Class Teachers: 2024 - 2025

St. Raphael
Mrs Hall

Learning Support Assistant
Mrs E Hardcastle

St. Anthony
Mrs Richards
Mrs Miller

Learning Support Assistant
Mrs C Allen
Mrs E Hardcastle

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Science Scheme of Work Year 6

The latest news from St. Raphael & St. Anthony

Cross Stitch Christmas Cards

Cam Toys

Year 6 have designed cam toys this term. They have studied the mechanism, evaluated examples and designed their own toy to make. Today, was all about the making! Their cam toys were based on designs from our class reader - Beetle Boy. They had to adapt and change their design many times in order to get the mechanism fully operational. Working as a group, they communicated and changed designs/features well to produce these results.

Darwin

Year 6 followed the exploration of Darwin today. Being intrepid travellers, they set off for the nature area, mapping the area and naming trees, plants and creatures they found there. They thought naming their own wilderness was very exciting. More work on Darwin will follow in the coming weeks.

Birds beaks

This afternoon, Year 6 studied more about the work of Charles Darwin. They looked at his work on finches and their different shaped beaks. They learnt that the finches adapted to their environment, slightly changing their beak shape to access the food on offer more readily. Experimenting with different types of food and beak shapes made Year 6 appreciate this adaptation.

Big Maths workshop

A huge well-done to all of year 6 for demonstrating many of the Maths methods used across the school.

A huge thank you, too, to all the parents that took the time to come and see and take part. What a great afternoon of learning for all.

Our Beach Trip

Year 6 visited Westcliff beach to investigate habitats. They were comparing the various beach habitats to the information Farmer Carl had given them regarding habitats round the farm. Not only did they find habitats, they discovered many exciting artefacts including a clay pipe! Later in the morning, Year 6 designed beach art, their designs were amazing.

Evolution

Year 6 are also studying Evolution and specifically looking at the work of Charles Darwin. They are comparing this to their RE learning from last term regarding Creation and analysing both points of view. Today, they discussed similarities and differences between each other, their parents and siblings. They thought about genes and DNA. They were given playdough and using the same colours for the face and features, look how differently they all turned out!

Measuring

Year 6 had a practical morning of Maths activities. They were using their measuring skills for Capacity, Length and Weight, also trying to convert measures where appropriate.

Maintenance in the nature area - well done Year 6

Year 6 had a working morning in the nature area today. The wooden fence sectioning the sensory garden from the rest of the nature area was covered in ivy and was completely rotten. Using all their skills and strength, Year 6 took this down, stripping the area of ivy and also completing a comprehensive litter pick in the process. Mr Nimmo will build a new fence over the October half-term. My thanks to all of Year 6.

Applying our knowledge to the reading of different scales

Bread experiment

This afternoon, Year 6 began a bread experiment. They decided which variable to change - for example - does the location increase mould growth, does the type of bread increase mould growth, does the amount of moisture increase mould growth. Setting up their experiment and planning when to observe results, they worked well in a group and can't wait to see what happens. Watch this space to find out more!

Nets of 3D Shapes

Year 6 investigated the nets of 3D shapes today. They discussed the properties of the shape - faces, vertices and edges - recognising and naming each shape, before moving on to making the shape using a variety of resources. The children all loved experimenting, analysing their mistakes and drawing on prior knowledge to improve their shape for next time.

Habitats

Year 6 spent the morning investigating habitats in the nature area. After discussing habitats with Farmer Carl, they were very keen to investigate their local area. After looking around, there were many interesting finds especially in decaying wood, fungi growing on trees and all the insects found in the leaf litter. Pond dipping proved to be a hit, with many exciting and different creatures located. Lastly, Year 6 moved onto designing their own habitats for teddies and people alike.

Year 6 writing on tables and playing with pasta as we learned to punctuate speech and use inverted commas for our newspaper articles.

Big clean up!

Year 6 spent a busy and productive afternoon in the nature area. They cleaned and litter picked the nature area, moved the remaining wood chip and set up a new swing for all to play with. My special thanks to the four girls who worked tirelessly with Mrs Hardcastle to place the new swing in the correct position. Thank you year 6.

Branching Databases

Year 6 designed their own branching database today. They decided to ask questions - Do you have brown hair? Are you a girl? Do you have brown eyes? Are you ten? They sorted each other according to these questions, some were more successful than others!

Nature Area Tidy Up

Year 6 spent the afternoon completing many jobs in the nature area. They filled the pond, cleaning it as they went and hoping more wildlife will return. Weeding the sensory garden was hard work but they uncovered strawberries, tomatoes, parsley and elephant ears!! The biggest and hardest job was moving the chip bark and re-covering the floor in the nature area. Half the pile disappeared but there is still a lot more to go! Thank you Year 6 - now for a rest at the weekend!!

The Garden of Eden

Year 6 took their learning outside today. They acted out the story of the Garden of Eden, freeze framing the most important quote from their part of the bible.

2D Shapes

Today, Year 6 discussed 2D shapes. They sorted shapes using their knowledge of the properties of each shape. They sorted by parallel and perpendicular lines, size of angles, number of sides. It was a bit windy outside which did mean the shapes flew away at times!!