Badger Class

WednesdayBadger Class 2023-2024

Welcome to Badger Class!

Badger Class is our Reception class, where Mr. Waddington is the class teacher and Mrs. Dyer is the teaching assistant. This class page will be regularly updated with news and photos of the exciting learning we have been doing at school.

Please check your child's book bag on a daily basis, as information is often sent home in this.

Our PE days are Monday and Wednesday. On Mondays we will be doing our indoor PE learning, and will change at school. Please send children to school in their PE kits on Wednesdays, for our outdoor PE learning.

Daily Check List:

Book bag (With reading book, reading record and Phonics book)
Coat
Water bottle
Lunch box (If not receiving school dinners)

Reading Records and Reading Books

We will put a phonetically decodable reading book into your child's book bag, which we would like you to share with your child at home. Please get your child to read their phonetically decodable book at least five times a week and record it in their reading record. Please only record school books in the reading record. These phonetically decodable reading books will be changed weekly on a Friday. The children are great at recalling the stories from memory, so we would ask that you use the word lists in the front of the reading books to practice sounding out and blending the words out of sequence.

Your child will also be choosing a reading for pleasure book each week. This is for you to share with your child at home. When you share this book with your child you can, if you wish to, record it in your child's reading record. Please note: Your child is not expected to read this book, but may be able to sound out and decode some of the words. These books will be changed weekly on a Friday.

Red Phonics Books

Each week we will be learning new Phonics GPCs. Copies of these GPCs have been put in a red phonics book in your child's book bag. Please don't write in or stick anything into these books, they are a record of the GPCs that we learn each week and are for reference so that your children can practice at home with you.

Our Classroom and Garden

We are very lucky to have a wonderful classroom, a sheltered decking area and a large garden, to play and learn in.

Our Curriculum:

Please click on the links below to check out the learning that the children will be doing this term.

Badger Class Long Term Plan

Badger Class - English Medium Term Plan - Term 5

Badger Class - Math Medium Term Plan - Term 5

Badger Class - Topic Web - Term 5

Baseline Assessments

Please find a PDF about the Reception Baseline Assessments below:-

/_site/data/files/users/7/files/badgers-2023-2024/C5883283A66FD28A09F2C3D1859FA563.pdf

Our Learning Journey...

Term 4 (2023-2024) Week 6

Term 4 (2023-2024) Week 5

Term 4 (2023-2024) Week 4

In Maths we looked at making doubles using two dice. We had to work with a partner and roll a dice each to see if we could make a double. We also worked on our own with two dice and kept rolling until we made a double.

In Topic we explored the structures of plants and identified the different parts. The children had to cut up and reassemble a plant diagram, getting all of the different parts in the right order.

In Maths we made doubles using a butterfly template. It was a really easy way of making and showing doubles.

In RE we made an easter garden collage/picture and we made our very own Easter garden using moss, stones, pebbles and lolly sticks.

Term 4 (2023-2024) Week 3

In PE this week we worked on developing our football control skills. We have some experienced footballers in Badger Class, and their skills shone through in the passing and dribbling activities.

In maths this week we explored the composition of the numbers 6 and 7. The children already have a lot of experience of subitising small quantities and are able to use their existing skills to identify the numbers within 6 and 7.

In topic this week we conducted a science experiment. We are trying to re-grow picked and harvested vegetables. We are trying to re-grow Carrot tops, Onions, Garlic and Spring Onions. We are also growing Cress and a flower bulb we found in the cupboard.

World Book Day 2024 - We had a great world book day in Badger Class. The children's costumes were brilliant (Thank you parents!). We did lots of activities and read lots of books. We had a visit from our Badger Buddies, who read to us. We also read 'Horton Hears a Who' and then, for our class treat, we watched the film in the afternoon with our teddies.

Term 4 (2023-2024) Week 2

In maths this week we were comparing numbers. We created our own drawings to show that as we count the numbers get one bigger each time, creating a staircase pattern (This is called Graphicacy).

We also compared numbers using manipulatives. This was great as it linked to the Numberblocks episode 'Peek-a-Boo'.

