Year 2 Class News

Living and Learning: health and prevention

Over the last two weeks, Year 2 have been learning about keeping our bodies healthy.

Firstly, we considered good hygiene. Most microbes do not harm us and some are actually very helpful. However, some microbes can harm us and these are called germs.

We can’t get rid of every single germ but we can think about how to keep them away and stop them from spreading.

Good handwashing is a key part of being hygienic. We reminded ourselves of how to wash our hands properly.

We already use an important technique to stop germs spreading by covering our mouth and nose with the inside of our elbow (the vampire technique).

We also discussed the importance of sleep in our weekly circle time.

All of the children could give a good example of why sleep is important from helping our memory to helping us grow.

This website provides more information about the importance of sleep for children.

Dental health is another key aspect of being healthy.

We thought about teeth-friendly food and drink, how to keep our teeth clean and to understand how our adults and dentists help to keep our teeth healthy.

• For children under 7 years, a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is recommended and brushing should be supervised.
• Children should be encouraged to spit out after brushing rather than rinsing with water, so that the fluoride remains on the teeth.
• It is recommended that water and plain milk are drunk.
• Children aged 5-7 years should visit their dentist for a regular check-up (every 6 months)

Help at home: sleep, dental health and good hygiene are all important aspects of keeping healthy. Discuss with your child which of these they want to improve and the steps to do this.

Summer term after-school clubs

Geography Topic – Explorers

This half-term,  in Year 2, we are being geographers. This week we have been learning the names of the seven continents and five oceans. The children have enjoyed learning two songs to help them remember. We have also enjoyed exploring google earth and looking at a globe.

Oceans song

Continents song 

How can you help?

Google Earth is a brilliant tool to help develop children’s understanding of space, place, scale and interdependence. Zoom right in on your home and then zoom out to reveal the area of Leeds that you live in. Zoom further out to see what city you live. Zoom further for the county. A little further and you might start to spot some national parks. Further still and you can see the country that we live in. Keep zooming and you’ll see the continent we live in (though this isn’t labelled).

Quizzing your children about some locational knowledge will help them to remember important information.

• Which continent do we live in?
• Which country do we live in?
• In which hemisphere is our country located?
• Which county do we live in?
• Which city do we live in?
• Which part of Leeds do we live in?
• Which four countries make up the United Kingdom?

Class novel – The Worst Witch

In Year 2, over the next few weeks, we will be reading The Worst Witch, by Jill Murphy. We will link reading and writing learning with it too, as well as enjoying immersing ourselves in the story. We already love Mildred and her cat!

Help at home by talking about what has happened so far.

Science: biology

This half term, we are starting our science learning as biologists. We return to learning about plants (including bulbs and seeds) and what they need to survive.

Here is the vocabulary we are learning.

First of all, we investigated different seeds and bulbs. We used hand lenses to observe them closely. We thought about how the seeds and bulbs were the same and different and used this to group them.

Help at home: have a look at foods at home. Are they grown from a seed or a bulb?

Computer programmers

This half term, Year 2 have enjoyed being computer programmers.

Throughout the computing topic, we have been using the following vocabulary.

First of all, our learning was based offline. We used lots of directional vocabulary to create algorithms to move a sprite.

Then, we looked at some algorithms that didn’t work. Debugging is the term for finding and fixing bugs in an algorithm.

After that, we moved onto online programming using the Beebot robots. The Beebots need precise commands to work.

Finally, we created our own games using the Beebots and we tested out our programs. The children worked well in their groups especially when some debugging was needed.

Thank you to the parents who came into class recently for our topic review. We hoped you enjoyed seeing this learning in action.

Help at home: we have also thought about lots of different algorithms in real life. Discuss the need for clear instructions when you are doing things at home.

Big Walk and Wheel final position

After the two week Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel walking, scooting and cycling challenge, we now have the final results.

In our category of small primary schools, we finished in 20th place out of 459 schools with an average of 89.81% active journeys to school. We achieved the highest national (20th) and Northern England (3rd) ranking out of those schools in Leeds taking part.

With a total of 1655 active journeys across the two weeks, this is a great achievement and we want to thank families for supporting this challenge.

Help at home: By walking, cycling and scooting to school, you are helping us make a positive change to the school run. With less cars close to the school gates, this is a safer and healthier way to start the day.

Big walk and wheel update

We’ve had a great start to the Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel walking, scooting and cycling challenge this week.

After the first five days, we are currently in 19th place (out of 549 schools) in the small primary category with an average of 84.76% of our journeys to school being active. This is a great achievement and we want to thank families for supporting this challenge.

To keep up with the leader board for the rest of the challenge, it can be viewed here.

The Big Walk and Wheel challenge continues until Friday 22nd March so we look forward to seeing our progress over the upcoming week.

Help at home: By walking, cycling and scooting to school, you are helping us make a positive change to the school run. With less cars close to the school gates, this is a safer and healthier way to start the day.

Leeds Rhinos ticket offer

As part of our partnership, and as a thank you for all the great work that the children have been doing this year, Leeds Rhinos would like to offer children and their families an amazing opportunity to attend a match at AMT Headingley Stadium at a special discounted schools rate.

Date – Friday 5th April 2024

Kick off  – 8pm

Opposition – Warrington Wolves

Venue – Headingley Stadium (LS6 3BR)

Tickets can be booked now through the school via School Gateway. Please note that tickets will go off sale at 10am on Monday 25th March 2024.

We look forward to welcoming Leeds Rhinos for an assembly next week too.

Design and Technology: food

This week, Year 2 have been using their food preparation skills to create their latest product, fruit salad.

This forms part of our Design and Technology food learning which involves following a recipe to create a product each term.

First, we got ready to cook.

Here are some of the skills we used.

Draining

Peeling and segmenting

Bridge hold (for chopping)

Claw grip (for chopping)

Measuring

Mixing

Finally, the children got to enjoy their fruit salad.

I LOVED my fruit salad because it had lots of different fruits in it and it is so healthy.

I especially liked the strawberries and I would add more next time.

Next time, I will add different types of fruit like pineapple or melon.

Next time, I would add more orange juice.

I’ve never had kiwi fruit before but I really liked it.

I will try frozen raspberries again. They are really juicy.

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.

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.