Each of our classes is named after an endangered animal - we are Chimpanzees!

We have had a great half term learning about Traditional Tales.

In English this half-term, we have studied a variety of traditional tales, including Hansel and Gretel, Jack and the Bean Stalk and The Magic Paintbrush. We made predictions, studied characters and used expanded noun phrases to describe them. The children have focused on story language and features in their own writing.

  

 

At Beech Hyde we encourage our children to Be Excited About Reading. Each term we read a short novel. This term we are reading Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox.

In maths, we have been learning addition and subtraction, as well as doubling and halving. Here the pupils are using ‘base ten’ to support their understanding and help them move onto becoming secure in efficient mental calculations.

     

This half-term we had NUMBER DAY. Year 5 and 2 joined together and carried out number activities. They were 'Team Bees' involved in problem solving, ordering numbers and number games.

   

Nature has been our topic in art. With the help from ‘Georgia O’Keeffe,’ we have been have been developing our knowledge and skills in observational drawing, oil pastels and painting using watercolour. The pupils looked at a selection of shells, fruit and flowers to draw and paint. They mixed paint to match the colour and used different brushes and brush strokes.

   

 

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In English, Year 2 have enjoyed studying a variety of fiction texts, linking to our space topic. They have particularly liked  ‘The Man on the Moon’ by Simon Bartram and ‘The Way Back Home’ by Oliver Jeffers.

Pupils have created and used a story map to retell the story in their own words. They then innovated by adding descriptive details to create their own story.

 

In maths, Year 2 have been learning about measurement. The class were given challenging questions such as:

The taller the container the greater the capacity.

Do you think this is true?

Can you prove it is right or wrong?

Here they are testing their hypothesis:

  

  

In science, Year two have been investigating materials for different uses.

    

 

 

In Design Technology, the children have been designing and making a moving mechanism with wheels and axles. After looking closely at a variety of vehicles, we decided to create a ‘space buggy' so that astronauts could travel around the moon to collect important information to bring back to Earth. First, they explored making a chassis but in the first design the wheels didn’t turn.  They adapted their design to ensure the wheels could turn. They designed a body for the vehicle on a cuboid net and once complete, they folded and fitted it onto the chassis. 

   

The end of the autumn term is an especially exciting time for Year 2 as they got the opportunity to perform to pupils, parents and Wheathampsted VIPs. The performances were a great success! The invited guests were impressed with the Beech Hyde talent, the singing and dancing were loved by all and KS2 gave us 10/10! One of the teachers said, ‘It was the BEST infant play she has EVER seen!’

This year our KS1 Christmas Performance was ‘Everybody Loves A Baby' and Year 2 all did a superb job.

  

Happy Christmas from Year 2!

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In English, Year 2 enjoyed studying a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts, linking to our topic, in particular, ‘The Great Kapok Tree’ by Lynne Cherry.

The work has included writing a letter from a distressed rainforest animal to humans requesting them to STOP CUTTING DOWN TREES! The pupils also created posters to help Save the Rainforests!

 

As part of developing their speaking and listening skills, pupils brought in their favourite book and told the class all about them as well as reading a short extract.

       

      

Year 2 LOVE maths!  

Here we are using our Rekenreks to master our understanding of number.

  

In science, we have been learning about Habitats. We have developed our scientific skills by investigating and sorting.  Here we are exploring our school grounds looking for and collecting minibeasts.

    

In art lessons, the Year 2 pupils have studied the work of Paul Klee and have created drawings and paintings in his style.  They have developed their techniques in using colour, pattern, line, shape, form and space.

The first step was to learn and develop the skill of mixing primary colours to make different shades of secondary colours.

      

Then they applied their skills to painting in the style of Paul Klee.

            

In Jigsaw (PSHE), we have been learning about Being Me in My World. Year 2 have created a Class Charter and have made a promise to follow it and try hard to make the right choices.

P.E. days are our FAVOURITE days! Here we are outside learning and developing our speed and agility through ball skills.

 

Congratulations to Henry for winning the English Star Award and to Joshua for winning the Davey Maths Cup.

   

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In mathematics, the focus this term has been securing our knowledge and skills in addition, subtraction, multiplying and dividing. Great job - you are now ready for Year 3!

       

In DT this half term, the children have been learning about preparing fruit and vegetables.  Here they are looking closely at a watermelon and preparing it for eating! We linked this to our learning in maths: before cutting it, we guessed the weight and then weighed it. Daryna was the most accurate in the estimation. Well done!

The watermelon was enjoyed by most our class!

        

This term was Unique Week. During the week, the children got to know their class better and discussed what makes them unique. We had to draw around our hands and then decorate them.  We illustrated them with words and pictures to show how we are unique.

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Year 2 have been working harder than ever!

