Grange Valley Primary & Nursery School

Welcome to Year 2 - Miss Brown's Class 2019-20

Spring 1

We have started the spring term with lots of excitement and enthusiasm for learning! The children have continued to impress me with their determination and creativity.

In Maths, We have been exploring 2D shapes. The children have been making symmetrical patterns, drawing shapes and discussing their properties. We have enjoyed looking out for shapes in our environment too. We have continued to practice our number skills throughout. The children are becoming very confident and fluent with their multiplication! We have been Applying our knowledge through word problems and working together to decide on the best way to tackle them.

In English, we have been finding out about Julia Donaldson. We have read a wide range of her incredible books and discussed the similarities and differences. The children have explored the books talking about the theme, characters and events. We loved how the books rhyme and how the illustrations make the books come alive. Our class favourite was ‘Stickman’. This inspired us to write our own version of the story. We started by going into the forest area to collect sticks to make our own ‘Stickchild’. Whilst making the ‘stickchildren’ we talked about their personalities and exciting events that could happened to them. The children thoroughly enjoyed writing their own version of the story and after editing them we shared them with each other.

Our impressive writing skills have continued throughout this term. In Science, the children have shown a keen interest in exploring Minibeasts. We have researched minibeasts, enjoyed a minibeast hunt, explored habitats and shared our findings with each other. We even had a visit from a local Ranger to deepen our knowledge about minibeasts. Finally, we used all our information to write a report about minibeasts.

In Geography, we have been finding out about our local area. The children have explored maps and symbols, creating their own line map and key. We then used a map of the local area to plan a route to a local park. The children used their map skills and compass directions to follow the planned route to the park. Along the way we looked at the human and physical features of our local area. The children discussed what they like about Haydock and how it could be improved.

In PE, the children have shown great sportsmanship in cricket. They have been practising their throwing and batting skills as well as working as a team. We have also enjoyed multi-skills and Gymnastics, the children have been linking movements both on and off the apparatus.

Well done for your hard work Year 2!

Autumn 2

It has been another exciting term in Year 2! The children have continued to work hard. It was lovely to see your all during Parents Evening and sharing your child's progress with you.

This term we have been reading Building Boy by Ross Montgomery. This is beautiful story about a boy's loving relationship with her grandma. Unwilling to accept that she is gone the boy build a giant structure of his Grandma and...she comes to life! Grandma took him on an adventure but where did she take him? I'm sure the children would love to tell you. With this story the children explore the use of repetition, effective vocabulary choices and how to make their writing exciting for the reader. The children then planned and created their own stories about losing their precious toy. This term we have continue to focus on our handwriting taking care with our letter sizes. Please continue to support this at home.

In Maths, the children have worked hard with their multiplication. We have been exploring the 2, 5 and 10 times tables. We have used concrete resources to solve multiplication problems and then looked at how we can write multiplication sentences to represent multiplication problems. The children have really enjoyed their this mathematical concept and are beginning to practise their recall of multiplication facts. You can support this at home by practising counting in steps of 2,5 and 10. We will be moving on to 3 times tables next term. Th children can consolidate their learning with activities on education city or by using multiplication on Hit the Button.

In Science we have been finding out about Materials and their properties. The children have been thinking about the uses of materials and using their scientific skills to explore their properties.

In Geography we have been finding out about our wonderful world. The children have been using maps, globes and Google maps to explore the Oceans and Seas as well as the 7 continents. We have looked at different types of maps and compared birds eye view to maps looking at the different features.

The most exciting part of this term was working together with Mrs Maver’s Year 2 class and Year 1 to put together an amazing Nativity 'A King is Born'. The children demonstrated how far they have come this year with their confidence and attitude. I am sure you are very proud of them all!

We finished the term off with a fun filled Christmas party and a visit from Santa!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and I wish you all the best for the New Year!

Miss Brown

Autumn 1 2019

We are extremely proud with how well the children have settled into Year 2. They have worked so hard this half term and are all already growing in confidence, skills and independence.

In English we have read lots of texts. The first one that we looked at was 'The Tear Thief'.. The children were able to use some fantastic vocabulary to rewrite their own version of this story. Next, we lined our writing to Space week by reading 'The Man on the Moon' and researching and thinking about what life would be like on the moon. The children enjoyed writing a Non- Fiction text all about the moon using Headings, subheadings, captions and facts. Finally, we worked on using our FANTASTIC's to slow write of 'The Way Back Home'. The children finished this half term by writing some of their own incredible versions of the story.

,During Maths this term we have been concentrating on recognising the value of the digits in numbers up to 100 and we have started to solve addition and subtraction problems. The children have been working together to learn new skills, discuss their opinions and solve problems together.

In our Science sessions we have been learning about the Environment. The children have learnt about recycling materials, pollution and endangered animals. I think that the children's favourite lesson was our practical experiment to observe how Greenhouse gases affect our climate. The children shown great team work skills in order to plan, implement, observe and evaluate their findings.

In History we have been back to 1666 to learn about the Great Fire of London. The children have seemed to enjoy learning about the chronological order of events, discussing the difference from then and now and the impact the fire has had on London. They have written some fantastic diary entries in the role of Samuel Pepys to describe what could be seen, smelt, heard and how they would feel during the Great fire!

Our RE sessions have been based on learning about Nature and God. The children have read and listened to stories from a variety of Religions in order to compare the main beliefs on how the world was created through the eyes of Christians, Jews and Hindus.

In Computing, the children have been building their accuracy and fluency of accessing the computer and using different programmes. We have discovered what it is like to use the computer to make art. The children have used a variety of programmes to change, colour, shades, shapes, patterns and open and edit photographs in the style of Andy Goldsworthy, Picasso and Andy Warhol.

Finally, in Music this half term, we have been learning to recognise a pulse and a rhythm in music. We have learnt to keep a beat with our hands whilst singing a song and incorporating instruments.

We are looking forward to our next fun and busy half term in Year 2!