Class Blog for Year 2

Computing

In our computing lessons the children have been learning about how computers work. They started off identifying the parts of a computer/laptop (keyboard, mouse, screen, mousepad, speaker). Then they looked at the difference between input and outputs. The children learnt that inputs put information into a computer like a keyboard and an output gives information from the computer like a printer.

Using an online paint program the children have revisited previous learning (to paint a picture) and have now learnt how to add text. Using the save button they have learnt how to save their picture so they can add to it another day.

You can access the paint program at home by searching for paintz.app.

Week 6

Gingerbread instruction writing!

On Monday, the Year 2 children had to instruct Mr O'Dwyer on how to make gingerbread! Mr O'Dwyer is not very experienced when it comes to baking, so with a little help from the pupils he made his first ever gingerbread people! We wanted the children to use adverbs to describe how verbs should be completed. For example, rather than saying "put the ingredients in the bowl" - which Mr O'Dwyer did with too much enthusiasm, the pupils were encouraged to use adverbs to make sure things were done SAFELY and CAREFULLY! Mrs Bodinnar wrote down the children's instructions and we used this to help write instructions on how to make a snowman biscuit.

The Christmas Play performances have been brilliant! Thank you to all parents and carers for their support with lines and costumes. Those that have seen it so far, we hope you have enjoyed it. Last performance on Monday!

Next week, Monday is a performance day, and Thursday is Christmas Party afternoon. Please send your child into school in their party clothes.

Have a lovely weekend!

The Year 2 Team

Chance to Shine- PE

We have been lucky enough this half term to have Charlie from Cornwall Cricket to run our PE lessons. The children have been thoroughly enjoying his cricket lessons from the ‘Chance to Shine’ program. They have been focusing on throwing and catching skills thinking about catching high/low and accuracy of their throw. They have learnt how to catch using the regular cup hand position and challenging themselves to catch with 1 hand! The children continue to improve their ball skills and it has been great to watch their confidence grow!

Please remember that costumes for our Nativity must be in by December 1st and make sure you have returned the letter to get your tickets.

Have a lovely weekend, Year 2 team.

Week 3 Autumn 2 Round up!

This week in English, the pupils have been innovating the story of 'The Gingerbread Man'. They have come up with their own characters based on the traditional tale. They all had the main character of 'The Snowman Biscuit' but from there had to think of who the Snowman Biscuit was made by, and who he or she meets as they run (or skip, or slide... lots of verbs!) away.

They have started writing up their versions of the story, but prior to this we looked at the -ed suffix and the past tense. The pupils are really developing their story writing and the stamina for writing is improving too.

In RE we talked about the Jewish day of Shabbat. They were shocked to hear that Jewish people can't turn lights on or use electronic devices during Shabbat! Many of them were not sure if they could do that!

Our Christmas Play rehearsals are going well! The children are doing so well. We cannot wait to share it with you! Please make sure that costumes are brought into school before Friday 1st December ready for our dress rehearsals the following week.

Keep up with the reading and spellings, and we will see you next week!

The Year 2 Team.

Levers and pivots

Over the past few weeks the children have been busy in their DT (Design and Technology) lessons exploring mechanisms. At first they identified the difference between a pivot and a lever in preparation to make a moving monster! Then the children needed to create a design criteria to record what features the moving monster needed to include. After talking about what monsters look like, the children came up with different design ideas before deciding on the one they were going to make.

The children used strips of card and split pins to create the pivots and levers which would form the body of the monster-it was quite fiddly but they were patient. After the body they could attach the head. The children were thrilled with their moving monster and had fun testing out their mechanisms to make the monster open and close it mouth.

Please don’t forget to book a parents evening appointment for next week. We look forward to sharing all their hard work with you.

Many thanks Year 2.

Special Objects

This week in RE, we started out unit on Judaism. First, we talked about objects that are special to us. We had snow globes, teddies, games and many more, but the reasons behind why they were special was lovely to hear.

The children had a chance to look at and hold special Jewish items. There was a Seder Plate, a Menorah and a Mezuzah. Todays lesson focused on the Mezuzah which is found on the right hand side of door frames in houses. The Mezuzah has a special scroll inside with a special prayer on it, and Jewish people touch the Mezuzah as they enter the house and say a prayer.

We will be learning more about Judasim over the coming weeks.