In English, they have studied 'Grandad’s Island' by Benji Davies and 'The Day the Crayons Quit' by Drew Daywalt.  They have produced some amazing writing!

  

  

  

In art this half term, the children have been using William Morris prints as inspiration. The children have designed their own pattern to be printed.

   

As part of our unit, they looked closely at real strawberries to develop their drawing skills. Here they are producing a still life drawing using a variety of pencils and watercolour.

          

In science, we have been learning to understand the property - absorbent. Here the children are testing different materials to find out: Which materials are absorbent?

 

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In English this half term, we have studied a variety of stories with a link to London, including 'Katie in London' and 'Toby and the Great Fire of London'.

   

This term we had STEM week.  Year 2 dressed up. Their costumes were all amazing! Well Done year 2!

We had a marshmallow and pasta challenge. The children are definitely engineers in the making. They did a super job.

   

Well done to the winning team!

We also had a REAL scientist who visited our class. We were amazed to see two fantastic experiments involving chemical reactions:

Experiment 1- Colour changing cabbage water

Experiment 2 – Elephant toothpaste

A HUGE thanks to Mr Andrew Bayliffe.

  

In Science, as part of the plant unit we all planted a seed. Every day, the class helper waters them and Laurence’s was the first to have a seeding appear. The children are very excited to see them grow and develop.  

 

 

On Friday 15^th March, it was Red Nose Day. This year, in Year 2, the children came to school with a favourite joke to share with the class. It was a funny morning!

Congratulations to Harrishna for receiving the English Star award and to Allayah for receiving the Davey Maths Cup.

 

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Spring 1 2024

 

In English this half term, Year 2 have studied a variety of traditional tales, including 'Hansel and Gretel' and 'Jack and the Bean Stalk'. They have been making predictions, studying characters and using expanded noun phrases to describe. The children have focused on story language and features in their writing.

At Beech Hyde we encourage our children to Be Excited About Reading. Each term the class teacher reads a short novel. This term we are reading Roald Dahl’s 'Danny the Champion of the World'.

In Maths we have been learning to use column addition and subtraction. Here the pupils are using base ten to support their understanding of place value and regrouping before moving on the next step of written method.

   

This term we had NUMBER DAY.  Year 1 and 2 joined together and carried out number activities in hall. They were Team Bees involved in problem solving, ordering numbers and number games.

  

In art, we have been have been developing the knowledge and skills of colour mixing and creating texture using paint. The pupils looked at a selection of shells to draw and paint. They mixed paint to match the colour and used different brushes and brush strokes.

        

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We have had a great term learning about Space.

In English, we have been studying a variety of fiction texts, linking to our topic. We have particularly enjoyed ‘The Man on the Moon’ by Simon Bartram and ‘The Way Back Home’ by Oliver Jeffers.

Pupils in Year 2 have created a story map to retell the story in their own words. They then innovated, adding descriptive details to create their own story.

  

In maths, Year 2 have been learning about measurement. The class were given a challenging question:

The taller the container the greater the capacity.

Do you think this is true?  Can you prove it right or wrong?

Here they are testing their hypothesis:

This time of year for Year 2 is especially exciting as they get the opportunity to perform to pupils, parents and Wheathampsted VIPs. The performance was enjoyed by all! The invited guests were impressed with the loud, clear voices and loved the singing and dancing; KS2 gave us 10/10! One of the teachers said, ‘It was the BEST infant play she has EVER seen!’  This year our KS1 Christmas Performance was ‘A Present for the Baby.’

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We have been given a class name after an endangered animal. As a class we lead an assembly this term to the whole school, sharing information about Chimpanzees, why they are endangered and what we can do to help them.

We have had a great term, learning about Rainforests.

In English they are studying a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts, linking to our topic. In particular, ‘The Great Kapok Tree’ by Lynne Cherry.  The pupils created posters to help Save the Rainforests!

  

Pupils brought in their favourite book and told the class all about them.

In geography we have been learning to name and locate the continents and oceans. We have been locating the worlds tropical rainforests and in particular the Amazon. Through studying film clips and photographs the children have developed an understanding of the geographical similarities and differences of our local forest - Heartwood Forest - with the Amazon Rainforest.

      

In Art lessons the year 2 pupils, using our English storybook illustrations as a stimulus, developed their mark making skills. They explored a wide range of tools and experimented with creating patterned surfaces to add texture and detail to drawings. Here the pupils are using drawing using pencils and charcoal.

  

In Jigsaw(PSHE) we have been learning about Being in My World. Year 2 have created a Class charter and have made a promise to follow it and try hard to make right choices.

Congratulations to Poppie for receiving the English Star award for English and to Oliver for receiving the Davey Maths Cup.

              

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