Monday 30 June 2014

Year 2 are keeping fit!

Year 2 have come up with a way of keeping fit!

We have created a table to inspire us to get fitter.  In small groups, the children picked three exercises that they wanted to complete.  They had to count the number of times that they did the exercise (e.g. star jump, sit up, push up, high knees, squat, skipping) in thirty seconds.  We recorded the results into a table.

It was a lot harder than a lot of the children thought it would be but they are determined to get fitter and want to repeat the activity to see if they can improve on their times.

We also had a lot of FUN!







Wednesday 25 June 2014

Amazon rainforest

As part of our topic on Brazil, Year 2 have been learning about the Amazon rainforest.  We were surprised how large the rainforest is and discovered why it has been referred to as the lungs of the world. 

We learnt that there are four layers of the rainforest.  I'm not going to give the answers away! You will need to ask a Year 2 child and see if they can impress you with these layers.  We worked in small groups to paint the Amazon rainforest.  In the paintings, you will see the four layers of plants.  The class were very pleased with the outcome of their paintings.  If you want to see their art, it is currently displayed on our windows.  A big thank you to Leah in Year 5 for helping the children set up.












Friday 20 June 2014

We LOVE reading!

Year 2 have really taking to reading this term.  They have enjoyed reading to their partners and supporting each other.  I've noticed that a lot more children are reading at home to an adult (the 'Reading Ladder' is looking good!) and some children have started reading stories aloud to the whole class.   This is particularly good as this will develop your child's self esteem and confidence with reading and develop their speaking skills and ensure that they read with a lot of expression to capture their audience. Well done Year 2.



Wednesday 4 June 2014

Rabbi Rafi


Year 2 invited Rabbi Rafi from St Albans Masorti Synagogue into our class to learn more about his role and responsibilties as a rabbi. 

Rafi told us a lots of interesting information about his job and we learnt so much!  Rafi was really funny and the children loved having him in our class.

We learnt that rabbi means teacher and that he teaches children and adults.  He prays three times a day and that he wears a kippah to remind him that God is always around him.

We cannot wait to meet Rabbi Rafi again and even maybe visit his synagogue.


Fantastic science

Do you know what a force is?  Year 2 have been learning about forces this week in science. 

We have been investigating how pushes and pulls work.  We found out that if you push a car softly, it would go slowly and only travel a short distance compared to pushing a car with more force.

We have also investigated how far cars would travel on different surfaces. We put the cars on a ramp with wood, sandpaper and carpet and then measured the distance that the car travelled.  It was important to keep the test fair by keeping the car and the height of the ramp the same in the investigation. 

Can you predict what surface was best to make the car travel furthest? I'm not going to tell you the answer! You will have to investigate this yourself - you can ask a child in Year 2 to help you!





Poetry Open Day

Year 2 have been practicing some Limericks by Edward Lear in preparation for the Poetry Open Day in July.

We will be hoping to learn some of these poems and recite these by heart before performing them in front of a large audience.

Join in the fun and read the limericks out too!

There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said 'It is just as I feared!
Two Owls and a Hen,
Four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard!'


There was an Old Man on a hill,
Who seldom, if ever, stood still;
He ran up and down,
In his Grandmother's gown,
Which adorned that Old Man on a hill.


There was an Old Man in a tree,
Who was horribly bored by a Bee;
When they said, 'Does it buzz?'
He replied, 'Yes, it does!'
'It's a regular brute of a Bee!'


There was a Young Lady whose chin,
Resembled the point of a pin;
So she had it made sharp,
And purchased a harp,
And played several tunes with her chin.


There was a Young Lady whose nose,
Was so long that it reached to her toes;
So she hired an Old Lady,
Whose conduct was steady,
To carry that wonderful nose.