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St Joseph's YR6 2021/22 Welcome to our class blog

Our class blog will include updates on our class activities and topics for each term.

Autumn (half Term) 2021

welcome to year 6 everyone, we look forward to an exciting year embracing our new Curriculum . Mrs Mort and Mr Maddock

Full school uniform - Shirt, tie, school jumper with school crest, navy trousers or skirt, black shoes

Games on Wednesday and Friday - wear official school gym kit to school on the day. No football shirts please.

Reading files: Girls - Monday & Wednesday. Boys -Tuesday & Thursday

Homework on Hwb from Thursday completed by following Tuesday

Science Topic:Blood heart

Pig's heart dissection. Circulatory system; Measuring heart rate; Lifestyle effects, Cardiovascular exercise, Harmful substances.

Expressive Arts

Modelling and sculpture; Abstract art, Pulse

Literacy

BLOOD HEARTS (ILP) LLC - Non-chronological reports; shape poetry; slogans & adverts; biographies;

Suggested reading: ‘Pig Heart Boy’ –Malorie Blackman

Our clsss reading book this half term

"Literature fires imagination and inspires creativity"

Religious Education

LOVING - This Topic: learning outcomes - Know and understand: • The love and care of people – Explore • God’s love is unconditional and never ending – Reveal Acquire the skills of assimilation, celebration and application of the above.

VOCATION & COMMITMENT Prior learning: the call to life and love within the community; marriage This Topic: learning outcomes. Know and understand: • Commitment in life – Explore • The vocation to the priesthood and religious life – Reveal Acquire the skills of assimilation, celebration and application of the above – Respond

09-09-2021 - Heart dissection

Pig heart dissection, exploring the chambers and functions of the heart. Investigation supporting our Blood Heart topic.

Year 6 , experts in matters of the heart.

"It felt tough but slimy and didn't look like the cartoons". Pia

"It is a very strong muscle because it has to pump all the around the body"- Amber

Class assessment: Building up a body of Knowledge and skills to connect and apply in different contexts - Ambitious, Creative learners.
Using digital technologies to creatively communicate and analyse information - Ambitious, Creative learners.
Work ons: Explain ideas and concepts, evaluate research critically. - Ambitious, Creative learners.

Friday sports champions

Well done to our "Across the River" champions

"I was really happy for my team, we worked well together" Bithiah - Captain

The class created a 'code of conduct' so everyone communicates positively and respects each other and the group - Olivia

Class assessment: Everyone participated in the session and the majority of teams formed positive relationships based on trust and respect.- Healthy confident individuals.
Work ons: Face and overcome individual and team challenges - Healthy, Confident, individuals.

Ralph the therapy dog

Q What do you get when you cross a dog and a calculator? A: A friend you can count on. Joke courtesy of Oliver.

Ralph was calm, friendly and it was lots of fun taking him for a walk. We can't wait until next week. -Year 6 pupils

Building our mental and emotional well being by developing confidence, resilience and empathy.

Comparing heart rates

Year 6 collected and recorded active and resting heart rates using an oximeter. They then made predictions as to who might win a race

Team relay and individual race

"My predicted winner from the data came 4th so I was close. The yellow team won which I didn't predict from my team average heart rate. We may need more tests and also some people from different teams were not, in so it might not have been a fair test." - Evin

"I was predicted to come 2nd and came 5th. I didn't think I would come 2nd and I want to work on my fitness so I can be part of the cross country team" - Alfie

Class assessment: Using digital technologies to creatively communicate and analyse information - Ambitious, Creative learners.
Using number effectively in different contexts - Ambitious, Creative learners.
using digital technologies to creatively communicate and analyse information - Ambitious, Creative learners.
Apply knowledge about the impact of exercise on physical and mental health - Healthy, confident individuals
Class work ons : Communication, questioning and problem solving - Ambitious, Creative learners.

Minecraft-Heart quest

Friday sports Champions

Capture the flag tournament

Team and individual games

"We played lots of different games and decided as a group which game to play next" - Franco

Class assessment: Understanding anD excercising their democratic responsibilities and rights. Ethical informed citizens
Work ons: understanding the impact of our actions and choices on others - ethical informed citizens.

