In year 2 we have started off the year learning about food. We have already learnt about food groups and the types of food we need to stay healthy. We used inspiration from Giuseppe Arcimboldo to create our own fruit face pictures and have designed healthy lunch boxes. We are looking forward to learning more about food in year 2 and have a food workshop in school next week.

Welcome to our year 2 blog. This week, 2DG won the mathletics trophy! We won because we did so well on Mathletics. We were excited to hear that the chicks have grown even bigger. Mrs Evett showed us some photographs and videos of the chicks. We couldn't believe it that the chicks can fly out of a travel cot! They have changed a lot since they left year two. We have been doing lots of fun and exciting activities to keep us busy!

I haven’t met anyone else able to say that they spent their half term buying and blowing up planets…granted these were the inflatable type. Many of the Key Stage 1 children have been visibly intrigued by the sight of them since.  Brilliantly, it quickly led to a pupil initiated conversation among my class as to whether Pluto should or shouldn’t be suspended from the classroom ceiling along with the other eight planets, Earth’s moon and the sun.
 
Admittedly part of the decision to turn my classroom ceiling into a mini solar system was personal interest. A number of years ago I sent my photo off to NASA for them to fly on the last space shuttle launch.  Last summer I visited New Zealand’s National Observatory where I used a 130 year old telescope to take a look at Saturn. It is possible that I am just as excited for Year 2’s Planetarium trip in a couple of weeks’ time as they are!
 
Using the children’s wonder and curiosity, in class we have been researching different things about space. So far we have learnt how the sun is made up of gases, Saturn’s rings from ice and asteroids are lumps of rock. “I liked learning about the planets because they are different and far away” said Lauren.  “Neil Armstrong was the first astronaut to set foot on the moon, I think he felt excited and brave to be the first person in the whole world to do this” said Alfie.
 
For those who share my enthusiasm, the International Space Station is due to be visible in the night sky on Saturday 5th March for two minutes, somewhere between 6am and 6:15am. Check online for up-to-date details: in-the-sky.org or spotthestation.nasa.gov. There is a popular Android app called ISS Detector Satellite Tracker or for IOS users there’s a less well known app called ISS Spotter, both appear to have positive reviews.
 
It is only fair to admit, the awestruck but very satisfied teacher feeling about the Dwarf Planet conversation soon got a reality check. Alongside my inflatable planets are astronauts, space shuttles, rockets and some green aliens. The collection came in a range of different sizes. Therefore it didn’t take very long for a child to ask “Mr. Powell, are astronauts really that big?”  So, Major Tim Peake, if you are reading this please help, where should we put you on our school height chart?
 
#cosmicclassroom     #principia     @astro_timpeake

The children in 2JP agreed their class target for this half term would be: ‘amazing sentences and beautiful handwriting’.

These are not just idle words. We know that it is good to show off our work at its best.  This way we can more effectively show others what we have learnt.  In a recent visit Mrs. Coates was pleased to see Dayna looking back at her corrections within her Guided Reading book to enable her to correct how she joins when using the letter ‘f’!

In class individual achievement is celebrated through feedback.  Exemplar work is recognised in our displays.  Additionally we help each other along in raising the standard of our work through peer mentoring.  Our WOW window has the name of a boy and girl Writer of the Week who we can refer to for examples of good work.
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We know that our presentation matters throughout our learning, not just in our handwriting practice.  Please continue to encourage us at home with our written work to join up.  After all, you can see for yourself, below, the progress we have made in school. 

​This half term our central idea is ‘People use different forms of expression to convey their uniqueness as human beings.’ We have begun to investigate this by looking at different musicals and exploring how composers create mood. Using these ideas, we created our own compositions as a team. It was so much fun!
 
In English we received an exciting package of interesting pictures from Africa which we will use to help us write our own story from another culture. We are using different descriptive techniques to make our stories amazing.
 
In Maths, we have been solving number problems! We will continue to develop our mental strategies to improve our addition and subtraction. We have found that working on our Numeracy Passports targets really helps us to do this! 

​In 2DG this term, we have enjoyed listening to the sounds of fireworks and used these to create onomatopoeia poems. The different sounds really helped with creating atmosphere in our writing. We have started to look at diary writing and how this can express feelings alongside recounting events. Fortunately, Mummy Pig visited us and we helped her to write diaries for her three little pigs and how they felt when they were forced to leave home!
 
In maths, we are busy focusing on the different strategies for the four rules. We have been learning our multiplication tables for two times tables and remembering these important facts off by heart. This can help us with related division facts this week.
 
Our teachers were very proud of us during the Remembrance Service. We showed our respect during the two minutes silence and enjoyed being choosen to represent the school at this important service. We then created white poppies with images and words related to peace which will be made into special wreaths to be displayed in school.

Our second half term in year 2 has had quite a busy start. We are now beginning to prepare for our Christmas production and will soon be learning lines, songs and dances!
We have begun learning and enquiring into our new central idea for this term ‘influential people can shape a community’. Our learning has been led by our new interest in Robin Hood. We have looked into the communities in the story and have compared them to our own local community. We have even held a debate about whether or not he was a good person!
We have also been invited to join members of the local community to remember the fallen soldiers of the First World War at the remembrance service led by Canon Paul and the Royal British Legion.