St John the Baptist CE VA Primary School Year Six

This week, we have continued to investigate how to separate mixtures and which changes to materials are reversible or irreversible.  We tried to separate the individual materials from a mixture of caster sugar, cinnamon and dried fruit.  Most groups used a sieve to recover the dried fruit, added water to what was left to dissolve the sugar and then used a filter paper to strain out the cinnamon.  Now we are waiting to see of the water evaporates to leave behind the sugar. 

We continue to love reading in Year 6.  Each week, 2 or 3 children share a book that they have enjoyed in our 10-minute book club and tell us why it is a good read.  We also love the fact that every week we have several parents coming in for the Stay and Read session.  We would love to see even more!

In Science this half-term, we have moved on to a new unit learning about Changes to Materials. 

On Monday, we investigated the solubility of different materials.  We measured out equal amounts of granulated sweetener, caster sugar and icing sugar into small containers.  Before adding drops of water, we predicted which would dissolve with the least amount of water and which would need more.

Then we added water a drop at a time until the solid had dissolved and recorded how many drops were needed.  Some of our results surprised us so we calculated the average number of drops for the whole class.

On Monday, we all tried to learn a new skill – plate spinning!

After a demonstration, the children moved up on to the field, found a space (this was very important to avoid plate-related injuries) and had a go.  It was really tricky and everyone had to show perseverance and resilience in order to succeed.  A few children were successfu quite quickly and they moved around to coach others who were finding it harder.  By the end of the session, around half the class had successfully spun a plate and the others were very close to doing so.  Mrs Louis took hers home to practise!

Today in Design and Technology, we made pasties from a selection of seasonal vegetables.

To make the pastry we mixed flour, butter and salt and used the rubbing in method until it looked like breadcrumbs.  Then we carefully added cold water until the mixture came together.  We turned it out onton a board but were careful not to handle it too much so that it wouldn’t become tough.  It was chilled in the fridge for half an hour.

Meanwhile, we chopped a variety of seasonal vegetables including potatoes, carrot, parsnips, swede and cabbage.  We also has the option of including onions, sweetcorn and butternut squash.  We used the claw and bridge methods to make sure we were cutting safely.

The final stage was to roll out the pastry, fill it with our choice of vegetables, seal the pasty and bake it.  They looked and tasted delicious!

In Science this week, we began to investigate how we see.  We learnt that you can’t see an object in a black tube even if the object is white.  By punching holes into the box, we discovered that you need light to be able to see.  Next, we will be learning about how the human eye works.

In preparation for our Design and Technology cooking lesson next week, we tasted a variety of seasonal vegetables including swede, butternut squash, parsnip and cabbage.  The children have now decided which vegetables they will include in their pastry snack.  Some discovered new foods that they like!

We have a great first week in Year 6 and the children have settled really well.

In English we have started a unit based on Night of the Gargoyles by Eve Bunting, in Maths we are working on place value, in Computing we have been learning about micro:bits and in PE we got absolutely soaked!

PSHE was about teamwork this week.  The children worked in teams of five to create a pyramid of plastic cups.  That sounds easy, but they could only use elastic bands and string and were not allowed to touch the cups.  It was a tricky task but all teams were successful eventually.  The children had to communicate clearly and calmly to complete the activity.  It turns out that louder is not always better!