Important Messages (Dates Below) 

Quex Park Trip 

We have a Year 6 trip to Quex Park coming up that is linked to our first Year 6 Thematic Topic – Darwin’s Delights.  This trip is on: Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th October.  Please check your MCAS App for any forms that will need completing regarding permissions and how to pay.  A letter has also been sent out giving details about the school trip and what day your child’s class will be visiting on. 

Outside play 

At Upton, play is incredibly important and we want our children to be able to experience every part of our outdoor provision.  Please can we ask that children come to school with named wellies that they can leave at school, alongside a waterproof jacket.  Our children are outside in all weathers every day. 

Usernames and passwords 

The children will come home over the next two weeks with a reading record, a new Accelerated Reader level and password and TTRS passwords.   

Home Learning 

At Upton, our expectation for home learning is to read 3 times a week at home.  We would like the children to bring their signed reading records into school daily so that these can be signed by their class teacher.  Reading is incredibly important, especially as we get the children ready for the next stage of their education.  We also ask that the children practise times tables regularly at home.   

Thank you for your support.  Please contact us if you have any questions, worries or to tell us of any success that your child experiences outside of school! 

Scientist of the Term – Year 6

Following feedback from our children at the end of the last academic year, we are excited to introduce our brand-new Scientist of the Term initiative!

Our children told us that they would like to learn more about inspirational scientists and the incredible discoveries they have made. We hope this will encourage our pupils to be curious, ask questions and discover how scientists have helped us to understand the world around us.

Autumn Term 1: Charles Darwin

Our Scientist of the Term for Autumn 1 in Year 6 is Charles Darwin.

Charles Darwin was an English naturalist and scientist who is best known for developing the theory of evolution by natural selection. During his famous voyage on HMS Beagle, Darwin carefully observed plants, animals and fossils, collecting evidence that helped him develop his ideas about how living things change over time.

His work had a huge impact on the scientific understanding of life on Earth and continues to influence scientists today.

Your Challenge!

We would like our Year 6 children to find out more about Charles Darwin and create a piece of work that demonstrates their knowledge and understanding of his life and scientific work.

Your work could include:

• Interesting facts about Charles Darwin

• Information about his life and scientific career

• His voyage on HMS Beagle

• His observations of plants and animals

• An explanation of natural selection and evolution

• A timeline of important events in his life

• Drawings, diagrams or illustrations

• A poster, fact file, presentation or another creative format

• Anything else that demonstrates your scientific understanding!

Remember to make your work creative, informative and scientifically accurate.

Important Date

Please hand your completed work to your class teacher by Thursday 16th October.

All entries will then be passed to our Science Lead, Mrs Crowe-White, who will choose the piece of work that demonstrates the most impressive learning, creativity and enthusiasm for science.

🏆 The winning child will receive a certificate and a prize, which will be presented during our celebration assembly in the final week of the term.

We can't wait to see what our budding scientists discover about Charles Darwin and the fascinating world of evolution!

Good luck, Year 6 — and happy investigating!

Important Dates:

- Swimming for Year 6 is on Mondays.  

- PE (dancing or netball) is on Tuesdays.  

- Thursday 17th September – Year 6 meet and greet in their classrooms.  These will be at 2:45pm. 

- Year 6 National Child Measurement Day in school. 

- 23rd September Book Fair all week 

- 1st October National Poetry Day 

- 9th October Hello Yellow Day 

- 14th / 15th October Year 6 visit to Quex Park (see MCAS letter) 

-23rd October – Last Day of Term 1 

English this week

This week the children have started their new text ‘Floodland’.  They explored the two characters, Zoe and Natasha and spent time writing emotive letters that also included modal verbs.  

Maths 

This week, the children have revisited place values and spent time: adding, subtracting, place value and decimals.  

Thematic 

This week the children started their new Thematic topic – Darwin's Delights.  They spent time discussing their BIG QUESTION: Is change good? They also spent time learning about Charles Darwin. 

Year 6 Team 

6G Helen.Rowland-Hill@Uptonjunior.com   

6G Fran.Pellett@Uptonjunior.com 

6R Jordanne.Chalmers@Uptonjunior.com 

6B Natalie.Phillips@Uptonjunior.com 

6Y Rebekah.Crowe-White@Uptonjunior.com 

Year 6 Learning Group – Chris.Rowe@Uptonjunior.com