Year 6

English Overviews

Reading Overview

Year 6.pdf

Writing Overview

Writing 6.pdf

Mathematics Overview & Support

We are proud to work with the Maths Hub for 2020 - 2022 to develop a mastery approach when teaching mathematics. 

Termly Overview

Key Instant Recall Facts (KIRFS)

Topics & Overviews

AUTUMN

SCIENCE

The Circulatory System

This project teaches children about the transport role of the human circulatory system, its main parts and primary functions. They learn about healthy lifestyle choices and the effects of harmful substances on the body. 

HISTORY

Britain at War

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. 

GEOGRAPHY

Our Changing World

This essential skills and knowledge project revises the features of Earth, time zones and lines of latitude and longitude to pinpoint places on a map. Children find out more about map scales, grid references, contour lines and map symbols. They learn about climate change and the importance of global trade. Children analyse data and carry out fieldwork to find out about local road safety. They study patterns of human settlements and carry out an enquiry to describe local settlement patterns. 

ART

Tints, Tones & Shades

This project teaches children about colour theory by studying the colour wheel and exploring mixing tints, shades and tones. They learn about significant landscape artworks and features of landscapes before using this knowledge to create landscape paintings. 

ART

Bees, Beetles & Butterflies

This project teaches children about sketchbooks, observational drawing, mixed media collage and Pop Art. They consolidate their learning to make a final piece of artwork inspired by bees, beetles or butterflies. 

DT

Make Do & Mend

This project teaches children a range of simple sewing stitches, including ways of recycling and repurposing old clothes and materials. 

MUSIC

Composer Chronicles - Composition

This unit helps children improve their group singing performance techniques for the end-of-year production. They will learn to project their voices, adjust tone and volume, and work collaboratively on harmonising and blending. By the end of the unit, they will have improved their singing skills and gained confidence in their ability to perform as a group.

MUSIC

Circulatory System Groovers - Rhythm and Pulse 

This unit teaches children to connect science with music by exploring the rhythms and pulses of the circulatory system. They will listen to and perform these rhythms using percussion instruments and their bodies. By the end of the unit, they will have improved their coordination and sense of timing.

COMPUTING

App Prototype
Combining Media

In this unit, children will create an app prototype of their choice, manipulating information and layouts to achieve a published document, linking to their learning about WWII.

COMPUTING

Interactive Scenes
AR & VR

In this unit, children will use augmented reality to create an interactive scene connected to their learning of Bees, Butterflies and Beetles in Art.

PE 

Core - Health & Fitness

This unit teaches children to develop and understand their own health and fitness. Coordination is developed through sending and receiving and ball chasing is used to improve agility. 

PE 

Gym

This unit develops children’s gym skills using hand apparatus and low apparatus through the theme of rhythmic and bench sequences. 

SPRING

SCIENCE

Electrical Circuits & 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. 

HISTORY

Titanic

This project teaches children about a local history study that had a great impact on Southampton and maritime safety of the future. They learn about life aboard the Titanic, the mistakes that led to its sinking, write from the point of view of a passenger and consider the impact the event had on maritime safety.

GEOGRAPHY

Frozen Kingdom

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. 

ART

Inuit

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

ART

Environmental Artists

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. 

DT

Engineer

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. 

MUSIC

Titanic Troubadours - Singing and Performance

In this unit, children create and perform a musical composition with instruments and singing, inspired by the Titanic. They will learn composition basics, including melody, rhythm, harmony, and structure, and use instruments to accompany their singing. By the end of the unit, they will have composed and performed a complete piece of music.

MUSIC

Electronic Notation Ninjas - Notation

In this unit, children learn to write electronic and techno music using proper notation. They will explore rhythm, melody, and harmony and use software to create and record their music. By the end of the unit, they will be able to compose a complete piece in this genre.

COMPUTING

3d lettering
Programming

This unit teaches children how to create 3D lettering using computational thinking and programming skills, linking to their learning about engineers. Children will learn how to use software tools to create 3D models and improve their problem-solving and logical thinking skills. By the end of the unit, children will have a basic understanding of programming concepts and how to apply them to create 3D models. They will also have gained a better understanding of engineering concepts and their digital applications.

COMPUTING

HTML
Computer Networks

This unit teaches children about computer networks and their connection to electricity. They will learn about basic networking concepts and use HTML to create web pages. By the end of the unit, children will have a basic understanding of computer networking and practical experience in creating web pages using HTML.

