My name is Ms Thomas and I teach in 6T, where I work closely with Mrs Jones, the other Year 6 teacher. We have two members of support staff: Mrs Crozier and Mrs Tuer.
I hope you are ready for your final year at Torrisholme. It's hard work but it will be worth it. Are you prepared for lots of fun and challenges along the way?
Have you read a book that you want to tell the world about? Then write a review to share your opinions with everyone.
This is our very own class page, so please feel free to suggest ideas for what you would like to see here.
As part of our Literacy topic on 'Kensuke's Kingdom' by Michael Morpurgo, we have been reading, writing and performing our own Haiku. These are poems that originate from 17th century Japan. They are short, descriptive poems about things that make people feel a connection to nature and the world around us. in Japanese, Haiku follow a fixed 5 - 7 - 5 pattern of syllables.
Amazing Haiku!
We enjoyed creating nature trails for KS1!
Treading the Boards
This is such an appropriate topic for us, because we absolutely LOVE drama in 6T!
Have a look at our recreations of the shipwreck scene from The Tempest...
The Shipwreck Scene from The Tempest
The Shipwreck Scene #2
The Shipwreck Scene #3
The Shipwreck Scene #4
Elizabethan Self-Portraits
Our Greek Vases
We made Greek vases using modroc moulded around a balloon. Each vessel is decorated with a scene from Greek daily life and glazed with PVA glue. Of course, the ancient Greeks would have made their vases from clay.
We think you'll agree that any Athenian would be proud to own one of our Greek vases!
Replica Greek Vases
Shakespeare Workshop
Year 6 pupils were really lucky to take part in a workshop about our most famous playwright, William Shakespeare. We learned all about the Globe Theatre and what it would have been like to live as an actor in Shakespeare's time. We also learned about stage directions, created our own 'human' scenery and we even had the chance to try out some sword fighting!
Have a look at what we got up to in these photographs.
The Montagues and Capulets
Mr Shakespeare Introduces Himself
Fighting Mr Shakespeare
Some Year 6 children had the opportunity to parry with the Bard (we can assure you that no children were harmed in the production of these photographs!). I don't think I would like to meet Spencer or Ruby in a sword fight, would you? They are fierce!
Learning to Fight with a Sword
The Human Globe Theatre
Creating a Setting
Micro-organisms presentation
In small groups the children researched a micro-organism and then presented their findings to the rest of the class.
More micro-organisms
Marburg
Pneumonia
Conjunctivitis
Sport Relief 2016!
Today we came in a range of sporty outfits to raise money for Sport Relief. We shared our sporting achievements and discussed the importance of keeping fit. We measured our heart rate after a danceathon.
Check out our dance moves!
Getting our heart beating!
Sporting achievements
Evie has gained 2 gymnastics medals.
Steven ran 'Run for the World'
Ben walks his dog everyday.
Evie ran the 'Colour Dash' fun run.
George loves swimming.
Jay scored 7 goals in 1 match.
Elena has lots of medals for gymnastics.
Poppy has 10 medals and 2 trophies for dancing.
Josh passed his drumming exam with a distinction.
Will got his Blue Peter badge.
Harry won a trampolining competition.
Tia has 12 dance medals.
Toby came second in a Lancs cross country comp.
Luke is a keen cyclist.
Jamie loves table tennis.
Young Voices 2016
On Wednesday 2nd March, Year 6 took part in the Young Voices concert at Manchester Arena. We had a wonderful time and pupils in both classes were an absolute credit to the school.
Well done to everyone for learning all the lyrics and the choreography to go with the songs; Mrs Jones and I were so proud of you!
Year 6 in rehearsal at Manchester Arena
Utter Madness - Our House
Utter Madness - It Must be Love
The Gospel Train - Joshua Fit the Battle
The Gospel Train - Wade in the Water
The Lightning Tree
Video Killed the Radio Star
Pop Medley - Everything is Awesome
Urban Strides in Rehearsal
The Highwayman
In our English lessons we have been reading the narrative poem, 'The Highwayman', by Alfred Noyes. It tells the story of the landlord's daughter, Bess, and her doomed love for the highwayman. There is another character in this love triangle: Tim, the ostler. He plays a major part in the tragedy that unfolds.
Here is class 6T and their 'still lives', representing scenes from the poem.
The Highwayman
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door
The landlord's black-eyed daughter...
His eyes were hollows of madness...
But she loosened her hair i' the casement...
A red-coat troop came marching, marching, marching
They had tied her up to attention...
...with many a sniggering jest
The trigger at least was hers!
