Autumn 1 Week 1  

Maths: 

This week, the children have been learning about addition and subtraction. They have been exploring number patterns and finding different calculations that give the same answer. They have also been learning how to use addition to check subtraction answers and subtraction to check addition facts. The children have been developing their understanding of number facts within 3 and building confidence in explaining how they know their answers are correct. 

English: 

This week, the children have been exploring the story The Tiger Who Came to Tea. Through lots of discussion, the children shared their ideas, thoughts and predictions about what might happen next in the story. They have been developing their sentence writing and learning to use punctuation correctly. 

The children have also been using rainbow writing to help them develop their sentences. They have been underlining parts of a sentence and then using a different coloured pen to continue and add to their ideas. They have also been working on sequencing the events of the story in the correct order. 

Project: 

Our exciting topic in Project this week is History. The children have been learning about nurses at war, with a particular focus on Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole. They have explored who these two famous nurses were and why they are remembered for their important work. 

The children created a timeline to help them understand the period from 1856 to 1900 and developed their understanding by sharing lots of questions, ideas and thoughts. They also learnt about the unhygienic conditions people experienced during this time and how poor hygiene and living conditions caused many sick people to die. 

The children enjoyed learning about how Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole helped to improve care for sick and injured people, making this an exciting and meaningful topic for them. 

Science: 

This week, the children have been learning about extreme weather and what happens when wind, heat and rain become much stronger than normal. Through lots of class discussions, the children shared their ideas and developed their understanding of different types of extreme weather. They have been learning new vocabulary, including heatwave, flood, blizzard and drought. Working in pairs, the children matched and stuck weather pictures with the correct words, helping them to remember and understand each type of extreme weather. 

The children will also be recording temperatures regularly in their science books, helping them to observe and understand how temperature can change over time. 

We hope you have a lovely weekend! 
Ms Davies and Miss Kalyan 

         

Autumn 1 Week 2 

Maths:

This week in Maths, the children have been learning all about 2D shapes. They explored both regular and irregular shapes, learning to identify and name different shapes and count their vertices (corners). The children also investigated symmetry in 2D shapes and worked together in pairs and groups to sort shapes in different ways, using the number of vertices as one of their sorting criteria. They challenged themselves to think of as many ways as possible to sort the shapes.

The children enjoyed discussing their ideas and explaining how they know which group each shape belongs to.

English:

This week in English, the children have started exploring our new book, The Frog and the Stranger. They looked carefully at the front cover and made predictions about what they thought the story might be about. The children then developed their inference skills by thinking about how the frog might be feeling and explaining their ideas. They described the characters using their own words and created a ‘Role on the Wall’ to record their thoughts and ideas about the character.

The children have also been practising using conjunctions, such as ‘and’ and ‘because’, to write super sentences and extend their ideas. They have worked hard to remember to use capital letters, finger spaces and punctuation in their writing.

Project:

Continuing our Nurses at War project, this week the children have been learning all about Mary Seacole and her incredible life. They watched a short film about Mary Seacole and then worked hard to sequence important events from her life, writing in the boxes to explain how she travelled to England and wanted to help soldiers during the war.

The children were fascinated to learn about the challenges Mary Seacole faced and how she was not always welcomed or supported by others at the time. They enjoyed discussing her bravery, determination and kindness towards the soldiers.

To finish the week, the children had lots of fun learning about the herbal remedies Mary Seacole used to help care for sick and injured soldiers. They had a go at making their own herbal remedy using honey, lemon and ginger, using a pestle and mortar to grind the ingredients. It was a hands-on and enjoyable way for the children to explore how people used natural ingredients to care for others in the past!

Science:

This week, as part of our Extreme Weather topic, the children have been learning all about clouds. They discovered how clouds can be classified and learnt about the famous meteorologist Luke Howard, who developed a system for naming clouds. The children explored the four main cloud types: cirrus, cumulus, stratus and nimbus. The children then went outdoors to observe and study the clouds in the sky, looking carefully at their shapes and appearance. Back in the classroom, they drew the clouds they had observed and discussed which type they thought they were.

To finish the week, the children had lots of fun using clay and wool to create their own models of the four different cloud types, before naming and labelling each one.

We hope you have a lovely weekend!
Miss Kalyan and Ms Davies

Autumn 1 Week 3 

Maths:

This week in Maths, the children have been looking for patterns in numbers by using known number facts to help them generate new ones. They have explored how addition and subtraction facts are linked and have been developing their understanding of fact families. The children enjoyed discussing their ideas, spotting patterns and explaining their mathematical thinking to their classmates. 

English:

This week in English, the children have begun their first piece of independent writing. The children started by using a planning grid to organise their ideas before creating a fall-and-rise story plan to plot their own story based on the characters from The Frog and the Stranger. 

