Just To Keep You Going... Good morning Year 6! We hope you are ready for another day of great learning. There is so much to keep you occupied including some more practice with Victorian money (we like to really get those brain cells working) and lots of fun topic-based foundation work. How did you find the comprehension questions on David Copperfield yesterday? Remember it is really important to keep reading regularly and not just the small bits we give you on here! You could get hold of a copy of Wonder or The Hobbit and have a go at reading these yourself or find another Victorian themed book. The reading world is your oyster!

Year 6 Tuesday 12th May

David is so unhappy in his home. He finds a collection of old books and he begins to read. The characters in the books give him the escape he needs from his miserable

home life.

EXAMPLE: David’s Mum teaches him grammar, maths and history. David is taught grammar, maths and history by his mother.

Mr Murdstone shouted at David when he got things wrong. ANSWER: David…

Mr Murdstone throws the books when David for-gets his manners. ANSWER: The books…

Mr Murdstone tells David he can not go out to play anymore.

Before Mr Murdstone, Clara allowed Peggotty to sit in the best parlour.

Chapter 4: David falls into disgrace

David’s life changes dramatically with the strict Mr Murdstone around. David has rules that he has to follow and chores that he must do. He hates that his mother has remarried, and life has changed.

Look at these active sentences. Can you change them into passive sentences by making the object of

David feels trapped and unhappy and one terrible day he is unable to do his grammar correctly partly because Mr Murdstone has a cane held in his hand. He goes to strike David when he gets something wrong and David bites him!

Now David is in big trouble and is stopped from seeing his mother or reading his books.

Have you ever imaged yourself to be a charac-ter from a book? Ask your friends and family

which characters they like to read about. Have a go at reading a new book with an exciting character. Can you imagine yourself saving

someone or catching a villain? Have fun writing about yourself as a different character. You

could try writing it in a cartoon.

A sentence is written in active voice when the subject of the sentence performs the action in the sentence. e.g. Peggotty washed the dog. A sentence is

written in passive voice when the sub-ject of the sentence has an action done to it by someone or something else. e.g. The dog was washed by Peggotty.

They kept alive my fancy, and my hope of something beyond

that place and time, - and they, The Arabian Nights, Robinson

Crusoe – did me no harm. I played the part of Captain

somebody. The Captain never lost dignity from having his ears boxed with grammar, I

did; but the Captain was a hero. This was my only comfort.’

Puzzle of the Day Boxing Clever

The value of each shape is the number of sides each shape has, multiplied by

the number within it.

Thus a square containing the number 4 has a value

of 16.

Find a block of four shapes (two squares wide by two squares high) with a total

value of exactly 100.

Maths—Victorian Money For the next two days we are going to continue working with Victorian money by doing some calculations involving addition and subtraction. By now, most of you can add prices or subtract to work out change in your head but back in Victorian times, those mental calculations were a bit more tricky! Have a read through the top tips for addition below and make sure you understand why this is not quite the same as your normal column addition!

Tip 1 Whether you are adding or subtracting, the first and most important step is to carefully lay out your columns and put the heading at the top of each to remind you what you are working with.

Tip 2 Think about the values that can appear in each column. In a normal column calculation, the largest number that can appear in a box is 9. However there can be up to 11d and up to 19S when using Victorian money.

Tip 3 Think carefully if you need to carry when adding.

Remember 12d = 1s and 20s = £1

ARITHMETIC SPECIAL 2 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

7 + 6 = 13d

12d is 1 shilling

So we carry 1 shilling with 1d left over

12 + 15 + 1 = 28s

20s is 1 pound

So we carry 1 pound with 8s left over

Notice we carried a 1 not a 2!

Maths Continued

Now have a go at the column additions here. Don’t forget the top tips!

Extra Challenge—Budgeting

Below are the weekly wages for some different occupations in Victorian Britain:

Common Labourer 3s 9d per week

Chimney Sweep 5 s per week

Factory workers:

Men 15s, Women 7s, children 3s

Maid of all work: 8 to 10s per week

Laundry women: 15s per week

Furniture maker: 30s a week

Teacher: £2 per week

On the right is a list of how much a week’s supply of various goods would cost.

Choose a job and work out what you would be able to afford.

What would you go without?

It’s hardly surprising that whole households went out to work!

