Contents
- Why post SATs projects matter
- Choosing the right type of project
- Popular year 6 project ideas
After the many months of SATs preparation and going through the actual assessments, year 6 students are ready for something a little different to help them make the most of the rest of their time at primary.
Year 6 can often benefit from a change of pace, yet it’s still important to ensure they can access meaningful learning opportunities that emphasise team work, exploration and analytical skills.
Post SATs projects provide a pathway children can take to move past assessment preparation and apply their skills in a more practical, creative and collaborative way.
Well-organised and carefully planned projects could help children to maintain familiar routines while sparking curiosity and expanding their independent thinking capabilities.
In this article, we share practical tips for year 6 teachers and support staff to help set up and run fantastic post SATs projects, with an emphasis on proactive learning and creative independence.
Why post SATs projects matter
Keeping the learning purposeful after SATs is essential as it helps children prepare for the rigours of secondary school and provides opportunities for cross-curricular learning.
There is also space to support pupil wellbeing after the SATs. If this is one of your areas of focus, you could dip into the following free resources:
- Managing change
- Feelings
- Mindfulness
- Building resilience
- Strength spotting
- Five tips to promote wellbeing
- Simple wellbeing strategies
Choosing the right type of project
There are a number of factors you might want to consider when planning your post SATs project for year 6. For example, how much time do you have for this project? What’s your budget like and is there enough access to the right resources? Plus, you may need to think about any staffing requirements for this time.
Popular year 6 project ideas
The world is your oyster when it comes to the type of project you want to work on with your year 6 students. Some ideas that work well with year 6 classes are detailed below with a variety of ready-to-teach free resources to download and use in the classroom:
Enterprise and business projects
1. Create and run a mini business
This idea is one of the most proactive post-SATs projects as children enjoy the real-life purpose and competitive element, plus it naturally links maths to practical situations.
Pupils work in teams to:
- Create a business idea
- Design a product or service
- Set budgets and pricing
- Create branding and advertising
- Pitch to an audience
- Sell products at a school event or market
This project covers a raft of skills, such as persuasive writing, team work, budgeting, public speaking, design and technology.
Good product ideas
- Bookmarks
- Bracelets
- Tote bags
- Healthy snacks
- Greeting cards
- Games for younger children
2. Charity enterprise project
This can be a business project with a social purpose which encourages citizenship alongside enterprise skills.
Pupils can take an independent or group role to:
- Choose a charity
- Research community needs
- Create products or organise events
- Raise money and awareness
Possible activities:
- Sponsored events
- Charity fairs
- Eco-product sales
- Community campaigns
Why not browse this free resource for more ideas:
Science challenges
There’s nothing more exciting for children after all of the SATs work than a practical experiment! Try these resources to encourage scientific investigations:
- Rapid rockets - rocket fuel investigation
- Ice experiment
- Switched on Science: A bloody experiment
- The great cake robbery - separating solids
- Materials investigation - buoyancy and absorbancy
- How to make an electric quiz board
- Design a magnetic game
- Pin hole camera investigation
Discover more science resources
Community or environmental projects
This kind of project could focus on sustainability or an eco-business challenge around environmental and citizenship issues.
Examples
- Recycling initiative
- Upcycled products
- Plastic-free campaign
- School gardening enterprise
The ‘If you go down to the woods today’ project could be a great start for this topic:
Transition-themed projects
Ideal for children who want to reflect on their time at primary school and look towards the future, a transition-themed project can provide space and time to explore feelings about moving on:
Post SATs projects: a meaningful conclusion to primary
Positioning post-SATs projects as a valuable part of year 6 helps children focus on memorable learning experiences and valuable memories from their time at primary school.
In addition, these projects can help pupils finish primary school with confidence, creativity and enthusiasm for the next stage of education.