The children then worked hard to chunk their stories into different sections, carefully thinking about what would happen at each stage of the narrative. They have shown great imagination and enthusiasm as they have developed their own versions of the story. Next week, the children will complete their stories before learning how to edit, improve and publish their work. 

Project:

Continuing our Nurses at War project, the children explored a range of primary sources to help them learn about the past. They discussed what photographs, letters and other historical sources can tell us about people's lives and experiences. 

The children then enjoyed taking part in a role-play activity, imagining what might happen if Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale were to meet. They used their knowledge of both significant figures to think about the conversations they might have had and the important work they carried out during the Crimean War. 

Science:

This week, as part of our Extreme Weather topic, the children have been learning all about rain, building on their knowledge of clouds from last week. 

The children made their own rain gauges and discussed how they could be used to measure rainfall. They also carried out an exciting experiment to create a rain cloud in a jar using hot water, ice cubes and hairspray. This helped them to understand how clouds form and how precipitation occurs. The children loved observing the changes and discussing their scientific observations. Sadly, it has not rained this week so we have been unable to see if the rain gauge works!

We hope you have a lovely weekend! 

Ms Davies and Miss Kalyan

Autumn 1 Week 4 

Maths:

This week in Maths, we have been learning all about length and height. The children have used rulers to measure objects accurately in centimetres (cm) and have compared heights using metres (m) and centimetres (cm). They have practised making sensible estimates before measuring and have enjoyed tackling some extra challenges to deepen their understanding. The children have also ordered objects and heights from shortest to tallest and used a range of practical, hands-on resources to support their learning. We are very proud of the enthusiasm and effort they have shown throughout this topic.

English:

English has been lots of fun this week! Last week, the children wrote their own versions of The Rat and the Stranger, including a beginning, build-up, problem, solution and ending. They worked hard to develop their ideas and create their own stories.

This week, the children have been learning how to use a dictionary to find and correct words they have misspelt in their stories. They have practised finding the meanings of words, checking spellings, and understanding how to use a dictionary independently. The children have also been editing and improving their own writing by spotting grammar mistakes, correcting punctuation, and choosing better vocabulary to make their stories more interesting and effective. We have been very impressed with their perseverance and growing confidence as young writers.

Project:

Project has been lots of fun this week! The children continued learning about the important nurses Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole, exploring their lives and the significant contributions they made to nursing. They discussed how healthcare has changed over time and compared it to the care people receive today.

The children also learnt about how people in the past used natural materials to weave baskets for carrying and storing items. They explored different weaving techniques and looked at examples of traditional baskets. To bring their learning to life, the children enjoyed creating their own woven baskets using card and strips of paper. They showed great concentration, patience and creativity while carefully weaving the paper over and under to create their designs. It was wonderful to see the children developing their fine motor skills and taking pride in their finished work.

Science:

Science has been full of exciting investigations this week as the children explored how temperature changes the world around us. They learnt about Anders Celsius, the scientist who invented the Celsius scale, which we use to measure temperature today.

The children practised using thermometers correctly to measure temperature and learnt how to read temperatures in degrees Celsius (°C). They discovered the importance of holding a thermometer carefully and discussed how our body heat can affect the reading.

The class also investigated the difference between snow and ice. They learnt that when the temperature falls to 0°C or below, water freezes. They explored how snow forms from tiny frozen water crystals and how ice can be created when these crystals are pressed together. The children enjoyed designing their own unique snowflakes and learning about their six-sided patterns.

To put their scientific skills into practice, the children carried out an investigation around school to find the coldest locations. They measured and compared temperatures in different places, recorded their results, and made predictions about where snow would be most likely to stay or melt. The children then used their findings to write conclusions and explain their scientific thinking. It has been wonderful to see them developing their observation, measuring and enquiry skills while exploring the world around them.

We hope you have a lovely weekend!
Miss Kalyan and Ms Davies

 

Autumn 1 Week 5 

Maths: 

This week in Maths, we have been exploring length and measurement in a variety of practical ways. We began by estimating the lengths of different objects before measuring them accurately using rulers. We learnt about different units of measurement and discussed which unit is most suitable depending on the size of an object. We also compared lengths using mathematical vocabulary such as longer, shorter and equal. To develop our understanding further, we found halves and doubles of different lengths, making links to our 2 times tables knowledge. We have enjoyed applying these new skills through hands-on measuring activities and problem-solving challenges. 