Tlot-tlot! Had they heard it?
The red-coats looked to their priming...
He turned. He spurred to the west...
...bowed, with her head o'er the musket...
And still of a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,
When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
When the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
A highwayman comes riding-
Riding---riding---
A highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.
Over the cobbles he clatters and clangs in the old inn-yard.
And he taps with his whip on the shutters, but all is locked and barred.
He whistles a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.
The Highwayman Soundscape
We created a soundtrack to go with the first verse of the poem.
Challenge: learn the first three verses of the poem. Can you add actions and gestures to enhance the effect of the poet's words?
As part of History Week, we have been travelling back to the ancient Maya civilisation, to learn about their method of written communication. Like the Egyptians, the Maya developed a writing system, using hieroglyphics or picture symbols.
In 6T, children in Years 5 and 6 have been creating their own glyphs or logograms. They will be painted to look like the stone carvings which would have been seen in Maya temples.
Creating Glyphs
We modelled our glyphs on these symbols
Painting the glyphs
Almost-finished glyphs
Here are some completed glyphs. Use the chart above to identify what each glyph represents.
Our finished hieroglyphs
Gymnastics in 6T
In PE, we have been using the apparatus and working on developing our upper body strength on the ropes, individual and group balances and sequences.
The Groovy Greeks
Our topic this half term is all about the ancient Greeks, their lives, their culture and the lasting influence they have had on the western world.
What a superb start we had to this topic! We were visited by Thespis, a distinguished Athenian (also known as Ian Tully's Mobile Museum). We learned about the differences between Athenians and Spartans; what daily life was like for girls and boys in Athens and Sparta; how the Greeks fought in war and the roots of democracy. We also had the opportunity to handle and try on some Greek artefacts.
Thespis, the Athenian, visits Year 6
Investigating Artefacts
Poppy is the King of Corinth
Will becomes Poppy's successor
Isaac becomes a Spartan
The Roots of Democracy
Did you know that the ancient Greeks invented democracy? Here are some members of 6T, debating whether we should go to war with Sparta. Everyone had the right to speak and it was our duty to listen.
Elena puts forward her argument
James is in favour of war with Sparta
Poppy makes her point strongly
Ollie speaks forcefully
Weapons and warfare
Greek Myths
In English, we read the story of Daedalus and Icarus. Here are some photographs of us freeze framing the story.
The Myth of Daedalus and Icarus
Christmas Cards
Have a look at our cheeky Christmas cards...
Christmas Cards by 6T
Enterprise Week
It's been very busy in Year 6 this week, with children making stockings for the Christmas Fair. This is our project for Enterprise Week, and although we may not win the competition to make the most profit, we have certainly won in the improving our sewing skills department! Well done to everyone. A special mention must go to Dillon for his mastery of blanket stitch and John for his button-sewing skills!
Finished Products
Making the Y6 Super Stockings
Year 6 Super Stockings!
Advert #1
Y6 Super Stockings!
Advert #2
Y6 Super Stockings!
Advert #3
Y6 Super Stockings!
Advert #4
Y6 Super Stockings!
Advert #5
Y6 Super Stockings!
Advert #6
Preparation for Christmas - the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth
Zechariah and the Angel
Zechariah, Elizabeth and the Blessed Child
Vive la France - a celebration
Cheese Tasting
The Eiffel Tower Challenge!
The Power of the Tower
The Winners!
Bready, Steady, Cook!
In Year 6, we carried out our very own French Bake Off! We learned how to make dough, knead it and shape it into rolls. Here are our wonderful results!
Bread Making
Vive la France!
Since our return to school after the half-term break, we have been working on a mini topic all about France.
We learned about the French Revolution and wrote some wonderful eyewitness accounts of the storming of the Bastille. We also created some information leaflets about the Eiffel Tower.
This Friday, the 13th of November, is our Vive la France exhibition. All parents are welcome to come along and see what we have been learning.
The Channel Tunnel
Poppy's grandad worked on the building of the Channel Tunnel, from 1986 to 1991. Here is Poppy holding a pair of gas masks, issued to the workers during the construction of the tunnel.
The medals are very rare and were given to the workers to commemorate the building of this amazing structure.
Poppy's Grandad Helped Build the Channel Tunnel
Art Week
Our focus for Art Week was Antony Gormley. He is a British sculptor, best known for creating The Angel of the North. His work focuses on the human form and what it is to be human.
"What are we ... or what do we need to become, to be human?"
Inspired by Another Place (watercolour, paper and oil pastels)