Wider Curriculum Y6 Summer 1
This term, our big question is:
“In what way is the world around us diverse?”
Children will explore classification, inheritance, adaptation, and evolution, culminating in a creative stop-motion animation that demonstrates how living things change over time.
What We’re Learning
- Science: Classification of living things, micro-organisms, inheritance, fossils, adaptation, and evolution.
- Art: Observational drawing and model-making to support stop-motion animation.
- Computing: Using technology to create animations and present findings.
Key Learning Journey
This term, children will begin by learning how living things are classified based on observable characteristics and explore micro-organisms, distinguishing between helpful and harmful types. They will investigate biological inheritance to understand how traits are passed from parents to offspring and study fossils to see how species have changed over millions of years. Building on this, pupils will examine Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, including natural selection and adaptation in animals and plants, and research how plants adapt to different habitats. Finally, they will apply their scientific knowledge creatively by planning and producing a stop-motion animation that demonstrates the evolution of a chosen organism, supported by observational drawings, model-making, and an oracy presentation.
Project Outcome
Children will:
- Create a stop-motion animation showing the evolution of a chosen organism.
- Present their animation with a short oracy presentation explaining the science behind it.
Highlights
- Visit to the Natural History Museum to explore fossils and evolution.
- Opportunities to use ICT for animation and learn from professionals or students working in stop-motion.
- Hands-on experience with art techniques and model-making.
Key Texts
- What Mr Darwin Saw – Mick Manning & Brita Granström
- Darwin’s Dragons – Lindsey Galvin
- On the Origin of Species – Sabina Rodeva
- Little People, Big Dreams: Charles Darwin
Vocabulary Highlights
- Science: organism, classification, inheritance, adaptation, evolution, fossil
- Art: armature, modroc, tonal contrast
- Computing: animation, frame, storyboard
How Parents Can Support
- Discuss family traits and inherited characteristics.
- Explore nature walks and talk about how plants and animals adapt to their environment.
- Watch short stop-motion animations together and talk about how they are made.
- Encourage curiosity about fossils and evolution through books or museum visits.
