Spruce Blog - Year 6

Spring 2

DT Cooking

We researched and made WW2 inspired soup during the period of rationing in Britain.

We chopped, blended and cooked the soup with a range of ingredients.

We then taste-tested the final result - it was very tasty!

 

Spruce 24 - DT Cooking

 

 

Science Microscopes

We took samples from our phone screens using cotton swabs. We then rubbed the swab in a petri dish containing agar. This then grew microorganisms over the course of 5 days.

We then observed the microorganisms in the petri dishes under the microscope. We were shocked at the range of colours - we will definitely be cleaning our phone screens more often!

Spruce 24 - Microscopes

  

World Book Day 2025

We had so much fun during WBD. We took part in a range of activities and enjoyed a workshop with book man!

Spruce 24 - WBD 2025

  

PE

We have been playing rounders this half term, improving on our batting and fielding skills.

Spruce 24 - PE Rounders

 

 

 

Spring 1

Assembly

 

Athletics

Spruce 24 - Indoor Athletics

 

Athletics Final

 

RE

 

D&T: Cooking

As part of our DT cooking project this half term, we have designed a soup recipe based on WW2 rationing. We washed, peeled, cut and sliced our vegetables, before cooking and blending our soups using slow cookers. We tasted and evaluated our own soup - before trying everyone else’s!

 

 

Autumn 2

Bletchley Park Trip

 On Thursday 8th November 2024, we visited Bletchley Park - the home of the code crackers during WW2.

 

During this trip, we learnt about the important work that took place during the war and how it led to the cracking of the enigma code.

 

We saw Alan Turing's office and the famous mug that was chained to his radiator! We explored the mansion at the park and watched a short D-Day film.

Spruce 24 - Bletchley Park Trip

  

Christmas Activities

Christmas Fayre

Christmas Jumper & Meal Day

 

 

Anti-Bullying Activities 

As part of Anti-Bullying week, we reminded ourselves of the importance of being kind and the strategies to use should we find ourselves on the receiving end of any negativity. 

 

We also had loads of fun doing a team-building exercise which had us jumping through hoops to Coldplay! Mr B was in stitches!

 

Science

We brought science to life! We used PE equipment to build and explain the circulatory system and how it functions.

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PE

We learnt about the importance of Healthy lifestyles and maintaining a balanced diet. We created our own circuits to build stamina and muscle mass. We also completed a beep test!

 

Music

 

 

Autumn 1

PSHE: House Captains

This year, those who wanted to put themselves forward as a nominee had to create a speech and deliver it to the school during an assembly. Once the speeches were read, all children in KS2 cast their votes in the 'Tanners Wood Polling Station'. Everyone who read a speech made us so proud - they all did so well! A huge congratulations to our new House Captains!

 

Head Girl and Head Boy Teams

As usual, those who wanted to nominate themselves to form the Head Girl and Head Boy team had to create a speech to read in front of Mrs Qureshi and Miss Rogers. Again, all of the children who read a speech made us incredibly proud! A huge congratulations to our new Head Boy, Head Girl, Deputies and Ambassadors.

 

PE: Stay Active Session

We had an early 'Stay Active' session this year which was delivered by Miss Brown from the Sports Partnership. She led a session on Hockey - everyone had the chance to learn new skills and hopefully be inspired to take up hockey in some manner!

  

PSHE: Worries and Concerns

At the beginning of the year, we look at our potential worries and concerns. In this lesson, we made 'worry spirals' which shows how we can sometimes allow our emotions to spiral. When we pause and think and consider the bigger picture, our worries were actually rather manageable! We then scrunched them up and threw them in the (recycling) bin to show we are amazing and can conquer the year ahead!

 

Science: Fossils and Evolution

We have been looking at Evolution and Inheritance this term and as part of our learning, we explored fossils! Whilst some of the children were a little freaked out when Mr Biswell took the skulls out of the box... we quickly got ourselves together and looked at them closely. We looked at how the position of the eyes showed that they had adapted to give them greater peripheral vision to evade their predators.

  

RE: Role Play

Children were given an activity card and were tasked with creating a drama role play to show how a Buddhist following in Buddha's example would handle the scenarios.

 

 

2024-2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Olympic Day

We had a special Olympic themed day at school to which the children took part in some sporting activities, Geography and French learning. They loved the obstacle course and were laughing their heads off at Mr Bean during the short clips shown of the London 2012 opening ceremony. We also learnt the Haka and researched Australasia!

Good luck Team GB, Ukraine and any other nations our class supports!

Spruce - Olympic Day

 

Sports Day

Thank you to all the parents and carers who attended our annual Sports Day.

 

The children had the most amazing time showcasing their skills - they certainly made lots of memories!

Spruce - Sports Day

D&T: Bridges

The children designed and built their own bridges!

Spruce - DT Bridges

  

Stay Active Session - Rapid Fire Cricket

The Sports Partnership came to Tanners to teach the Year 6 children Rapid Fire Cricket. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the cricketers of the class really showed of their skills!

