Weekly news

This week in school, we have been exploring the end of our story and began by attempting to predict the end of the story.  We did some role-play about the wedding and re-enacted the final scene with the troll Queen being turned into stone.  We went on to write questions for the troll queen and then interviewed her to ask her about her thoughts and feelings on the fairness of the ending.  We then wrote a letter of complaint on her behalf, complaining about how unfair it was that she did not get a happy ending.

In maths, we have continued our work on fractions and learnt about 1/3 of shapes, numbers and objects.  We have then learnt about identifying the different fractions, comparing them and then looking at the relationship between ½ and 2/4.

In topic this week, we have made paper bridges and explored the properties of the paper and how we could make it stronger.  This was fun and the children were expert bridge builders.  During our history topic this week, we have learnt about the great escape and re-enacted this using bowls and spoons to dig tunnels and try to escape the guards.  We went on to write a recount of the events during the great escape in 1944.  The children were fascinated and amused by the names of the three tunnels ‘Tom, Dick and Harry!’

Please spend some time over half term having a look at Bug Club and Education city.

FYI – our next learning café will be on Tuesday 26^th March.

Have a great half term holiday – The year 2 team.

Weekly news - 8th February 2019

This week at school, we have been doing some more drama around our story and re-enacted the princesses climb up the mountain.  We went on to write a diary about how the princess felt during her climb thinking carefully about our adjectives and CFFS.  The children enjoyed bringing in their ‘precious items’ and talking about them to the class group.  They went on to write a description of their item, edit their work and then write it up in their neatest handwriting using a pen!

In maths this week, we have been re-capping 3D shape knowledge and their properties.  We had lots of fun using marshmallows and cocktail sticks to build a 3D shape.  The children have now begun to learn about fractions and we have started with ½ and ¼.  We have looked at half of numbers, shapes, length and quantities.

During our topic work, we have learnt about tunnelling animals, finding information and recording this in a chart.  We also used charcoal and white paint to draw a winter scene thinking about form, line, shape and space.  The children did a fabulous job and were very creative.

Have a great weekend

Year 2 team.

Weekly news - 1.2.19

We started off the week by writing a setting description about the castle books that we made last week. The children described the inside, who lived there and the defensive features. Later in the week we had a class debate about the Princess’s dilemma. The White Bear had told her not to listen to her Mother’s advice and she promised that she wouldn’t. We made a ‘conscience alley’ which is a drama technique where the children make two lines and someone walks down the middle in role as the princess. As they walked through the alley children on either side gave reasons why she should listen to Mum or why she should listen to the Bear. We concluded that you should always listen to your Mum because ‘Mum’s know best’.

In Maths this week we have been learning about 2D and 3D shapes. We learnt the names, number of sides, vertices, edges and faces. At the end of the week we looked at finding symmetry in shapes.

In Topic, we revised food chains by looking at what polar bears ear. We focussed on the vocabulary: ‘producer’, ‘consumer’, ‘predator’ and ‘prey’.

We have noticed that some children do not have as many comments in their reading record as we would ideally like. Please could you read with your children at home as much as possible and make a comment in their reading record. Reading at home has such a positive impact on progress and would benefit all children.

We will be having a spelling test next Friday on a selection of the words we have sent home.

The Dance Showcase went amazingly well. We are SO proud of all the children! Not only did they perform with confidence and enjoyment, but we also had many comments from other school about how well-behaved they were throughout the evening.

Weekly news

This week, in year 2, we have been continuing our time work by solving time problems, for example: ‘Tom left the castle at half past 2. It took him an hour and a half to walk home. What time did he get home?” We also played a pairs game to help us remember how many minutes are in an hour, hours in a day, days in a week, etc. At the end of the week we looked at number patterns, worked out the rule, and applied it to continue the sequence.

In English we made a map to show the princess’ journey from the palace to the castle. Children worked in pairs to create maps showing the Norwegian features, such a ‘thickly needled pine forest’, ‘frozen lakes’ and ‘bride-white snow’. They then used these maps to help them write a set directions using adjectives, similes and alliteration.

