This week, we have been learning about the Ancient Maya civilisation. We focused on using artefacts to inform us of how they lived and what they believed in. We studied King Pakal's death mask and asked questions. In addition, we also studied how the Maya communicated. We found out that they wrote using their own hieroglyphs and created their own books called codices. We crated our own using well-known Maya symbols. After this, we then looked in-depth at their hierarchy system. We discussed what life was like for rich or poor members of Maya society. Next week, watch out- a member of Year 6 will be sacrificed! Who will it be? Only the high priest will decide! 

At Roebuck, we are historians! 

This week we have been occupied with our Mock SATs. Some of us sat in the hall and in other rooms so we could experience what the real thing would be like.

In science, we cut open a lamb heart to study its chambers and veins. We then studied the blood by making a blood soup: adding Plasma (orange juice), Red blood cells(food dyed cheerios),White blood cells(white chocolate chips) and platelets (rice) into a jug. In DT, we have been studying different animal enclosures and what features are needed before we make our own.

During PE, we played rapid fire cricket, which is like cricket, but you hit 3 balls between the two players in the same team, and they run until the fielders have put the equipment back to normal. Lastly, in computing, we have started a new topic about text adventure where we make a storyline to make a game.

Year 6 had an assembly with Ally who works for the book company called ‘Usborne’ and  explained about ‘Ready, Steady, Read!’ a challenge that helps us raise money for more books in the library. Last time we raised over 5000 pounds! In English, we had an experience day, where we had to find the non-fiction shapes in English and put them in the right spot in the text. Also, we have been doing practice SATs tests. During Science, we did a classification chart for leaves based on their characteristics. In PE we performed our gymnastics routine and recorded it before using the climbing frame more recently. During our computing unit, we created spreadsheets and took on some activities so we could record the data: star jumps, dice rolls and our age in months. Next week, we will be finding the average of our results and looking at how to format them.

This half term we have started a new geography unit all about the UK. We started the unit by locating the countries and some of the main cities using atlases. We have also had our first Dream Catcher assembly of the new year and were visited by Axis, who came in and did a presentation about Martin Gren and about what their cameras were for. We even saw a live feed from a train station camera in Sweden! In Art, we have begun a unit about Still Life. In computing, we began using spreadsheets to look at calculations. Our focus text this half-term in Literacy is Kensuke's Kingdom. We read the first chapter and did some freeze frames before starting our sentence writing focusing on language to describe the sea.

As you know, we have had the well known Pudsey day. On this day we all dressed in yellow for children in need. We made money for charity by doing a burpee challenge. The year sixes helped group count each year group and all the children got a high five from Pudsey! 

in literacy, after plotting our own ideas based on the story of Rose Blanche, we started to plan our own version of the ending. We were given a starting plot point, and then generated the rest of the plot.

Each year group had a visitor who came in to talk about equality. Year 6 was taught about: LGBTQIA+ and race. We took part in debates with the visitor, and tried to prove our points. We discussed a book called Tango makes 3 and debated about why the book was banned in some countries. We also debated whether Harry Kane should've worn the LGBTQIA+ band in the World Cup set in Qatar, that he was forbidden to wear because of their laws.

By Ruby T & Christopher S

In Art, Year 6 have been learning, as part of their photography unit, how to re-create famous paintings. They had to think very carefully about the composition of their picture and how they can use different objects around the classroom as props replicating items in the paintings. 

We have also edited photos which we have taken. We studied on using macrophotography and edited our images carefully, using inspiration from an artist called Edward Weston. Lastly, we have been trying really hard to improve our sketchbook skills. We are so proud of the outcomes. At Roebuck, we are photographers.