Feedback How did you get on with that Victorian money? Do you have a new-found

appreciation for decimalisation? Check your answers on the next page. How about the comprehension questions from yesterday? Did you find examples of

Pathetic Fallacy? Check out the answers below.

1.) Who answers the door? A new servant Peggotty Mr Murdstone 2.) Why is Davy ‘frightened’? He is worried that it is very bad news about his mother. He has forgotten his suitcase. He is scared of Mr Murdstone. 3.) What is meant by – ‘my eyes were full and I felt as if I were going to tumble down’? He is hungry. He wants to roll down the hill. David feels like he is going to cry. 4.) What news does Davy think Peggotty is going to say? Davy thinks he must return to the seaside Davy is worried that his mother is dead. Davy thinks he has a new pet. 5.) Why does Davy turn white? He is so shocked and upset by the news that he has a new Daddy. The journey has made him feel sick. He has lost some blood and needs a doctor. 6.) Look at how his mother rises ‘timidly’ and how Mr Murdstone reacts with ‘ control yourself’. What things do you think have changed for David that upsets him? His Mother would normally have hugged and kissed David but now, be-cause of Mr Murdstone, she doesn’t. Mr Murdstone appears to have a power over his mother. The new things are: a new servant; a new dog; his room has changed; and the atmosphere in the house has changed. 7.) Examples of Pathetic Fallacy: The weather, the flowers with their heads drooped, the angry dog and how much his room has changed are examples of pathetic fallacy.

Puzzle of the Day Incomplete

One of every letter of the alphabet has been taken

from this puzzle. Can you put them all back in their correct

positions?

1. 2. 3. 4.

=60 ÷ 6 = 10 5. 6. 7.

= 0

= 3 x 3 x 3 = 27

= 60

Maths—Victorian Money Questions

Warming Up

1. How many farthings in a penny? 4 2. How many halfpennies in a thrupenny bit? 6

3. How many groats in a shilling? 3

4. How many tanners in a shilling? 2 5. How many thrupenny bits in a shilling? 4

6. How many farthings are in a tanner? 24

7. How many halfpennies in a groat? 8

8. How many tanners in a half crown? 5

Getting Going

1. How many shillings in 2 sovereigns? 40

2. How many groats in a crown? 15 3. How many pennies in a half crown? 30

4. How many thrupenny bits are there in a florin? 8

5. How many farthings are in 1 bob? 48 6. How many groats in 6/8d? 20

7. How many tanners in 17/6d 35

8. How many halfpennies in a half crown 60

Tough Challenge

1. How many pennies in a sovereign? 240

2. How many farthings in a sovereign? 960

REMEMBER : £1 = 20 Shillings

1 Shilling = 12d (pence)

Credits to Key Stage History for the provision of the evidence.

Did you enjoy investigating the History Mystery? Did you work out who this chap was and why he was a famous Victorian?

Here is some information to fill in the gaps.

→

A big clue!

James Lillywhite with the test team that went to Australia 1877.

James Lillywhite was the first ever captain of the England cricket team in a test match.

As I said last week, sometimes historians have to fill in the gaps with imaginative thinking. How close did you

get to the truth about our mystery man? Are you surprised by the new evidence?

History Feedback

Reform— to make changes in order

to improve something. History This week we will be looking at the changes made in

Britain to support people in two time periods. We will be looking at the early 19th Century and then at the middle

of the 20th Century. We will be thinking about reform

and the people who brought about these reforms.

Causes of Poverty:

Unemployment (no way to support yourself and your family

Large families (more to provide for)

Disability/injury at work (can’t work, no money)

Illness (no wages, medical bills)

Old age (no wages if not working)

At the beginning of the 19th Century (1800s) there was no system to protect people if they were unemployed or ill.

Poverty– the state of being extremely poor.

Well, of course, my dear

Huntsford, poverty is caused by

laziness, drunkenness and a lack of

morals! The poor must simply get

themselves out of poverty by

sheer hard work and education!

If the government must get

involved, as Prime Minister, I will

pass the Poor Law which says that if

someone needs help they must go

to the workhouse.

Earl Grey, Prime Minister

1834 Poor Law

A 19th Century Workhouse

Workhouses were large buildings where poor people ate meagre amounts of unpleasant food, slept in

crowded, often unsanitary conditions, and were put to work breaking stones, crushing bones, spinning cloth or doing domestic labour, among other jobs.