In topic we have looked at how animals are adapted to cold climates and had a go at designing our own animal with winter features. We also looked at towers from around the world and located these on a world map.

For those of you that have children in sharks (18 of them) that are doing the dance show case, we look forward to seeing you at the show on Wednesday. Remember your child will need collecting from the Open venue at 8:50pm. Please ensure they have their costume for the show ready to take with them, a packed tea (if you have not ordered, and paid for, a burger), plus snacks and a drink to keep them going!

Weekly News - 18.1.19

We have had a busy week in Year 2 and taken part in lots of exciting activities, which we have really enjoyed.

In Maths, this week we have been practising counting in 2’s, 3’s, 5’s and 10’s forwards and backwards. We have also been learning to tell the time on an analogue clock by reading the times on the clock. We have practised o’clock, half past, quarter past, quarter to and some of us have been learning to tell the time to the nearest five minutes. We have also practised drawing the hands on the clock to show the correct time.

In English we have been really enjoying our work on the ‘Power of Reading’ project. We started the week by making a crown for the Princess that was brighter than the sun. The children then wrote some fantastic letters to the King to persuade him that their crown was the best. Children wrote questions to ask the Princess about her journey with the bear and went on to write a diary entry about her day.

In Topic we have been learning about hot and cold countries. We learnt about the location of the Equator and how this affects the climate.  We have carried out a scientific experiment to investigate the properties of ice and changing state. The children really enjoyed this activity and using their investigative skills. We have learnt about Judaism in RE and thought about different important aspects of the religion. In Spanish we have learnt six new colours and played some games using these. We will continue to practise these in class.

We are looking at adding to our reading areas and if any of the children have any magazines and comics that they have finished reading at home we would be very grateful to receive any donations for the classroom.

Have a lovely weekend,

The Year 2 team.

Aladdin performance

We have had a lovely afternoon watching a theatre company perform Aladdin in school. The children really enjoyed the show because of the colourful costumes, the songs and the funny jokes that were in the play. The children were beautifully behaved and were complimented by the cast on how well they sat and also joined in. We all really enjoyed it!

Weekly news

It has been an excellent start back to school so far.  The children have written recounts of their Christmas holidays and enjoyed sharing their news.  We had a fabulous trip to the castle where the children were treated to stories, pennant making, rat catching and the opportunity to sort artefacts.  We learnt lots about what life would have been like in Norwich Castle during a joust from how they prepare the castle, what the knights need to wear, how to cheer them on (Hazaa!), the feasts they would have had and how they would have used the toilet!  We also had an opportunity to explore some of the exhibitions where the children were fascinated and all impeccably behaved. 

This week we have written a recount of our trip and thought carefully about using commas, conjunctions and time language within this.  We have also begun to explore our new story for the power of reading in very small pieces – ask your child about this.

In maths this week we have been exploring division and how to draw this out to help ourselves.  We have answered word problems based on division and learnt to use a number line to work out the answers.  We’ve even learnt about remainders within division and how it is important to make sure that the groups are equal when dividing and showing the remainder.

During our topic lessons we have learnt about castles some more by testing materials in science that would successfully knock down a wall.  In history we have learnt about castles thought the ages and ordered pictures of them.  For D&T we made our own castle from a box and thought carefully about the features of a castle e.g. the drawbridge, portcullis, murder hole and gatehouse.

We have had a visit from a Paralympic swimmer this week and had the opportunity to hear how he was able to represent our country.  We completed a workshop with him of exercises he does before getting into the pool and discussed mind-set and how this can affect our ability.

We were very lucky this Friday afternoon to be able to watch a performance of Aladdin from a visiting theatre company.  It was lots of fun and we really enjoyed this treat.

Miss Cobb will be sending home further information about the dance showcase performance once she has received the details of the event from the SSP.