Living and Learning: Dental health
This week in class we have been learning about how to keep our teeth healthy. We began the lesson by sharing what we already knew about looking after our teeth. The children had lots of great ideas and talked about the importance of brushing our teeth daily, using toothpaste, flossing, visiting the dentist regularly and eating healthy foods to help keep our teeth strong.
We then explored how different foods contain different amounts of sugar. We discussed how some foods and drinks might seem healthy, but if we have too much of them they can still be harmful to our teeth.
We sorted foods into three categories: those with the least amount of sugar, those with the most amount of sugar, and foods that sit somewhere in the middle. This helped us think carefully about the choices we make and how they can affect our teeth.
We finished the lesson by discussing balance and moderation. The children learned that it is ok to enjoy treats such as chocolate and sweets sometimes, but it’s important to have them in moderation and to remember to brush our teeth afterwards. The class did a fantastic job sharing their ideas and thinking carefully about how they can take care of their teeth everyday!
World Book Day in Year 2
We had a fantastic World Book Day today and loved seeing all the different outfits and the children looked amazing.
In class we read How to be a Lion by Ed Vere and explored Leonard’s characteristics, thinking about what makes him such a unique character. We also took part in a whole-school story where each class wrote a page. Our class had the exciting job of writing the final page and deciding how the story would end.
In the afternoon, we enjoyed some quiet reading time with the Year 3s while having a hot chocolate and a biscuit, which was a lovely way to finish the day.
Fun in the Mud at Forest School
This week, the children enjoyed a wonderfully muddy first Forest School session! They explored the space with great curiosity, searching for signs of spring and noticing changes in the natural environment. The children also took part in games, working together and building confidence. These experiences encouraged them to slow down and develop a sense of awe, wonder, and respect for the world around them.
Recount Writing in Year 2
Today, Year 2 wrote a recount of their trip to Abbey House Museum. The children carefully sequenced their day using time adverbials such as First, Next, Then and Finally.
They loved remembering the different activities, especially playing with old-fashioned toys and exploring the Victorian town. We were very impressed with how clearly they explained what happened and shared their favourite parts of the day.
How you can help at home:
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Ask your child to retell a real event using time words (First, After that, Finally).
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Encourage full sentences with capital letters and full stops.
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Ask them to explain their favourite part and why.
Safer Internet Day
On Tuesday, it was Safer Internet Day and we spent the day focusing on these two key areas of online safety.
- I know that some things online may not be true (people and information).
- I know that I shouldn’t share personal information online.
We used some different texts to support this learning and our daily poem too.
We talked through what chicken clicking could of done differently to stay safe online, here are some of our responses;
He could of asked the farmer for permission first before going online
He could of asked the farmer to buy some things for him and give him the money instead
He shouldn’t of met up with a stranger because that is dangerous
He could make sure he is in a public area to ask for some help
This website reinforces key messages about how to stay safe online and not everything online is true (this could be people or information) and the importance of not sharing any of your personal information.
Friday Afternoon Book Club
Every Friday afternoon, Year 2 visit the library for Book Club. Children enjoy time to read for pleasure and choose a book to take home for the week.
This weekly visit supports our reading curriculum by building fluency, vocabulary and a love of reading.
We encourage families to read the book together at home and talk about the story.
Please remember to return library books by Friday so your child can choose a new one. Thank you for supporting our young readers.
Abbey House Museum
To enhance their history learning about old and new toys, Year 2 visited Abbey House Museum. The children thoroughly enjoyed exploring life in the past, discovering how things have changed over time and examining historical artefacts.
Walking through the Victorian street was particularly exciting and helped the children imagine what life might have been like long ago.
During a workshop, the class compared toys from the past with modern toys and learned how older toys were often made from very different materials than those used today.
Help at home
Chat to your child about this doll.
What is it made from?
How old is it?
How is it different to a modern doll?
Mouse trap
Year 2 had a fantastic time in their PE session, practising key fundamental movement skills through a fun and active game of Mouse Trap. Working in groups of three, the children collaborated to trap the ball between two players, experimenting with different-sized balls and negotiating space safely and sensibly. They showed great creativity by suggesting and trying out their own adaptations to the game. The session ended with lots of excitement as the whole class joined together for a giant Mouse Trap, showcasing teamwork, coordination and enthusiasm throughout.
Help at home:
Next week, is our visit to Abbey house. The children have been watching this video in our topic lesson to familiarise themselves with what to expect.
What are you most looking forward to seeing at Abbey house?
Fruit Salads in Food Tech
Today, Year 2 made delicious fruit salads in Food Technology. We practised washing fruit, using knives safely and keeping our fingers safe with the claw grip. We worked carefully and followed instructions well.
It was great to see the class enjoying their hard work, yum!
At home, children can help by washing fruit, mixing ingredients, or helping to make a healthy snack with an adult.
Investigating Plant Growth
This week in Science, our Year 2 children have begun a comparative test to explore how plants grow.
The children planted two sunflower seeds in identical pots. To make it a fair test, they are keeping the soil and water the same, but changing the amount of natural light each plant receives.
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One sunflower is growing on a windowsill.
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The other is growing in a closed cupboard.
As one child said,
Zara “If we change too many things, it won’t be a fair test.”
Each week, the children will measure the height of the stem using a ruler and compare how the plants grow over time. They have already been making predictions:
Ava “The one by the window will grow more because plants need sunshine.”
Building on Previous Learning
Last year, the children also planted cuttings from a spider plant. When the plant began to look unhealthy, we carefully removed it from the pot to look at the roots. The children were amazed to see how much the roots had grown.
Oliver “I didn’t know roots could be that long!”
We re-potted the spider plant into a larger pot and made new cuttings to grow more plants. This helped the children understand how roots grow and why plants sometimes need more space.