People who had to turn to the workhouse were made to feel ashamed.

Did You Know?

Anne Sullivan (the lady who taught Helen Keller to communicate) spent some of her

childhood in an American workhouse.

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The Government decides to investigate…

In 1840, the government asked some respected doctors to see what life and health was really like for the poor and working classes in various towns and

cities in Britain.

Dr William Duncan James Riddell Wood

There is terrible

overpopulation in

Liverpool,

Manchester, Leeds,

Glasgow...

The sanitation is

appalling. There is

overcrowding,

disease and

death!

Reverend Benjamin Waugh was a founder of the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)

Doctor Thomas Barnado set up his homes for orphans in 1866.

William Booth set up the charity the Salvation Army in 1865. They helped the

poor learn new work and life skills.

Charities were sometimes the only way a struggling person could get help.

A charity is run by donations and not

by the government.

Well, it’s now

compulsory to go

to school until the

age of 10… so that

will help with

education.

William Gladstone Prime Minister

Benjamin Disraeli Prime Minister

By 1880…

Charles Booth was a businessman but in the 1880s he

researched and published The Life and Labour of the People of London.

About 30% of the population of

London live in poverty. One of the

families I spoke to said their meals

consist of bread, margarine, tea and

sugar. A nearby church brings them

soup two or three times a week.

Octavia Hill was a property owner but provided a good standard of living for her tenants (the people who lived in her property).

I’ve met families who

wash, eat, sleep and cook

in one room!

By the late 19th Century, reformers were pointing out the connection between poverty and disease and were

campaigning to tackle it.

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Benjamin Seebohm Rowntree was a member of the famous Rowntree sweet family, but he was also a social reformer. Between 1899 and 1901 he researched life in York and then published a report called Poverty: A Study of Town Life. He found that for every 100 people, 2 or 3 would be rich and 25 would

be extremely poor. He found that many men earned a very low wage and could be hired or fired easily. Often mothers and children would work to help the family but would receive pitifully low wages. The living conditions were so bad that many places had one water tap for the whole street. He found that

illness, age and unemployment caused poverty and that the very old and the very young were most at risk.

Early 20th Century Reform...

That in this land of

abounding wealth, during

a time of prosperity,

probably more than a

quarter of the population

are living in poverty […] is

a fact that may well cause

great searchings of the

heart.

Rowntree’s report shocked society. They couldn’t understand how such a rich country, that was called ‘the workshop of the world’ because of all its industry, could let people suffer. The government knew they had to do something.

But we are a superpower in the world!

We are the Great British Empire!

Something must be done! We need a

healthy workforce!

Chancellor David Lloyd George introduced a series of changes that were known as the Liberal Reforms.

For children, in 1906 I introduced school meals and in 1907, free

medical checks. In 1908, a small pension was introduced for

elderly people (1 to 5 shillings per week), as well as setting a coal

miner’s working day at 8 hours. In 1911, I introduced sickness

and unemployment benefit, so that if a person was ill or

unemployed, they would have money to buy food and pay the

rent. This benefit was limited to a certain amount of weeks. Also

in 1911, I granted shop workers a half-day holiday per week.

Hoorah!

World War One 1914-1918

The first world war raised the quality of life for many working-class families… if they weren’t fighting on the

front lines! The factories needed lots of workers to make the weapons and equipment for the war effort, so there

were plenty of jobs. Also, joining-up and becoming a soldier meant that regular wages would come to the

family. It was at this time (1918) that the age for compulsory education was changed. Now children had

to go to school from 5 years old to 14 years old. This meant they couldn’t be made to go to work.

Sadly, after the war ended, poverty began to rear its ugly head again...

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The middle of the 20th Century...

Between the two world wars, poverty had, once again, taken a hold in Britain. Even after the reforms of the early 1900s, many poor families ate stale food and scraps, and meat was rare.

The father of the house (who went to work) was always first to be fed, and the mother and

children had what was left. Why do you think that happened so often?

World War Two 1939-1945

During WW2, something huge happened in British society. Upper, middle and working

class people were all affected by the bombing and the rationing, so they could see life from

each other’s point of view. People helped and checked on each other and a community spirit

began which continued after the war. Evacuation meant that working class children mixed with wealthier families, so these families

witnessed the poverty that others had to

endure. →

Shocking noise last night, Mrs

Duster! Did you hear it?

