Trotts Hill Primary School and Nursery
Welcome to Year 6 and the final year at Trotts Hill Primary School! Mrs Cook and Mrs Shergill are the class teachers and Mrs Cornish is the teaching assistant.
Year 6 is an extremely important, yet exciting year, when your children will sit their SATs in May. To ensure the children are ready for these tests and are feeling confident, all the support and interest you take in your child’s education is extremely valuable. We ask parents to read and sign their child’s reading record each week and help their child with home learning tasks that are set.
We cover the core subjects of English, Maths, Science and Computing as well as a full range of topics where we encourage children to take an active approach towards their learning including:
Year 6 is a very important year and we have organised a range of activities which ensure children receive a broad curriculum which challenges them. Children participate in a ‘Robotics Day’ where they design and programme a robot. Children’s Design and Technology skills are developed through a K’Nex workshop where the children build a model based on strict design specifications. Finally the children’s fitness is tested through a residential at the end of year where they have the opportunity to conquer fears and achieve goals!
The expectations in Year 6 are very high, but year on year, children always rise to the challenge through well developed home-school partnerships and a determination to succeed.
Week commencing Monday 2nd December 2024 LI: To ask geographical questions about our local area
This term, Year 6 have been learning about their local area and came up with the question: ‘Does The Oval Shopping Centre need regenerating?’ On Wednesday, we visited the Oval and looked at the land-use and amenities on offer. The children then composed a survey to ask the views of people who live in the local area and collated the evidence to come to a conclusion.
Week commencing Monday 25th November 2024 LI: To research what a Christian might find most significant in Christmas celebrations
Year 6 welcomed Gemma from Bridge Builders Christian Trust to help answer their questions on the significance of Christmas to Christians.
Year 6 have been consolidating their understanding of co-ordinates, including how to translate shapes accurately.
Anti-bullying week: Year 6 have learnt to choose respect and have presented this learning in a number of ways eg. through presentations, role play and posters.
The children discussed the difference between religious and non-religious celebrations. They also shared celebrations that are special to their families or as part of their faith.
Inspired by a video called 'Broken' based on the characters of Rock, Paper and Scissors, Year 6 wrote a creative story, challenging themselves to use ambitious vocabulary and a variety of sentence lengths to engage the audience.
Week commencing Monday 14th October 2024 LI: To create a watercolour landscape
Year 6 concluded their art module on watercolours by creating our own landscapes based on the style of JMW Turner. They implemented the skills they had been practising in this unit of work to create their own masterpiece.
Year 6 explored two contrasting areas of the school grounds, identifying plants. Year 6 collected and represented this data in a bar chart then analysed this information to draw conclusions.
Year 6 debated the benefits and the drawbacks of using social media and then summarised their personal opinions. We highlighted strategies we could use to manage online risks in order to enjoy the benefits of online activity. We concluded by reflecting on the important qualities in a healthy relationship, online or offline.
Year 6 had a visit from Kate, who works at Stevenage Museum. She brought a variety of WWII artefacts for us to look at. We used our detective skills to work out what the items were, who they belonged to and what their purpose was. It was an interesting and informative morning.
Year 6 have been participating in outdoor, adventurous activities, which have enabled them to rehearse their communication, teamwork and problem solving skills.
Year 6 have been engaging with the text 'There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom', by Louis Sachar. We have been using the story to inspire different genres of writing. Our character descriptions were particularly effective.
Inspirational maths: Year 6 were inspired by the video 'Brains Grow and Change' and applied the idea that we can all do maths to our lesson. Teams of 3 worked together to create 2D and 3D shapes using a loop of string. It was great to hear mindsets shift from 'That's impossible' to 'I've got an idea we can try!'
A member of the British Red Cross delivered an interactive first aid session to Year 6, which included learning how to deal with injuries such as burns. She was delighted with how informed the pupils already were.
Year 6 performed their end of year play, Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies, this week and were exceptional! They all shone in their individual roles, demonstrating their singing, dancing and acting abilities.
Year 6 had a wonderful morning visiting the Henry Moore Musuem and studying his sculptures. The children were given a tour of where Henry Moore lived, they were able to visit his studio and see some of his maquette’s as well as spending some time creating their own sketches based on the sculptures in his garden.
All this was used to inspire the children for when they create their own sculptures based on the style of Henry Moore.
Year 6 are participating in an ongoing mini police project, engaging with a local officer, discussing topics such an anti-social behaviour, online safety and bullying.
In history, the children researched what life was like for the Maya, focusing on where they lived, what they wore and how their society was organised. The children presented their facts in many creative ways!
Year 6 attended the multi-agency Crucial Crew safety event at The Lamex Stadium, learning about essential skills and knowledge they may need to stay safe as they prepare for secondary school. They engaged with interactive activities to learn these skills and learnt life-saving skills such as CPR.
Year 6 visited Rock UK to develop the ability to take risks, work as a team, challenge themselves and encourage each other. Year 6 did exactly that and more! They have thrived this week and have been a credit to Trotts Hill.
The children in Year 6 were given a wonderful opportunity to visit Sartorius Stedim in Royston, as part of a project called, ‘Challenging Children in Industry.’ The children participated in a range of activities such as exploring and using a Computer Aided Design (CAD), building and testing robots and the children then ran experiments to check their results and to see that the robots worked correctly. Through these activities, the children were exposed to different roles available within science and maths and many were inspired to pursue a role in their future careers.
In DT we have been testing different materials to see which would be best for flying a kite. We tested kites made out of light card, newspaper, foil and paper. We found that the kite made from paper flew the best as it was light-weight but durable.