PE

Core - Cognitive

This unit supports children to use their cognitive skills in their physical education. Coordination is developed through footwork and different stances are used to support static balance. 

PE

Gym

This unit develops children’s gym skills using large apparatus and partner work through the theme of acrobatic and climbing sequences. 

SUMMER

SCIENCE

Light Theory

This project teaches children about the way that light behaves, travelling in straight lines from a source or reflector, into the eye. They explore how we see light and colours, and phenomena associated with light, including shadows, reflections and refraction. 

SCIENCE

Evolution & Inheritance

This project teaches children how living things on Earth have changed over time and how fossils provide evidence for this. They learn how characteristics are passed from parents to their offspring and how variation in offspring can affect their survival, with changes (adaptations) possibly leading to the evolution of a species. 

HISTORY

Mafaa

This project teaches children about Africa past and present and the development of the slave trade. It also explores Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, the causes and consequences of the European colonisation of Africa and the worldwide communities that make up the African diaspora. 

ART

Distortion & Abstraction

This project teaches children about the concepts of abstraction and distortion. They study the visual characteristics of abstraction and create a musically-inspired, abstract painting.

ART

Trail Blazers, Barrier Breakers

This project teaches children about significant black artists and their work, and provides opportunities to analyse and create artwork inspired by them. 

DT

Food for Life

This project teaches children about processed food and healthy food choices. They make bread and pasta sauces and learn about the benefits of whole foods. They plan and make meals as part of a healthy daily menu, and evaluate their completed products. 

MUSIC

Call and Response Conversationalists - Music Appreciation and Listening

This unit aims to teach children to appreciate musicians who have had a significant impact on society through their music. Children will learn to analyse lyrics, themes, and styles, and connect music to social movements, gaining a deeper understanding of the power of music to promote change.

MUSIC

Musician Mavericks - Significant People

This unit aims to teach children to appreciate musicians who have had a significant impact on society through their music. Children will learn to analyse lyrics, themes, and styles, and connect music to social movements, gaining a deeper understanding of the power of music to promote change.

COMPUTING

Special Effects
Combining Media

This unit focuses on helping children use special effects green screen to create videos and animations, as well as develop critical evaluation skills. The unit will also link to their learning about Evolution and Inheritance. Children will learn how to use green screen technology to create high-quality video content and animations. They will also learn how to critically evaluate their work, taking into account factors such as audience, purpose, and effectiveness. Through this unit, children will improve their digital literacy skills, as well as their ability to use digital tools to create engaging content. By the end of the unit, children will have a deeper understanding of evolution and inheritance concepts and how to use digital tools to communicate ideas effectively.

COMPUTING

'Filmale'
Animation

This unit focuses on helping children create an animated film and design animations that link to their learning about Evolution and Inheritance. Children will learn how to use digital tools to create animations and add subtitles to their films. They will also learn about basic animation concepts such as keyframes, timelines, and motion paths. Through this unit, children will improve their digital literacy skills, as well as their ability to use digital tools to create engaging content. By the end of the unit, children will have a deeper understanding of evolution and inheritance concepts and how to use digital tools to communicate ideas effectively.


PE

Core - Physical

This unit supports each child's physical education. Agility is developed through jumping and landing and one leg balances are used to support static balance. 

PE

Core - Creative

This unit supports children to develop their creative skills. Seated balance and floor work is used to support a child’s static balance. 

Religious Education - Love To Celebrate!

We look at six celebrations from across the major religions of the world

Sikhism

Bandi Chhor Divas

(Autumn 2)

When Hindus and others celebrate Divali, the festival of lights, Sikhs remember the release from prison and return to Amritsar of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind in 1619. The name Bandi Chhor Divas means liberation of prisoners day.

According to tradition, Guru Hargobind was released from prison in Gwalior and reached Amritsar on Divali. He would only agree to leave prison if 52 Hindu princes who were in prison with him could also go free. The Emperor Jahangir, said that those who clung to the Guru's coat would be able to go free. This was meant to limit the number of prisoners who could be released. However, Guru Hargobind had a coat made with 52 tassels attached to it so that all of the princes could leave prison with him.

The story reminds Sikhs of freedom and human rights and this is what they celebrate on Bandi Chhor Divas.

