awarded).
• A scaled score in each tested subject.
• Confirmation of whether or not they attained the national standard.  In year 6, it is only natural that your child might feel a little nervous or apprehensive about what the week will hold – so there are a few things that you can do to help them at home.

     

How can I help them at home?

• Support your child in helping prepare them for the tests – but don’t overdo it.
• Explain that SATs are a way of showing off what they can do – and they cannot fail.      
• Make any learning as fun as possible.
• Give your child the opportunity to talk about any concerns.
• Help them with any revision homework in the run up to SATs.
• Encourage them to be confident in their ability – they have been working hard in school.
• Do something fun the weekend before the SATs tests to take their mind off them. Don’t overdo the revision or practice this weekend – it is important your child feels fresh and ready to tackle the tests on Monday morning.
• Make sure your child has a good night’s sleep before each test.
• Make sure your child has a healthy breakfast each morning.
• Send your child to school with some healthy snacks to have in between or after the tests.
• In the evenings of SATs week, keep any work you do at home short.
• Make sure your child is in school every day of SATs week. If they are feeling unwell it is important that they still come to school and try to do the test. If you are concerned that your child is feeling unwell during this week, please contact school as early as possible.
• Make sure your child is in school on time every day – the tests start first thing in the morning.

 

In school, we feel that we will support the children for them to achieve the very best results that they can.   We have every confidence in them!

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Mr Beahan and Mr Heynes