Happy New Year and welcome back to another exciting term in Year 6! As we embark on the first week of the spring term, we are thrilled to share the wonderful learning adventures that we have experienced. It’s been an action-packed few days filled with new discoveries and fun activities that have set a great tone for the term ahead.
Our new topic, ‘Frozen Kingdoms,’ has taken off with a frosty flourish. This week, we delved into the thrilling race to the North Pole, a subject that sparked immense curiosity and debate. We explored the controversial claims of two explorers, Robert Peary and Frederick Cook, both of whom asserted that they reached the North Pole first. To our astonishment, we uncovered that neither of these accounts was ultimately trustworthy! This revelation prompted some lively discussions and critical thinking about the nature of exploration and the importance of verifying sources. It’s an excellent reminder for us as budding historians about the value of scepticism and research in understanding the past.
In addition to our exploration of the North Pole, we also embarked on an intriguing investigation into icebergs. We studied how they are formed, the various types of icebergs, and their significance in our world.
This scientific inquiry not only enhanced our understanding of climatology but also our appreciation for the beauty and fragility of our polar environments. As we continue through the spring term, we look forward to uncovering even more parts of the Frozen Kingdoms
Our whole class reading this week introduced us to a fantastic new core text, Holes by Louis Sachar. From the very first chapter, we were drawn into the intriguing world of Camp Green Lake, where our protagonist, Stanley Yelnats, finds himself entangled in a web of misfortune. As we explored Stanley’s character, we couldn’t help but feel protective of him and his challenging predicament. Our discussions have centred around Stanley’s quirky fellow campers—Armpit, Squid, Magnet, and the enigmatic Zero. Each character brings their own charm and complexity, sparking our imaginations and setting the stage for many exciting discussions ahead.
PE offered a us the opportunity to stretch our limits in gymnastics. We learnt different positions, including straddle, pike, front support, back support, tuck, and dish. Some of these poses certainly challenged our flexibility and core strength! To reinforce these positions, we turned the gymnastic session into a fun game, and we relished the chance to show off our newfound skills.
Turning our attention to English, this week was all about the versatile hyphen. We discovered several uses of this small but mighty punctuation mark! From avoiding ambiguity (can you imagine the confusion between a “man eating shark” and a “man-eating shark”?) to forming compound nouns and adjectives, there is much to learn about the hyphen. We had a lively discussion around the amusing differences in meaning that hyphens can create, which generated lots of chuckles across the classroom.
One of the highlights this week was our RE lesson, where we explored the intriguing question: “Is anything eternal?” We eagerly shared our thoughts on what we believe will last a lifetime, alongside the fleeting moments we wish could last forever. It was heartwarming to witness the respect and understanding displayed as we listened to one another’s perspectives.
Our lesson took a philosophical turn as Caden reminded us of the wise words of Aristotle: “You never step in the same river twice.” This profound statement sparked reflections on the constant changes we experience in life, reminding us that we are continually evolving, both in age and wisdom. A thought-provoking lesson that encouraged self-reflection and deepened our understanding of time and permanence.
The first week back at school has been full of learning and success. Here’s to a productive and fun-filled Spring term.
Have a lovely weekend.