Spruce - Stay Active

Watford School's Trust - Transition Workshop

Spruce - WST Transition Workshop

 

Magistrates Workshop

We we’re visited by two magistrates who taught us about how the Judicial System works.

Mental Health Awareness Week

We looked at the importance of having strong mental health and acknowledging that it is ok to have times where it is not so strong and how we can help ourselves to overcome those challenges.

D&T: Bridges

We tested different types of bridges by adding weights to our structures.

D&T: Bridges

 

End of SATs!
A huge well done to all of the children in Year 6 for working so hard this year to prepare for their SATs. They all did their very best and we are so proud of them!

SUMMER STARTS NOW!

Science

In Science, we made periscopes to show how light travels in straight lines and can be reflected. 

Spruce - Periscopes

 

Science

We created colour wheels to show how light can look white but it is actually made up of the colours of the rainbow... Isaac Newton's observations!

Spruce - Colour Wheels

 

Black History Workshop

We were fortunate to have students from Longdean School's LEAD group visit to teach us about the Civil Rights Movement and pre-Colonial Africa. 

Mr B was surprised to see his former teacher from Longdean turn up!

Spruce - Black History Workshop

 

Watford School's Trust Workshop

Thank you to the Watford School's Trust for an insightful RE Easter workshop.

Spruce - RE WST Workshop

 

World Book Day 2024!

Tanners Wood celebrated WBD on Friday 8th March and Spruce Class did this in style! The range of costumes on display and the creativity shown was nothing short of amazing. 

We had loads of fun during a KS2 assembly where we had the chance to show off our super costumes. We created an acrostic poem, read more of our whole-class book which is 'Freedom' by Catherine Johnson. We had the chance to read a book to Holly Class mid-morning. We then designed a new front cover for the book using oil pastels and chalk. Lastly, we relaxed with some traditional Golden Time!

A thoroughly enjoyable day. Thank you to parents and adults at home for helping the children and inspiring them to embrace WBD and to read!

 

 

 

Spruce - WBD

 

World Book Day Workshop

Today, we were lucky to take part in a poetry workshop led by Chris who helped us to create a whole-school poem based on some famous book characters. Year 6 selected BFG and performed the ending to the whole-school poem during an assembly.

 

Mindfulness: Meditation

Spruce - Mindfulness

 

 

Safer Internet Day

Mrs Radia kick started our week by introducing us to this year's theme: Inspiring Change

We looked at the importance of remaining safe and kind when using online platforms and group chats.

 

 

 

D&T

Soup Day:

The children in Spruce had great fun preparing and making their soup. We learnt different cutting techniques and the importance of hygiene when cooking.

The children rounded their lesson off with an additional lunch by tasting their recipe.

Thank you to the adults at home who let us borrow some equipment!

 

Spruce - Soup Day

 

PE Indoor Athletics

We had a very exciting afternoon at Parmiter’s School competing in the Sports Partnership’s indoor athletics event.

 

Well done to Spruce girls and Walnut boys for coming in second place!

Spruce - Indoor Athletics

 

DT: Cushions

The class have been practising their sewing skills and designing their own cushions. We can't wait to see the final product! (That's right, they can repair their own school uniform now!)

Spruce - DT Sewing

 

 

Christmas Fayre

A big thank you to the FOTW for an amazing fayre!

Spruce - Christmas Fayre

 

Christmas Lunch

 

Bletchley Park Trip

Wednesday 15th November

Year 6 were given the fantastic opportunity to go back in time and visit Bletchley Park - the home of the Enigma Code breakers during WW2! We visited the mansion and Alan Turing's office - he still had his coffee cup chained to his radiator! We had a tour and looked around the museum. Lastly, we had a workshop in which the children were able to use a real Enigma machine from WW2 - worth in excess of £300,000! 

Spruce - Bletchley Park

 

 

Remembrance Assembly

Thursday 9th November 2023

With Remembrance Day approaching, Mrs Qureshi delivered an assembly to explain the purpose of this day. As a mark of respect, we held a minutes silence. The children observed the silence with great respect.

Police and Crime Workshop

Today, we had a workshop delivered to us by ‘Lives not Knives’ who taught us all about safety in our community.

 

History

Thursday 2nd November 2023

We looked at the events that led to the build up of WW2.

Monday 9th October 2023

Today, Spruce class were incredibly lucky to meet British Olympic gymnast Steve Frew. He spoke to us about the importance of determination and resilience in order to achieve our goals and dreams. He took us through his experiences leading up to winning a gold medal for Great Britain.

 

PSHE

We made worry spirals in PSHE.

 

PE - Carnival

In PE, we have been creating a dance sequence based on the theme of a carnival. We explored samba movements, canon and unison. We also incorporated high and low movements.

We created some well-choreographed routines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday 27th February 2023

World Book Week Workshop

 

The children enjoyed a drama workshop this afternoon to kick-start our World Book Week. The children focussed on developing a character who uses their brain to overcome and find solutions to challenging situations.