The children put on waterproofs and went on a nature walk around school, to spot signs of spring. They spotted blossom, buds, shoots and daffodils. Spring has sprung, or at least it is trying to!

In RE this week the children explored the Christian celebration of Palm Sunday. The children coloured in and cut out palm leaves. The then role-played the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem.

Term 4 (2023-2024) Week 1

We started the Term on Monday morning with, not one, not two, but three renditions of 'Happy Birthday'. Three Birthdays all within a few days of each other.

This term our Topic is Farms. We started our topic learning by looking at different farm animals, their gender specific names and the names of their babies (As in... Ram, Ewe and Lamb....not Frank, Mildred and Charlie!)

We set up a small world farm on one of the Tuff Trays on the decking. It is amazing how quickly a carefully laid out farm diorama became a mudbath; at least they had fun!

Due to the appauling weather this week we resorted to doing PE in the classroom. We followed a Cosmic Yoga story... well, the children did, there is no way Mr Waddington is flexible enough to do it!

Term 3 (2023-2024) Week 6

It was Children's Mental Health Awareness Week this week. We started by learning what it was all about and then did some mindfulness colouring.

In Maths this week we explored comparison. We compared sets of objects using the language 'more than' and 'fewer than'. This is one of the earliest mathematical skills to develop in children, which is why they are so good at choosing the packet with the most in it, the biggest biscuit, the biggest slice of cake or the biggest packet of sweets ; )

As part of internet safety week, we learnt about staying safe online. We looked at all of the different devices we use, learnt what the dangers are and most importantly what to do if we see something online or in games that upsets us or makes us feel uncomfortable.

Daniel from the bridge project joined us this week for a special workshop about Noah's Ark. There was a lovely, interactive narrative and a recreation using the parachute.

We learnt about Chinese New Year and the fact that his year will be 'The Year of the Dragon'. We we did lots of craft activities from making paper dragons to hanging mobiles and colouring celebration banners.

Finally, as part of Children's Mental Health Week we celebrated our individuality and came to school dressed to express! It was wonderful to see what the children had chosen to wear and how this reflected their interests and personalities.

Term 3 (2023-2024) Week 5

This week our movement words for indoor PE were big and small. We explored moving around like big monsters and small monsters.

We explored fingerprints. We looked at them closely under microscope. We lifted a finger print off of a surface using chalk dust and sticky tape. We printed them using black ink. It was a very busy afternoon!

We had a visit from Mrs Hartley. She came in to tell us all about nurses and what they do to help us. Mrs Hartley showed us lots of things that we might see when we go to the doctors or hospital. She also showed us how to bandage and put a cast on an injured arm. The childen had a go at bandaging each other.

We had a visit from the local police. PC Bales and PCSO Will came into school to talk to us about what the Police do, and how they help us and keep us safe. The children got to try on lots of different coats, hats and helmets. We got to look at some actual handcuffs and police equipment. We all got to check out the police van, at the front where the police sit and at the back where the people who make wrong choices go.

Term 3 (2023-2024) Week 4

This week our movement word for indoor PE was under. We explored travelling under obstacles and moving about under the sea. We had sharks, whales, dolphins, mermaids and an abundance of fish, all swimming around under the sea to the music from 'The Little Mermaid'.

This week we played doctors. We investigated what a stethoscope is and what we use it for. We listened carefully to our heartbeats and even heard our tummies gurgling (I'm fairly sure the noises were linked to our need to open all the windows and doors).

In maths this week we have been investigating how to partition numbers into two parts. We linked this learning to the Numberblocks episode called 'Fruit Salad' (It's a classic!).

We had a visit from our badger buddies this week. They came to the classroom to read with the badgers. It was lovely to see all of the close bonds that have formed between the badgers and their buddies.

Term 3 (2023-2024) Week 3

In maths this week we explored ordinality. We practised putting numbers 1-5 in the correct order, by comparing each number with it's neighbour.

This week in indoor PE our movement word was through. We explored going through hoops, arm tunnels and imaginary obstacles, including thick oozy mud, deep cold rivers and long swooshy grass. (Sound familiar anyone?)

We went on a winter walk to spot the signs of winter. The trees are bare, the leaves were frosty, the water table had frozen and we all got cold noses!

