For most of the first half term the focus will be on preparing the Y6 children to do as well as they can in the SATS. We will be doing most of the practice tests in class now in test conditions, then marking them together.

The topic this term is “animals” and I want to focus on animal migration. This will involve finding out why certain animals migrate where and when they migrate. We will also look at issues which may cause problems to migration and how man has helped or hindered in this natural process. We will link into looking at Ghana, where our partner school is, as certain animals pass through Ghana en route to Britain. I want to have a particular focus on swallows and their journey and through this will plan a careful migration route, study changes in farming practice, the economic, see cultural and environmental effects of tourism amongst other things.

I will be reading Dear Olly by Michael Morpurgo as a class book, which is about a swallow’s journey.

The talks will take place in the 2nd half of term and will have the broad topic of the children talking about a type of animal of their choice.

In English I want us to study a short story called Fog Hound, which has a lot of scope for detailed reading comprehension activities.

The science topic is “ Healthy Bodies”, this will encompass work on diet, exercise, the function of the main organs in the body and changes which take place in the body. The body changes will tie in with sex education and PSHE.

We also do a short topic on micro organisms and will study what yeast is as part of more work about bread.

PSHE is about Change, as well as body changes, there will be some transition work for Year 6 dealing with the changes they will face moving to secondary school and generally how we accept changes in our lives.

Art will be cross curricular, looking for opportunities to use different media for display. We will do some 3D models of an animal. Painting and pen and ink will be used for fine art based on swallows.

We are planning our own art tour of Naburn, where the children will put some work out in the village, as an art trail; this is copying the idea of our Grand Tour of York which we followed in the autumn term.

Mrs Stephenson Barr or Mr Kenwright will take responsibility for music, ICT and R.E. on Tuesday mornings and Mrs Dennison will continue with French and P.E. on Thursday mornings.