As a part of our geography unit focused on the United Kingdom, this week the children learnt about how cities have changed over time. We used Sheffield as a case study and found out that the population increased rapidly due to the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. We also found out that advances within train transportation led to the city sprawl, as food and building materials were more easily transported in. 

Over the past few weeks, Year 6 have been developing their figurative language skills in order to write an animal description. The children have analysed a paragraph from 'Hound of the Baskervilles', completed a shared write with a partner (pictured) and then gathered vocabulary and drafted their own description. 

Year 6 have been developing their gymnastics skills throughout a unit focused on rolls and balances. They have worked individually to master a range of one, two and three point balances and then in teams they worked on their partner/group balances. We learnt that counter tension is when gymnasts perform a balance which involves two or more of them pulling away from each other (or a piece of apparatus), where the weight is not even, whereas counter balance is when a move is balanced (like a sea-saw) or like when a gymnast performs an arabesque, the front and back of their body counter-balance one another. 

This week, Year 6 have been learning about the impact of WWII on our local area. We looked at aerial photographs of the Richmond area to identify any evidence. We were able to identify anti-aircraft guns, anti-landing trenches in Hampton Court Palace gardens and bomb damage. Various photographs showed vast areas of allotments and prefabricated housing. We noticed something very unusual about Pen Ponds. The water was drained from them so that enemy aircraft could not use them as navigation points using the reflection of their lights.

Have a look at some of the photos. Can you spot anything unusual? 

Written by Year 6 pupils

This week in our maths lessons, the children were challenged to represent and solve problems using bar models. We learnt that a bar model can help identify what calculations need to be carried out. The teachers were thoroughly impressed with the positive attitude shown by the children and they way in which they worked together. 

Year 6 have been learning about the role dialogue plays in conveying character. We have learnt that it is not only the words that the person says, but also how they say it and the actions that accompany the words.