We have had a great term learning about London.

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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In English this half term, the have studied The Tear Thief by Carol Ann Duffy.

     

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 art this half term, the children have been using fruit to develop skills using clay. Here they made a 3D clay strawberry by looking closely at a real strawberry. They then used acrylic paint to paint and then finally glazed them. Don’t they look good enough to eat?

    

This term we celebrated Unique Week. During the week the children got to know their class better and discussed what makes them unique. We used a world map and labelled where each child and their families were from in the world.

     

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In English this half term, the have studied Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies and The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt.

          

In maths, the focus this term has been problem-solving, fractions, arithmetic and reasoning in preparation for the SATS. The pupils searched outside for envelopes with reasoning questions inside for them to complete with their working partner.  Great fun was had by all!  I am incredibly proud of the positive attitude and dedication of Year 2 as they all have sustained a high level of focus in preparation and during the SATS. Well Done!

In Art this half term the children have been using fruit to develop their drawing skills. Here they are producing a still life drawing using a variety of pencils.

      

This May was the King’s Coronation and at Beech Hyde we were very excited and wanted to fully take part in the celebration. In preparation for the big event, Year 2 designed and made crowns. Well done to Yousef as his design was the class winner. Congratulations Yousef!

   

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We have had a great term learning about London.

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

In maths, the focus this term has been addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Here the pupils are using base 10 to solve addition problems involving regrouping.

    

Here the pupils are doubling and halving using real money.

  

This term we had STEM week.  Year 2 dressed up to the theme of Habitats and Plants. Their costumes were all amazing! Well done Year 2!

  

In science, as part of our unit on plants, we all planted a seed. Every day, the class helper waters them and Alfie’s is the first to have a seeding appear. The children are very excited to see who will be next.

In another lesson the children looked closely at and dissected a plant. Can you guess this spring flower that the children are studying?

1. Tulip      B. Hyacinth      C. Daffodil

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We have had a great term learning about Traditional Tales.

In English this half term, Year 2 have studied a variety of traditional tales, including Hansel and Gretel and Jack and the Beanstalk. 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.

This term we had Number Day.  Year 2 helped the animals to get home by following their multiple trails.

  

In RE, Year 2 have been learning about churches and why they are important to Christians. We had a visit from Reverend Banham who came in to answer the children’s questions about the church.

       

In DT, we have made puppets. The pupils looked at a selection of hand puppets and based their design on their investigations into how the puppets have been made and who they have been designed for.  They marked out, cut and stitched pieces of fabric together to make their puppets.

 

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We have had a great term learning about Space.

In English, they are studying a variety of fiction texts, linking to our topic. In particular, 'The man on the Moon' by Simon Bartram and 'The Way Back Home' by Oliver Jeffers.

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

      

In mathematics, we have used dienes and bead strings to develop a secure understanding of 2-digit numbers and the value.

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 Thursday Club members and helpers said, ‘It was a very entertaining performance with catchy singing.’ They thought that the three narrators set the scene and provided the continuity beautifully with their rhyming couplets. Our Headteacher said, ‘It was the BEST infant play she has EVER seen!’

This year our KS1 Christmas Performance was RALPH THE REINDEER. 

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We have had a great time learning about rainforests.

In English we have studied a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts that are linked to our topic. We have particularly enjoyed ‘The Great Kapok Tree’ by Lynne Cherry.

Pupils have used a computer programme to write and illustrate. They have described a rainforest setting and created an animal who lives in the rainforest.

   

In maths, we have used dienes and bead strings to develop a secure understanding of 2-digit numbers and the value of each digit.

In our art lessons, the children in Year 2 are painting and mixing primary colours to make a secondary colour. Can you guess what colours the children are mixing? Can you name the painting and the artist?

  

In our Jigsaw lessons in 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 the right choices.