Year 6 English: Summer Term

Our reading texts this term are: 

 In this beautiful book of classic fairy tales, award-winning author Philip Pullman has chosen his fifty favourite stories from the Brothers Grimm and presents them in a'clear as water' retelling, in his unique and brilliant voice.From the quests and romance of classics such as 'Rapunzel', 'Snow White' and 'Cinderella' to the danger and wit of such lesser-known tales as 'The Three Snake Leaves', 'Hans-my-Hedgehog' and 'Godfather Death', Pullman brings the heart of each timeless tale to the fore, following with a brief but fascinating commentary on the story's background and history. In his introduction, he discusses how these stories have lasted for so long, and become part of our collective storytelling imagination.These new versions show the adventures at their most lucid and engaging yet. Pullman's Grimm Tales of wicked wives, brave children and villainous kings will have you reading, reading aloud and rereading them for many years to come.

Summer 1945. The Second World War is finally over and Yossi, Leo and Mordecai are among three hundred children who arrive in the English Lake District. Having survived the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps, they’ve finally reached a place of safety and peace, where they can hopefully begin to recover.

But Yossi is haunted by thoughts of his missing father and disturbed by terrible nightmares. As he waits desperately for news from home, he fears that Mordecai and Leo – the closest thing to family he has left – will move on without him. Will life by the beautiful Lake Windermere be enough to bring hope back into all their lives?

Our writing texts this term are: 

Based on texts, real life experiences and short animations, our writing outcomes this term will be narratives including dialogue, non-chronological reports, setting descriptions and poetry.

Year 6 English: Spring Term

Our reading texts this term are: 

This is a beautiful graphic novel within a novel - the soft pencil drawings bringing the story alive.

ORPHAN, CLOCK KEEPER, AND THIEF.

Twelve-year-old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric girl and her grandfather, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

It only takes one strike: A powerful feminist reworking of the Hans Christian Andersen classic, from bestselling and award-winning creators Emma Carroll and Lauren Child.

Bridie works hard to feed her family, selling matches on the streets of Victorian London. After an incident leaves her with only three matches left, the magical strike of each one sees her tumble into visions of a brighter future. Realising she has the power to change her own fortune, Bridie leads the match factory workers out on strike, achieving the remarkable through their unity and courage.

A defiant and empowering retelling of the classic you thought you knew, based on real-life events, this stunning collaboration brought to life in glorious spot colour introduces a bold new heroine for future generations to treasure.

Our writing texts this term are: 

Based on texts and short animations, our writing outcomes this term will be narrative, diary entries and recounts.

Year 6 English: Autumn Term

We have begun the school year looking at our whole school book Change Sings.

Visit this link to hear us performing this poem: https://twitter.com/StAlbans_Sch/status/1702033736936599763

Our reading texts this term are: 

Leelu feels lost and alone after finding herself in a new city which is grey, dirty, noisy and cold; a world away from the place she calls ‘home’.  Living in a dilapidated flat in a forgotten part of the city and feeling like an outsider at school, Leelu wishes she could fly the thousands of miles back home to where her dad has had to stay behind.  When her mum takes on a job working nights and her brother starts sneaking out of the house, Leelu begins to feel even more isolated. But she is not alone… Someone has started leaving strange gifts for Leelu outside her house and they appear to give her magical powers.  As she struggles through school life, making friends, fitting in and being accepted in a new country, these ‘wonders’ may just give her the power she needs to find her way ‘home’. In her characteristically unique style, Polly Ho-Yen has created a story full of friendship, love and acceptance that deals with difficult themes through the power of belief and just a little bit of magic.

  Michael Rosen and Sir Quentin Blake join forces for a landmark new collection, focusing on migration and displacement. Michael’s poems are divided into four: in the first series, he draws on his childhood as part of a first-generation Polish family living in London; in the second, on his perception of the War as a young boy; in the third, on his “missing” relatives and the Holocaust; and in the fourth, and final, on global experiences of migration. By turns charming, shocking and heart-breaking, this is an anthology with a story to tell and a powerful point to make: “You can only do something now.”

Our writing texts this term are: 

Based on texts and short animations, our writing outcomes this term will be narratives, non-chronological reports and persuasive/informative speeches.