20th September 2019

Class 2 have settled into their new routine. They are grouped for either phonics or spellings and Year 1 Maths is taught by Mrs Marsh and Year 2 Maths is taught by Mrs Langton. At the moment, we are doing our mile a day run, mid-morning. The children are encouraged to drink from their water bottle straight afterwards, which is positioned adjacent to the classroom entrance. In Literacy, we have been reading The Tiger Came to Tea and Dogger. The Year 2 children have been retelling the story and editing their writing. The Year 1 children have been focusing on using capital letters, full stops and finger spaces. Some children have been using a conjunction in their sentences too. In Science, we’ve been learning about how we use our five senses. In Geography, we have looked at a map of Rettendon, locating the school, Little Darwins and the church. We have also written about the different types houses we live in or have visited. 

4th October 2019

This week, Year 2 have been learning to add in tens and ones, using the column method.

In PE, we have loved our football lessons with the coach and practising catching skills. In Art, we’ve been painting beautiful starry skies, in the style of Vincent Van Gogh and in Geography, we’ve enjoyed using compasses to find North, South, East and West.

Class 2 are still running everyday but due to time restraints we do not have time to change into running shoes, so the children have been able to take them home.

18th October 2019

Class 2 have been learning about our local area in Geography and History. Mrs Fallows took us on a ‘history walk’ of Rettendon. Amongst other things, we learnt that the church is 1000 years old, the oldest tree is an oak tree that is 400 years old and the Community Hall was originally a soldier’s hut during WW1. We’ve been learning compass directions and have enjoyed drawing them in chalk outside. In PE the coach has been teaching dribbling and how to pass the ball in different ways, using the inside of the foot, outside of the foot and how to pull back the ball. 

8th November 2019

Class 2 have been starting each day practising their fine motor skills by learning running stitch. This is in preparation for a sewing project this half term. In Geography, we have been comparing the similarities and differences between the countryside and a town. We discussed the pros and cons of each and then made a model scene with Lego, blocks, people and animals. We have enjoyed using the new yoga mats and this week practised balances, including the crow, flamingo, tree and dancer pose. Class 1 and 2 are joining together for The Nativity. Roles have been assigned and there has been some lovely singing, which you might have already heard at home! 

22nd November 2019

In Science, class 2 have been learning about the properties of different materials and sorting items into groups. We have been comparing and describing metal, wood, plastic, glass, fabric and water. PE is currently on a Thursday and Friday. We have been doing yoga on Thursday and we have a dance and drama coach on Friday, who has been choreographing the moves for a couple of our Nativity songs.

Class 2’s Vincent Van Gogh Art work of a Starry Night Sky looks fabulous on display, demonstrating the children’s swirly brush techniques. Thank you to those of you who have sent in Nativity costumes already. Please could the costumes be brought in by Tuesday 10th December, so that we can do a dress rehearsal on Wednesday 11th. Thank you for your support. 

17th January 2020

Class 2 have settled back to school quickly and it was lovely to see so many smiley faces last Monday. There are some new lessons and topics, including Spanish with Mrs Meecham and Gymnastics. In Science we are looking at the changing of seasons; this week we collated our favourite activities that we like to do in winter, spring, summer and autumn. In Art we are studying winter trees, looking at winter skies and drawing tree silhouettes. In RE we are learning about Judaism and the significance of burning candles in all religious celebrations. In a History, Mrs Marsh is teaching the class about the landing of the first man on the moon. 

31st January 2020

Class 2 have been trying really hard to demonstrate ‘kindness’ with each other. They help each other tidy up, pick up a lost coat, help up a child that has tripped over, assist each other in tricky tasks or fetch a tissue for those runny noses. 

In Science we have been describing the seasonal changes between autumn and winter, learning about the change in daylight hours, temperature and the changes in what we wear. They are hopeful for snow!

In Art they have been continuing with their Winter Tree Art. Having painting a faded winter sky, they are now creating tree silhouettes with black paper. There have been some superb pieces of art produced, with some children painting the Northern Lights as a backdrop to their trees. 

In RE we have been learning about the Jewish story of Princess Esther and the importance of having courage and standing up for what you believe. Next week, we hope to make Hamadan biscuits and hats from the story of Esther. 

In Spanish, with Mrs Meacham, they have been learning Baby Shark in Spanish and are now learning their colours.

6th March 2020

In Maths, the Year 2’s have been learning to read temperature, using a thermometer.  We have been estimating and measuring the temperature of freezing water, warm water and hot water. We have just started to learn how to read and compare information on picture graphs, which we then converted into tally charts. 

In English, the Year 2’s have been reading the poem ‘Aliens Stole My Underpants’. The children have been learning about rhythm and rhyme and are now writing their own version of the poem, using fantastic adjectives. 

In RE, Class 2 made Haman hat biscuits with Mrs Ballantyne. We have been learning about the evil character called Haman, from the Jewish story of ‘Princess Esther’. In Art we have been looking at famous artists’ interpretation of winter landscapes and the children painted their favourite. In Science we have been learning about animals in winter and which ones either hibernate, migrate or adapt. In Gymnastics the children have been practising jumping with two feet from a springboard, taking off from a bench, climbing the ropes and the bars. In Spanish, with Mrs Meecham they have been learning the names of colours.