Here is what Year 2 have been up to this week...

English

In our English lessons this week we have been diving into the enchanting story of The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl, and the children have shown immense enthusiasm in exploring the themes and characters.

This week, we focused on the use of emotive language, which allowed the children to express their feelings about the events in the story. To help with this, we used an emotion map, a fantastic tool that enabled them to identify and articulate the various emotions that the characters experience. It was truly wonderful to see how engaged they were during these discussions!

Following this, each child had the opportunity to step into the shoes of one of the characters and write a letter expressing how certain parts of the story impacted them emotionally. It was a brilliant exercise that not only fostered their creativity but also encouraged them to reflect on their feelings and thoughts.

In addition to honing their expressive writing skills, we have been focusing on the structural components of writing. The children have been practising the use of past and present tense, writing in the first person, and incorporating a variety of punctuation marks into their work. This multifaceted approach is helping them become more confident and competent writers.

Reading

Reading at 3 - Every Friday at 3 our doors will be open for you to come in and read with your child, please note, this will be for the full 15 minutes and children should not leave any earlier. Their books will be set up and ready for you to come in and enjoy listening to their wonderful reading.

Reading folders – Some children will continue to bring home two books, one being a RWI home book. Children are expected to try and read this three times during the week to ensure they are building on their reading fluency. The RWI home books will be changed by an adult.

The other book (with the coloured sticker) should be changed independently by the child themselves - first thing in the morning is a great time to do this!

Many children have now been moved onto the accelerated reader programme. (Please check their reading records for their ZPD scores. We will continue to assess and move more children onto this when they are ready. Children can change these books after they have completed the quiz online. The AR login can be found here… https://global-zone61.renaissance-go.com/welcomeportal/1892319

For a guide on how to use Accelerated Reader please click here… https://www.chiltonprimary.co.uk/accelerated-reader

Please ensure that the reading folders are placed in the reading trays/baskets, so we can read with your children and ensure books get changed. Thank you for your support with this!

Please listen to your child read as much as possible at home and record this in their reading records. Every week, one child from each class will receive a reading certificate in our Chilton Heroes assembly.

Maths

In our maths lessons this week, particularly in our study of statistics. The children have been delightful in their eagerness to learn, and it has truly been a week filled with mathematical exploration!

We delved into a variety of tables and charts, enhancing our understanding of how we interpret data. The students demonstrated great interest in analysing information and drawing meaningful conclusions from it. This is an essential skill not only in maths but also in everyday life!

One of the highlights of our lessons included working with Carroll diagrams and Venn diagrams. The children enjoyed categorising different items and visualising how they relate to one another. These activities not only solidified their understanding of statistics but also encouraged teamwork and communication as they worked together in pairs and small groups.

Thematic

During our thematic lessons this week, focusing on geography, we have been immersing ourselves in the fascinating world of maps and navigation. The children have engaged in activities that have encouraged them to use locational and directional language, allowing them to describe specific locations or routes beautifully. We even turned our school environment into a map-making adventure! The children created detailed maps around the school, which was not only fun but also an invaluable learning experience.

Additionally, we delved into the concept of compasses and the four primary compass points—North, South, East, and West. Understanding how to orient ourselves is an essential skill, and I was incredibly impressed by how quickly the children grasped this concept. They are now adept at identifying directions, which will undoubtedly aid them in future geography lessons.

We wrapped up the week by designing symbols for a key to accompany their maps. The children have shown tremendous creativity in coming up with symbols that represent various locations and features, reinforcing their understanding of how maps convey information.

The Great Science Share!

As you may be aware, our year group has been exploring the question, “What do animals need in a habitat?” a topic that has truly sparked the children’s curiosity!

Our day at Wildwood was nothing short of fantastic. Our pupils had the opportunity to observe various animal habitats and learn directly from the wonderful staff about how different species adapt to their environments. Their enthusiasm was infectious! We also enhanced our learning by investigating microhabitats right here at school, and the children were wonderfully engaged in discovering the myriad of life that exists just under our noses.

In addition to these experiences, some of our children have created a video showcasing what they learned during our Great Science Share.

Love to Learn

This week’s challenge: Create your own data chart!

We would love for you to become a data detective this week by collecting information from your family and presenting it in your own table, pictogram or chart.

What to do:

1. Choose something fun to investigate at home.
   Here are some ideas to get you started:

   • What is your family’s favourite fruit?

   • In which month is everyone’s birthday?

   • What’s everyone’s favourite chocolate bar?

   • What colour do people like best?

   • Which pets does each family member like the most?

2. Ask your family members (or friends, neighbours, or toys if needed!) and collect your data.

3. Present your data in a way you choose:

   • A table

   • A pictogram (using pictures or symbols)

   • A bar chart

4. Answer questions about your data.
   You could write or talk about:

   • What was the most popular?

   • What was the least popular?

   • What is the difference between two groups?

   • How many people altogether did you ask?

5. Optional:
   You can decorate your chart, add labels, and even give your chart a title!

Dates to Remember

30th June – New intake Reception Team Periwinkle Stay and Play 1.30-2.30

1st July – New intake Team Teal Stay and Play 1.30-2.30

1st July – Music evening at 6pm

2nd July – Year 1 class assembly 2.50-3.05pm

2nd/3rd/4th July – Year 6 transition days to secondary school (these days will vary depending on which school your child is joining)

3rd July – New intake taster day in school am 9.30-11am and pm 1.30-3pm

4th July – Summer fair from 3.30pm

8th and 9th July – Year 6 production from 6pm in school hall

8th July – Year 6 SATs results published

10th July Sports Day – KS2 9.15-12 Reception and KS1 1.30-3

11th July – Reports go out to parents

14th, 15th 16th July – Transition days; children to spend these days with their new class teachers

15th July – Fun in the Sun day 1.45-2.45pm; Parents from Team Sky and Ocean invited in to have a fun in the sun session in order to meet their child’s new class teacher

17th July – Inflatable fun day in school for all children

17th July 3.15pm-5.30pm – Year 6 Party at school

18th July – Year 6 Graduation from 9.45am

18th July – Year 6 to leave school from blue allotment gate at 1.00pm

18th July – School finishes at 2pm for Reception to Year 5

 

Thank you for all your support and we hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Miss Kennedy, Mrs Winchcombe and all the Year 2 team.

Mrs Poppy Winchcombe – Team Azure – poppy.winchcombe@chiltonprimary.co.uk

Miss Maddy Kennedy – Team Peacock – maddy.kennedy@chiltonprimary.co.uk