English: 

This week in English, we began exploring our new class text, Luna Loves to Dance. Using VIPERS, we discussed the story and developed our comprehension skills by answering questions about the characters and events. We then focused on sentence building, using sentence strips to help us create clear and interesting sentences. We learnt how to join ideas using the conjunctions and, but and or, before extending our sentences further with the word because. We also explored Luna’s feelings throughout the story, creating an emotions graph and discovering that the story follows a fall-and-rise pattern as Luna faces challenges before finding happiness and success. 

Project: 

This week in Project, we became designers as we planned and created our own woven baskets. First, we thought carefully about the purpose of our basket and made decisions about the colours, materials and overall design. We also considered whether our basket would need a handle and how this would affect its use. Using a weaving wheel, we carefully wove our baskets, showing patience, concentration and creativity throughout the process. We are very pleased with how our baskets are taking shape. Next week, we will add handles where needed and evaluate our finished products, reflecting on what worked well and any improvements we could make. 

Science: 

This week in Science, we investigated how heat and moisture affect soil and plant growth. We discussed how warmer conditions can help plants grow and explored why plants need the right amount of water to stay healthy. As part of our learning, we examined soil from different areas around the school and compared how wet or dry it was. We thought about the reasons for these differences, such as shade, sunlight and rainfall. The children enjoyed working scientifically by observing, comparing and discussing their findings, helping them understand how environmental conditions can influence the growth of living things. 

We hope you have a lovely weekend! 
Ms Davies and Miss Kalyan

Autumn 1 Week 6 

Maths:

This week in Maths, the children have been learning about counting in 2s, grouping and sharing, and division. They have used practical resources to make equal groups, explored arrays, and developed their understanding of how division works. The children also enjoyed taking part in problem-solving activities, where they applied their learning to tackle a range of challenges and explain their reasoning. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and confidence grow throughout the week. The children thoroughly enjoyed their Maths lessons and worked very hard. Well done, everyone!

English:

This week in English, the children have had great fun planning and creating their very own stories inspired by our class book, Luna Loves Dance. They began by exploring the characters through a Role on the Wall activity before planning their own story ideas. Using a story map, they carefully structured their writing with a beginning (setting), build-up, dilemma/problem, solution. They will be completing the ending of their story on Monday.

Throughout the week, the children have been working hard to improve their writing by using adjectives to make their descriptions more interesting, rainbow writing to practise key vocabulary, and ensuring they use the correct punctuation in the right places. The children have shown lots of creativity and enthusiasm, and we are looking forward to reading their finished stories next week!

Project:

This week in Project, the children evaluated their woven baskets and reflected on their work. It was exciting to hear their thoughts about what they had done well and how they could improve their baskets if they were to make them again. The children showed great maturity in discussing what they were proud of and what they would do differently next time.

We also read a book about Florence Nightingale. The children were fascinated by her life and the important work she did as a nurse. They showed a great deal of interest throughout the lesson, asking lots of thoughtful questions and making connections with their learning about hospitals and healthcare. It was wonderful to see their curiosity and enthusiasm for finding out more about such an inspirational historical figure.

Science:

This week in science, the children explored temperature and learnt how to read and compare temperatures. They carried out an investigation by measuring the temperature inside the classroom and outside, discussing the differences they observed. The children carefully recorded their results in their books and used their findings to compare which areas were warmer or cooler. They enjoyed being scientists and investigating the world around them through hands-on learning.

We hope you have a lovely weekend!
Miss Kalyan and Ms Davies

Autumn 1 Week7  

Maths: 

This week in Maths, we continued our learning about multiplication and division, exploring how the two concepts are linked together. We enjoyed spotting patterns and using our knowledge to solve different problems. It was wonderful to welcome parents into our Maths lesson and share some of our learning with them. We have also been practising our 2, 5 and 10 times tables. Please continue to encourage your child to use TTRS (Times Tables Rock Stars) at home to help build their confidence and fluency. 

English: 

In English, we have been editing our fall and rise stories. We are learning how to use a checklist and a dictionary to improve our writing by correcting spellings, punctuation and grammar. The children are becoming excellent writers and are beginning to take greater responsibility for checking and improving their own work. 

Project: 

In Project, we evaluated the baskets we created and reflected on our weaving techniques. The children thought carefully about what worked well and what they might do differently next time. We were also lucky to have a visit from a nurse who works at Lister Hospital. She helped us compare life in modern hospitals with life in hospitals when Florence Nightingale was alive. The children asked thoughtful questions and enjoyed learning about how healthcare has changed over time. 

We all thoroughly enjoyed the HCF’s Got Talent competition. We were especially proud when it was won by our very own Mohammad from Year 2, who impressed everyone with his fantastic Fun Facts Science Show. Congratulations, Mohammad! 

Well done, Year 2, for another fantastic week of learning and achievement! 🌟 

We hope you have a lovely half term! 
Ms Davies and Miss Kalyan