Stethoscope design

Working in groups to design a device that amplifies sound

Heart beat

"I really enjoyed expressing my creative skills and working as a team"- Fiona

Class assessment: Playing different roles within a team we used our skills and knowledge to develop ideas and create products - Enterprising, creative, contributors
Work ons: Lead and take different roles in teams, reframe and solve problems - Enterprising, creative, contributors

It's in the blood

Investigating the components of blood

Blood technical challenge. Making artificial blood using household ingredients.

"I was surprised there is twice as much plasma than red blood cells. There's nearly 8 times more plasma than white cells, which fight infection" Evie

Class assessment: Building up a body of Knowledge and skills to connect and apply in different contexts - Ambitious, Creative learners.
Using number in different contexts and understanding data and applying mathematical concepts.- Ambitious, Creative learners.
Work ons : Improving questioning and problem solving. evaluating findings

Creative hearts

YR6 creating 3D heart sculptures from clay

"It was lots of fun because it was hands on and we got to see how the heart was made up of different parts." Rhydian

"It was interesting to feel the structures that make up the heart" Summer

"It was a fun way to learn about the heart" Dylan

Class assessment: Building up a body of Knowledge and skills to connect and apply in different contexts - Ambitious, Creative learners.
Class assessment : expressing ideas through different media. connecting and applying knowledge and skills to create a model of the heart -enterprising and creative contributors
Class work ons : Take measured risks and think creatively to solve problems - enterprising and creative contributors.

Blood heart poetry

Shape poems

It was fun because it included two of my favourite things, drawing and writing- Kiki

Class assessment: we used our skills and knowledge to develop and create ideas - Enterprising, creative, contributors
Expressing ideas and emotions through different media - Enterprising, creative, contributors
Through this topic YR6 are building up a body of knowledge and developing skills to apply that knowledge in different contexts.
Class work on : communicate effectively ideas and concepts we are learning about. We need to work on critically evaluating research and analysing data. - Ambitious, Creative learners.

Our Class Assembly

The month of the Holy Rosary

"We did our own research and wrote our own scripts. I really enjoyed the process and felt part of something." Pia

"We used our imaginations and innovative technology to make it more fun for the little ones." Oliver

"We made a video of the gospel to make it easier for everyone to understand." Callum

Expressing ideas and emotions through different media - Enterprising, creative, contributors
Establishing our spiritual and ethical beliefs. - Healthy confident individuals
We have confidence to participate in performance. - Healthy confident individuals
building skills to manage everyday life. - Healthy confident individuals
Leading and playing different roles in teams effectively and responsibly. Enterprising, Creative Contributors
Expressing ideas and emotions through different media so that others benefit. - Enterprising, Creative Contributors
We have confidence to participate in performance. - Healthy confident individuals

What we enjoyed about the blood heart topic.

"Learning about the heart can help us to take care of our body" Billy

"I really enjoyed the dissection of a real heart. I learned a lot and it really helped me because I want to be a scientist in the future." Fiona

"I will really try to eat healthy foods that provide all the right things for my body. If my heart and lungs are healthy, I will be healthy." Bithiah

"Seeing the effect smoking has on the lungs will stay with me forever." Thomas

Christmas Term 2021

MAAFA

This is an Humanities project where as last term’s was more Science based.

The MAAFA, which means “great tragedy” in Kiswahili, refers to the period of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Africa – countries, land use, natural resources, location, settlements, population, climate and physical features Ancient African kingdoms; Development of the transatlantic slave trade; Britain's role in the slave trade; Human impact; Everyday life on plantations; Rebellion and marronage; Causes and consequences of the abolition of the slave trade and slavery; Colonisation of Africa; Black people in 20th century Britain; Race Relations Act; Equality Act; Significant black Britons; Multiculturalism

Expressive Arts

Revolution’ companion project - William Morris

‘Trailblazers, Barrier Breakers’ Companion project- Significant black artists; Analysing artwork; Creating artwork with meaning

Literacy

Maafa - Newspaper reports; Persuasive letters; Non-chronological reports; Acrostic poems. Suggested text: ‘Freedom’ – Catherine Johnson Revolution (companion project) LLC- Recounts; Non-chronological reports; Role-play; Biographies; Instructions; Presentations

Welsh

Acrostic poems. Role play; Biographies –simple. Significant Black Britons- Welsh Dimension website. Betty Campbell MBE—Wales’ first black Head Teacher. Look at folder Black History-Dimensiwn Cymreig Website Life on a plantation. Instructions – simple command words Welsh Victorians – Dimensiwn Cymraeg site. Willis – the slave who came to Wales.

