Living and Learning: mental health
Mental health is our new theme in our Living and Learning lessons. We also had a linked reading fluency text to help to understand about mental health.
First of all, this video introduced emotions and feelings.
Next, we met Maz. Maz is visiting earth to discover more about humans. Today, Maz wants to learn all about feelings.
We had lots we wanted to tell Maz about feelings…
Then, we heard about some characters and their stories. What feelings might they have? Who might need help with how they are feeling? Amir or Mia?
Talking about feelings and knowing where and how to seek help for yourself or others is very important.
Help at home: We’ve talked about how people’s faces and body language can help us to understand how others are feeling. Match the expression to the emotion. Maybe try some other emotions at home.
confused, sad, shocked, overjoyed, shy and furious
Numbots
So far in Year 2, we have awarded an amazing 82 certificates for children completing different levels as part of their Numbots journey.
Certificates are awarded on a weekly basis as well as a top 3 for the most progress made in earning coins.
Keep working hard at home. Just 10 minutes a day can really help with those addition and subtraction facts.
Trip to the Hepworth Art Gallery
Today, we had an absolutely fantastic school trip to the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield .
We started the day looking around the garden, the different galleries in the art museum and sketching some of the sculptures. We saw lots of different pieces of art and sculptures by some very famous artists.
After lunch, we took part in a print-making workshop which included looking at some Barbara Hepworth sculptures and finding inspiration from their shapes. We learned that Barbara Hepworth was inspired by nature to produce her own art. We also looked for repeated patterns in nature and produced our own drawings using tracing paper and a black frame.
Using our inspiration from the shapes and repeating patterns, we were ready to make out own piece of printed art.
Virtual author visit with James Mayhew
On Thursday, Year 2 had a very exciting virtual visit with the author James Mayhew. We know him from his series of books based on his sister Katie.
James shared with us how he begun to draw and paint as a child and this developed into writing. As we watched, James cleverly illustrated a picture whilst telling us a story. James allowed us to ask questions and we were impressed by the fact that he has had over 70 books published! He also writes around 2 books a year!
Over the next few weeks, we will be reading some of James’ books in school. So far, we have enjoyed reading ‘Katie and the Mona Lisa’ which links with our Art topic.
Living and Learning: new school charity
Every year, we vote for a new school charity to support and this week is the start of the selection process.
Our new charity will replace our current school charity St Gemma’s Hospice. An amazing £1500 has been raised for this great, local cause.
Whole school homework this week is to consider the following shortlist of charities.
The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund
The main objective of the charity is to enhance the quality of care and support available to babies, young children and adult congenital cardiac patients, who are treated at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit, based at Leeds General Infirmary. https://www.chsf.org.uk
Zarach
We receive referrals through our network of schools. We deliver a bed bundle for every child in the household that requires it; this includes a brand-new Bed, Mattress, Duvet, Pillow, Bed Sheets, Pyjamas and Hygiene Kit. We work with local partners to include Food Parcels and, if needed, a school uniform. We can also mediate between families and their support services, as well as making referrals. https://zarach.org/
Leeds Hospitals Charity
To further any charitable purpose or purposes relating to the general or any specific purposes of Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust or the purposes of the National Health Service. https://www.leedshospitalscharity.org.uk
Simon on the Streets
Objectives are to: 1) prevent and relieve hardship and need and distress amongst those who are homeless and rootless by the provision of practical and emotional support, in particular but not exclusively to those who are sleeping rough or who are unwilling or unable to accept existing provision; 2) educate the public concerning the problems of social isolation and homelessness. https://simononthestreets.co.uk/
Trussell Trust
The Trussell Trust supports a nationwide network of food banks and together we provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK. www.trusselltrust.org
Mind (The National Association for Mental Health)
We provide information and support, campaign to improve policy and attitudes and, in partnership with independent local Minds, develop and provide local services. https://www.mind.org.uk/
The charities will be reviewed in class on Thursday 23 November. Each class will vote for one charity which will be brought to the Junior Leadership Team who will have the final vote on Friday 24 November.
Design and technology food: banana sandwich
This week, Year 2 have been using their food preparation skills to create their latest product, a banana sandwich.
This forms part of our Design and Technology food learning which involves following a recipe to create a product each term.
Here are some of the skills we used.
Peeling
Bridge hold (for cutting)
Claw grip (for cutting)
Spreading
Arranging toppings
Sprinkling
The comments from the children when they got to eat their product were very positive!
I can’t stop eating it!
I’ve never had this before but I like it.
It’s the best sandwich I’ve ever had.
I’m going to make this at home for all my family.
It was unbelievable!
I didn’t think I’d like the cream cheese but it’s amazing.
The cinnamon gave it a little bit of a spicy taste.
We always evaluated our product afterwards to see how it could be changed it next time.
