Welcome to Year 6 Eagles Class 2023-2024!  We hope you enjoy taking a peek at some of our learning this term.

Term 1

Eagle in The Snow

In English, we have researched and compiled fact files on various birds; created our own poetry based on Lord Alfred Tennyson’s The Eagle; written setting descriptions based on Michael Morpurgo’s The Eagle in The Snow and created prequels to this too.  We have also worked on writing formal letters.

Harvest Performance

Eagles Class also collaborated on creating a class poem for our Harvest Assembly.  We loved learning this by heart, devising actions to enhance our presentation skills and performing it to our audiences.  

Place Value

In Maths, we have been working on Place Value up to 10,000,000 and on all four calculations.  We have learnt to apply these skills to various problem-solving and reasoning tasks.  Learning how to carry out the formal method of long division was particularly challenging, but all Eagles worked extremely hard at this.

Electricity Games!

In Science, we have been learning about Electricity!  We worked on revising our knowledge of circuits and enjoyed learning new vocabulary as well as new symbols in order to record scientific diagrams of circuits.  We discovered how voltage affects the brightness of a bulb and the volume of a buzzer and we designed products to deter Burglar Bill from going about his business.  This topic enabled us to work on our D&T project on designing and producing an electronic game for young children.  This was a great opportunity for us to use and demonstrate our skills in TASC.  Some of us were amazing at gathering, organising and generating ideas; others were efficient in making decisions, implementing and communicating and we all worked very well at evaluating and learning from this group task experience.  We wrote persuasive letters to The Entertainer at Bluewater about our projects and received an encouraging reply!

Hockey players, gymnasts and musicians...

In P.E, we have learnt to play hockey and demonstrated great resilience and skills in this.  We have also been working at synchronisation, mirroring and contrasting balances and sequences in gymnastics using apparatus.  In Music lessons, we have been working on a ‘Happy’ unit of work and using our school instruments really has encouraged us to feel a sense of great happiness!

Eagles have had a great start to Year 6!  Please do remember to read regularly and bring in your Reading Records on Fridays.  Check Google Classroom for Home Learning and Spelling Lists. 

Best wishes,

Mrs Jandu 

Term 2

This has been a particularly fast-paced term - full of energy and determination!

Natural History Museum

In Science, we have worked on our knowledge and skills in Biology: Evolution and Inheritance.  It has been really interesting finding out about Charles Darwin, who lived in Kent, and his work on the variation between birds, which we investigated using sharp and blunt tools with a variety of seeds.  We were also fortunate enough to participate in an online workshop with The Natural History Museum.  A resident scientist along with his team walked us through several missions involving the evolution of sea and land based life.

The Second World War

During our Topic lessons, we have learnt about World War Two.  As well as key facts, we explored artefacts and evaluated their usefulness as historical evidence. Mrs Taylor from Kingfishers Class shared memories of her grandfather, who fought during the war as a very young man.  We were able to hold some of his belongings and felt a great sense of privilege in doing so.  Mrs Hatherly shared her grandmother’s photo album, which included photographs, cards and all sorts of primary sources of information from the 1940s. 

For our TASC activity this term, we worked on creating WW2 information posters; we were particularly efficient at organising, implementing and learning from this experience.  This learning was supported further through our visit to Kent Life.  Please read our school’s December Newsletter to hear more about this.

We have also worked on this unit of work in French lessons where we’ve learnt the names of the countries involved in the war, the languages spoken in these countries and the differences in lifestyle during the war between the city and countryside.  In Art, we have produced our own silhouette Blitz paintings by applying layering effects.  In D&T, we will be designing Anderson shelters. 

Kent Police - Internet Safety

In Computing, we have learnt about Bletchley Park and the emergence of coding machines during the war.  We have also continued learning about online safety.  We received a fun and informative visit on behalf of Kent Police (please read our December Newsletter for more information).  Listen to our podcasts!

Jigsaw Lessons

In Jigsaw lessons, we have been ‘Celebrating Differences’.  It has been wonderful to hear how thoughtful Eagles Class are and how quick they are to notice one another’s strengths.  Through carefully planned lessons, we have been made aware of people who are less fortunate than ourselves; Eagles have shown great kindness and maturity in how they would interact with people who are different to themselves.  We also celebrated Odd Socks Day and discussed the importance of one of our school values: RESPECT.  Some great poems, mini-stories and explanations were recorded about this.

Christmas Festivities

Finally, this term has provided our school with a great opportunity to come together for Christmas!  We have learnt lines, songs and acted our hearts out!  In R.E, we have learnt about how Christmas is celebrated around the world.  Many fabulous festivities, including a traditional lunch, a disco, hat-making and card creating activities have taken place.

Eagles Class and all Year 6 Staff wish one another a wonderful Christmas, well-deserved break and a Happy New Year!

Best wishes,

Mrs Jandu 

Term 3

Light!

In Science, we have worked on our knowledge and skills in Physics: Light.  We have carried-out investigations to prove that light travels in straight lines; worked on exploring shadows; and have worked on the scientific skills required to draw and label diagrams, plot line graphs and use a data logger to measure light in lux.  We also researched the scientist Percy Shaw, who invented cats’ eyes and learnt the anatomy of the human and other animal eyes.

Letters from The Lighthouse

In English, we have been working on extended pieces of writing.  We have written character and setting descriptions, flashback stories, stories with a dilemma, historical fiction letters and a spy report.

Design and Technology

For our TASC activity this term, we have designed Anderson shelters surrounded by gardens.  This DT project complimented our work in Topic about The Second World War and enabled us to work on generating ideas, organising our work, implementing and evaluating our end prototypes. 

Dreams and Goals...

