Year 2 Blog
Martin Mere
Linked to our Science work on habitats and food chains, we all visited Martin Mere Wetlands Centre. We had great fun hunting for minibeasts in the wooded area and finding out how useful they are to the ecosystem. We also enjoyed pond dipping and identifying the invertebrates we found. We spent the afternoon playing on the park, spotting different birds and having fun in the 'Wild Walk' area.
Minibeast Poetry Performance
It was the turn of Y2 to write and perform a series of poems for the rest of the school and our parents. We decided that the theme of our assembly would be minibeasts. We wrote kennings, poems with alliteration and poems with rhyming couplets. We also included one of our favourite songs, 'What a Minibeast You Are'. Thank you to everyone who came to watch; the children performed brilliantly!
Make Music Day
It was 'Make Music Day' last week and Brody kindly brought in his ukulele and treated us to a few musical performances throughout the day. You sounded fantastic, good luck with your grade one!
Dance from the Heart
We have had lots of fun this term learning the 'Dance from the Heart' routine. This year's focus was 'Space'. Here are some pictures of us in action!
Making Puppets
Y2 have been designing and making puppets this term. We had lots of fun deciding which animals to make and researching different types of puppets. Have a look at some of our designs and our sewing skills.
Science Week
This week has been Science Week! The week started off well with a Mad Science Assembly. They then came to work with us in Y2. We investigated different mixtures and we all made some slime! Later in the week, we visited the planetarium and looked at different constellations. We took part in many investigations; we made our own planes using a range of materials and tested them. We also looked at the effect that mento fizzy sweets have when added to coke. We have also been investigating the conditions that cress needs to grow well. We have some predictions and we are waiting to see the results.
P.E
In P.E, we have been working on our throwing and jumping. We have linked it to our maths work by measuring our throws and jumps in metres. We finished the session with a relay race!
Science
As part of our science work, Y2 have been outside to collect flowers. We brought them back to class to sketch them and label the parts of the plant.
Maths Treasure Hunt
Y2 have been making the most of the nice weather and solving maths clues outside as part of a treasure hunt!
Position and Direction
During our maths and computing work, we have been playing a game and using Bee bots to practise our positional language. We have used language such as: quarter turn, half turn and clockwise and anti clockwise to give instructions.
Measuring
We have been practising reading different scales and making predictions as part of our science work.
Mindfulness Club
We took advantage of the weather and made some daisy chains on the field. We found it to be very therapeutic!
Hothersall Lodge Trip
As part of our outdoors curriculum and to enhance our team work skills, we all visited Hothersall Lodge and took part in some outdoor pursuit activities. We developed our team work skills by working together on an orienteering task and built resilience by climbing up some tricky walls and navigating through dark caves and tunnels. We enjoyed a nature walk and heard some stories linked to local legends. At the end of the day we were all tired but very happy with what we had achieved during the day.
Our visit to the Mosque
We were very lucky to be able to go and visit a local mosque, in order to find out more about Islam, especially routines and rituals. We spent a morning carrying out a range of different activities such as: ritual washing, Arabic writing, visiting the prayer hall and speaking to different people in the mosque about their faith and beliefs. We asked lots of interesting questions and all found out something new.
Making Easter cards
Everyone has worked hard to create an Easter card with a pop-up chick inside! All the children have worked so hard this half term. Thank you all for your support at home. There are no spellings or maths facts for the first week back. Enjoy the holidays and remember to do lots of reading!
Maths Easter Egg Hunt
We've had a great time today using our maths skills to uncover clues on our Easter Egg hunt.
Creative Arts Assembly
The children really enjoyed performing at our Creative Arts 'Show and Tell' on Thursday morning. We enjoyed singing, dancing and sharing our artwork.
PSHE
In PSHE we having learning about how we can be good friends. We made posters with lots of different ideas.
History
In History we have been learning about the different equipment the Victorians used and how they washed their clothes. We had a go at washing clothes and cleaning rugs outside using a Victorian washboard, dolly and carpet beater.
Art
This week in Art we have been printing flowers with our tiles that we made. We did some observational drawings of flowers, engraved our tiles and then printed them using special paint.
Mindfulness
This week in Mindfulness Club we have been making dream catchers. We had a relaxing time and hope we have a good nights sleep.
Travelling by Tuba
Today we have had a visit from the music group, Travelling by Tuba. They have taken us on a musical tour around the world, introducing us to a range of unusual instruments such as the alpine horn and the sousaphone. We enjoyed listening to Stuart on the piano and Chris, on the tuba, playing a range of different pieces for us. It's always good to listen to live music!