We had some slightly warmer spells this week and we took full advantage of the sunshine while it was out. We spent some time investigating who had visited our garden recently. We found earthworms, bugs and some very peculiar mounds of earth. The children knew instantly that they were mole hills and took great pleasure in flattening them down.

Term 3 (2023-2024) Week 2

We are continuing with our fine motor skill development. All of the children now have a good pencil grip, but now we need to strengthen those fingers to gain more pencil control.

This week in maths we started to develop our conceptual subitising skills, looking at linear and paired arrangements of up to 5 dots. The children had to look carefully at the arrangement of dots and then close their eyes and explain what they saw. This requires them to use spatial language to describe sub-groups within these arrangements and this will help to deepen their understanding of part–whole relations and allow them to further consider composition (the numbers within numbers).

We also began to look at the symbolic representation of numbers, and the children worked on their recognition of numerals to 5, matching numerals to correct quantities in various games. Towards the end of the week, the children used a number track to play dice-based games.

In topic this week we looked at 'People Who Help Us' and their different roles. The children had to choose a role, draw a picture and write/mark make some words about them.

We ended the week with some fine motor skills challenges, which included buttoning up cardigans and accurate finger painting.

Term 3 (2023-2024) Week 1

Resourceful Day 2024

We did lots of different activities today which helped us to focus on resilience, perseverance, teamwork and problem-solving.

Term 2 (2023-2024) Week 7

We started the week with some very important Elf and Safety inspections, which were carried out by two particularly cute little elves. We went around to other classes to spead a bit of joy and happiness.

We have played different counting games this week. Any type of game that involves rolling a die and moving a number of spaces accurately is great mathematical practice. A great excuse to get snakes and ladders out over the Christmas holidays.

There was plenty of child initiated learning this week. It is amazing the amount of ideas that pop out of the children's heads. It's also amazing how many of the children want to run around on all fours barking and meowing!

We did lots of creative activities this week. Hopefully some of the children's creations made it home in one piece, so you can treasure them for years and years.

Term 2 (2023-2024) Week 6

This week in maths we were ordering numerals and representing them with groups of objects. Maths mastery helps the children to explore and learn numbers inside and out, recognising their ordinality, their composition and their cardinality. The core elements of the Maths Mastery approach are coherence, representation & structure, mathematical thinking, fluency and variation.

A great way to improve fine motor skills and pencil control is through colouring. Not only is it a popular activity with the children, it also helps to develop their pencil holding stamina.

We did lots of independent learning this week, from representing numbers, to decoding CVC words. It is remarkable how self-motivated and independent the children have become.

We had a special Christmas workshop with Daniel from 'The Bridge Project'. The workshop was called 'The Colours of Christmas'.

We had a wonderful Christmas Jumper Day in Badger Class. Thank you to all of the mums, dads, aunts, uncles and grandparents for the wonderful array of Christmas jumpers (Especially the musical and light up ones!!!).

Term 2 (2023-2024) Week 5

Did somebody say 'ACTION SHOTS!'. This week in indoor PE we practised a rocket jump and a star jump. We went on to perform the rocket jump from a raised bench. The most important bit was the dismount, and I am pleased to say that the badgers did rather well!

We took the fallen leaves as an opportunity to strengthen our gross motor skills with a bit of sweeping. This simple (and useful) activity helps the children develop their muscle control all the way from the shoulders to their hands. It's not child labour! Its physical development and gross motor skill development.

In RE this week the children continued to learn about the Christmas story. The children used role play to retell the Christmas story.

This week we had a double celebration at school. Firstly, we were celebrating joining DSAT, and secondly, we were celebrating DSAT's 10th birthday.

Term 2 (2023-2024) Week 4

This week in indoor PE we got the gym mats out and worked on perfecting our poses. As you can see from the photographs, the children take their gymnastics very seriously. We may have a few future Olympians in our midst!

In Maths this week we have focused on the composition of numbers. We looked at different ways to partition a group of objects into smaller groups using physical attributes such as shape, colour, type and pattern.

