Please see below for some examples of the amazing work we've been doing!

Year 6 have had another busy and successful month, completing their end-of-year SATs with amazing attitudes and determination. We are so proud of all the children in the year group, who demonstrated huge resilience and maturity to showcase the progress and incredible learning that has taken place during their time at Lowther. Well done to all of the children in Year 6!

In the wider curriculum, we have been learning about the British Empire and the History of Medicine. The children have greatly enjoyed investigating primary and secondary sources to examine how Britain came to have such a large empire, what this meant and what happened to the empire. In History of Medicine, we have learnt about how life expectancy has changed so drastically in the past 250 years, the causes and effects of the Great Plague and are beginning to research the important medical milestones of the past centuries, including penicillin and the smallpox vaccine. The children are identifying the clear parallels to the current pandemic, and this has proved a fruitful area for discussion and debate!

In computing, we have been exploring our maths topic of shape further with the use of direction language and angles using scratch; programmed with HTML & CSS to send our own e-cards and coded Micro:bits with our own tunes!

Our science topic - Classification - has led to interesting research and investigation into different organisms and microorganisms, and we are currently observing the growth of mould on bread using different variables! We have enjoyed learning about animal groups, and how they can be classified and sorted according to their characteristics and variations. Did you know a platypus is a mammal that can lay eggs and has a poisonous claw on its foot!

Now that restrictions have lifted slightly, we were pleased to visit Holly Lodge in Richmond Park, where we focused on British history and within that, our local history. Richmond Park was incredibly important during WW1; it was the location of a South African hospital, the site of new war invention testing as well as providing valuable allotments for growing food. It was very hands-on and we took full advantage of their unique historical classroom, pharmacy and kitchen garden to find out about this local resource!

We are looking forward to a very busy end to the year - including camping, cycling, the Y6 show and of course the Isle of Wight! Phew! Have a great half term :)

It has been another great term in Year 6! We have been so proud and pleased at how the children have returned with such an appetite to learn! In English, we have been building up character descriptions through dialogue using our class text of Skellig; exploring how David Almond has used figurative language to build atmosphere.

In Maths, the classes tackled algebraic expressions and equations with incredible surety, ratio and looked at the volume of compound shapes! This was challenging work that they have absolutely ran with.

While in Science, we have been exploring the vast theme of evolution: How we have evolved through adaptation; looking at both our inherited and environmental traits and how they make each one of us unique!

We have been cracking codes in computing, creating digital cards using HTML and understanding the application of different types of tags within the code. In the summer term we are looking forward to the many exciting opportunities that await; camping, cycling and of course the Isle of Wight!

Year 6 have been outstanding in their home learning this term and we are so proud of them!

Attendance and engagement have been 100% and we have seen fantastic attitudes from all of the children.

In our English learning, we researched and wrote non-chronological information texts about Natural Disasters. We really enjoyed discovering how volcanoes are formed and the damage they can cause, as well as how important they are for our global ecosystem. All of our excellent research and investigating was used in designing and building our own websites about disasters too! We considered the content, design and usability of websites to create our own pages where you can explore, watch and learn all about hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters!

In science, we have been learning about the importance of diet and exercise to keep our bodies in a healthy condition. We investigated the different food groups and the importance of a balanced diet, and also the negative effects that some drugs and alcohol can have on our bodies and their internal systems.

In maths, we have learnt about measurements and how to calculate the area and perimeter of different compound shapes. We have applied our learning to a range of quadrilaterals while calculating the perimeter, area and volume of these. This learning was further explored in identifying shapes that have the same area but different perimeters, and vice versa.

Year 6 have been fantastic in their online learning and accessing our Google Classroom. We have written very well researched discussion texts, asking: Is there too much technology in our lives today? Children surveyed friends and family and used this evidence to present the positive and negative aspects of technology in our lives. Overall, we agreed that technology was very important and - if not overused - a huge positive (especially at this time!).

In science, we have been learning about the circulatory system and exploring the role of the heart and lungs. We have seen how the pulmonary system functions and helps us breathe, and the important role that blood plays in keeping us alive and healthy. We look forward to conducting our circulatory dissections when we return to school!

In maths, we have learnt about the relationship between fractions, decimals and percentages. We have been calculating percentages of increasingly difficult amounts while consolidating our place value knowledge and working toward a thorough understanding of equivalences between the three. We have also successfully applied this learning to real-life problem solving scenarios.

Finally, we took part in an excellent virtual trip: Richmond Junior Citizens. This scheme gives young children the skills to deal with a wide range of emergency situations, including using public transport, basic first aid, safety by water, road safety and health issues. It was very informative and useful, and enjoyed by everyone in Year 6!

This month Year 6 have had a fantastic few weeks of learning and greatly enjoyed building a physical reaction game using Micro:Bits and electrical switches. We coded the Micro:Bits with Make Code to build an 'OR' gate circuit, and the children enjoyed seeing who had the most Ninja-like reflexes! Needless to say it was not their teachers...

We have also been busy preparing for the annual Lowther Enterprise Fair. The children have worked tirelessly in their business groups to make cookies, brownies, slime and all manner of curiosities, to sell at our fair on Monday. We asked children from Years 1 to 6 to bring in up to £5 if they wish to purchase items and presents at the fair :) and the businesses were very successful in making a huge profit, al of which goes to Lowther!

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

This month in Yeor 6 we have been learning about Anne Frank and the Holocaust, researching her life and writing her biography. The children have enjoyed this topic and we have shared many interesting discussions. In Maths, we have been learning to multiply and divide fractions, and apply this learning in a range of contexts.

As part of our wider curriculum learning, we have been using Micro:Bits to code different applications, learning about the Silk Road in geography, and constructing electrical circuits to explain how they function. We look forward to hosting our Enterprise Fair on Monday 4th December, where Year 6 will be selling the products they have made in their mini-businesses!

Each year group has prepared a performance for you and recorded it. We hope you enjoy watching our Harvest Assembly. You can also watch the full (All year groups) version here.