Otters

What an absolutely brilliant summer half-term it has been for our Year 2 children! They returned from the Easter break with enthusiasm, positivity, and a wonderful attitude to learning, embracing every opportunity with dedication and joy.

In English, the children have become published poets – a truly special achievement! Drawing inspiration from the natural world around us, they wrote their own free verse and acrostic poems, all centred on the theme of nature. Each poem followed a creative "How To..." format, resulting in imaginative and thoughtful titles such as 'How to Be a Sunflower', 'How to Move Like a Frog', and 'How to Take Care of a Tree'. The children really embraced the challenge of choosing expressive, descriptive language to bring their poems to life. After carefully perfecting their ideas and making edits along the way, they wrote up their final drafts in their very best handwriting and compiled them all together to create their very own Class Anthology – something we are all incredibly proud of! Earlier in the term, the children explored poetry from their anthology, focusing on 'The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog' and practising reading aloud with expression to bring the poems to life. They discussed rhythm and rhyme in detail, developing a real appreciation for poetic language. The children also enjoyed creative diary writing, imagining what it would be like to visit Mars and coming up with fantastic ideas about space adventures, strange landscapes, and how it might feel to be an astronaut.

Maths has been packed with exciting learning too! The children have been exploring the world of fractions, starting with understanding equal and unequal parts, parts and wholes, and then focusing particularly on quarters. They've been splitting shapes and objects into four equal parts, learning how to write fractions correctly, and applying this understanding to divide amounts into four equal groups. The children showed fantastic reasoning skills, discussing carefully what it means for parts to be truly equal. Earlier in the term, they learned about measuring weight using grams and kilograms, exploring how to measure and compare weights using practical activities and developing their understanding of heavier and lighter objects. They also mastered capacity and volume, comparing different amounts and practising how to measure liquids accurately using millilitres and litres – with some excellent practical activities where they estimated and then checked their answers!

Science has been particularly exciting this half-term with our plants topic! The children have been maintaining detailed plant diaries, carefully observing and recording changes over time. They made some really thoughtful observations, and it was wonderful to notice just how much happier the watered and warm plants looked compared to the others – a fantastic real-life lesson in what plants need to grow and thrive. The children have discussed how plants grow, what they need to survive, and have been planning and conducting fair tests to investigate how different conditions affect plant growth. They've become very attentive scientists, using magnifying glasses and developing excellent observation skills throughout the investigation.

In Art, the children got wonderfully messy with clay! They used their fine motor skills to create pinch pots – a surprisingly tricky technique that took real patience and concentration to master. The children persevered brilliantly, carefully shaping and smoothing their clay before the real fun began. Once the pots were formed, they had great fun decorating them using a range of tools to create patterns and textures. The results were incredibly creative and individual, and we think they look absolutely brilliant! Earlier in the term, they also enjoyed modelling with clay to create fantastic shapes and develop their sculpting skills.

Geography brought fascinating learning about the journey of milk from farm to glass. The class enjoyed discovering the different stages, including how cows are cared for and how milk is processed and transported – bringing their understanding of food production to life.

In History, the children have been learning about the British monarchy, discovering who our monarch is today and discussing their important role in our country.

RE lessons have been thoughtful and engaging. The children have continued learning about Islam, exploring key beliefs and traditions with genuine curiosity. They learned about how to treat the Quran with respect, showing thoughtful understanding and asking excellent questions about why it is important in Islam. Later in the term, they enjoyed a fascinating lesson learning about the Prophet Muhammad, exploring a range of Islamic stories and reflecting on their deeper meaning and significance.

Music lessons have been full of energy. The children have been focusing on pitch, identifying and experimenting with high and low sounds. They've also been developing their sense of rhythm, learning a fun rap based on "It's Raining, It's Pouring" and performing it together whilst keeping the beat – they absolutely loved it!

In Design and Technology, the children thought carefully about nutrition as they designed healthy menus, making thoughtful choices about balanced meals and nutritious foods.

PE has been brilliant! The children have been working on their tracking and fielding skills, showing excellent teamwork and coordination. They also enjoyed a wonderful sports afternoon at Oakfield School, representing our school with pride and showing everyone just how amazing they are!

In PSHE, the children have had important discussions about families and what makes each one unique and special. They've also explored the importance of healthy relationships and how we can be kind and respectful to others – showing the caring values at the heart of our school community.

The absolute highlight of the half-term was our wonderful school trip to Hever Castle! The children had a fantastic day exploring the historic castle and its beautiful grounds, immersing themselves in history and making wonderful memories together. They were excellent ambassadors for the school throughout the visit.

A huge focus throughout the term has been preparing for the May Fair! The children worked incredibly hard on their maypole dances, practising their steps and formations with real enthusiasm and dedication. When the day finally arrived, they had an absolutely wonderful time at the May Fair, performing their maypole dances beautifully and filling the afternoon with celebrations and fantastic traditional dance moves. It was a truly special occasion, and the children should be so proud of their brilliant performances!

Year 2 have had an absolutely fantastic summer half-term, and we couldn't be prouder of their achievements, their enthusiasm, and the kind, caring way they approach their learning every single day. Well done, Year 2 – you've been amazing!