Cross-curricular topics: Spring term

Year 6: The Heart of Me

As writers, we will undertake various pieces of descriptive writing such as character studies, narrative recounts, balanced arguments, diary entries, poetry and explanation texts.

As readers, we will read a range of poetry, fiction and non-fiction texts including Clockwork by Philip Pullman.

As mathematicians, we will consolidate and extend our understanding across the curriculum, including decimals, percentages, algebra, ratio and different aspects of measurement.  We will plot and read different scientific graphs of data relating to the human body.

As scientists, we will identify and name the main parts of the human circulatory system, and describe the functions of the heart, blood vessels and blood. We will look at the impact of diet, exercise and lifestyle on our bodies. We will also consider the transportation of nutrients and water around human and animal bodies.

As historians, we will view the development of medicine through history and across the world, discovering the key scientists involved in pioneering research and inventions.  

As artists and designers, we will explore key pieces of artwork relating to the human body and one-point perspective drawing.

As musicians, we will explore how the human body can create different noises and simulate the sounds of a clockwork mechanism.

  • How parents can support learning at home

    Activities
    Research key facts about how the development of medicine has transformed our lives.
    Read non-fiction texts and explore websites that describe the processes that occur in our bodies (respiration, digestion etc).
    Research key facts about the human body and create a craft model of a skeleton with key organs such as the heart and lungs.
    Look at the workings of an old-fashioned clock to find its key components.

    Visit:
    Eureka (Halifax), At-Bristol (Bristol),
    Life Science Centre (Newcastle), Centre of the Cell (London), Leeds Medical Museum

  • Words we will use (key vocabulary)

    circulatory system, blood vessels, artery, lungs, vein, pulmonary, alveoli, capillary, digestive, nutrients, oxygen

  • Enterprise

    We will look into making links with a social enterprise and consider how we can donate our time in order to contribute to a more equitable society.

  • Learning Skills

    We will be improving our resilience by challenging ourselves to do new things and our resourcefulness through developing our research skills.

  • Christian Values

    We will be exploring and developing the values of compassion, equality, justice and forgiveness.

  • Global Learning

    We will look at ethics surrounding the use of animals for the benefit of humans. We will compare the differences in access to medicine between first and third world countries.