Autumn Term 

English - sentence building

This week in English, the children have been exploring sentence structure in a practical and engaging way. Working in pairs, they used Colourful Semantics to piece together different sentences and add accurate punctuation. The children really enjoyed collaborating and experimenting with words, and we’ve already seen fantastic progress in their understanding of how sentences are built.

growing together in year 2

To help everyone feel part of Class 2, each child has decorated their own wooden rainbow with their name on it. These colourful rainbows will soon be displayed on our outside tree, which will be lit with gentle lights to create a welcoming focal point for children and families at drop-off and pick-up. This will be the final touch to our entrance area, already brightened with a rainbow on the wall, bunting, and plants, opposite the school garden now thriving after the summer. The tree will stand as a symbol of belonging and togetherness for our class.

art - experimenting with pencils

In Art this half term, our focus is on drawing, with Vincent van Gogh as our inspiration. In this lesson, the children explored how different pencils, such as 2H to 6B, create a variety of effects. They experimented with the marks and tones each pencil could make before moving on to a drawing challenge. Each child carefully sketched a beetle, then used their pencils to practise shading, adding light and dark to bring their drawings to life. The children really enjoyed experimenting and are beginning to develop confidence with their sketching skills.

weekly round-up (WB 15th September)

The children have made a fantastic start to life in Year 2 and are already settling into our new routines with confidence. I’ve been so impressed with their positive attitude and commitment to their learning so far. From building sentences in English and exploring place value in Maths, to discovering different habitats in Science, practising fundamentals and ball skills in PE, and even beginning our focus on African music, the children have shown real curiosity and enthusiasm. In Art, they particularly enjoyed experimenting with pencils to create light and dark shading in their beetle drawings. It has been a wonderful week full of effort, energy, and smiles — and Class 2 are already showing that they are ready to shine this year.

This week, our dolphin learning animal has been on show, with the children diving into new challenges with enthusiasm and enjoying the chance to explore fresh ideas.

Art- looking closely at leaves

In Art this week, the children developed the skill of observational drawing. Each child carefully selected a leaf from the school woods and used it as the focus for their work. Building on last week’s pencil techniques, they explored tone and shading with different grades of pencil to capture light, dark and texture. It was wonderful to see how much concentration the children gave to the finer details, and some of the results were truly impressive.

Trip - Tiverton canal horse-drawn barge

This week, Class 2 enjoyed a very special visit to the Tiverton Canal, home to one of only two horse-drawn barges in the whole of England and Wales. The children were fascinated by this unique experience, taking in the peaceful scenery, spotting wildlife along the banks, and learning about the history of how and why barges were once used.

It was a beautiful day, and the children relished the chance to relax in the sunshine and sketch the landscapes around them. A real highlight came when the barge travelled in complete silence — the children listened carefully to the ducks on the water, the rustle of leaves, and the rhythmic sound of the horse’s hooves.

After lunch, the children took part in pond dipping, linking perfectly to our Science learning on animals and their habitats. They were amazed to discover creatures such as freshwater shrimp, pond snails, water boatmen, and even tiny fish and insect larvae living in the canal water. It was wonderful to see their excitement and curiosity as they explored the hidden world beneath the surface.

This trip was a fantastic opportunity for the children to learn outdoors, combining history, science, art, and a love of nature all in one memorable day.

computing - the power of passwords

In Computing this term, the children are focusing on Digital Literacy and learning more about what the internet is and how to stay safe online. This week, our focus was on passwords. The children discussed what a password is, why it is important, and explored the difference between strong and weak passwords. They then had a go at creating their own passwords and played guessing games to test how secure they really were.

To end the lesson, I challenged the class with a strong password of my own, telling them they had 24 guesses to crack it in exchange for going off timetable for the rest of the week! Thankfully, it was strong enough to keep them out — and through this fun activity, the children really understood the importance of having a strong password and how it helps to keep us safe online.

Pe - control, pass and footwork

In PE this week, Class 2 continued their work on fundamentals and ball skills. The children have been developing hand-eye coordination through a variety of games and challenges, and this week shifted their focus to the feet. We practised controlling the ball and passing it accurately using the feet — moving beyond just handling with our hands.

The children relished being out in the sunshine, trying new techniques and applying taught skills. It was fantastic to see them listening well, showing perseverance, and putting those new skills into action. Some children who had never passed with their feet before made impressive progress in just one lesson.

science - exploring microhabitats

In Science this week, the children learnt about microhabitats and what makes them special. After discussing what a microhabitat is and which animals might live there, we set off around the school grounds to investigate our own. The children explored carefully, observing the small, hidden spaces where living things make their homes.

