Half term information Autumn 1 2023
What a jam packed first half term, full of learning, fun, sushi, and tag rugby! It has been great to see how the children have already risen to the high expectations of Year 6.
This half term, we have transported ourselves to Japan, exploring their culture, climate, physical geography and school life. After they understood the climate and location of the country, the children also got the opportunity to experience the cuisine: tasting different types of sushi before creating and tasting their own creations.
When studying ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’ by Michael Morpurgo, we were captivated by the main character’s journey around the world and debated whether we agreed upon his family’s decision to embark on their ‘great adventure’. We used this debate as a stimulus to write a persuasive letter to Michael. In chapter 4, Michael’s adventure comes to an abrupt end when a storm causes him to be thrown overboard. When he is washed up on a tropical island, we used the author’s writing to help us explore descriptive and figurative language of a jungle. Once we had explored this language, we magpied it for our own descriptions of a jungle. While studying the remainder of the text we used it as a stimulus for drama pieces, reading comprehension and letters in role as Michael.
As part of our science, we learnt about the different Kingdom’s of life and carried out an investigation by growing mould on bread, which the children put into different places around the school. The results were very colourful and extremely grotesque! The science learning continued with the SAW project at the very end of the half term, when the children combined learning in science, art and writing, and in so doing produced some fantastic pieces of artwork and poetry. In addition to our other learning this half term, many of the children also spent time earning their bikeability badges on the streets of Cambourne.
Quotes from the children:
Hamza: “I really enjoyed English this half term as I discovered the author Michael Morpurgo and I have now got several of his books to read. I also enjoyed rugby and tennis.”
Ekka: “I loved tag rugby and tennis this half term and the new topics we have covered in maths. I have also enjoyed reading more thanks to Mrs Tranter’s encouragement.”
Scott: “Tasting and creating my own sushi and learning to play tag rugby have been my highlights of this half term.”
Aseye: “I really enjoyed the netball tournament and writing in a publishing book for the first time.”