Welcome back Y2

Welcome back to our final term in Y2. I have missed you all this week as I have been helping out with the PGL residential. However, you have had a brilliant week with Mrs Wood teaching you and you have learnt so much.

In maths, you have been learning all about fractions. You were introduced to the concepts of wholes and parts, and you explored the difference between equal and unequal parts. Throughout the week, you focused on finding and recognising halves in a variety of shapes and quantities.

In spellings, you have learnt how to write words with the 'n' sound that is spelt with 'kn' and 'gn', in words such as gnome and knot.

In English this week, we were introduced to our new story The King Who Banned the Dark. On Monday, we entered a very dark classroom, with night sounds playing from the board, which immediately sparked our curiosity. Scattered around the room were clues such as torches, a black coat, and even a crown, which we pieced together to predict what the story might be about. We then read the story and explored its rich vocabulary, discussing the meaning of new and exciting words. After reading the example text, we focused on how this vocabulary was used within a narrative and practised writing sentences using these words ourselves. To finish the week, we thought creatively about why we might want to ban the dark or other things we might choose to ban. Your imaginations and enthusiasm made for a brilliant start to this unit!

In RE this week, we explored the question, What is your special place? We began by sharing stories about the special places we have visited and why they are important to us. We thought carefully about why these places are special, what we do there, why and when we visit them, who we go with, and whether anyone else is allowed to visit with us. It was wonderful to hear everyone’s thoughtful and personal reflections. We then built on this by thinking about special places in different religions and what these places might be called. You all showed fantastic understanding and respect when discussing these ideas.

In HeartSmart this week, we focused on the idea of "letting the ouch out." We spent time reflecting on the different ways we deal with feeling hurt and how we can express our emotions in healthy ways. We thought carefully about special places where we might go if we need some time alone, such as a quiet spot at home, in the garden, or even at school. We also talked about the people we turn to when we need to chat and feel better—someone who listens, cares, and doesn’t just tell us to "be happy." Finally, we explored how play and creativity can help us let out our feelings, whether through drawing, singing, being artistic, or even playing a game of football. It was a really thoughtful lesson, and you all showed great maturity in understanding how important it is to care for our hearts.

In Computing this week, you began your exciting new topic all about digital music. You started by thinking carefully about how different pieces of music can make us feel. You listened to a range of compositions by Gustav Holst and reflected on the emotions and images his music created in your minds. You explored how music can tell a story or create a mood without using any words, setting the foundation for your journey into creating your own digital music later on.

In Art this week, you explored the fascinating world of architecture and the role of an architect. The lesson began with a small discussion where you shared your thoughts on what an architect is and what their job role might involve. We then explored the concept of architecture through a PowerPoint presentation, which helped us understand the important aspects of the profession and the different types of buildings architects design.

To bring this idea to life, we watched a video that showed architecture from a pigeon’s point of view. This unique perspective sparked your creativity as you thought about the buildings and structures that a pigeon might see in our local area. You were encouraged to share your observations and think about how different buildings might look from above, considering their design and how they fit into the surrounding environment. The activity helped you appreciate the beauty of architecture and its role in shaping the world around us.

In PE this week, you continued to develop your tennis skills through a variety of fun activities. You played a racket relay and a game of "cat and mouse," where the mouse had to lead the cat around the playground, using forehand and backhand strokes to push the ball. This helped you practice controlling the ball with your racket and improving your hand-eye coordination. Later in the session, you played a game of tennis in groups of four, putting all of your new skills into practice. It was great to see how much progress you’ve made in your tennis abilities, and everyone showed great teamwork and sportsmanship!

To begin our music task for this half-term, we learnt what improvisation means in music terms. We know we may need to be spontaneous and create something without being prepared. To practise this, we used movement to improvise. We chose a variety of actions. We then played a game using Old MacDonald had a farm. We couldn’t say he had an animal on his farm, we had to choose something out of the ordinary. Miss Holland chose a piece of paper! We listened to a song called, ‘I wanna play in a band.’ After listening really carefully to the beat, rhythms and melody of the song, we used notes C and D to play along to this song. A few of us volunteered to showcase our improvisation techniques.

I am so excited to be back teaching you next week Y2 and I can’t wait for us to start our new topic altogether.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Miss Haynes