We agreed a class definition for mental health and explored what activities we could do to promote our mental health as well as coping strategies we could use. Year 6 also discussed the importance of our thoughts and positive affirmations.
Year 6 have been revising how to calculate percentages and consolidating their understanding of the relationship between fractions, decimals and percentages.
Year 6 have been inspired by the short film 'Alma' to produce wonderfully engaging suspense stories.
Year 6 participated in a ‘Children Challenging Industry’ workshop led by Mrs Draper from Sartorius Stedim. They had to find the most efficient way to collect medicine from a liquid. They had to find out which filter worked best to extract a solid from a liquid. There were four types of filters: a piece of cotton, felt, J cloth and filter paper. The solution that was tested was flour dissolved in water.
The children found out that the filter paper was the best material for separating the flour from the water and this was because it had thousands of tiny holes that allow the liquid molecules to pass through.
Year 6 learnt about the Easter story through a range of activities, from crafting a cross to planting a sunflower seed, provided by Bridgebuilders.
This week, Year 6 took part in a K'Nex challenge. Mrs Richardson, who is a STEM Ambassador, came to challenge the pupils to design and build a bulldozer out of K'Nex. The task was completed in just an hour and then each team gave a presentation about their build. Many of the pupils had included features such as solar panels and wind turbines to make their bulldozers more environmentally-friendly.
Year 6 showed great teamwork and communication skills during the challenge. The winners were Arthur and Rohan and their entry will be put forward to the regional finals.
Week commencing Monday 11th March 2024 LI: To understand and manage our worries
On Wednesday afternoon, Year 6 had a mental health workshop with Niamh, our mental health adviser. She gave us strategies for understanding and managing our worries.
This term the children have been studying the artist Katsushika Hokusai and his painting 'The Great Wave of Kanagawa.' The children used either watercolours, chalks or oil pastels to create a picture in the style of this artist.
As part of our 'Living in the Wider World' unit, we explored the importance of having a positive relationship with money. We discussed the impact a negative relationship with money can have on mental health and well-being. Through different scenarios, we decided how money could be best spent wisely, and the possible implications of these decisions.
Level 3 students, from Oaklands College Theatre in Education Tour, performed a Horrible Histories play based on the Ancient Greeks. The children then had the opportunity to participate in an acting or dance workshop themselves.
This week, Year 6 came up with ideas of how they could use the internet to make a positive change in their own life whilst also keeping safe online.
To begin our new Science unit, Animals, including Humans, Year 6 recalled their learning from Year 4 about the digestive system and then moved onto new learning and represented how the circulatory system works, explaining this using scientific vocabulary.
Year 6 have written and performed monologues this week, after being inspired by Mr Driver's acting skills. Year 6 used emotive language and expression to capture the audience.
Year 6 have participated in a 4 week unit where they have developed teamwork skills through a number of challenges. Pupils have worked individually, collaboratively in pairs and groups to solve problems. Children have been encouraged to be inclusive of others, share ideas to create strategies and plans to produce the best solution to a challenge.
To link with our Science topic 'Evolution', Year 6 have written explanation texts explaining how the peppered moth adapted over time in order to survive in its changing environment.
Year 6 investigated the relationship between mass and area by testing the amount of mass different sized ships could hold. Year 6 repeated measurements, found averages and plotted both bar and scatter graphs to determine whether there is a relationship between the two.
Year 6 have been learning how to use Excel. The unit culminated in using a spreadsheet to model a real life situation, where children planned an event, using their knowledge of formulae to calculate costs and profits.
Week commencing Monday 11th December 2023 LI: To make a 3D decoration
Year 6 have been designing and making 3D decorations in DT . Pupils used a variety of techniques including appliqué, attaching sequins and using decorative stitches to decorate their decorations. They also joined fabrics using backstitch, running stitch, whip stitch and blanket stitch. Some of the students added scents to their decorations such as lavender, in addition to filling them with cushion stuffing.
Year 6 learnt how Darwin used his own research about finches in the Galapagos Islands to develop the Theory of Evolution. We will be investigating different 'beaks' in our next lesson.
Year 6 have been rehearsing using persuasive techniques verbally, recalling techniques previously taught as well as learning new ones. We have been trying to expand our vocabulary in the process.
Year 6 have been practising chest pass and bounce pass in their basketball unit and using both types of passes when moving the ball.
Year 6 have been finding fractions of amounts and mastering this knowledge in a variety of contexts.
Year 6 have been exploring writing in different fiction genres, taking inspiration from authors to experiment with new vocabulary, considering the impact on the reader.
Week commencing Monday 16th October 2023 LI: To create a watercolour landscape
Year 6 concluded their art module on watercolours by creating our own landscapes based on the style of JMW Turner. They implemented the skills they had been practising in this unit of work to create their own masterpiece.
The children looked at images of stained glass windows and paintings and discussed what message they thought they were trying to portray. The children then created their own stained glass windows and mandalas with messages they wanted to convey.
Year 6 explored two different areas on the school grounds, collecting data about the plants, presenting it and then analysing their findings.
Year 6 took part in a brilliant World War Two day in school led by Kate from Stevenage Museum.
All children experienced what life was like for those who were evacuated to the countryside. The children were given identity cards to fill in as well as learning about rationing of clothes and food.
The children then handled a range of WW2 artefacts where they asked questions about what they were, what they were used for and who they belonged to. The children enjoyed dressing up as Nurses, Air Raid Wardens and Billeting Officers.
Year 6 investigated the vertebrate groups and presented their findings to the rest of the class. We learnt lots of interesting facts!