Welcome to Badger Class
We are the oldest children in school: Year 6 (10-11 years). There are 17 children in our class, our teacher is Mrs Howey and she is supported by our higher level teaching assistant, Mrs McCabe. We take on important roles in school such as House Captains, Monitors and Buddies. We are the role models for everyone else in school. We are taught in our single-age cohort across a morning and merge with Fox Class (Year 5) across an afternoon, meaning that we also work with Miss Plummer.
Year 6 will be taking Statutory Assessment Tests at the end of this year so we have a very busy year ahead. To find out what we will be doing this year look at the Our Curriculum section of our website. To help us with our spelling and reading look at the phonics and reading section of our website. As we get older, we access the internet more and school wants us to stay safe online. To find out how you can support us in staying safe online, checkout the E-Safety section of our website. The Badger class information poster also helps us to organise our equipment and resources for the week ahead.
School closure: COVID-19
Due to the further guidance issued by Central Government, all schools across England are closed.
With the fantastic support of our parents, our children have been able to consolidate their learning by completing activities sent home and set online. Please see below for photographs.
Summer Term 2020
Lockdown continues but Badger Class have been been busy completing learning activities at home. See our photos below:
Creative Writing:
Maths: working out missing angles
subtracting:
Science topic this term: Earth and Space
Enquiry Topic: Where does our Food Come from?
Design and create a 3 course meal for your family:
Art and Design:
Create a scarecrow for an allotment:
Sketch your favourite musical artist:
School Closure March 2020
Even though school is closed due to the coronavirus global pandemic, Badger Class have been very busy. Keep the photos coming Year 6!
Creative writing using an image as a prompt:
White Rose Maths tasks:
Creating a fact file about Russia on Purple Mash:
Practising handwriting using Letter-join:
Getting fit:
Vocabulary, Punctuation and Grammar:
French:
Helping and being creative around the house and garden:
Biology:
Art:
Spring Term 2 2020
We had a great trip to Hamsterley Forest. We enjoyed orienteering and loved exploring the forest!
In English, we are continuing to read our class novel ‘Northern Lights’ and our guided reading tasks and extended writing tasks will be closely linked to this text. As SATS approach, we will start to revise our vocabualry, punctuation and grammar skills too.
In mathematics, we will be looking at algebra, percentages and area and volume.
Our Science work this half term is centred around the following question: Can we change materials? We will be exploring the properties of materials and planning and carrying out investigations to answer our topic question.
Our Enquiry topic this half term is: Where are Europe’s major landmarks? We will be naming and locating the countries of Europe (in particular eastern Europe, including Russia) and exploring their landmarks in detail. Our DT work this half term will link closely to this topic.
Spring 1 2020
In maths this half term, we are looking at translation, reflection, decimals up to 3 decimal places, percentages and algebra.
In English, we are reading Northern Lights by Philip Pullman and our writing this term will be closely linked to this novel. We have already made predictions and the book has got off to a very exciting start!
In Science, we will be looking at forces. We have started to look at gravity and we will move on to look at other forces which we see every day.
Our Enquiry question this half term is : How does County Durham compare to other counties in the UK? This will be a physical geography based unit of work.
In Art, we will be exploring the work of the artist David Hockney and producing our own photo-montage.
Autumn 2 2019
In maths this half term, we have developed our skills with fractions. We have learned how to find equivalent fractions and how to add and subtract fractions with different denominators, using our knowledge of factors and multiples to help us. Moving on, we looked at multiplying fractions and dividing fractions by whole numbers. Finally, we found fractions of amounts and then applied our skills to real-life maths problems, involving a Nando’s menu. Please see our work below:
In English, we have used our class novel ‘Cogheart’ as a stimulus for our writing. As ‘Cogheart’, which is set in Victorian times, has mechanical servants as a central feature, we discussed the following question:
Are robots good for our society?
We researched the advantages and disadvantages and then enjoyed debating this issue in class. Following on from this, we wrote a balanced argument, giving points for and against robots in our society.
We also used this theme to write persuasive letters to the Victorian Prime Minister to argue for equal rights for mechanicals. (In the novel they are treat very differently to humans by most people.)
