Login
Home
Welcome
Our Curriculum Design
Whole School Long Term Overviews
Assemblies
Safeguarding Curriculum
Assessment
Heritage Trail
Welcome
Calendar
Contact

Spring Term

PHSE - To understand facts and opinions 
 
A fact is a statement that can be verified. It can be proven to be true or false through objective evidence. An opinion is a statement that expresses a feeling, an attitude, a value judgment, or a belief. It is a statement that is neither true nor false.
The children read some articles and looked for the facts and opinions. The children identified how newspaper articles can contain some opinions.
PHSE - Understanding Money 
  • Explain some benefits of saving money; 
  • Describe the different ways money can be saved, outlining the pros and cons of each method; 
  • Describe the costs that go into producing an item; 
  • Suggest sale prices for a variety of items, taking into account a range of factors; 
  • Explain what is meant by the term interest.
As a class we discussed the reasons we need money. We discussed what we need to spend money on and what we would like to spend money on. 
Geography - The Amazon Rainforest
 
Our next topic is about rainforests and we will be focusing on the Amazon Rainforest. Before starting the topic, the children made a list of what they already know about rainforests and a list of questions about what they would like to find out. 
Geography - Where are Rainforests located
 

Rainforests are located in the tropical climate region. They are hot and wet all year round – this creates a humid climate.

The annual rainfall is high as it rains almost every day. The temperatures are constant all year round – the temperature range is usually only a few degrees. There are no seasons.

The children found the location of rainforests on a map. 

Geography - Facts about Rainforests
 
The children found some key facts about rainforests. These are some of the facts they found.
 
1. Rainforests take their name from the abundant rainfall they experience

2. The Amazon Rainforest is more than half the size of the US

3. Rainforests are home to half of the world’s plant and animal species

4. Deforestation contributes nearly 5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year

5. An average of 137 species of plants and animals are driven into extinction every day in the world’s tropical rainforests

Geography - The Amazon River
 
As part of our work on rainforests, we looked at the Amazon River and how it runs through the Amazon rainforest. The children found interesting facts about the river.
 
Here are some of the interesting facts that they found:
 

1. The Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest. Covering over 5.5 million square kilometres, it’s so big that the UK and Ireland would fit into it 17 times!

2.  The Amazon is found in South America, spanning across Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

3. Running through the north of the rainforest is the Amazon River — a network of many hundreds of waterways that stretches 6,840km. Although there is some debate, most scientists agree that the Amazon is the world’s second longest river after the River Nile.

Independent Learning Task 
 
The children have been encouraged to complete an independent learning task on the Amazon Rainforest. This can be on any aspect of rainforest and can be presented in any way. I look forward to seeing how creative the class can be. 
The Rainforest - Field Work
Visit to Tropical World 
 
We visited Tropical World to the find out about the features of the rainforests and to learn about the animals which live in them. We also did a workshop in the woodlands to compare a native woodland to a tropical rainforest.
 
Whilst on the trip, we covered the following learning objectives and knowledge strands. 

  1. Climate maps show weather patterns. Different colours show the climates. Children will use maps to identify the climate. Climate of the Amazon:

  • The climate of Amazonia is warm, rainy, and humid. The lengths of day and night are equal on the Equator.

  1. Children will find other rainforests on the globe. 

  • Tropical rainforests are mainly located between the latitudes of 23.5°N (the Tropic of Cancer) and 23.5°S (the Tropic of Capricorn).

  1. Biome:  Biomes are areas of our planet with similar climates, landscapes, animals and plants. What lives in each biome depends on: how warm or cold it is; how dry or wet it is; and how fertile the soil is. The animals in a biome depend upon plants for food. The plants in a biome often also depend upon the animals for spreading pollen and seeds so that new plants can grow. So, both plants and animals rely on each other to stay alive.

  2. Amazon rainforest:

  • Covers most of South America. (link to Y4 rivers knowledge – Drainage basin)

  • Covers 5.5 million square kilometres.

  • Encompasses Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guian.

  • On the Equator, between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. 

  1. Amazon River:

  • The ‘lifeline’ of the Amazon rainforest. 

  • Second largest river in the world (after the River Nile)

  • 6,400 km long.

  • Starts in the Andes. 

  • It is one of the main forms of transportation through the rainforest because there are very few roads. 

  • River boats and ships commonly shuttle citizens, tourists and goods from one area of the Amazon to another.

  • There is only one bridge across the river so ferries are the only way to cross them.

  1. Physical characteristics of a rainforest: A rainforest has 4 layers:

  1. Forest floor layer – The lowest layer where it is dark, hot, and damp. Only 2% of sunlight gets through the thick canopy trees and understorey plants to reach the forest floor. Large-leafed shrubs and saplings (new trees) grow in the patches of sunlight. 

  2. Understory layer - warm, damp and sheltered layer below the tree canopy. Rain drips through. Only speckled sunlight comes through. Large leafed shrubs that like the warm, shade and moisture. 

  3. Canopy layer – Just below the tallest layer. Gets lots of sunlight, rain and a breeze. Thick branches, large leaves, trees. Make a leafy roof blocking the sunlight from the lower levels. 

  4. Emergent layer – high tree tops; gets the most sun and rain; up to 70m high; home to monkeys, birds and butterflies. 

  1. Deciduous Forest: A deciduous forest is a biome dominated by deciduous trees which lose their leaves seasonally.

  2. People and the Amazon:

  • It is home to unique tribes – their habitats are being destroyed. This stops their way of life.

  • Deforestation – 27% caused by cattle ranching, mining, timber and farming.

  • If the current rate of deforestation continues, there will be no trees by 2030. 

Children learning about animals in the rainforest and how they have adapted to their environment. 
Children learning about the layers of the rainforest at Tropical World  
Learning key Features of adaptation for different animals.
PHSE - Wellbeing and Mental Health 
 
Today Mrs Kaur from the Educational Emotional Wellbeing Team came to speak to Year 6 about their mental health and wellbeing. The children discussed ways of keeping a positive mental health. They discussed that a good diet, exercise and sleep contributes to good mental health.