English
Phase 1 Prediction
LO: To read and clarify meaning of words to make predictions about a story.
Today in our English lesson we have been introduced to our new topic and text for this half term. We are beginning to learn about The Great Fire of London. Before reading the story, we looked at a word cloud that had key vocabulary from the text. We had to talk to our partners about these words and how they could link to our story. Based on our understanding of these words we were able to make a prediction about what might happen in the story and the characters that we could come across. We were challenged to extend our writing using conjunctions!
Educational Workshop - Dogs Trust Visit
PSHE- Safety
LO- To know how to follow simple instructions to keep me safe
Today 2P had a visit from the Dogs Trust charity. Throughout this workshop we were learning about how keep dogs safe and how to act safely around dogs. The people leading the workshop taught us about the five happy dog rules that we can follow and apply to keep ourselves and others safe. These rules revolved around how we can appropriately interact with a dog when they are resting, eating and playing. We also developed our understanding of making noise around dogs and how we can show a dog love.
RE: Myself
LO: To know that we all belong to different groups.
How does it make you feel to belong to a group?
Today in our R.E lesson we discussed this question. We have thought about what it means to belong to a group and how that can make us feel special. Year 2 had some wonderful ideas! We thought that we feel like we belong with our family, friends, school, extra curricular activities, clubs and our home. We used this ideas to create a shield of our identity and sense of belonging.
Reading - Comprehension
This week in our reading sessions we have been answering our book questions by retrieving information from the text and recording our answers in our English books. We have built up to this skill by orally answering and discussing the book questions as a group initially. We have learnt how to retrieve information from a text and use the key words in a question to locate and understand the answer.
Computing
LO: To use prediction skills to identify a successful algorithm.
This week in our computing lessons we have been learning and understanding about successful algorithms. We now know what an algorithm is and how to programme a BeeBot to follow a set of instructions correctly. We had a series of algorithms to solve so that they mirrored the successful route. It was important for us to do this practically first using BeeBots before moving onto recording and creating our own algorithms and routes in our books.
Practical lesson using BeeBots!
Matching and creating successful algorithms to a route!
NSPCC Number Day
The Ugly Five: Julia Donaldson
This Friday we participated in the NSPCC Number Day! Our focus for the day was centred around The Ugly Five by Julia Donaldson. For our maths activities we embedded our multiplication facts for the number 5. We played 5 times table bingo and we tackled Buddy's Big Challenge. We have developed our rapid recall of the 5 times tables and we had so much fun raising money for an important charity.
Number Day 2022!
Art
Colour Wheels
In our art lessons we have been exploring painting and mixing primary colours to create our own colour wheels. We used powder and mixing skills to create the right consistency for our paint before transferring this to our paper plates. We discussed how if the paint was too runny or too thick then it would not dry onto the paper effectively or boldly. We applied these skills so that our colours did not mix and so there was a clear definition and section between each primary colour.
Colour Wheels
Science
LO: Find out how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching.
In our most recent science topic we have been learning about reversible and irreversible changes. First, we had a practical lesson where we decided and explained how some changes are irreversible when we bend, squash, twist or stretch an object. The materials that we manipulated were pipe cleaners, blue tac, rubber band, paper clip and pencils. This helped us to consolidate our understanding of reversible and irreversible changes. After this, we got to make our own pipe cleaner people using a variety of materials! By doing this, we understood that the materials that we choose when creating something has an impact on its lasting shape and appearance.
Computing - Digital Photography
LO: To use a digital device to take a photograph.
LO: To make choices when taking a photograph.
In year 2 we have started a new scheme of learning through our computing curriculum. This week have been introduced to digital photography. We have began to understand the concept that many devices can be used to take photographs. In our first lesson, we began to capture our own photographs and then explain what we did to capture a digital photo.
A photograph can be taken in either portrait or landscape format. In our second lesson we were exploring the effects of taking a photograph in both portrait and landscape and then evaluating which format was better. We developed our ideas and understanding of the process of taking a good photograph.
Digital Photography!
PE - Multi-sports
LO: Use rolling, hitting, running, jumping, catching and kicking skills in combination.
This learning objective has been the focus throughout this term in PE and other learning objectives have been integrated each week.