In addition to this, we wrote newspaper reports about the disappearance of one of the main characters:
In science, we have investigated separating mixtures.
In art, we developed our watercolour skills and looked at drawing using perspective.
Here is a selection of our watercolour winter landscapes.
Year 6 enjoyed attending various workshops at the Safety Carousel. The workshops were interactive and fun and delivered some very important messages in an engaging way.
Autumn 1 2019
This half term, we are looking at place value, the four operations and prime, squared and cubed numbers in mathematics.
In English, our class novel is ‘Cogheart’, which is set in Victorian times and links closely to our historical enquiry topic. During this half term, we have explored figurative language and produced some lovely pieces of descriptive writing as well as spooky poems using similes, metaphors and personification. Take a look at our work below and prepare to get goosebumps….
We studied an an image of the River Tyne in Victorian times and wrote a short description using up-levelling techniques to paint a picture in out reader’s mind.
Historical Enquiry
This half term, we are investigating:
How did the Victorian period shape Consett and the North East?
To introduce this line of enquiry, Year 5 and 6 visited Cragside house and grounds in Rothbury. We learnt all about Lord Armstrong, his inventions (hydroelectric power)and his impact on the North East. We all had a fantastic time looking around the amazing house and stunning grounds. 
Science
In science, we have been studying life cycles and we have compared the different life cycles of a mammal, a bird, an amphibian and an insect. We have investigated the different stages in a human lifecycle and how humans change as they enter old age. 
During this topic, we also looked at the lifecycle of plants and how they reproduce.
See below for academic year 2018-19
Summer Term 2019
Science
This term, we have studying the topic of light in Science. We have enjoyed carrying out investigations into reflection, refraction, shadows and the Visible Spectrum.
Our investigation into the refraction of light:
We drew an arrow on a piece of paper and placed it behind a glass of water. Then we looked at the arrow through the glass of water and observed what happened.
Investigating shadows
We investigated why shadows change size by measuring our shadows at different times of the day. We recorded our observations and then made a conclusion.
Investigating the Visible Spectrum
Finally, we researched Isaac Newton and his discoveries about the Visible Spectrum. We conducted the same experiment that Isaac Newton had performed using a prism and sunlight. We observed what happened and recorded our observations using a scientific diagram.
Topic and Art and Design
In Topic, we have explored the ancient civilisation of the Mayans. After researching Mayan art, we all designed and created a Mayan-inspired product in D&T. Some children chose to use modelling wire, ModRoc or clay to create their product; other children chose to create a Mayan print on a T-shirt using fabric pens and paint.
English
In English, we developed our creative writing skills to write a story full of suspense. We used techniques effectively to build tension and keep our reader on the edge of their seats! Read some of our suspense stories below (if you dare!)
THE TAPS
MYSTERY LAKE
THE GIRL NEXT DOOR
Using our computer skills, we researched the D-Day Invasions to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings. When we had gathered our research, we created a Powerpoint and presented our findings to the class. We generated a success criteria for the task and gave each other feedback based on it.
After that, we used our research and our computing skills to write a fact file or a newspaper report.
Badger Class have been practising their debating skills this term. We researched facts first and backed up our views with statistics to add weight to our argument.
SHOULD FAST FOOD BE BANNED FOR CHILDREN?
What do you think?
Autumn 1 2018
Welcome back!
This half term we are looking at place value, addition and subtraction and multiplication and division in mathematics. In English, our class novel is ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’ by Michael Morpurgo and our comprehension and extended writing tasks will be closely linked to this text. During Topic lessons, we will be exploring the water cycle and coasts and rivers. Please see our homework grid below:
In science, our topic is electricity and we are investigating circuits and drawing diagrams using circuit symbols. In our last lesson, we worked together to create a circuit and investigated how we could make the bulb brighter. 
Our theme in art this term is watercolours and we produced some stunning Autumn landscapes, using the techniques we had learned. 
See below for academic year 2017-18
Summer Term 2 2017-18
We worked extremely hard during SATs week and everyone was really proud of us in school. This term, we look forward to learning about our new topic of the Maya Civilisation and here is our homework grid. We are going to take part in OPAL for Enrichment and will continue with athletics on a Monday. In July we have our residential visit at Dukeshouse Wood to look forward to!