Patrwm yr Wythnos

Simple Welsh patterns, created by Year 6, to help us with our Welsh language skills.

Expressing ideas and emotions through different media - Enterprising, creative, contributors
We can communicate effectively in different forms and settings in Welsh and English. - Ambitious, creative learners
we are knowledgeable about our culture and community - Ethical, informed citizens

Escape run

Blending PE and Literacy to create authentic learning opportunities. An extension to our literacy work linked to our topic, MAAFA

"We split into 3 teams. Each team had a map. One team hid in the woods in Coed Gwilym Parc. One team searched and one team supervised. If you were caught you were brought back to the start. If you made the run to a safe zone on the map you were free. We took it in turns to play all the roles." Summer

"I was in the trees hiding, No one could find me. I waited, crouched down in the dirt and leaves. My head was crazy with fear of getting caught. " Oliver

"I knew it was just a game but I felt scared and feared I would get caught. I used these feelings and the description of the surroundings when I wrote my account of the escape. We also experienced the different perspectives of being chased person and the group chasing them. It was scary and exciting" Amber

Finding, evaluating and using evidence in forming views -Ethical, informed citizens
we are knowledgeable about our culture, community, society and the world, now and in the past - Ethical, informed citizens
Expressing ideas and emotions through different media - Enterprising, creative, contributors
We Have the confidence to participate in performance and physical activity -Healthy confident individuals

SVP Christmas Hamper Appeal

Winner of a Greggs voucher as the school raised over £200 for the SVP Christmas Food Hamper Appeal.

we are knowledgeable about our culture and community - Ethical, informed citizens

Raf Stem day

Live online STEM day designing and building gliders with the help of RAF engineers. Working across all subjects of the curriculum to create, test and evaluate our designs.

"We enjoyed working with the RAF to make our gliders" Alfie

"It was great to use our numeracy, design and science skills to make our gliders. Mine flew the length of the class, over 7m" Evin.

Expressing ideas and emotions through different media - Enterprising, creative, contributors
Connect and apply our Knowledge and skills to create ideas and products.- Enterprising, creative, contributors
Think creatively to reframe and solve problems - Enterprising, creative, contributors

Sewing all the way

Using our sewing skills to create festive stockings ready for Christmas Eve

Connect and apply our Knowledge and skills to create ideas and products.- Enterprising, creative, contributors

Light up, Light up

Engineering our own LED light up Christmas cards

Connect and apply our Knowledge and skills to create ideas and products.- Enterprising, creative, contributors

Nadolig Llawen

Winter term 2022

Frozen Kingdoms

This project teaches children about the characteristics and features of polar regions, including the North and South Poles, and includes a detailed exploration of the environmental factors that shape and influence them.

Humanities · Arctic and Antarctic regions; Lines of latitude and longitude; Polar climates; Polar day and night; Polar oceans; Polar landscapes; Climate change; Natural resources; Indigenous people; Tourism · Polar exploration; Significant people – Robert Falcon Scott; Ernest Shackleton; Significant events – Titanic

Suggested text: The Wolf Wilder - Katherine Rundell

LLC · Non-chronological reports; Haiku poetry; Newspaper reports; Adventure narratives.

Sci & tech · Classifying living things; Classification keys; Adaptation; Investigations

Science investigations Can we slow cooling down? How do animals stay warm

Electrical Circuits and Components

This project teaches children about electrical circuits, their components and how they function. They recognise how the voltage of cells affects the output of a circuit and record circuits using standard symbols. It also teaches children about programmable devices, sensors and monitoring. They combine their learning to design and make programmable home devices.

Engineering

This project teaches children about remarkable engineers and significant bridges, learning to identify features, such as beams, arches and trusses. They complete a bridge-building engineering challenge to create a bridge prototype.

Why are things classified?

Children research the history and foundations of classification. They learn how to sort and group using existing classification keys and observe how a key can be produced. Working in groups, children then use their observational skills to sort and group everyone in their group. They work carefully and systematically to produce a classification key that will help someone identify a class member by their appearance.

Environmental Artists

Andrew Goldsworthy sculptures, North Pole

This project teaches children about the genre of environmental art. They study how artists create artwork that addresses social and political issues related to the natural and urban environment. Children work collaboratively to create artwork with an environmental message.

