Year 2 weekly newsletter 11.10.24

Year two, you have been fantastic this week and have worked so hard. Read on to find out what we have been doing.

In English this week, we continued to analyse the non-fiction part of our river story, focusing on the letter to Tom warning him about the dangers in the jungle. You highlighted key features in the letter and learned how to use possessive apostrophes, which you are consolidating further with your homework. You also completed your writer's knowledge by identifying key features that are used in writing. Toward the end of the week, you chose a specific setting that you will write about in your own letter next week. You practiced writing the opening paragraph, describing how you want to help Tom on his journey. Keep up the great work, Y2

In phonics, you have continued to review your sounds and build on your fluency. In steps to read you have been reading the non-fiction 'sea book' and have learnt about the amazing creatures we have in our oceans. You have even learnt how to protect our oceans by reducing our use of plastic.

In maths, you continued your learning on addition and subtraction. You worked on adding and subtracting tens and ones and even tackled adding three-digit numbers using Numicon to support your understanding. You also learnt how to add to the next 10 with numbers up to 100, and you challenged yourself by adding across a 10. Your growing maths knowledge is superb--keep up the fantastic work!

In RE, you learnt about the inspiring story of Mary Jones and the Bible. You found out how Mary Jones saved up for six years and walked over 25 miles to get her own Bible, showing amazing dedication. Her commitment led to the creation of the Bible Society by Thomas Charles, which was set up to make sure everyone could access the Bible. Mary Jones' actions made a lasting impact on the Christian community. Afterwards, you thought about how you could make a difference in our world and wrote your thoughtful ideas in your RE books. Well done for your deep thinking!

In our Courageous Advocacy lesson, we continued working towards our Archbishop Award. This week, you focused on how you can be leaders of kindness. You looked at different pictures and thought about kind things you could say to the people in them. We also continued with the story of Gracie, who decided to be kind to a new person in her class. Inspired by Gracie's actions, we have now set up a Friendship Jar in our classroom. In this jar, we collect kindness tokens for any kind acts you've done for your peers or teachers. Keep spreading kindness, Y2!

In our history lesson this week, you embarked on an exciting project where you each chose a specific type of transport to focus on. You then worked hard to create an informative booklet about your chosen mode of transport. As part of this project, you explored how this form of transport has evolved over time by describing what it looked like a long time ago, an old time ago, and how it looks today.

You carefully considered the ways in which advancements in technology have impacted these changes, noting how transport has become faster, more efficient, and in many cases, safer. You researched various features, such as the materials used, the design of the transport, and how it was powered or operated in each era.

Some of you looked at the history of cars, seeing the transformation from the first motor vehicles to modern electric cars, while others explored the evolution of trains and planes.

Your booklets beautifully reflected the key changes and the reasons behind these developments. Through this activity, you not only enhanced your knowledge of history but also deepened your understanding of how human innovation continues to shape the world around us. You all did a fantastic job and should be very proud of your work!

In computing, you learned how to use information technology safely by watching a video that taught important online safety tips. You discovered the importance of not sharing personal information like passports or addresses, always asking permission before taking photos of others, and sticking to age-appropriate games. You also learned to only add real-life friends in online games, avoid talking to strangers, and to put your devices down when someone is speaking to you. You've done a great job understanding how to stay safe and respectful online!

In science, you continued your exploration of materials, discovering that objects can be made from different materials based on their intended purpose. This week, you examined a variety of gloves, predicting which would keep your hands dry. You identified gloves that are waterproof, suitable for picking up small objects, strong, and warm. Additionally, you discussed real-life situations where you might wear each type of glove, enhancing your understanding of how material properties influence their functionality. Great work!

In Geography this week, you explored the fascinating region of Wales, discovering that Cardiff is its capital city. You investigated various landmarks within Cardiff, discussing their purposes and whether they represent human or physical geographical features. The lesson included learning about aerial photographs, where you sought out these landmarks from above. You showed particular interest in the castle wall, noting how animal sculptures were added during World War II when the castle served as a bunker for children, helping to alleviate their fears. Additionally, Benji shared his own adventures in Cardiff, recounting a family visit to the castle, which added a personal touch to your learning. Great job, everyone!

On top of all of our amazing learning we also celebrated harvest by completing lots of crafts with our families. Thank you so much for coming. I have also completed parent's evening within the last two weeks. It was so great to meet all of your parents and to talk about your successes in Year Two already and how you have settled in. Thank you to all of the parents who met with me.

Have a wonderful weekend Year Two.

See you on Monday,

Miss Haynes