Sparkle in the sun

27th January 2023Mrs K SMITH

This week in music Year 2 have been practising and performing the song ‘Sparkle in the Sun’

We began by appraising the piece of music and discussing how it made us feel. It is a ‘happy’ song that mad us all feel like we wanted to get up on our feet.

We could hear lots of different instruments such as pianos, violins, drums and flutes. We think the best instrument we can hear is voices because our voices can make so many different sounds. We like making deep, low sounds. We can feel these sounds in our chests.

We practised Sparkle in the Sun before we had the opportunity to perform to each other. Each table had a chance to perform to the rest of the class.

Identifying Materials in Everyday Life

By Miss P STATHERS26th January 2023

Year 2’s Science topic this half term in Materials. In Science this week, we have been identifying, grouping and classifying. We identified materials in everyday life both inside and outside.

Then we grouped our materials.

Buttons and directions

By Sophie Dale25th January 2023

Lesson 1: Buttons

In our new unit of ‘Moving a robot‘ we looked at buttons and what they do. We looked at the floor robots and discussed what each button might make the robot do. We then took it in turns to give the robots a command. We then had to use our paper buttons to show what button was pressed.

Lesson 2: Directions

This lesson we recapped the buttons found on our floor robots; forwards, backwards, left, right and reset. We remembered it was important to reset after giving a new command. This lesson we focused on giving directions. To get used to following directions/instructions we played a game of Simon says. We then got into partners and gave each other simple instructions. We then told our partner what directions to program into our floor robots.

What is the difference between an object and material?

By Sophie Dale25th January 2023

Year 1 have been enjoying our new topic of materials. In the first lesson we discussed ‘What is a material?’ The children were fantastic at identifying different materials such as plastic, fabric, rock, metal and wood. 

The next lesson we focused on the difference between an object and a material. We used objects found in our own classroom and sorted them into the different materials. As a class we then showed what object we had and what that object was made out of.

Next week we can’t wait to learn more about the properties of materials.

 

Robot Algorithms – Year 2

By Amy JEFFREY20th January 2023

In Computing, this term, Year 2 are learning how to carry out an algorithm on a Robot.

We are currently focusing on sequences, and considering the importance of the order of instructions within a sequence. By inputting the same instructions in different orders we are beginning to recognise how the different orders affect the outcome.

self portraits

By Mrs K SMITH19th January 2023

This week in art, Year 2 have been sketching self portraits.

Last week we looked at facial features and had a practise at sketching them. This week we have thought more about these sketches and put them in our self portraits. We thought about the size of our features, the shapes and the position. 

We started by looking at pictures of our own face and discussing where our eyes need to be sketched. From there we sketched our mouth and then our nose before adding further details to our sketch.

We used various graded art pencils in order to create soft and hard lines as well as creating different levels of shading in our sketches.

We are very proud of the work we have produced as artists.

The King Who Banned The Dark

By Miss P STATHERS13th January 2023

Year 2’s new Writing text this term is The King Who Banned the Dark. This week, the children have learned the signifiers for the story, created story maps and acted in the role of the king!

D&T in the Autumn Term in Year 2

By Miss P STATHERS17th December 2022

This term, Year 2 have been looking at food in Design and Technology. Their brief was to create a healthy snack in the shape of a rocket.

Investigate 

First of all, they investigated where food comes from. The realised that healthy food usually comes from a plant or an animal. They  then sorted foods in to two groups.

Focussed Practical Task

The children practised the skills they would need. This involved slicing, grating, scooping and  cutting.

Design

The children then designed their own Rocket Pitta.

Make

The children used their new skills of slicing, scooping, grating and cutting to make their rocket pitta pizzas.

Evaluate

The children evaluated their snacks based on their appearance, taste and similarity to their design.

freestanding structures

By Sophie Dale16th December 2022

                   Investigate

What is a freestanding structure? First Year 1 looked at a variety of freestanding structures. We discovered that is is a product that can stand by itself without attaching to anything else. We looked at products inside the classroom that were freestanding and then went to investigate the playground equipment outside.

Focused Practical task

In our next lesson we shared the design brief with the children. We then focused on the skills we would need to make our own freestanding structures (toy playground equipment). We practiced measuring, cutting, shaping and joining. 

 

Design and Make

The children then carefully designed their freestanding structure and labelled the materials they would be using. Then it was finally time to make it! Here are some of the results…

   

Evaluate

 Finally the children evaluated their product. They thought about what went well and what they would change next time. A lot of children changed their mind about the material they used. Well done Year 1!

Carol Service

By Mrs K SMITH15th December 2022

To finish the Autumn Term, Year 2 have taken part in a Christmas service.

We have spent time over the term learning carols to sing. We have appraised and listened to the music, tune and words. We have talked about how calming some carols are such as Away in a Manger and how soft these songs are. The music is slow and gentle and it made us feel relaxed.

We practised these songs before we performed to an audience.

As part of our Christmas Service we also re-told the story of Mary and Joseph and their journey to Bethlehem for Jesus’ birth.

We each told a piece of the story to recount how Gabriel had appeared to Mary before Their Journey to Bethlehem and how the Shepherds and Wise Men followed a star to find a stable with Jesus.

We were very excited as we had a special visitor to watch our performance. The Vicar from St Nicholas Church came to watch us and led us in prayer to remember Jesus.