Divali means 'row of lights'. This is because Hindus, Sikhs and Jains decorate houses, shops and public places in India with small oil lamps called Divas. These lamps are often placed in rows in windows, doors and outside buildings as decoration. Electric lights too are used in Divali displays and fireworks are also a big part of the Divali celebrations.

Divali is a time for giving and receiving gifts for Sikhs. Traditionally, sweets and dried fruit are exchanged.

Christianity

Sunday

(Summer 2)

In most western countries, Sunday is part of the weekend and most Christians see it as a day of worship and rest. Practising Christians worship in many different ways and have many different traditions ... but most will go to church, sing hymns, listen to Bible readings, say prayers and spend time together.

Worshippers from other faiths and cultures also celebrate holy days, but at different times of the week. Friday is a day for Muslims to gather in the mosque for prayers and Saturday (Shabbat) is a day of rest for Jewish people.

Judaism

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

(Autumn 1)

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year festival. It lasts two days and commemorates the creation of the world.

Rosh Hashanah is also a judgement day, when Jews believe that God considers a person's good and bad deeds over the last year and decides what the next year will be like for them.

Rosh Hashanah is a time of asking for forgiveness of sins. Many Jews believe that God keeps a Book of Life with the names of everyone who is sorry for what they have done wrong. At Rosh Hashanah, Jews hope that they and their loved ones will be written in the Book of Life.

Judaism teaches that God decides on the first day of the year who will be forgiven, so they will ensure they apologise to everybody they have been unkind to during the past year. God makes his final judgement on Yom Kippur which means Day of Atonement.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are a chance for Jews to ask questions about their actions and life throughout the year.

Islaam

Lailat al Miraj

(Spring 2)

Lailat al Miraj celebrates the story of Muhammad’s Night Journey. The angel Jibreel (Gabriel) is said to have visited Muhammad while he slept near the Kabah in Mecca and taken him on a 666 mile journey to the farthest mosque, the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, on the back of a winged creature called Buraq.

When he reached Jerusalem, Muhammad is said to have ascended into heaven, prayed with the prophets including Isa Jesus) and Ibrahim (Abraham) and met with Allah. Allah gave Muhammad the instruction that all Muslims should pray five times a day, which is Salat, one of The Five Pillars of Islam. Muhammad travelled back to Mecca on Buraq that same night and began to tell others of his Night Journey.

The Night Journey is celebrated by Muslims around the world. During the celebrations, the story is retold, special prayers are said and sweets and refreshments are shared.

Buddhism

Parinirvana

(Spring 1)

Parinirvana Day, also known as Nirvana Day, is an annual Mahayana Buddhist holiday which is celebrated in East Asia. It's celebrated by some on February 8th, but it's mostly celebrated on February 15th.

It remembers the death of the Buddha when he reached the age of 80. When he died, Buddhists believed that he reached a state of Parinirvana, which means Nirvana without end.

Nirvana is a state of complete understanding, when no more suffering can be experienced.

Hinduism

Kumbh Mela

(Summer 1)

One of the most important pilgrimages in Hinduism is Kumbh Mela. This is the largest gathering of people in the world. Millions of people attend and bathe in the Ganges (in North India). The main Kumbh Mela gathering takes place every 12 years, with other events taking place every three years at four different sites (a different site is used every three years).

It started because of the story of the Garuda, which was a bird. The bird picked up a jar that contained immortality nectar, but four drops of the nectar fell into the Ganges. Hindus therefore bathe in the Ganges with the hope of having their sin washed away and their soul purified.

The Kumbh Mela pilgrimage lasts for 55 days and hosts many different types of Hindus, who tell stories and entertain other people. Many Hindus wear flower garlands around their neck and then throw them into the Ganges as an offering. Hindu holy men attend the pilgrimage and lead processions into the Ganges.

Hindus hope that this pilgrimage will make them blessed by God and help them achieve their ultimate goal of moksha through their devotion.

P.S.H.E - Personal Social Health Education (Including Relationships & Sex Education)

We follow six key themes in P.S.H.E. that are taught at the same time across the school, below is the specific theme covered. 

Being Me In My World

rewards

Celebrating Difference

difference as celebration

Dreams & Goals

Healthy Me

lines’ and gang culture

Relationships

Changing Me