CHRISTMAS PLAY!
Yes, it's that time of year! We have given each pupil a letter with information about what part they will play in our upcoming Christmas show! Those pupils with lines have been given a copy to practice at home. Any problems with sourcing costumes please let us know. This years play is 'Christmas with the Aliens!'

Please continue to read at home and practice spellings. Have a lovely weekend.

The Year 2 team.

We made it!

The Year 2 team would like to wish all the children and their families a restful half term break. We are so proud of all the amazing learning that has happened over the past 7 weeks. This was show cased through some half term retrieval quizzes in Science, History and RE. The children have gained so much knowledge and we were blown away with how well they were able to demonstrate this.

Why don't you ask them...
"What do you know about Florence Nightingale?...why might people call her a superhero?"
"Tell me about Mary Anning's discoveries."
"What are the 5 food groups?
"How can I keep my body hygienic?"
"Tell me about the creation story...how many days do Christians believe God made the world?"
"How might Christians describe what God is like?

We look forward to seeing you all again on Monday 30th October.

Best wishes,
Year 2 team.

Frida Kahlo

This week Year 2 explored the life and work of Frida Kahlo. The Mexican artist was famous for using bright, vibrant colours to pain self portraits. We first research facts about Frida Kahlo, then use poster paints to tint (lighten) and shade (darken) colours. We have started to paint our backgrounds ready for our self portraits next week.

Maths - please keep going with the Times Table Rockstars at home. We have seen a drop in participation across the school, so it would be great if Year 2 children led by example!

Please note, next Friday is a school INSET day, so a 4 day week! See you then!

The Year 2 team.

This week Year 2 have been Historians! They have been using the language ‘past and present’ to sort through events. For example “I learnt to crawl” (past) and “I am in Year 2” (present). Then they learnt about a lady called Florence Nightingale. They decided on first impression that she didn’t look like a superhero but the more they learnt about her they agreed she as a superhero without a cape. They learnt about the important changes she made to hospitals in the past so they are clean and safe today.

In RE the children have been learning about who Christians believe created the world. This week they thought about what God might do on the 7th day of rest. They talked about how being busy all the time can make you tired and it is important to rest. There were some great suggestions about what God might do such as a holiday in the sun!!

Another busy week in Year 2! See you next week.

That's a Wrap for Week 3!

This week Year 2 have been learning about the different food groups and why it is important to have a healthy, balanced diet. They have designed their own wraps and put their plans into action!

They visited the cookery room and were shown two methods of cutting - the bridge technique and the claw technique! They then needed to ensure their wraps contained a protein, dairy and a fruit/vegetable product and got making! Watch out, Gordon Ramsey!

In English we have been continuing with the story of the Three Little Pigs. We used our VIPERS skills and sequenced the story using story maps. We are currently writing the story but exploring the use of more adjectives. The big, bad wolf is now the 'hairy, mean wolf' or the 'terrible, scary wolf' as well as great ways of describing the pigs and their houses. Lots of fun with adjectives!

In Maths we have been learning to partition a given number in different ways. For example, all the children can partition 53 into 5 tens and 3 ones, but we have learned that 4 tens and 13 ones is still 53, 3 tens and 23 ones is too! And so on. We have been using our Base 10 manipulatives to help us discover new ways to partition then record number sentences (40+13=53, 30+23=53 etc.).

Guided Reading is going well, and the children are getting used to our system of reading one day, the recapping and recalling the next and recording this answers in their books. VIPERS skills are vitally important and weekly guided reading helps to promote these skills.

Please remember to send your child to school with their reading packet every day. In the reading packet should be:
- Reading Record
- Reading Book (banded)
- Library book (changed every Thursday)
- Phonics Paper Book (new one given every Monday)
- Red/Orange Spelling book for children accessing Level 6 Phonics

We appreciate it is a lot to keep in their Reading Wallet, but it really helps us when giving out new spellings or letters to have their reading wallets in school each day. New spellings (for Level 6 Phonics) will be stuck in on Mondays - if your child does not have their spelling book, the spellings will be placed in their reading record or wallet. If they do not have their wallet, please see your child's class teacher who can hand you the spellings for the week.

Next week is the Year 2 trip to the zoo, we leave on the coach at 9.00am and will be back for end of school time. Please send your child in full school uniform with a bottle of water and packed lunch (unless you have requested a school lunch). Please can all children have extra healthy snack too.

Thank you for your continued support, the children have made an excellent start to Year 2!

The Year 2 Team