Ooh I did, Lady Posh! What

a lot of bombs! Glad to see

you’re alright though.

William Beveridge had worked on the Liberal reforms before WW1, but now he investigated how well people in need were helped by the state. In

1942, he published The Beveridge Report.

Oh you too! Cheerio!

I have identified The

Five Giants that need

addressing:

Want (poverty)

Ignorance (lack of

education)

Squalor (poor

housing)

Idleness (lack of

jobs)

Disease (health

care not good

enough)

These are my recommendations:

Every working person should make a weekly

payment to an insurance fund to help

everyone

The unemployed should have benefits as

long as they need them

Old age pensions, maternity grants and

pensions for people injured at work should

be improved

We should introduce a family allowance

(money for anyone with children)

A national health service should be set up

This is Aneurin Bevan. He was a coal miner’s son from South Wales and he was working class. He left school at 13 years old to

work in the mines, but later got a scholarship to study in London. When he grew-up he became a member of the Labour Party and by

1948 he was the Minister of Health.

Look on the next page to see what he is famous for… something you have been cheering about for weeks!

4

On 5th July 1948, for the first time anywhere in the world, a completely free healthcare service was available to everyone in Britain. No fees had

to be paid and no insurance was needed.

The NHS (National Health Service) was born. Aneurin Bevan was the chief architect of this new service.

Healthcare for all!

An information leaflet from 1948

Look back over the pages you’ve just read and think about how long it took for the NHS to be created. It’s such an important

service– we need to take care of it, just like it takes care of us!

Things to Do, or Think About

Imagine you are a very poor person in 1830. What would think of the NHS?

Imagine you are a reformer from the 1800s. Write a speech for the government at the time to persuade them to make changes to help people in need.

Write a paragraph about what you think caused the reforms in the early 1900s and in the middle 1900s.

Write a paragraph about what you think were the consequences of the two sets of reforms we’ve looked at (what happened because of them).

Do you think it was easier or harder for the reformers in the 1800s, than in the 1940s? Why?

What do you think makes a good reformer? What was it about the people we’ve looked at that made them care so much about the difficulties faced by other people?

Looking Ahead…

Things are rarely perfect and change is usually needed in

some form. You have the power to be a reformer!

What would you do to make life better for people who need help in some way? It doesn’t have to be for people

who are poor– perhaps someone might need help in another way. How would you like to improve things for

people in the future?

Why not make a poster or write a speech, detailing your plans and suggestions for a brighter future for everyone.

You could show it, or read it, at the next Zoom...

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The British Empire The British Empire (countries and land ruled by Britain) which had been expanding since the time of Queen Elizabeth I, began its peak during the reign of Queen Victoria. By 1920, it was the largest empire in world history, covering 35.5 million kilometres! Use an atlas and some internet research to find each of the countries listed and colour them on the world map which is on the next page. You will need some sharp pencils! Can you work out why the countries have been grouped the way they have? Also, why are there words in brackets and what do they mean? See if you can find this out whilst researching too.

9.) Egupt

10.) Gibraltar

11.) South Africa

12.) British East Africa (Kenya)

13.) British Somaliland (Somalia)

14.) Aden (Yemen)

15.) Hong Kong

16.) Australia

17.) New Zealand

18.) Fiji

19.) Federated Malay States (Malaysia)

20.) British New Guinea (Papa New Guinea)

1.) Canada

2.) Bahamas

3.) Jamaica

4.) Trinidad

5.) Bermuda

6.) British Guiana (Guyana)

7.) British Honduras (Belize)

8.) Falkland Islands

21.) Qwait

22.)Qatar

23.) Maldives

24.) Sri Lanka

25.) India

26.) Burma

Do you recognise any of the flags on this page? Which countries do they come from?

Can you find out why some of them still have the Union flag on to this day?

Did You Know…

There are 195 countries in the world! (I wonder how many you can name?)

The total land mass has been ‘divided’ into seven continents.

Each country has its own unique flag.

In 1800 (19 years before Queen Victoria was born, the Qing Empire (China) had the largest population at 298 million!

In 1800 there were also only 137 countries. Territorial borders have moved since and some countries have changed their names!