They drew and labelled what they discovered in different areas, from under logs and in the grass to behind plant pots and along the edges of the playground. The highlight of the afternoon — though it was too quick to catch on camera — was spotting a mouse inside one of the hedgehog boxes up in the school woods! The children were so excited and it really brought their learning to life.

Class 2 oral health visit

his week, the children welcomed the Oral Health Team for a special visit to learn about the importance of looking after their teeth. Through a fun and engaging animated video, they discovered why brushing twice a day is so important and learnt the key steps to keeping their teeth healthy and strong.

The children really enjoyed the session and listened carefully throughout. They were also very grateful to receive their own oral health packs and a storybook retelling the animated story they had watched — a lovely reminder of the healthy habits we’ve learnt together.

weekly round-up (WB 6th october)

It has been another fantastic week in Class 2, full of enthusiasm and curiosity across all areas of learning. The children have been busy investigating microhabitats in Science, welcoming the Oral Health Team to learn about how to keep their teeth healthy, and continuing to build their knowledge and skills in other subjects across the curriculum. It’s been wonderful to see them so engaged and eager to take part in each new learning experience offered throughout the week.

As the term progresses, it’s lovely to see the children really bonding as a class. They are working brilliantly together in pairs and small groups, showing kindness, respect, and a growing sense of teamwork.

This week, our school value of respect has shone through — in the way the children have listened to one another, shared ideas, and supported each other’s learning every day.

Science - Woodlouse Investigation: Damp or Dry?

In Science this week, the children set up an experiment to find out which type of environment a woodlouse prefers — damp and dark, or dry and light. We began by heading into the school woods to carefully look for woodlice in their natural habitat. The children were excited to search under logs and leaves to collect the woodlice needed for our experiment.

Back in the classroom, we set up a fair test as a whole class. The children discussed how to keep the test fair, made predictions about what they thought would happen, and helped to create a two-choice habitat for the woodlice to explore.

It was wonderful to see how engaged the children were — not only handling the equipment and observing closely, but also using scientific vocabulary to explain their thinking.

Geography - Inuit Culture: Then and Now

In Geography this week, the children learnt about the Inuit people and explored how their way of life has changed over time. We compared how the Inuit used to live — relying on hunting, traditional shelters and handmade tools — with how many Inuit communities live today, using modern homes and technology while still keeping important parts of their culture.

The children were particularly interested in learning how storytelling is used to pass down traditions, teach values, and explain natural phenomena in their environment. It was wonderful to see them engaging so thoughtfully with a different culture and learning how stories help keep traditions alive from one generation to the next.

weekly round-up (WB 13th october)

Class 2 have shown fantastic progress across the curriculum this week. In Geography, the children have loved learning about the Inuit people and how their lives have changed over time. In Maths, we have continued developing our understanding of addition, looking closely at the structures of number and how breaking numbers apart can help us to solve calculations more efficiently. In English, the children have continued creating their own stories based on the book Stuck, using the text as inspiration for their own imaginative writing.

A real highlight this week has been our calm morning reading sessions. The children have really enjoyed choosing a book, sitting with a friend, and sharing stories together. The classroom atmosphere during these times has been so peaceful — a lovely moment to start the day, and a joy to listen to them read and talk about the books they love.

This week, our school value of perseverance has really shone through. Whether tackling new addition strategies or developing their writing, the children have shown determination and a positive attitude towards their learning every single day.

Art – Hatching and Cross-Hatching Skills

In Art this week, the children continued developing their drawing skills by exploring hatching and cross-hatching. They practised using these techniques to show tone and shading, learning how lines can create light and dark areas within a drawing. After practising the technique, the children applied what they had learned to draw a detailed picture of a moth, using hatching and cross-hatching to bring texture and depth to their work.

The children really enjoyed this challenge, and many were incredibly proud of their final pieces — some of which looked outstanding. It was wonderful to see them using new artistic techniques with such focus and confidence.

English – Writing Our Own Version of Stuck

In English this week, the children created a muddled piece of writing inspired by our class book, Stuck. Together, we imagined a new problem — a lunchbox getting stuck on the roof! I modelled how to take ideas from our plan and turn them into a clear, well-structured piece of writing.