Inuit culture

This project teaches children about the Inuit way of life, including some of their cultural and artistic traditions.

Creating - on thin ice

Year 6 Ice Art experiment

AREA LXB= (CM2)

Working in groups to explore the area of our yard.

Working on area using the school yard
I have explored measuring, using counting, measuring equipment and calculating, and I can choose the most appropriate method to measure.

We are ready to be citizens of Wales and the world

The key to classification

Creating scientific classification keys

I can describe the features of organisms and recognise how they allow them to live, grow and reproduce for survival in their environment.
We are knowledgeable about our own culture and community and aware of our responsibilities and rights. Through Using technology creatively and having the confidence to participate, we give of our energy so that others will benefit. Year 6 St Joseph's Clydach.

Insulation Experiment

Making real life links to our Frozen Kingdom topic

Working together to find out what material insulates best against the cold.

"The lard was a really good insulator against the cold. It is like the blubber that some polar animals have to survive in a cold climate". Rocco

I can suggest conclusions as a result of carrying out my inquiries. I can evaluate methods to suggest improvements. I can engage with scientific and technological evidence to inform my own opinions.

Theatre na-Og

The Arandora Star is a true story that explores the life of Italians living and working in Wales during WWII and follows Lina's quest for her father and the truth. This play highlights the issues of immigration and integration.

"It was really sad how people were treated because of their nationality even though they were good people." Summer

"The actors were brilliant the way the mixed Welsh and Italian speech and music to show how connected the people were." Pia

Mumbles train Museum trip

"It was great to see how the trams worked and the places they travelled to." Franco

International

8th March 2022

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias. Celebrate women's achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.

Our Easter Play

_______________________________

Britain at war

Our summer topic

This project teaches children about the causes, events and consequences of the First and Second World Wars, the influence of new inventions on warfare, how life in Great Britain was affected and the legacy of the wars in the post-war period.

  • Humanities • LLC Suggested text Goodnight Mister Tom – Michelle Magorian • Place and interconnections; Maps • First and Second World Wars; Causes; Warring nations; Weaponry, warfare and technology; Key events and battles; Impact on citizens and everyday life; Significant leaders; End of war; Local history study; Remembrance; Post-war Britain LLC • Persuasive posters; (Propaganda) Historical narratives; Nonets
  • Science investigations Can you send a coded message? • Place and interconnections; Maps
  • First and Second World Wars; Causes; Warring nations; Weaponry, warfare and technology; Key events and battles; Impact on citizens and everyday life; Significant leaders; End of war; Local history study; Remembrance; Post-war Britain • Year 6 Chronology Skill Articulate and present a clear, chronological world history narrative within and across historical periods studied. Knowledge Timelines demonstrate the chronology and links between key civilisations, events and significant inventions in world history.
  • A Child's War. Imaginative learning project a companion project to Britain at War How did the Second World War affect Wales? Why were children evacuated from their homes? Explore these questions and more in this special project about the Second World War and its impact on the towns and valleys of Wales. In this project, children will explore: • what it was like to be an evacuee • the impact of evacuation on children and their families • the daily life of a child in wartime Wales • the effects and devastation of the Swansea Blitz --- local area link Welsh curriculum • Why some parts of Wales were more vulnerable to bombing than others •
  • The life of Anne Frank.
  • Will Evans – Swansea Blitz artist
  • Reading book, Goodnight Mister Tom - Michelle Magorian

RE (Summer term)

Witnesses - Christians believe that the Spirit of God is active in each person and, in a special way, in the community of believers, which is the Church. It is the work of the Spirit to enable people to hear God’s message and to live Jesus’ way of service. The Ascension and Pentecost

Healing - Christians believe that, in Jesus Christ, the world has been reconciled to God. Through and in Christ, every human being is offered the power to reach out in forgiveness and peace, to receive and to offer reconciliation.

Common Good - Christians believe that the diversity of the world and its people is God’s gift. Jesus in his life and gospel, challenges people to appreciate diversity and to create with it a harmony that reflects the unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is reflected in the work of CAFOD.

Credits:

Created with images by Unknown - "심장 밸브 순환 · Pixabay의 무료 이미지" • Unknown - "Royalty-Free photo: Landscape photo of mountain in artic ..." • Pexels - "arches architecture bridge" • AungMyo - "Silhouette of happy children standing with raised hands on the mountain at the sunset time."