Year 6
text
Academic Year 2026 - 2027
Autumn Term Topic (Sept to Dec) - Maafa
In the Maafa topic, your child will learn about Africa today and the ancient kingdoms that thrived on the continent for thousands of years. They will learn about the origins of the transatlantic slave trade in the 15th century and Britain’s involvement from the time of Elizabeth I, when John Hawkins became the first British slave trader. Your child will understand the structure of the transatlantic slave trade and the consequences of enslavement for enslaved people. They will also discover how the people of Britain benefited from the money and goods produced by the slave trade. They will learn about the causes and consequences of the abolition of slavery in the 19th century, the worldwide African diaspora and the European colonisation in Africa. They will explore the lives and actions of black people in 20th century Britain. They will understand how the Race Relations Act of 1965 became the first piece of British legislation to tackle racial discrimination and know that the Equality Act 2010 provides people with protection against racism and other forms of discrimination, today. Your child will also explore the lives of black people who have made significant contributions to Britain and will celebrate black culture in Britain today.
Knowledge Organisers
Each of our termly topics has a knowledge organiser. These are created to support our curriculum projects. They set out the key facts and information that children need to use and remember as they progress across the curriculum. Each knowledge organiser includes:
- Essential facts about the topic, laid out in easily digestible chunks.
- Key vocabulary, technical terms and their meanings.
- Ambitious levels of literacy including a topic glossary.
- High-quality images including maps, diagrams and photographs.
- Timelines and significant dates where appropriate.
- Famous quotations, if relevant.
Word Mat & Glossary
We also have glossaries and word mats which complement the knowledge organisers. These contain vocabulary which links directly to the current topic. This vocabulary is regularly referred to during lessons, which we also encourage the children to use during discussions and in their writing.
Maafa - Key Vocabulary Glossary
Topic Based Homework
In addition to the online learning apps, such as Times Table Rockstars and IXL, the school offers some additional optional topic based homework.
Maafa - Home Learning Workbook
Maafa - Home Learning Activities
Curriculum Map
The Curriculum Map which gives you an overview of what the children will be learning throughout this year in Year 6.