Science role play
This term we have been having fun in the science role play area!
The Owl and the Pussy Cat
This week, the children have been reciting the poem off by heart. They came up with some actions to help them remember the poem and used lots of expression!
Science
This week, we have been investigating how materials change if they are stretched, squashed or pulled. Some materials changed shape but some returned back to their original shape. Have a look at some of our investigations!
Engineering Club
Last term, some children took part in an engineering club. As part of this club, they made marshmallow structures, rocket cars and made their own parachute to stop an egg from cracking!
Islamic Prayer Mats
As part of our R.E work, we have been looking at Islam and designing our own prayer mats. We learnt about prayer rituals and this week we have been naming different parts of the mosque.
Fantastic Mr Fox display
We have published our Fantastic Mr Fox diary entries and wanted posters and they are now up on display in the infant corridor.
The Great Fire of London Pictures
During art we have been exploring colour mixing and hot and cold colours. We have used these skills to create our own Great Fire of London scene.
The Owl and the Pussy Cat
This week we have starting to look at a classical poem; we have looked up 'new' words and explored the use of rhyme in the poem. Today we have written our own setting descriptions of 'Bong Tree Island'. We are starting to learn the poem off by heart.
Reading Club
On Fridays, some children have really enjoyed coming to Reading Club and sharing books with Y6 pupils and their peers.
Snowy days!
This week we've had a couple of snowy days and had fun playing outside.
Engineering Club
This week, we had a go at making catapults out of elastic bands and lolly sticks. We had a competition to see who could fire their pom pom the furthest.
Music
In music, we have been using the glockenspiels to play some simple melodies and accompaniments to a song called 'Hey you!'. We have also been moving to the pulse and trying to clap and copy different rhythms.
Animations
We have been learning how to create animations using Scratch Junior. We designed our very own 'knock knock joke' and learnt how to code our characters to respond at the correct times.
Engineering Club
On Monday, we started our engineering club. We investigated which materials would make a strong boat and tested them to see how many pennies they could hold.
Classifying Animals
In science this week, we played a classifying animals game. This helped us to remember the characteristics of mammals, reptiles, amphibians etc.
Colour Mixing
As part of our painting work, this week we have been learning about primary and secondary colours. We have been mixing paints to create different shades of green, orange and purple. We are going to further develop these skills next week by looking at 'hot' and 'cold' colours.
London Past and Present
We have been looking at how London has changed since 'The Great Fire of London'. We have compared London past and present before starting our work. Have a look at what we completed.
Cinderella
This morning we were all treated to a fantastic performance of the pantomime Cinderella. We thoroughly enjoyed it and thought the actors were brilliant. Here are some photographs of the show.
Welcome back!
Welcome back to school! Everyone has been working really hard this week. We've started our new topic 'The Great Fire of London' and have been busy applying our addition and subtraction skills to word problems! Have a look at some of our tricky problems.
Next week, we are going to start multiplication in maths and our class novel 'Fantastic Mr Fox'.
Homework, spellings and maths facts are all in book bags tonight.
Y2 clubs
Engineering club
After school on Monday nights from the 14th January to 25th February, 3.15pm- 4.15pm
French club
Tuesday lunchtimes
Book club
On Friday lunchtimes, the children in the book club can bring in their own book from home to share with others
12 days of Christmas Reading Challenge
As an optional task over the holidays, the children are welcome to try to read 12 books or comics over the break. There will be a sheet in their bag to record their reading and a special certificate on completion. Happy reading!
Christmas Cards
Soon you will be receiving one of our Christmas cards. We have been developing our fine motor skills by using the quilling technique. It was a challenge but they have all turned out beautifully.
Winter Art
We have looked at how trees have changed over Winter and created some of our designs using printing and collage techniques. Some of these are displayed around school.
Christmas Party
To celebrate the end of a successful term, we all had fun at our Christmas party playing musical bumps, corners, pass the parcel and we even had a visit from Santa!
The Christmas Story
We have been retelling the Christmas Story by sequencing events, writing our own versions and acting out key parts.
History of flight
During history lessons, we have been finding out about the first early flight inventions. We have been sequencing on timelines and finding out about inventors. As part of their homework this term, some children have made rockets and even a hot air balloon. Have a look at some of their creations!