PE - Multi-sports
LO: Developing tactics in competitive games.
PE - Multi-sports
LO: Begin to compete with others.
Dazzling Darren - Magician's Visit!
Magic Week
This week throughout school it has been magic week! To start the week we had an assembly where Dazzling Darren showed us some of his famous tricks. Everybody was so impressed. Dazzling Darren visited 2P on Wednesday afternoon to teach us four different magic tricks using straws, rubber bands, rope, cups and balls. We had time to practise these tricks at our tables and on the carpet.
The next day, we had the opportunity to write all about Darren's workshop and time at Blakehill. We used verbs, adjectives and conjunctions to create an exciting piece of writing to tell our readers what we have learnt throughout the week. We are so proud of this writing! Our recounts are now displayed outside our classroom.
Magic Week!
Library Time!
Every Wednesday morning 2P have their library time. In year 2 we really enjoy our weekly visits to the library. During this time we have chance to share a story with Miss Preston, Mrs Sheerin and our friends. Alongside this, we have the opportunity to sign out a library book so that we can share a story at home with our family. Lots of us have picked chapter books recently!
Miss Preston has also explained and modelled to us how a library functions and where each book belong depending on their genre. This has allowed us to be independent in putting our books back in the right place once we are ready to loan a new library book.
Harlow Carr
Educational Visit
Today 2P have had a lovely time visiting Harlow Carr! The purpose of this visit was linked to our Science topic for this half term. We have been learning all about living things (including humans). During our trip we were able to explore the different parts of a plant, identifying various plants and were able to measure flowers and trees using rulers and string. We were outside most of the day! Year 2 went on a treasure hunt to spot different objects, places and plants around the garden. During our workshop we were outside using magnifying glasses to look at the details of each plant. We worked in teams to complete each challenge.
PE - Dance
LO: Perform dances using simple movement patterns.
LO: Explore, remember, repeat and link a range of actions with coordination and control.
Today in PE we started a new unit - dance! During this lesson we were introduced to new vocabulary and the music that our routines and dances would be centered around. We are building up to learning and creating our own dance sequence. We began to set the scene for our routines by looking at the theme 'After Dark - Thriller'. In groups we discussed and created actions for how we felt zombies, ghosts and bats would move. We had to think about control and balance when structuring these movements.
Key vocabulary: canon (actions that are performed one person after the other), beat, timing, count and clap.
Bradford City - Penalty Shoot Out!
It was the Bradford City penalty shoot out today. We all had a turn at scoring goals against Billy Bantam! In 2P we are really good at cheering on our peers and supporting one another. We encouraged each other to have a go and be resilient when we found it challenging to score a goal.
Design and Technology
Stable Structures
LO: Following a design plan to make a product.
LO: Exploring a range of materials.
This term through our Design and Technology curriculum, we have been learning and exploring stable structures. Our task for the end of this until was to use a variety of materials to create a car garage. We used our design plans to help us create a ramp, levels and a stable base for our garage. We thought about the most appropriate materials to use and how the different parts would hold together without support or assistance. Most of us used glue or sellotape to combine the different materials! Take a look at our models. We are very proud of them.
Design and Technology: Stable Structures
Art
LO: To use water colours and sketching skills to paint daffodils.
This morning we applied our observational drawing skills to sketch daffodils. Our target was to not move the pot of flowers. This helped us to appreciate the different parts and angles of the flower that we could see from our perspective. After using fine lines to create the sketch of our flower, we were able to use the water colours to paint our final piece.
Fun in the sunshine!
2P took advantage of the glorious weather last week! We were so happy to play outside without our coats on and enjoy the sunshine.
RE: Myself
Precious Things
LO: To appreciate and discuss the importance of our precious things.
This week we brought our precious items into school. During our circle time discussions, we each took a turn to stand up and present our precious things to the rest of the class. As part of our talk lesson, we thought about what precious meant and how different objects become precious to us that might not be precious to other people. We had the opportunity to explain why these items are precious to us and where we got them from. It was important for us to understand that everyone has different items that are sentimental and precious to them. Miss Preston and Mrs Sheerin loved hearing all of the different stories behind our items.
RE: Precious Things