Year 2

We have loved our unit of inquiry this term, where we have been inquiring into ‘Homes can be affected by significant events.’ 

We began the inquiry with a provocative activity. We had to build homes in our classroom, which were then all destroyed by different natural disasters! 

We then started to explore a disaster that happened in 1666 - The Great Fire of London.  We learnt all about how the fire spread, how we know about the fire (such as from people like Samuel Pepys) and investigated who started the fire. In science, we explored the properties of materials and discussed the reasons for the fire spreading so quickly.  

To help us learn more about the fire, our teachers disappeared for the day. Instead, we were visited by Samuel Pepys, Thomas Farriner the baker and Jane the maid.  This was very exciting!!

After learning about the Great Fire of London, we have explored another similar event - the Great Chicago Fire. We learnt that the fire caused $200 million in damages! We also learnt that following the fire, some of the first skyscrapers were built. 

Additionally, in art we designed and made our own clay buckets. We used the pottery technique of coiling to make the buckets. Coiling involves the rolling out of clay into a long thin sausage-like form that was wound round like a spring. Towards the end of the term, in science we investigated which material was the most suitable for blocking the hole in the bottom of a bucket.  The metal foil proved to be the most waterproof of the materials we tested.

Our Year 2  super stars truly shone brightly in the Xmas Performance! Their lovely voices and festive cheer filled the church with warmth and joy. The hard work and dedication they put into learning the songs were evident, making it an amazing celebration of the season. Well done, everyone! 

Finally, the Year 2 team would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!