In Jigsaw lessons, we have been thinking about our Dreams and Goals.  We created personal targets for ourselves based on our strengths and weaknesses.  These lessons have also enabled us to think carefully about how best we can Build our Learning Power.  Eagles have worked extremely hard at:  Reflectiveness, Reciprocity, Resilience and Resourcefulness.

Best wishes for a lovely half-term,

Mrs Jandu J

Best wishes for a lovely half-term,

Mrs Jandu J

Term 4

Egypt

In Topic this term, we have been discovering both ancient and modern-day Egypt.  It has been very interesting for us to consider the changes Egypt has experienced over time whilst retaining its amazing history. 

Below, are a sample of poems written about The River Nile.

Art

Our Topic work on Egypt has influenced us in creating pieces of pyramid art.  We learnt how to sketch 3d drawings, demonstrating perspective by distinguishing between the background and foreground and used water-colour paints along with black markers to complete our art.  

World Book Day

Along with all the activities carried-out as a whole school community, Eagles Class participated in an online writing workshop.  It was great to be able to write freely based on an image of a magic library.  We also worked on a book titled: Women Who Saved The Planet and produced some word art and writing on this.

Art and DT

This term has been full of new skills; we learnt how to sew patterns and used these to create our Mothers' Day and Easter cards.

We also researched, designed, made and evaluated shadufs.

Eagles have worked extremely hard this term!  Keep-going over Easter and have lots of spring-time fun too!

Mrs Jandu 

Term 5

Roots to Food...

Eagles Class thoroughly enjoyed preparing, cooking and eating their Singapore noodles!

Portrait of a pharaoh

Our topic work on Egypt has continued this term.  We imagined our own versions of a famous pharaoh, wrote news articles on the discovery of their tombs and created portraits using a variety of crayons and chalk.

P.E

In P.E lessons, we have learnt to play cricket during a workshop with an expert; worked on throwing a discus; developed our running skills in athletics and played a lot of competitive bench ball, volley ball and dodge ball!

Science

We have learnt about our circulatory systems including how the heart works, the composition of blood, investigating our pulse rates, the importance of water as a transport system and all about some amazing scientists.

SATs

Eagles have worked incredibly hard this term.  Their behaviour and attitude towards sitting the SATs was commendable - all staff at The Gateway are very proud of them!  They did of course enjoy many extra break times and relaxation time this term...

I hope you continue to enjoy a well deserved half-term Eagles!

Best wishes,

Mrs Jandu 

Term 6

Science

This term, Eagles have completed their unit of work on Classifying Living Things.  We have identified plants and birds on our school grounds using classification keys and then produced our own branching charts.  We have also learnt about microorganisms and how important they are in creating healthy gut bacteria within our digestive systems.  We also investigated the growth of mould on bread, which created a lot of interest and surprise.  We had no idea how quickly mould can grow and how many different appearances of mould there are.

P.E

In P.E lessons, we have learnt how to play rounders and have finally mastered the rules required to play fairly.  Our skills in fielding and striking have improved dramatically and we have played very well as a class.  We also enjoyed our traditional Sports Day – a fabulous morning of competitive sport was played.  Great sportsmanship and perseverance was evident in several Eagles!  In the afternoon, we were able to support KS1 with their Sports Day and were complimented by all our guests and staff for our caring behaviours.

Geography

We have been working on discovering ‘Island Life’ and have up levelled our mapping skills.  Eagles have learnt all about ordnance survey maps, how to interpret keys, follow and give 6-digit grid references and have created their own islands.  As well as this, we have learnt about coastal erosion and now have a better understanding of the following terms: bay, headland, dunes, cave, cliff, arch, stack, stump and spit.  Our next visit to a coastal location will be far more informed from a geographical position!

Busy Events

• Our final Summer Fayre - as existing pupils at The Gateway, was great fun!
• A very helpful afternoon was spent with a visitor from an organisation called CRIBBS, who conducted a’ Moving Up’ workshop to help us to prepare for our transition to secondary school.
• We have all been receiving visits and/or have been visiting our new schools, which has been very exciting.
• A ‘Safety in Action’ event at Cobham Hall was extremely useful – we learnt a lot about how to take good care of ourselves and others now that we are becoming more independent in life.
• Many of us participated in Bikeability training and have become proficient in Levels 1 and 2 – an achievement to feel very proud of.
• There have been more football, multi-skills and athletics events held this term and some Eagles have managed beautifully at representing The Gateway with great success at these events!
• Keeping cool in the June mini heatwave by reading under a shady tree on our wonderful school grounds...

Sustainability Week

In celebration of a global event named Sustainability Week, Eagles Class were assigned the task of researching ‘Zero Hunger’ on our planet. We have used supermarket brochures to find the prices of food, created weekly menus and understood the costs incurred in order to appreciate the cost of food which is often unnecessarily wasted. In addition to this, we have written emails to major retailers with our ideas related to reducing food waste.  Some of our original ideas included the provision of recipe cards for highly perishable foods and free cookery lessons for customers which encourage them to use all items in their fridge.  We have created posters and a collection of recipe ideas with a focus on how to make use of fruits, vegetables, bread and meats that are likely to quickly spoil.  We are also in the process of making ice-lollies from fruit which is about to spoil.  We also, very kindly, received a visit from a parent, who told us all about what her workplace does to address climate change.  It was very useful for us to her about this and to reflect on the impact we can make as individuals.  

Summer Disco

Eagles Class enjoyed their final disco at The Gateway...

End of Year Production

Eagles Class performed fabulously to both our school and family audiences.  Here are some photos of one of our rehearsals.

Best wishes to ALL of you Eagles!  Have a wonderful summer and work hard at your secondary school (don't forget to have fun too)!

Mrs Jandu