Also in maths this week we explored the different arrangements of the number four. We watched the Numberblocks Episode where the Numberblocks make 'stampoline' patterns. We then created 'stampoline' patterns for four using squares of green paper.

We got a sequin board!!! The sequin board is a great sensory activity and a very satisfying way to practice mark-making skills using upwards and downwards strokes. It has proven to be a very popular addition to the classroom. I'm hoping the novelty will wear off in a week or so, or at least before it gets worn out.

We have completed our PE lessons for this term slightly earlier than planned. After much consideration, and having my 'metaphorical' arm twisted by some of the Badgers, we decided to learn some football skills and drills. We will mainly focus on ball control, passing and dribbling.

Term 2 (2023-2024) Week 3

In PE this week we have been learning space themed Gymnastics. The children have been learning lots of different positions, such as star, rocket, satellite dish, squatting alien, alien pike, moon, and many more. Gymnastics has been a very popular PE activity, and it is lovely to hear that some of the children do Gymnastics outside of school.

As part of 'Anti-Bullying Week' we created our own hand-printed heart of friendship poster. It now takes pride and place above the role-playing area in the classroom.

In Maths this week we have been looking at parts and wholes. We explored the concept that we are made of parts, and all together they make us, and we are a whole. The children have been using the stem sentence, my ____ is a part of me, my ____ is a part of me and the whole of me is _____. It should sound something like this.... My arm is a part of me, my leg is a part of me and the whole of me is Bob!

As part of our homes and celebrations topic this term, we read the story 'The Three Little Pigs'. We then went on to explore building houses out of sticks. The round sticks proved very tricky to build with and kept rolling off; the children showed great perseverance.

Term 2 (2023-2024) Week 2

We had a surprise on Monday morning. There were lots of hoof marks on the decking, a bridge and a rather friendly looking troll. This was our 'hook' for this term's story writing text, 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff'. The children will be learning the story off by heart so you are likely to be treated to recitals and performances at home.

For this term's music we are learning the classic song 'I'm a Little Teapot'. It is amazing how many versions there are of this song and how difficult it is to stick to just the one set of lyrics.

This week we went out on an autumn leaf hunt and used the leaves we found to make collage pictures. Some of the children created animals, others created people and some just stuck down an assortment of leaves that they liked the look of. Unfortunately, it only made a very small dent in the sea of leaves that now carpets the Badger garden.

We have been using our phonics skills to sound out and write CVC words. The children are able to sound out and spell lots of simple CVC words. Hopefully this is something that have been keen to show you at home. If possible please can you keep working on the orientation of b and d at home, as this is one area that often catches them out.

Term 2 (2023-2024) Week 1

In Maths we did a recap from last term and revisited more than and fewer than. The children chose two toys and gave each of them an amount of counters. They then used the learnt stem sentences to say which toy had more and which toy had fewer.

Because Bonfire Night is around the corner, we did lots of creative, Bonfire Night - inspired, activities. We made glittering fireworks pictures, painted firework displays, created firework patterns in chalk and wrote some simple firework poems.

In Maths this week we focussed on counting, ordinality and cardinality. We explored the number five, practised counting to five, looked at different ways of representing five and different ways of making five.

Our topic this term is homes and celebrations. As part of this topic learning we looked at houses and tried to make some out of Lego. We ended up with some masterpieces of architecture, although I'm not sure that they were all that practical!

We have been embracing Autumn and the onset of Winter by playing with the leaves. I have a feeling that these may come in quite handy over the coming weeks.

Term 1 (2023-2024) Week 7

This week we had 'Skilful Day'. The focus of our day and activities was farming. We started our day playing with the small world farm toys, creating farm pictures using stencils and rubbing plates, and digging in soil.

We tried our hand at milking a cow, but you will need to use your imagination as we were fresh out of cows and had to use a rubber glove filled with water instead.

We opened a farm shop. The children were all given some play money and were able to go shopping. We had two very helpful customer assistants who helped to meet all of the customer's needs.

We made healthy fruit kebabs. We followed all food preparation hygiene practices. The children did an amazing job not only with the making of their kebabs but also with eating them.

Term 1 (2023-2024) Week 6

We have been building words on the magnet boards this week. The children are getting much more used to the process of breaking spoken words down into individual phonemes, and then spotting the correct grapheme to build the word with.

