QHYear6 – Page 8 – Queen's Hill Primary School

Maths Investigation

18th November 2022

We have completed our first Maths investigation of the year. This time we had to work to find all solutions to The Ladybird Challenge. It is always interesting to see the creativity with which children approach these challenges, as they are very different from arithmetic questions. This is about trial and error and sometimes fumbling your way through and collaborating with each other to find out new ways of thinking and recording.

The children worked on their problem solving skills and used our school crowns “grit and determination” and “curiosity”. It was lovely to see all of the children engaged and enjoying building on their knowledge and understanding.

What happens after..? Reincarnation?

14th November 2022

Year 6 have been delving into their own personal beliefs, and learning about those of other religions, when it comes to the presence of a soul, the possibility of an afterlife, and what’s the deal about karma? It has been truly fascinating discussing all the different things that might happen to us after we die, and the adults have been very impressed with how the children have handled these discussions with respect and curiosity. There are many religions, faiths, and personal beliefs represented in Year 6 and across our school. There have been many conversations about ‘what goes around comes around’, and big philosophical questions about why we should treat each other with respect and kindness throughout our lifetimes.

Today, we have talked about the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path, as well as the concept of Karma and reincarnation. We designed our own visual ‘Wheel of Life’ images, and thought about what we would choose as our areas for reincarnation and enlightenment.

Remembrance Assembly

11th November 202211th November 2022

Thank you to all those who joined us for Remembrance Assembly this morning. I think we can all agree that the Year 6’s presented themselves with the utmost respect and decorum for this special occasion. They have been working hard to learn their lines off by heart and deliver them to a huge audience with confidence and clarity. Year 3 pupils also created their own poppies and our school canteen kindly created special poppy cakes in recognition of remembrance day.

Well done Year 6 for bringing a tear to many an eye this morning! You should be very proud of yourselves.

In Flanders Fields, by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Purple Poppies

10th November 2022

Year 6 made purple poppies to remember the animals that have helped in war. We were really impressed with the concentration and grit and determination shown by all the children!

Year 6 Romeo and Juliet drama workshop!

10th November 20228th November 2022

Year 6 were fully immersed in the world of Shakespeare during their drama workshop with our expert visitor!

Children took part in a series of warm-up activities – including becoming Madame Tussauds waxwork models and terrifying monsters! They then developed Romeo and Juliet freeze frames in groups and asked each other insightful questions surrounding these still images.

Next, they used these skills as a way into both exploring the text and language whilst also considering how the Prologue and Act 1 Scene 1 are ‘delivered’.

Everyone was so enthusiastic and engaged – it was wonderful to see. We are very much looking forward to seeing how children get on with their newspaper reports this week. They will be reporting on the civil disturbance caused by the two warring households – the Montagues and the Capulets – causing bloodshed and pandemonium amongst fair Verona’s streets!

Year 6 Historians

5th November 20224th November 2022

As part of The City of Norwich Aviation Museum’s outreach, Year 6 were able to explore World War Two primary and secondary sources by handling some interesting artefacts today!

When you do research, you gather information from a variety of resources. These can be defined as primary and secondary sources.

Primary sources give you direct access to the subject that you’re researching or learning about. They can provide you with a first-hand account of an event or time-period, represent original thinking and give you new information.

Secondary sources provide second-hand information and often offer explanations for primary sources. They analyse, interpret and restate information from primary sources.

Children looked at gas masks, a warden’s steel helmet and even a German incendiary bomb!

Romeo & Juliet: A Prologue!

4th November 20223rd November 2022

We have started studying Romeo & Juliet this half term. We watched a performance of the Prologue and dissected Shakespearean language and translated it into modern day English. We also looked at all the fun phrases we still use that come directly from Shakespeare; ever “worn your heart on your sleeve” or “been in a pickle”?

As part of the first week, we re-enacted parts of the prologue in small groups and created tableaux stills (“living pictures”). The children did amazingly at learning the lines and dramatising them for their peers. Watch this space for more theatrical fun!

African Drumming and Dance workshop

14th October 202214th October 2022

Year 6 were treated this afternoon to a bespoke session of African dancing and drumming with the PanAfro Band in honour of Black History Month. Every single child had an incredible time learning the patterns and rhythms, and the smiles were so huge they lit up the room! It was a joy to see everyone moving and enjoying themselves and experiencing this wonderful style of music and dance. Feel free to look them up online to enjoy some more at home!

We also did research projects where we looked at influential Black people; Chadwick Boseman, Kadeena Cox, Ashley Banjo, Oti Mabuse, Mo Farah and John Boyega. We looked into their achievements and contributions and why they have inspired people across the world with their work and their amazing approaches to life.

Throughout our school year, we are committed to celebrating diversity across our curriculum and in all of our learning and so this is just an opportunity to extend the already wonderfully diverse curriculum we have here at Queens Hill.

Avid Year 6 Readers!

12th October 202210th October 2022

Year 6 have been reading enthusiastically using our new digital library ‘myON’. It has been fantastic to see the children engaging with the platform so brilliantly. The children have been reading a wide range of texts including some informative digital books about World War Two. There really is something for everyone to enjoy, keep it up, Year 6!

Compassion

15th October 20227th October 2022

Across our afternoons in Year 6 we have been learning about a plethora of things! In RE, we have been learning about ‘non violence’ and what this means in Hinduism; non violence is known as ‘ahimsa’ and refers to the idea that all violence against any living creature is prohibited because all living creatures have souls. Within Hinduism, there is the belief that if one causes suffering, that person will then have suffering in their own life later on.

“True ahimsa should mean a complete freedom from ill will and anger and hate and an overflowing love for all!” Ghandi.

Maybe this week you can spend some time thinking about the compassion that you cultivate in your own lives – how do you help those around you feel loved? How do you like to feel loved and appreciated? What can you do as an act of kindness this week for family, friends, a stranger?