Using this as a guide, the children then wrote their own versions, carefully turning their notes and silly ideas into a coherent story. They worked with great focus and were incredibly proud of the funny and imaginative stories they created in the style of the book.

This experience has given them the confidence and skills they need to write their own completely original version of the story after half term — planned, written, and illustrated independently. We can’t wait to see what creative ideas they come up with next.

pshe - Making a Difference in Our Community

This week, Class 2 welcomed a visitor from a local outreach charity in North Devon, who came to talk about how community support and kindness help people in our area. The children listened thoughtfully as the speaker explained how the charity works with individuals facing challenges — offering practical help and care to make a difference in people’s lives.

The children were eager to ask questions, showed great respect and engagement throughout the session, and reflected on how each of us plays a part in supporting our wider community. They also received some helpful materials to take home, and we will continue to build on this theme of connection and care in our PSHE lessons.

Harvest Celebrations at the Church

This week, the whole school came together to celebrate our Harvest Festival at the church. Year 2 performed their song beautifully in front of the whole school community, joining in confidently with the other songs throughout the service.

The children worked hard learning their song and were so excited to share it with everyone. They sang with enthusiasm, smiles, and a real sense of pride. It was lovely to see them enjoying the moment and taking part so respectfully in this special whole-school event.

weekly round-up (WB 20th october)

Class 2 have enjoyed another full and varied week of learning. We welcomed a visitor from a local outreach charity in PSHE, which gave the children the chance to think about how people in our community are helped and supported. In English, the children continued working on their versions of Stuck, and it has been wonderful to see their confidence growing as storytellers. We also took part in the whole-school Harvest Festival at the church — the children sang beautifully and represented Year 2 so well.

Computing has sparked some thoughtful discussions. This week, the children explored how we know if something belongs to someone online and considered what positive behaviour looks like when using the internet. We talked about how being kind applies just as much online as it does in school.

Phonics sessions have focused on revisiting key sounds from Year 1, and it’s brilliant to see how quickly the children are applying these to their reading and spelling. Meanwhile, in Music, we continued exploring African music. The children loved joining in with games to find the pulse and rhythm, and many showed great musical awareness.

Across all subjects, the children have been engaged, enthusiastic, and supportive of one another. This week, our school value of kindness has truly stood out — through their interactions with visitors, with one another, and within our conversations about how to behave respectfully online.

computing - Screen Time: Striking the Right Balance

In Computing this week, the children learned about the importance of having a healthy balance of screen time. We discussed how screens can be fun, educational, and a great way to connect with others, but how too much time on a device can sometimes have negative effects on our wellbeing.

Together, we explored how too much screen time can lead to:

• feeling tired, especially if screens are used close to bedtime

• frustration or anger when games or apps don’t go how we expect

• difficulty switching off, resulting in trouble sleeping

• finding it hard to pay attention when someone is talking to us

The children shared honest and thoughtful reflections about their own screen habits and talked about how they feel when they have been online for too long.

We then discussed strategies to help manage screen time at home, such as:

• taking regular breaks from the screen

• setting a time limit

• choosing a different activity, like reading or playing outside

• pausing or stopping when someone is speaking to them

To show their understanding, the children created informative posters showing these strategies. They took great pride in their work and produced clear, thoughtful messages about how to use technology responsibly.

learning to touch type

This week, the children began learning how to type properly using BBC Dance Mat. They were introduced to the home keys and practised placing their fingers in the correct position so they can type efficiently without looking at the keyboard.

Learning to type fluently is an important life skill — not only for use in school as they begin to write more digitally, but also as a skill they will take with them beyond their school years.

The children really enjoyed the challenge and are already growing in confidence. We will now begin including typing practice as part of our early morning learning, helping the children to build speed, accuracy and good typing habits over time.

history - Adventurers Who Changed the World

In History this week, the children explored the lives of four famous explorers — Neil Armstrong, Charles Darwin, Ibn Battuta and Sylvia Earle. Using videos and websites uploaded to Google Classroom, the children worked independently to learn about what each explorer discovered and why they are remembered today.

It was wonderful to see the children so engaged, choosing resources in the order that suited them, and working at their own pace. They recorded key facts about each explorer, thinking carefully about what made their journeys significant — from travelling to space, to studying animals and nature, to exploring the oceans and distant lands.

This approach enabled the children to take ownership of their learning and demonstrated how confident and independent they are becoming as young historians.