In maths this week we continued to develop our subitising skills. We played some really fun games where you had to spot what had changed. You could add a counter or object, take one away or just change the positions.

We had a lovely visit from our 'Badger Buddies'. They popped in, to join in with our afternoon 'choosing' activities. I'm not sure who had the most fun, the Badgers or the Year 6s.

In our topic learning we explored the different senses. We explored the sense of hearing by listening to a special soundtrack of different sounds which we had to correctly identify. There was a lot of discussion and debate over whether the siren was a Police Car, an Ambulance or a Fire Engine.

We filled our marble jar (Hardly surprising considering how amazing the Badger Class children are!). As a reward we all got to ride on the bikes and scooters. We would like to make them a routinely accessible activity and have a bike and scooter area in the badger garden, so if you know anyone with a digger, a load of scalpings and lorry load of ready mixed concrete going spare, let me know :).

Term 1 (2023-2024) Week 5

Fine motor skills (Funky Fingers) is a part of our daily routine, and the impact of it on the children's dexterity, pencil control and stamina is evident.

The children have continued to immerse themselves in 'Gingerbread Man' themed activities. They have picked up the story really well, in particular the repetitive parts which are performed with enthusiasm and expression. Hopefully you have been treated to a rendition of some or all of the story.

Our maths learning this week focused on the number three. We explored making groups of three, and counting out three. We looked at one-to-one correspondence, whereby you check that you have enough of something, such as enough bowls for three bears, enough cups for three bears and enough apples for three bears. We also tackled the rather tricky formation of the number three. "Around the tree, around the tree, that's the way we make a three".

This week we have been making words from the 'Gingerbread Man' story. Initially, the children were making words on magnet boards with magnetic letters, then we moved onto forming them on whiteboards, and finally we moved onto trying to write them in pencil. It was lovely to see the children adopting the spelling process I had modelled to them, and also to see them using their newly aquired phonics skills to sound out the words.

Term 1 (2023-2024) Week 4

This week we started learning the Gingerbread Man story. The children quickly started joining in with the repetitive phrases. Hopefully they will be able to retell you the story in a couple of weeks. Nearly all of our continuous provision activities are themed on the Gingerbread Man; fully immersing the children in the story.

In indoor P.E. we played 'Cones and Bowls'. The girls and boys had to compete against each other, turning cones either upright or upside down within a set time. The team with the most cones their way up won. The girls' team seemed to be beating the boys' team every single game. After some careful observation, we discovered that several of the boys were unknowingly helping out the girls' team. After a quick re-cap of the rules, the game became a much more evenly matched affair.

Our maths learning this week has centred around cardinality - the skill to count a set of objects and recognise that the last number we count tells us how many. We also sang counting songs and practised counting accurately.

As part of our Topic learning, which links to 'Understanding the World', we looked at the four seasons and focused in on Autumn. We went on a nature walk to spot signs of Autumn, of which there were many. We spotted fallen leaves, nut husks, berries, fungi, and lots more.

We have been doing some junk modelling this week as part of our choosing time. It was a big hit, and we had all sorts of fantastic creations.

In R.E. we have been exploring the Christian story of 'Creation'. We have been thinking about the question 'Why did God create jellyfish?', a question which I'm sure has been asked by many a surfer over the years. The idea is that they will begin to understand that Christians believe God created everything in the world, from the simplest of organisms to the most complex.

Term 1 (2023-2024) Week 3

This week we began our Phonics learning. The children were raring to go and thoroughly enjoyed learning how to write the graphemes (letters). They wrote them in sand, with chalk, on whiteboards, everywhere!!!

In Maths this week we explored subitising. We subitised using fixed arrangements of dots, and we made our own arrangements using counters and objects.

In PE this week we explored how to safely negotiate a space whilst moving in a particular way. We moved around in a happy way, in a sad way, in a grumpy way, in an excited way, in a friendly way and in a small way.

In PSHE this week we were introduced to Jigsaw Genie. We passed Jigsaw Genie around and practised saying each other's names. We talked a little bit about how we are similar in some ways but different in others.