English

Across Term Four, Level Six students will continue to explore Reading and Writing through our whole school approaches of CAFE (Reading) and VOICES (Writing). As they prepare for high school, there will be a greater emphasis on deepening their understanding of how to analyse a text for its underlying themes, author’s purpose and literary devices. Students will have a big focus on Speaking and Listening, as they create and present their Graduation speeches. They have begun developing their speeches by creating a timeline of key events from their schooling journey, that includes reflections on their challenges, successes and memorable moments. With a target audience in mind, students will strengthen their capacity to craft an attention-grabbing opening paragraph and a memorable conclusion that will leave a lasting impression on the audience. As the term progresses, they will combine their knowledge of effective writing strategies with public speaking skills to present their speeches to the entire class.

Year 6 students recorded their speeches and used the footage to analyse their use of voice and body language.

Furthermore, English will be closely linked to the science-based Inquiry Unit ‘How can energy be generated and transformed ethically?’ Students will be conducting experiments involving energy and using that as the basis for their literacy learning. In Reading, students will analyse the structure and features of a scientific report, with the aim of transferring these elements to their own writing. In Writing, they will generate reports based on their experiments and observations, ensuring that their writing will effectively communicate their hypothesis, methodology and results.

Key vocabulary for English: speech, literary elements, emotive language, scientific report, hypothesis, methodology, results

If you wish to support your child’s learning in English this term, you can:

• Read and watch famous speeches with your child and highlight effective strategies, such as Martin Luther King Jr’s “I have a dream” speech.
• Allow your child to perform their graduation speech to you at home and provide them with feedback and feedforward.
• Encourage your child to experiment with texts and genres outside of their comfort zone. For example, non-fiction, science texts that will link to Inquiry.
• Conduct science experiments with your child and collaborate to write up the report. 

Poverty - Speech by Lilia 6A

Imagine being left on the streets with nowhere to go and constantly being at risk. This is what many children and adults have to go through, it saddens me that nothing is being done about this!

Children from different parts of the world struggle to find a job that can benefit their lifestyle and many have to starve which will then eventually lead to death. Around 22,000 children die due to starvation each day and according to the UNICEF [united national children's fund] the numbers of children fallen victim to poverty will only increase every year. It is stated by the PPG [poverty protection program that poverty levels within children and adults have never been higher than it is now.

Because of poverty many people are driven under the influence to steal. 

Many robbery cases have been reported to be committed by people in extreme poverty which may also put other people around them in danger. More than 12000 people in poverty are arrested for stealing every week. This is no joking matter, in some major cities the amount of people in poverty have risen and many are found dead on the streets. 

The mental and physical illnesses have also driven people to kill and hurt others countless murders have been reported by the police and locals believe that it is because of the people in poverty.

Now that I have spoken about the consequences of poverty action must be taken. We have the power and we have the voice. What is stopping change? Why can’t we make that difference if we are fortunate enough? I stand here today to support the ones that have less and need the support so think about it what can I do to make a difference. Put people who need it first.