Badger Class

Class teacher’s welcome

Happy New Year and welcome back to the Badger Class page!

This page has now been updated for Spring 1. What an amazing first term we have had together! The children have worked so hard in all subjects and seemed to have particularly enjoyed our winter poetry work and contributing their book recommendations on Padlet. Throughout the term, they showed respect for one another’s ideas and compassion in their support of classmates. The children had great fun investigating filming techniques in computing, using close-ups, mid-range and long-shots. We also began to explore AI tools together, producing some wonderful videos and podcasts focusing on Roald Dahl, Science Materials and Rivers. They once again threw themselves into every activity, demonstrating great perseverance and enthusiasm along the way, and showing a real sense of service through their willingness to help others and contribute to our school community. It has been a pleasure to teach Badger Class!

We also took part in the switching on of the Ilkley Christmas Lights, joined the lantern parade, and thoroughly enjoyed the festivities.

It was a brilliant term full of creativity, teamwork and fun. Well done, Badger Class!

Mr Hunt

Curriculum news

At a glance – Spring 1

Maths – Multiplication and Division; Fractions
English – Fiction: The Arrival a wordless graphic novel that follows a man who leaves his homeland—where war and mysterious threats loom—to seek a safe and prosperous future for his family in a foreign city. This text lends to our school value of compassion and respect for others, as well as the perseverance of the main protagonist as he searches for a better life.
Science – Earth and Space
RE – Should we forgive others? This topic promotes our school value of compassion.
History – Anglo-Saxons and Scots. This work will encourage the pupils’ understanding of respect, appreciating how the past has shaped our home.
PSHE – Keeping Myself Safe.
Art – Anglo-Saxon art
Music – Let’s Play: Tuned percussion
French – Module 3: Districts in Paris, time phrases, number. This encourages the understanding and respect for other cultures and languages.
Computing – Programming

Home Learning

How These Activities Show the School Value of Service: Even though these tasks are completed at home, each one offers opportunities for children to serve others—their classmates, families, and wider school community—by sharing learning, contributing ideas, and helping to build a richer learning environment.

English Activities

1. Contribute to the Class Reading Padlet

Service link:

By recommending books, children help classmates discover new stories they might enjoy.
Reviews support others in choosing texts that match their interests or reading level, serving the whole class community.
Sharing reading enthusiasm encourages a positive reading culture, benefiting everyone.

2. Create Your Own “Arrival” Creature

Service link:

Designing a creature that helps newcomers mirrors the idea of serving others by offering help, kindness and support.
Sharing their creature with the class can spark ideas and inspire peers in their own creative tasks.
Children may choose to model how their creature supports someone new, reinforcing the value of service through storytelling.

3. Visual Storytelling (Wordless Comic Strip)

Service link:

A clear, expressive comic strip can help peers understand how stories can be told visually—serving others by supporting shared learning.
Children can use their comic to reassure others about new experiences, such as journeys or meeting new people, offering service through empathy and creativity.
Displaying their work contributes to the class’s appreciation of different artistic approaches.

History Activities

1. Design a Runic Message

Service link:

Sharing runic messages helps others learn about Anglo-Saxon writing.
Creating a message for someone shows thoughtful service to friends or family.
Contributions can support school displays, helping younger pupils engage with history.

2. Make an Anglo-Saxon Brooch or Jewellery

Service link:

Children serve the school community by creating something that helps others understand Anglo-Saxon culture.
Offering their creation as a gift shows kindness and service at home or in school.
Helping peers with techniques demonstrates service through collaboration.

Science – Earth and Space Activities

1. Make a Model of the Solar System

Service link:

Models can be used as learning resources, helping classmates visualise the planets.
Clearly labelled models serve others by making complex information easier to understand.
Teaching peers about the Solar System shows service through shared knowledge.

2. Night Sky Observation Log

Service link:

Sharing observations helps classmates recognise patterns in the night sky.
Logs can contribute to class discussions or displays, serving the group with useful data.
Helping family members spot stars or Moon phases shows service at home.

These projects are designed to run alongside the learning for the half-term and should be handed in on or before Monday 9th February 2026

Read with your child on a regular basis
Encourage positive routines
Support with home learning projects
Develop independence and organisation for each day
Help to expand your child’s vocabulary within everyday conversation
Exposure to a variety of text types

Spelling

At All Saints’ Primary School, we follow the Read, Write Inc. spelling scheme in Key Stage 2. Please find the plan for the teaching of the Year 5 units below.

Date	Focus	Example Words
Wb 5th January	Words ending in -ant, -ance and -ancy	vacancy, pregnancy, defiant, tolerant, tolerance, relevance, hesitancy
wb 12th January	Words ending in shus, spelt -cious	spacious, vicious, precious, suspicious, conscious, delicious
wb 19th January	Words ending in shus, spelt – tious	cautious, infectious, ambitious, nutritious
wb 26th January	Words ending in shul, spelt -cial, – tial	social, artificial, special, confidential, essential, initial
wb 2nd February	Revision of words learnt

In addition, children in Y5 and Y6 are beginning to learn a specific word list (as set out in the National Curriculum, English Appendix 1) that can be found in the centre of the school reading record or accessed here.

Dates for the diary

PE days – Thursday and Friday (swimming until February half-term).

After Badger class have completed their swimming lessons, we will have PE on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Spring 2 Dates

Links to support learning

Reading

Please encourage your child to read daily for a minimum of 20 minutes. At least 3 reading sessions per week should be recorded in the school Reading Record. Children should all have a school reading book (that can be changed regularly) but should be encouraged to read other material as well.

Read more about English in Y5 in the National Curriculum Programmes of Study

Maths

Times Table Rock Stars (please ask if you need a reminder of your child’s login details) – all children are expected to be fluent in their tables up to 12 x 12 so regular practice is very helpful!

Written methods for addition, subtraction, short multiplication, long multiplication and short division are taught as in the pictures below.