Sycamore Class [Year 6]

Welcome to Sycamore class.

Topic Webs:

Term 1 2018-2019 - World War 2

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Term 2 2017-2018 - World War 2

Term 3 2017-2018 - Victorians

Term 4 2017-2018 - Victorians

Term 5 2017-2018 - Dinosaurs

Term 6 2017-2018 - Kaleidoscope

Beer Residential

The children really enjoyed their trip. Here are some of the memories they are taking away with them:

“I liked it when Thomas asked ‘When is pudding?’… when we had already eaten it all!!” - Elsie
“Beer was a wonderful experience. I will treasure every moment of it.” - Ethyn
“I found it funny when the cat kept sneaking into the boys’ tent and wouldn’t go away!” - Francci
“I loved our trip! It was especially funny when Mrs Courtier got pooped on twice by a seagull which then took her sandwich!” - Maia
“I enjoyed choosing music for the car journeys. We listened to Cotton Eye Joe 9 times!” - Corey
“Beer was really fun - I will never forget it.” - Ben
“My favourite part…The YHA breakfast… enough said!” - Maisey
“I found it really funny when everyone thought a buoy out at sea was a shark fin!” - Benji

Cross Country

We are very proud of our Year 6 children, who recently came forth in the small school cross country category. Running across country in the blistering heat, they impressed all with their brilliant sportsmanship.

Sycamore class worked really hard towards their SATs for many weeks including after school SATs club and a holiday revision session. In SATs week itself, they enjoyed eating a cooked breakfast together and they showed determination and resilience throughout the week.

On Thursday, they returned to school for a sleepover under canvas together with Dundry Primary School. The children enjoyed a barbecue and a camp fire and excitedly prepared their tents. They were able to play in both the Forest area and the Orchard as well as explore all the activities on offer from the Play Pod.

Term 5 News: Dance Umbrella 2018

	On Thursday March 15th, pupils from Y2, Y5 and Y6 participated again in Dance Umbrella at The Forum in Bath This is now the fifth consecutive year in which we have taken part and it proved to be as enjoyable as ever with the children feeling a real sense of achievement at having performed on a huge stage in front of a large audience. The Y2 performed without any older pupils or teachers on the stage to guide them, keeping to time brilliantly. The Y5/6 children performed a contemporary and very moving piece entitled Trapped. A huge thank you to all the children, staff and parents who supported this event.

Term 5 News: PTA Easter Assembly

	On Friday March 23rd the whole school from Nursery up to Year 6 were invited to participate in a range of competitions to celebrate Easter. The competitions were: Easter Bonnet; miniature Easter Garden and Decorated Eggs (to roll in a race later). It was the first time we have held this event and we were overwhelmed both by the number of entrants (particularly in EYFS and KS1) and the quality of the Easter crafts entered. They made a truly beautiful spring display at the front of the Hall, making the snow of earlier in the week seem improbable. The categories were judged by the Mayor of Midsomer Norton, Mr Paul Myers. This was followed by a coffee shop and cake sale to raise money towards the Y5/6 residential trip. Thank you to all the children and parents who supported this event and a particular thank you to Amy Purchase for her tireless organisation and effort in making this a success.

Term 5 News: Radstock Museum visit

To further support their topic of Victorians, Sycamore Class visited Radstock Museum on Wednesday March 21st. It was good to add a little local history to compare and contrast to that of those living in and around Big Pit, which we visited in Term 4.

The children visited the Victorian school room where they were shocked to learn that all children were forced to write with their right hand and that ‘fidgetters’ had their fingers restricted in finger stocks! Additionally, any ‘slouchers’ or children suffering from rickets were made to sit with an uncomfortable back brace. Poor recitation of times tables resulted in the humiliation of the Dunce’s hat! The children had difficulty writing on their chalkboards in the intricate, loopy Victorian script.

Next the children split into two groups to apply their investigative skills to deduce the function of primary source artefacts before then explaining their findings to the other group.

They then compared a Victorian shopping experience with that of today and enjoyed spotting items that we still buy nowadays whilst being horrified at other aspects such as the multi-purpose bar of soap.

Lastly, they learnt about the various jobs performed by a blacksmith including shodding horses and the skill of a wheelwright. They again had to apply their deduction and discussion skills to work out the function of the various tools.

Sycamore news for website: Terms 3 and 4 2018

Although Term 3 was a short term, Sycamore, in amongst regular lessons and working hard towards their SATs, managed to pack in a couple of school trips. First, in January, the class visited Theatre Royal, Bath for the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This proved to be a very lively performance with the pantomime Dame clambering up from the Stalls and into the Royal Circle, right among us, in pursuit of her undergarment!

Then, in February, to support their Topic work on Victorians, the children travelled across the Severn Bridge to Blaenavon in South Wales. In the morning, they explored the Industrial History side of the Blaenavon Ironworks in addition to the Social History around the workers’ cottages which were furnished in contemporary style dating from the late 1700s right up to 1967. The children were particularly interested in a cottage from the 1940s which reminded them of Mister Tom’s house from their WW2 Topic in Terms 1 and 2. They were also horrified to learn about working conditions and how short related life expectancy was.

Next, Sycamore travelled the short distance to Big Pit, a former working coal mine which is now a fascinating museum. After visiting the simulator which recreated conditions inside the mines, the children were kitted up with protective helmets and miners’ lamps before descending 90m into the ground in the cage. Our guide was extremely informative and the children were alarmed to learn how many hours they might have worked at their age, for little pay with horrendous conditions in the pitch black without head torches.

The children had an unexpected surprise during the afternoon when it snowed heavily!

On their return to school, the children not only wrote high quality recounts but they have also now started planning persuasive letters to Victorian reformer Lord Shaftesbury about working conditions for children in Victorian times.

In Art, Sycamore enjoyed learning about William Morris; creating collagraph prints. In Term 4 they will be producing Lowry-esque pictures of Blaenavon Ironworks. Additionally, in Science, the children used tights and mashed bananas to create revolting but scientifically informative digestive systems! They then wrote up instructions for the process.

Next up in March, in addition to an activity-packed Book Week, the class is looking forward to performing in Dance Umbrella and experiencing a Victorian schoolroom at Radstock Museum.