The largest country in the world by land mass is Russia, taking up 1/3 of the world’s total land! It is so big that it is one of only a handful of countries to be in two geographical continents!

Copperplate Writing Writing your letter home: In the Victorian times, children would learn to write in Copperplate. Have a look at the style of writing below. Can you find out why it is called copperplate?

Children would write out nursery rhymes, sayings and idioms using copperplate to practise their handwriting. Using your plan, see if you can write your letter to David’s mother (as David) in Copperplate. Be patient it may take a while! You could just use copperplate for some of your letter.

Your Address

Dear Mother,

(Paragraph 3: How you miss your mother)

(Paragraph 2: Write about what you have done with Emily).

Music: The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams

We are going to listen to, “The Lark Ascending ,”again and then answer some questions about Ralph Vaughan Williams, the

composer. Click on the link below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1qJzptdT7pvzCq59PGWXS1P/the-lark-ascending-by-ralph

-vaughan-williams

Read the paragraph entitled “Who was Ralph Vaughan Williams?” Then answer these questions. Perhaps you could find a small notebook to record your answers in as the correct answers

will appear with the next music task.

1. When was Ralph Williams born and when did he die? 2. Where did he study music? 3. How would you describe his family background? 4. What other sort of music did Vaughan Williams enjoy? 5. Which instruments did he play?

Now watch Molly Rainford’s second film where she talks about why Vaughan Williams wrote for the violin and how he found inspiration.

6. Whose poem inspired Vaughan Williams to write The Lark Ascending? 7. Why did Vaughan Williams choose the violin to play this music? 8. Is this music easy for a violinist to play? 9. Name the young violinist who plays in this recording. 10. Which two instruments “answer” the violin?

See What I See: Art Competition!

Although we aren’t at school at the moment, that does not mean that our amazing year of art competitions has to stop. If you feel like doing something a little different and love the idea of reimagining your town, home or even the

future, then with the help of an adult, click on the link to find out more.

https://www.seewhatisee.me/the-competition/

Stay Active!

BASKET SOCK You will need a rolled up sock and a laundry basket. 1. Start with the sock in the basket. Throw the basket up without letting it leave your hands but so the sock goes up in the air. 2. Turn the basket in your hands so that it catches the sock on the bottom of the basket. 3. Now toss again and turn the basket again.

Keep going until the sock falls to the ground. What is your record?

Science— Salt Crystals

Last week, we asked you to look into the science of dissolving jelly babies. Hopefully you realised that increased temperature, more stirring and higher surface area all make dissolving happen more quickly. This is because they all make interactions between water molecules and sugar molecules happen more quickly and that’s what makes the sugar dissolve! This week we are going to look at dissolving salt in water but then trying to reverse the chemical reaction. Can you think how you could recover salt from water once it has dissolved? If you started thinking about evaporation, you’re absolutely right! If you leave your solution in a nice warm place, the water will evaporate leaving the salt behind. If you’re lucky, it might form some interesting crystals for your to gaze at in wonder. Here’s how to get started:

*** FOR BEST RESULTS USE BOILING HOT WATER—ADULT SUPPORT REQUIRED!***

You will need:

Table salt – sodium chloride, Distilled Water, A clean, clear glass container – a jam jar

is perfect, String, A paperclip, A spoon for stirring.

What to do: 1. Stir salt into boiling hot water until no more salt will dissolve (crystals start to

appear at the bottom of the container). Be sure the water is as close to boiling as

possible. 2. Carefully pour the solution into your jar. (putting a spoon into the jar before

adding the water should prevent the jar breaking. 3. Suspend your string into the jar from the spoon laid across the top of the jar with

the paperclip tied to the bottom to keep it weighed down.

4. Leave your jar somewhere it will not be disturbed and wait for your crystal to

grow!

What to look for:

Any impurities in the salt or the water will change the shape and colour of the

crystals you grow. What shape and colour are yours?

Try using different types of table salt – try iodized salt, un-iodized salt, sea salt, or

even salt substitutes. Is there any difference in the appearance of the crystals?

Try using different types of water, such as tap water compared with distilled water.

Is there any difference in the appearance of the crystals?

500 Word Story Competition

Fancy a bit of creative writing? Click the link to find out how you could get your story published in a

magazine and win a bundle of books to enjoy.