March
In March, we have been working scientifically when investigating plant parts and their function. We have explored how plants transport water to help the flower grow.
In English, we have used a text by Raymond Briggs, Jim and the Beanstalk as a stimulus for our writing. We have discussed reasons for and against as to whether Jim should enter the castle at the top of the beanstalk and explored character's thoughts and feelings throughout the story.
We all had a great for World Book Day with some fantastic costumes, well done!
To end the term we went to the Winter Gardens in Sunderland where we took part in a workshop looking at types of seeds from plants found all over the world and explored their features. We then had the opportunity to explore the museum, looking at the history of the North East.
February
February has been a busy month for Year 2. As part of Recycling Week, the children created robots using recycled materials from home. There was some fantastic creations!
In English, the children have wrote diary entries in the role of a Victorian child living through the Great Fire of Gateshead. They have used some powerful descriptive vocabulary to really bring their writing to life.
The children have compared some Victorian household artefacts to what we would use today and how they have changed over time.
We ended our half term with our Victorian School Day where we all came to school as Victorian children. We used slate boards to practise our handwriting, chanted timetables and tried and tested some of the classic classroom punishments!
January
January saw the start of a new topic; the Victorians. We were excited to begin a new book by an author who grew up during the Victorian times, Beatrix Potter. The children loved learning about Peter Rabbit and have used expanded noun phrases and possessive apostrophes to write beautiful character descriptions.
We had a visit from Historian, Richard who showed us some amazing artefacts and told us lots of interesting facts about The Great Fire of Gateshead and Newcastle in 1854.
December
In December, the children continued with their interest in meerkats and began to look at the story Meerkat Mail. The children used their understanding of adjectives to write fantastic setting descriptions and even wrote a recount in the role of the main character, Sunny. They were able to use past tense verbs and write in first person. We have had a very busy month with rehearsals for our big performance 'Hey Ewe!' and lots of preparation for Christmas.
In RE, we have explored the meaning of the Christingle and followed instructions to make our own to take home.
Some Year 2 children went along to Temple Park to take part in a multi-skills festival where they practised their throwing and catching skills, played team games and met children from other schools.
We have had a jam packed December and would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
November
This month we have been working with Sheryl to create some wonderful art animation where we have learnt different techniques to make our artwork move.
In science, we explored our school grounds looking for microhabitats and carried out an investigation to find out what conditions a woodlouse preferred to live in.
In maths we had a times tables week and we used our fabulous ISAK resource to practice our 3 times table.
It was Children in Need so we all came to school in our pyjamas or Pudsey themed clothes to raise money for such a good cause!
October
This month we have been to Kirkley Hall Zoo where we met some amazing African creatures such meerkats and African lizards.
Back at school, the children were keen to write their own information text on one of their favourite animals. They chose to write a non-chronological report on the fascinating meerkats. The children learnt how to write using headings, subheadings and subject specific vocabulary to keep to reader entertained.
In PE, the children have been learning some African dance moves and worked in small groups to add some freestyle moves of their own and performed the routines to the class.
September
Year 2 have settled in well to their new classrooms and are adjusting to the new routines.
During the first week, we shared a book across the school to work from 'The Barnabus Project' where the children designed their own pet captured in a jar.
This term, our topic is Amazing Africa. In Geography we have used atlases and maps to locate Africa and its many countries. In English, we have read 'Handa's Surprise' and have used some wonderful adjectives in our writing to describe the fruit from Handa's basket. In PE, we have explored ways of travelling in different directions and in a variety of ways to move fast and slow. In art, we have experimented in mark making using charcoal to create different effects. What a busy first month it's been!