What a fantastic first half term we have had in Year 2!
The children have been so engaged and eager to learn about our topic ‘ To Infinity and Beyond’, where we have been focusing on all things Space. It has been lovely to see them so happy to return to school and we are really enjoying having them back!

In Languages, Literacy and Communication, we have read lots of Space stories and Year 2 have written brilliant retells of them, using lots of story language, punctuation, and beautiful handwriting.

We have looked at the Solar System and know about all eight of the planets. The children have written their own non-fiction booklets sharing some fun facts about the planets.

In Science and Technology, we investigated rockets and had a super time launching rockets with Mr. Mansfield on the school field. We have been busy completing lots of different investigations. We investigated what happened to lots of different foods when they were heated or cooled. We investigated what material would be best to block out our space role play. We looked at the different types of materials (Opaque, Translucent, Transparent) and sorted objects from around the classroom into the different groups. We made a super stop motion video explaining why we have day and night. We absolutely loved learning what astronauts eat in space and got to taste freeze-dried space ice-cream. We also had a wonderful surprise when we walked into the hall to find the planetarium dome! It was fantastic to learn all about Space, looking up at the night sky inside the dome. What an experience! We also had some children from KS2’s Department of Technology come down to help us to log on to HWB. They were so helpful!

In Humanities, we have learnt all about Neil Armstrong and the first moon landing. We have research different female astronauts that have been into Space too. To celebrate Diwali we made coconut ladoo balls, made a diwali lamp garland and symmetrical rangoli patterns.

In Expressive Arts, we have learnt about Van Gogh and focussed on his famous painting ‘Starry Night.’ We recalled facts about the artists, gave our opinions about different pieces of his art work, learnt what type of artist he is and analysed the painting ‘Starry Night,’ created a collaborative piece of art of the painting and created our own textured ‘Starry Night’ inspired paintings.

In Mathematics and Numeracy, we have been focussing on numbers within 100, bonds of 5, 10 and 100, adding 1 digit numbers to a 2 digit number, subtracting 1 digit numbers from 2 digit numbers and adding and subtracting 10 and multiples of 10.

In Health and Wellbeing, we have learnt why astronauts need to eat to be fit and healthy. We looked at the different food groups and made a healthy plate of food for an astronaut. We have loved taking part in our tennis sessions and have built up our skills to playing a game of tennis. We have had Newport Live in to do football workshops and some pupils went to a mini football tournament with Mr Jones.

We have loved cooking in our new cooking suite, where we made Diwali coconut ladoo balls and Space cakes to be sold out of the hatch. Thank you to everyone who bought a cake.

Over half term, we would love to see and hear that children have interacted with Hwb, Bug club, NESSY, and Mathletics.

We are so proud of Year 2 and look forward to welcoming them back after half term .