Well done to all the children who worked safely and sensibly with Ms Canning. Next week, we will be using this learning to help with instruction writing.
Help at home: your child has taken this recipe home. Can they demonstrate some of their food preparation skills by making this again at home.
Living and Learning: anti-bullying day and odd socks day
We kicked off anti-bullying day with our odd socks to celebrate that we are all unique and different.
First of all, we explored our school definition of bullying, created by our junior leaders, by looking at what some of the words meant.
What are the different types of bullying?
Our school definition helped us understand the different types of bullying – physical (hurting our body), emotional (hurting our feelings) or cyber bullying (online).
The story #Goldilocks looks at how we should treat everyone with respect whether it is in person or online.
How can you STOP bullying?
We used our weekly circle time to think about the role we all have to STOP bullying. Year 2 had some excellent suggestions.
Our main message is Start Telling Other People and to continue to do that until you are heard.
You can stop bullying by…
saying STOP to the bullies and if they don’t stop, tell an adult.
telling the bully to stop if you are a bystander.
being kind to people and not hurting them.
help the person being bullied and take them to an adult.
looking out for people and helping people solve problems.
telling an adult at home if it was online.
being resilient and saying STOP.
ignoring the bully, walk away and don’t say anything back to them.
What is the impact of bullying?
We used drama techniques to think about how someone being bullied might feel. By thought tracking the victim, we explored their different emotions. We also considered the role of bystanders and what they should do.
How can you get help?
Seeking help can be done in a number of different ways.
Who could you tell? (taken from our child friendly anti-bullying policy)
- Safeguarding team – Mrs Weekes, Mr Wilks and Mrs Russell
- Any other members of staff
- A trusted adult
- Someone in your family
- Friends
- Childline (0800 1111)
- Write a worry slip and put it in your Living and Learning box or the whole school worry box (outside the school office)
- Email stayingsafe@spherefederation.org
The children thought about who they would tell if they needed to Start Telling Other People.
Help at home: discuss our school definition of bullying with your child. Do they know the difference between falling out and bullying, and between a one-off situation and something that’s happened more than once?
Living and Learning: anti-bullying day and odd socks day
On Monday, all children will be learning about bullying and how to STOP bullying as part of the national antibullying week.
Our Junior Leadership Team have recently reviewed our bullying definition. As part of this, we use two STOP acronyms: Several Times On Purpose Start Telling Other People – one’s a definition of bullying and the other’s a solution.
On Monday, we will also be taking part in Odd Socks Day which celebrates that we’re all unique. Children are invited to wear odd socks to school, marking the fact we’re all different in some way.
Odd socks day sends an important message to pupils that they should be allowed to be themselves, free from bullying. It helps us celebrate anti-bullying day in a fun and positive way.
Help at home: Talk about our school definition of bullying and the differences between falling out and bullying, and between a one-off situation and something that’s happened more than once.
Living and Learning: Me and My Money week
Year 2 have been learning about all things money this week during our Me and My Money week.
This learning forms part of our Living and Learning curriculum.
At the start of the week, we had lots of questions about money.
What money do we use?
In maths, we identified and compared the different coins and notes we use in this country. The children were keen to share other currencies they’d used in different places around the world.
Why is money an important part of people’s lives?
We thought about this in our weekly circle time.
Money is important because…
It would be confusing without money.
People use money to buy the things they need to survive like shelter, food and water.
You can donate to charities.
You can save for something expensive.
Long ago, people didn’t have money and they had to swap things.
Now, money makes things fair.
What is the difference between needs and wants?
Year 1 and 2 worked together to learn what is a need and what is a want. We realised the link to our basic needs learning in science recently.
A need is food as you need this to survive.
A want is a Lego set as you can survive without this.
How do people use money?
People make different choices with their money.
Some people choose to donate money. On Monday, Steph from St Gemma’s Hospice, our current school charity, shared how our donations of £1500 have helped the hospice.
This week, we’ve been donating money to St Gemma’s Hospice by bringing any spare 1ps and 2ps to make a penny trail at the end of the week.
Where does my money come from?
We thought about where our money might come from and how that would change as we get older and have a job.
Help at home: discuss this learning with your child at home to consider how they use money and why money is important.
Me and My Money week – school charity donations
Donating money is one choice people might make when using their money.
As part of our Me and My Money themed week, we welcomed visitors from St Gemma’s Hospice, our current school charity, to hear how they have been using our donations over this year.
We have raised a staggering £1500 across the year so thank you for all of these donations. St Gemma’s Hospice are very grateful for this support.
There is one more way we can donate money this week and this is by bringing any spare 1ps or 2ps into class to deposit in each class’ saving jar.
On Friday, we shall be having a money trail with all the coins donated so please bring any spare change before then.
Here are Year 2 counting their coins so far.