Tinsel and Tea towels
All of Y2 thoroughly enjoyed taking part in this year's nativity play. There was some great singing, dancing and acting and they helped to tell the Christmas story in a lighthearted way. Here are some photos of our nativity. Thank you for coming to see our performance and for all of your kind donations to Rainbow House.
Technology Afternoon
One of the highlights of the week was visiting all of the stations in the hall. The children enjoyed programming robots, developing their control using remote control cars, as well as dancing on dance mats and using the egg scopes.
Creating Pictograms
We created our own pictograms on paper and on ipads to show the spread of eye colour in class. We then used the data to answer questions.
Lego Workshop
As part of Technology Week, year two took part in a Lego workshop. Their task was to build a Lego City and light it up. The children had a great time creating a variety of different buildings, as well as roads and parks.
Australia
This week we have been looking at the continent of Australia. We have been using the ipads to research different native animals and have been creating our own aboriginal artwork.
Portraits
During our art lessons, we have been creating portraits in the style of different artists. Have a look at our Picasso portraits and our Paul Klee creations.
Writing instructions
As part of our work on instructions, we have been reading and following written instructions to make a hand print witch. We have been looking at bossy verbs to help us write our instructions.
Bob 'The Man on the Moon' story
During our English lessons, we have been reading about Bob, the man who lives on Earth but works on the moon. We have been learning to make our sentences exciting by using good quality adjectives and conjunctions. Here are some examples of our work.
Making Twenty
This week, during our maths lessons, we have been investigating different ways of making twenty and creating addition and subtraction families of facts. Here are some photographs of our work.
Martin Mere
On Friday 22nd June both year 2 classes went on a trip to Martin Mere Wetland Centre in Ormskirk. The Children had a fantastic day exploring the centre, in the morning we were able to take part in workshops focusing on animal habitats. We all had fun pond dipping and looking for minibeasts. During the afternoon we walked around the 'Wild Walk'and visited the 'Harrier Hide'. We also had a great time spotting different animals made from Lego.
Dance from the Heart
On Wednesday 13th June we joined the rest of the school on the Key Stage 2 playground to take part in the Dance from the Heart roadshow with the coaches from South Ribble Sports Development. We even had a visit from the Mayor and Mayoress of South Ribble. We had been practicing hard and were able to dance very well for our visitors. Once the dance was finished we were treated to some circus skills which were fantastic!
Victorian Wash Day
In class we have been learning all about the Victorians and Queen Victoria. We have been comparing life then to now. We had a go at a Victorian Wash Day, we all thought it was VERY hard work but enjoyed trying out the washboard and dolly!
Victorian Dance Workshop
Sharn from South Ribble Sports Partnership came in to work with all of year two. We learnt two Victorian themed dances. First of all we worked on a Polka, it was tricky moving around the circle with our partner but we mastered it by the end of the lesson. We then learnt a dance to the song 'Consider Yourself' from the musical Oliver. We had a great time.
Creative Arts Week - Chameleon
We enjoyed listening and then working with a woodwind quintet called Chameleon. We all learnt the names of different woodwind instruments. We then created our own group compositions.
Research
We have been busy using the ipads, books, leaflets and magazines to find out facts about different nocturnal animals. We then used these facts to help us write a report.
Hothersall Lodge
Year two all really enjoyed their visit to Hothersall Lodge. During the day we did a range of activities, we did rock climbing, den building and team challenges. We all learnt lots of new skills.
Autumn Walk
We have been walking round the school grounds looking for different signs of Autumn.
Maths - Partitioning
In our maths lessons we have been looking at how you can partition numbers in a variety of different ways. Here are some examples of our work.
Instructions
In our English work we have been reading and following instructions this week, ready to write our own next week. Here are some photographs of us following instructions to make a handprint witch.
Fire Safety Talk
The children had a visit from three firefighters from Bamber Bridge fire station. The firefighters talked the children through what they should do if there was a fire at home. We also acted out some scenarios and took part in a question and answer session. The children came up with some super questions for the firefighters! 
New Technologies Week
During new technologies week year two had a great time developing their control and programming skills. The highlight of the week was a visit from Stephen the Lego man. The children created their own Lego house before joining together to make a Lego city using lights, roads and even swimming pools! 
A Midwife Crisis
Year two participated in this years nativity 'A Midwife Crisis'. The story involved a very busy midwife who was desperate to get the Bethlehem Palace to help with the delivery of a very important king. However, her journey did not go smoothly. All of the children sang, danced and performed brilliantly. Here are some photos of us.
