What a fabulous (if a little different) start to the year it has been, with Year 6 returning refreshed for this half term’s topic. The children have turned back the clock to the time of Queen Victoria and have begun to ask questions regarding her reign; effects of the Industrial Revolution on Britain and famous names of the era.

After a stint looking at narrative poetry by the likes of Alfred Tennyson they have given consideration as to how differing perspectives can influence a character’s view of a situation and how character ‘voice’ can be evident through dialect choices. Subtle differences between informal and formal writing have been explored, using the narrative poem ‘The Pied Piper of Hamelin’ by Robert Browning as a stimulus for narrative dialogue and letters of complaint.

Another famous Victorian who will find his way into their Science learning will be Charles Darwin. The children will be challenged to carry out a range of tasks to help them make sense of his theory of evolution: sorting statements; drawing annotated diagrams and making comparisons between the adaptations of various plant and animal species.

The class have also enjoyed a daily dose of physical challenges: ‘The Paper’ being a particularly tricky one – ask Year 6!