Take a look at the fantastic experiences from Dukeshouse Wood. The visit was a highlight of the year!
Recently, we have had ‘Aspirations Week’ in school. A range of visitors from all different career paths came into school to share their practice and to explain to us what we would have to do if we wanted to follow in their shoes. We were left inspired and also couldn’t believe people were so kind in sharing their personal time with us to help us!
Summer Term 1 2017-18
This term we will be taking our SATs and we are fully prepared after completing lots of work towards them as well as our Booster Classes every week. We will be starting a new topic of ‘Brazil’ and learning more about the geography of the world. Our Brazil-themed homework can be found here. In PE, we will be developing our Athletics skills and we will be continuing to swim to strive towards achieving our 25m award by the end of the summer term. In science, we will be looking at Earth and Space.
Following on from our ‘Joe the Quilter’ project through Beamish Museum, The Ran Tanners visited us for the day and we took part in a day of Victorian and Georgian folk singing and dancing. We even wrote our own song about Joe which we hope to perform during the end ofyear assembly!
Spring Term 2 2017-18
We are really enjoying our novel Street Child and are all hoping for a happy ending for Jim! We are continuing with the Victorian theme this half term with another homework grid to vary the tasks. We are looking forward to our visits this half term as well as the outreach sessions. We will be developing our Rounders skills in PE and will look at Types of Change in Science. SATs are fast approaching so Booster Class will continue on a Monday after school to help us prepare for that!
We have enjoyed Outreach sessions from the Education Team at Durham Cathedral and Beamish Museum and have also visited both of them! We had a fantastic time!
Spring Term 1 2017-18
We are starting a new topic this half term: Victorians. We will be reading Street Child as our class novel which should offer further insight into the life and conditions of the Victorian era and our homework grid will develop our knowledge further. To explore this further, we will be visiting Beamish Museum and will also be having a visit from them to learn about the life of ‘Joe the Quilter’. We also look forward to enjoying a visit to Durham Cathedral to learn about the Northern Saints and will also enjoy some outreach sessions as part of this Ebbe Project. We are continuing to develop our swimming skills to work towards achieving our 25m award by the end of the year and we will also be completing Gymnastics lessons in PE. In science we will be studying forces.
We are really enjoying our class novel and we have used it to inspire lots of writing already:
Autumn Term 2 2017-18
We are continuing with our Ancient Egypt theme and have a new homework grid for this term. To further develop our learning, we will be visiting the Hancock Museum to explore their Ancient Egyptian exhibit and work with the staff there. In science we will be looking at separating mixtures and in PE we will be continuing with swimming and also looking at team games through rugby. We will be attending the Fire Safety Carousel to learn about keeping ourselves and others safe in a variety of situations.
We enjoyed a visit from a member of the St. John’s Ambulance team and spent time learning about basic First Aid and what to do if we discovered someone in danger.
At Christmas time, we enjoyed a Stay and Play session where parents/carers were invited in to complete Christmas Crafts. We all took various things home, but our favourite was our sparkly baubles!
We have enjoyed more creative activities this half term- including making our very own mummies and a sarcophagus for them!
Newcastle University was one of the highlights of our term! We learned about university life and explored the different courses on offer. We also completed a tour and investigation around the campus!
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Hancock Museum. We were able to see all of the different things that we had learned about up close and in further detail. The best part of the day was the Workshop learning all about a woman who was mummified and all of the myths and legends that surrounded not only the mummification process, but also her death!
We learned how to keep safe in various ways through the Fire Safety carousel:
Autumn Term 1 2017-18
Ancient Egypt is our topic across this term and learning can be extended at home by completing tasks from our homework grid every week. During this topic, pupils will build their knowledge of the period when the Ancient Egyptians were powerful in the world. We will compare the Ancient Egyptian civilisation with the society, climate and terrain of Britain at the time. Additionally, we will discover how the Ancient Egyptian civilisation came to an end and also learn about the evidence of Ancient Egypt that exists in modern Egypt today. We will be developing our skills in PE through dance and learning about life cycles and in science.
Take a look at some of the bookmarks we created using hieroglyphs:
