Welcome to Class 2's Learning Blog
For study queries or to contact the Class 2 staff, please email class2@stgerardsprimary.org
ONLINE / REMOTE LEARNING - 04/01/21
We will be posting information about online learning here later in the week.
BLOG UPDATE 13: 18/12/20
This is the last blog of
2020. What a term we have had!
The children in class 2 have
worked so hard and have achieved so much this term. It has been
lovely to end this year with the Nativity release of Lights, Camel,
action! We hope you all enjoyed it.
We hope you have a very Merry
Christmas and a happy new year and we are looking forward to seeing
you all again in 2021.
Here are a few pictures from our
Christmas party this week. We've had so much fun!
BLOG UPDATE 12: 04/12/20
Christmas
Play
If you would like a copy of this year's Christmas
play 'Lights, Camel, Action' please can you let us know how many
copies you would like by completing the form on this week's
newsletter. There is a voluntary contribution of £3
each.
Christmas
Party
On Monday 14th December it will be our Class 1
and 2's Christmas party. In the past we have put a food list on
classroom doors for each child to bring in 1 thing to share for the
party. However, in the current situation we thought it would be
best to ask children to bring in £2 each and use this to buy party
food, decorations and entertainment.
Please can money be set in before Friday 11th
December. On the party day children can come to school in party
clothes.
Medals For
Heroes
Inbetween rehearsals we have managed to complete
our superhero medals. We used a metallic gold paint and rainbow
ribbon to give it an extra special look. The children are excited
to give it to their chosen hero.
BLOG UPDATE 11: 27/11/20
Rehearsals for our Christmas show 'Lights, Camel, Action!' are in full flow this week. Children are working so hard learning songs, dance routines and lines. Thank you to parents for supporting children learning lines at home too.
We do require some costumes to be
supplied by children. If your child needs to bring in something we
will send you a text message with what will be
required.
Travelling
Crib
This year we are not able to send round our class
travelling crib as we have done in past years. However, we are
asking you to set up nativity scenes you have a home and write a
special Christmas prayer. Please send pictures of these to the
class email.
Class2@stgerardsprimary.org
Santa Dash
Next Friday 4th December children will be taking
part in a Santa dash run. Children are required to wear PE kit as
we usually do on a Friday and also a festive jumper or t-shirt if
they wish. I’m sure it will be lots of fun.
Maths
Each day this week all children have been
recapping on number bonds to 10.
We have also been doing lots of
addition and subtraction this week in Year 1 and
2.
Year 1
children have been counting on and back using a number track to
help them. They have enjoyed taking away by singing 20 green
bottles.
Can you
sing the song to your parents at home?
Children in
Year 2 have been using a 100 square to add and subtract 11,12 and
even 21,22. You will find a copy of a 100 square on this
page.
Can you
explain how you can answer the following questions using the
square?
34+11
=
45-12 =
Can you
think of some of your own?
Literacy
This week children have been reading stories
about toads, bath time and giving someone a fright. Each week all
children are given sentences to write down making sure they are
using capital letters, fingers spaces and full
stops.
Can you
write 3 sentences at home saying what you liked about the stories
you have read this week including this important
punctuation?
Your child
will either work with Mrs Drury, Mrs Ellison or Mrs Angel. There
will be a spelling list added for each group on this page. Please
ask if you are unsure which group your child is
in.
There are
no new RWI books this week due to play rehearsals but your child
will still bring their normal reading book home and previous books
are still available.
RE
We have continued to learn about Judaism this
week and the story of Moses. Children created puppets of people in
the story and performed a show in small groups to the rest of the
class. See a picture of some of our puppets.
Getting
creative
This week in area times the children have been
very busy creating fabulous models and buildings. Children have
been thinking about what makes a great team as they build
together.
PE
Children have been learning basketball skills
with Mrs Sharpe on Tuesday afternoon. We have now learnt how to
dribble, bounce pass and shoot the ball. It has been lovely hearing
how active children have been out of school too, walking, cycling
and skipping.
Resources:
BLOG UPDATE 10: 20/11/20
Welcome all!
We've had another busy week full of lots of
learning and rehearsing.
This week it has been anti-bullying week in school. The message this year is United against bullying. In class we discussed what types of things we could do to work together to stop bullying. We created a jigsaw piece each showing what we were going to do. On Tuesday we wore odd socks to celebrate how we are all different. Take a look at our photos.
A reminder for next week that on
Friday 27th November children can come to school wearing what they
please. In return we ask you to bring a in a bottle and chocolates
as a donation to our school raffle.
Maths
This week year 1 children became experts in
measuring. We used paper clips and cubes to measure objects in the
classroom. We then looked at rulers and tape
measures.
Can you measure the length of
something at home?
What will you use to measure?
Remember if you measure with objects they must be the same size.
Send pictures to our class email.
Children in Year 2 have spent the week using 100
squares to add and subtract 1 and 10 from a number.
Can you explain how you could answer the
following questions to an adult at home?
13+10 = 67 - 30=
46+ 20= 82- 10 =
Literacy
All children are continuing to make progress in
Read, write, inc groups. We now have three groups in Class 2. Your
child will either work with Mrs Drury, Mrs Ellison or Mrs Angel.
There will be a spelling list added for each group on this page.
Please ask if you are unsure which group your child is
in.
Remember
you can download books on this blog.
RE
This week we are learning about Judaism. In class
2 we are focussing on special stories of Judaism. We learnt about
Abraham and created pictures of starry nights and added names of
members of our family on there. We also read the story of Moses and
thought about what a special leader he was. We will continue to
learn more about Judaism next week.
Topic
As we near the end of our super hero topic we
decided to make our very own medals to honour heroes past and
present. We created a design and then used clay to mould our medal
shapes. Children carefully used clay tools to carve out pictures
and words. We are waiting for the clay to dry so we can eventually
paint them.
We can't wait to share the finished pieces with
you.
Resources:
Books:
BLOG UPDATE 9: 13/11/20
Welcome
all!
We would like to say a huge thank you to all the parents for taking part in our meeting day last Friday. Even though it wasn’t a ‘normal’ meeting it was lovely to speak to you and celebrate your wonderful children’s achievements.
You should all be very proud of them.
You may have noticed our class poppies that have
been displayed on our windows this week. Thank you to all the
children that created one. Children all took part in a 2 minutes
silence on Wednesday to remember those in heaven.
It's been a very exciting week for
us all in class 1 and 2 as we have started learning songs for our
Christmas play. I'm sure many parents might already have heard a
few of them.
Children will also be given lines to learn at
home for their own part in the play. Unfortunately due to Covid we
will not be allowed an audience for the play but it will be
recorded to share with families at home.
Maths
This week year 1 children have been using
positional language such as over, under, behind and between. We
played games using a teddy bear and described the position he was
in.
You could play a game like this at
home where you hide an object and use words to describe where it
is.
Year 2 children have been working
on a Maths detective challenge this week with partners. They
investigated how many amounts they could make using only nine 1p or
10p coins.
Can you explain what the highest
amount you could make and then the lowest amount you could
make?
Literacy
All children are continuing to make progress in
Read, write, inc groups.
Remember you can download books on this
blog.
This week Year 2 children have completed our
phonics screening check. Children have worked so hard using phonic
knowledge to read real words and alien words. Alien words are made
up words that test pure phonic knowledge.
We were so proud of all the children for their
great effort.
We have been working on presentation of writing
in our books. Children complete daily handwriting lessons each
week. You will find handwriting documents attached to show how to
form letters.
Some Year 2 children have also begun to use
flicks on letters getting ready to join. I have also attached
examples of this to help with writing practice at
home.
RE
We have been thinking about how God created us
this week and how we are all different and special.
We thought about ourselves and how we look. We
decided that even though we all look different we are all part of
God's family.
Can you write a prayer thanking God for making us
all different and special?
Topic
We have been thinking about another superhero
this week from the past named Mary Seacole.
Children discovered more about her life watching clips and creating our very own timeline. We then made a little book of her life as a nurse in the Crimean war. We compared her life to that of Florence Nightingale.
Can you tell your parents all
about Mary? Why was she a true hero?
Photographs:
Books:
NOTE: One More Book To Follow
Resources:
BLOG UPDATE 8: 06/11/20
Welcome back!
I hope you have had a lovely week
with your family. We’ve really enjoyed listening to what you’ve
been up to. Well done to all those who have also completed class
homework over the week.
We have also been very lucky this
week to welcome back Mrs Sharp who will be teaching our PE lessons
on a Tuesday. The children were very excited for her
lesson.
Maths
This week all children have been focussing on
place value.
Year 1 children have made towers of 10 and 1s to
make teen numbers.
Can you make a teen number tower
at home with Lego?
Can you make a group of objects into teen numbers
showing tens and ones?
Year 2 children have been
partitioning a number into tens and ones to create addition and
subtraction number sentences.
e.g. 40+5=45
45-5=40
Can you make your own number
sentences at home?
We have also been learning about
ordinal numbers. We performed races on the yard and a team of
children were responsible for marking 1st-5th place
positions.
Do you have cars at
home?
Can you race them and record what
place each car finishes?
There will also be an activity on
My Maths for children to complete this week.
Literacy
This week Purple group have been reading about
Flip frog. He loves to eat bugs but never quite catches
them.
Can you design and label a home
for Flip Frog?
(FLIP FROG AND BUG is available to download in Week 7)
Pink group are reading So Cool
which is about dreaming of a new flat.
(SO COOL is available to download in Week 7)
Can you write a list and draw
things you would have in your dream bedroom?
Blue group are reading about
preparing for a special birthday party.
Can you tell me about a party you have had or
been to? What was it celebrating? What made it special?
(JADE'S PARTY is available to download in Week 7)
RE
On Thursday we were thinking about the symbols of
baptism. We discussed how important the baptism candle
is.
We have created our own baptism
candle showing what we will do to shine like
Jesus.
We had lovely morning singing
hymns and reflecting through prayers.
If you have any pictures of a
baptism please send them to the class email to share in our
lesson.
Evie created this impressive fireworks picture
Books:
Resources:
BLOG UPDATE 7: 23/10/20
Welcome to the last blog of this first half term.
I am so proud of how much the children have achieved over the last 8 weeks. After having such a long time off school all children have settled in the class and taken on board any task given to them. We are experts in washing hands and understand the importance of the rules in school to keep us safe.
Thank you to all parents for your support. We hope you have a wonderful break together.
Reminder for next term it will be parents meeting
on Friday 6th November. Please don’t forget to book your
appointments.
Home
learning
Over the half term holiday children will get a
reading book to take home and a set of spellings to learn. There
will also be new homework set on MyMaths and abacus to complete for
the Monday we return. If you would like to send pictures of work or
things you’ve been up to in the holidays please send them to
class2@stgerardsprimary.org.
Maths
Year 2 children have been looking at numbers up to 100 this week. We have made our own number lines marking on the multiples of 10. After we were challenged to find numbers up to 100 on a number line.
It would be great to practise writing numbers
this week up to 100.
Can you order them? Maybe you could make your own
number line at home using the sheet on the right...
Year 1 children have been finding 2D shapes in
the hall this week. We can say the names of the shapes and say how
many sides and corners it has. We have also been sorting the shapes
into Venn and Carroll diagrams.
Can you make a picture using shapes? What shapes
can you use?
Literacy
This week children in Year 2 have been writing a letter recommending a perfect type of pet for a family in a book we've been reading. We had great reasons for getting a pet dog, fish and even a frog!
Children in Year 1 have been making adverts about
Elvis the Elf and writing about snowy adventures as part of their
lessons. The children have been working very hard at carefully
sounding out using fred talk to spell words.
Over half term children will bring home new
spelling and a reading book. In addition to the reading book you
can also access your child's RWI book on this
page.
You can find all of the phonic sounds also on
this page.
After the holidays children in Year 2 will
complete a Phonics screening check which would have normally been
completed in Year1. However due to lockdown at the time children
will be asked to complete it next term. Year 2 children have been
taught all sounds and if they could continue to practise sounds
over the holiday that would be fantastic. You can find out how to
pronounce each sound on the video link on a previous
blog.
The speed sounds chart can be found at the
beginning of each RWI book.
RE
As we continue our belonging topic we have been thinking about how we welcome new babies into a family. We then thought about how we welcome new babies into the church family through the sacrament of baptism.
We role-played a baptism and thought about the
family and friends involved in the special occasion. Children
discussed the signs and symbols of the candle, oil, water and the
white garment.
Have you got any pictures from your own baptism
or a baptism you have attended?
Can you send any pictures to our class email to
share with the class?
Topic
Children have loved it in the role play area this
week dressing up as Florence Nightingale. The poor patients had to
watch out for the rats scurrying around and limited medical
equipment.
Resources
Books
BLOG UPDATE 6: 16/10/20
Welcome to our
learning this week.
Please can I remind all parents to send an email
to class 2 email- class2@stgerardsprimary.org
This is so we can contact you and help to support
remote learning if required.
This week we has been assessment week. We have
been showing what we know and what we still need to learn. Children
have worked very hard completing tasks independently in a variety
of ways.
Maths
Children in Year 1 have been securing number bond
facts and mastering number formation.
Can you make writing numbers fun at home? You
could paint, trace or even make numbers in sand. Send your pictures
to the class email we would love to see what you get up
to.
Children have also been reviewing finding 1 more
and 1 less than a number.
Can you play a game at home
finding 1 more/1 less than a group of toys up to 20?
Children in Year 2 have been
reviewing lines of symmetry this week by creating a symmetrical
castle.
Can you build a symmetrical castle
with Lego? How many lines of symmetry does it have? Can you prove
it?
Children were also finding shape
patterns and shapes that tessellate.
Can you find shapes that tessellate at home? For
example: Patterned bathroom tiles, fabric and
wallpaper.
This week you will have a letter
explaining how to log on to My Maths.
There is a challenge for you to
complete. Please let us know if you are having difficulties
understanding how to log on or what to do.
Literacy
RWI groups have continued this week and children
have been secure in reading phonics sounds. Reading with fluency
and expression has been a focus of the week. Please encourage
children to maintain this high level of reading at
home.
You can find your child’s reading
book on the right...
Year 2 children have been reading
a story this week about a fox.
Can you name another book with a fox
character?
Are there any similarities or
differences?
Can you tell me what happened in
your story and your favourite part?
Friday was an independent writing
day. We wrote a set of instructions how to make a paper rat.
Children remembered to use time words such as – First, Next, Then
and Finally.
Sounds of the
week
Year 1- nk, ng, sh, th, ch, q
Year 2- are air
RE
On Friday we shared our collective worship with
Class 1. We enjoyed singing a special song thanking God for our
families. Some children read a prayer and said what they enjoyed
doing together at home.
This week in our Come and See session we learned
how Jesus welcomes everyone.
In this
story Jesus was angry when his disciples told local children he was
too busy to bless them. Jesus instantly welcomed the children and
made them feel special. We were very excited to role play the story
and remember this important message.
You can
watch one of our role plays on this page.
Topic
This week we have transformed our modern day
hospital into one Florence Nightingale might have worked in. We
added our lanterns from last week and also our paper
rats.
Would you like to visit this
hospital?
Can you describe what it would
have been like to be in a hospital like this?
We look forward to learning about
more superheroes from the past as we continue our topic into next
half term.
PE
Our target skills are progressing greatly. We
have moved onto using rackets and balls to hit targets. We worked
in teams to see how many cones we could hit and collect.
We also continue our sessions with
Rotherham united keeping fit and having fun.
PE - Target htting
One of our role-play scenes in RE today
SPELLINGS
BOOKS
BLOG UPDATE 5: 09/10/20
This week in Class 2 children have been learning how they can access online learning at home.
We have a new online learning
platform for maths called MyMaths.
Children have been shown what the MyMaths learning will look like and they will bring home details next week of how they can log on at home to complete a homework challenge.
We also reminded children how to
log on to abacus to play games related to this week's
learning.
Maths
Year 2 children have been exploring lines of
symmetry in shapes using mirrors and folds. They have also been
sorting them in to groups.
Can you find any symmetrical
shapes at home?
Year 1 children have been adding 1
more and 2 more to numbers. Children loved jumping on the number
tiles to solve a question and even added on using a number
line.
Can you write down 1 more than a
number up to 30 by counting on?
Literacy
Children have been working hard in RWI groups to
write sentences and use capital letters and full
stops.
This week we also had a literacy
challenge to write a set of instructions how to make a paper
lantern.
Can you write a set of
instructions at home? You could write how to brush your teeth or
play a game.
Sounds of the
week
Year 1- nk, ng, sh, th, ch,
q
Year 2- ire
Spelling will be updated each week
RE
We have started our new topic this week called
'Belonging'
Children talked about what the word means and the
clubs we all belong to such as swimming, dancing and football. We
then talked about belonging to St Gerard's school family, In the
lesson we made a St Gerard's shield showing what it means to
'belong' to St Gerard's.
Take a look at our shields in the
pictures.
Operation
Christmas child
Children were so excited when they arrived at
school on Friday morning to pack their shoebox. We watched a video
in class that showed the happy faces of children when they received
their gifts.
All of the class chose to draw
picture or write a prayer to put inside the box to send lots of
love and joy with the presents.
It was wonderful to see them so
happy choosing presents for other children and knowing it was a
very kind and special thing to do.
Take a look at some of our pictures packing the
boxes.
BLOG UPDATE 4: 02/10/20
Welcome everyone. We can’t wait to share what we have been learning this week with you.
Maths
This week children in year 1
have been challenged in areas to make numbers up to 20 and record
numbers.
You can have a go at writing numbers 11-20
using the resource sheet attached.
In Year 2 this week we have been doubling
numbers up to 20. Children have been doubling tens and ones to find
answers quickly.
We also played a double number
board game to see if we could double our way to moon!
Find double challenges this week on the
abacus home learning.
Literacy
Children are continuing to work
hard in our Read write Inc groups.
We are becoming more confident
at reading with fluency and enjoy reading our books to a
partner.
Children are remembering to use capital
letters and full stops. In year 2 children have also used commas to
list things in sentences.
Challenge yourself this week to
write a sentence about something you have done at the
weekend.
Can you check
punctuation?
Send Mrs Drury a picture of your
work using the class email.
Sounds of the week
Year 1- nk, ng, sh, th, ch,
q
Year 2- i-e, ea
RE
This week we have been thinking
about what life would have been like for Jesus when he was a boy.
We compared our lives to his and thought about things that are the
same and things that are different.
PE
We were very lucky to be joined
by Rotherham United this week in our PE lesson. The children
enjoyed playing games improving fitness and having
fun!
Topic
We have continued to find out
more about Florence Nightingale this week. We watched a video that
took children back into the time of Florence to visit her
hospital.
It wasn't a place any of us wanted to visit
at all.
Tell your family what it was
like.
We compared how hospitals have now changed
because of Florence.
We also followed instructions to
make our very own paper lanterns inspired by 'The Lady with the
Lamp'
Can you make one at home too?
Sharing learning
from home
If you have any questions about
your child or you would like to share a piece of work or an
achievement from your child please send pictures to the class 2
email: class2@stgerardsprimary.org
BLOG UPDATE 3: 25/09/20
Hello everyone. Welcome to our Class blog for this week...
Class 2 are settling into routines and we have started our new Read, Write Inc groups.
Find out what we've been learning this week.
Maths
This week children have been continuing to find number bonds including bonds to 20 and 100 for Year 2.
Year 1 children have been using objects and equipment to find double a number up to 5.
Playing games at home will also
help develop great maths fact knowledge.
Maybe you could roll a dice and
find the number you need to add to it to make 10 or 20.
Could you double the number you
roll?
In construction children have made
lego towers and challenged a partner to double the amount of
bricks. Can you play this at home?
New games will be added to Abacus accounts each Friday to help support learning at home.
Literacy
As mentioned earlier we have started our new Read,Write, Inc lessons this week.
We work in groups to complete reading and writing tasks.
Year 2 children will work on
reviewing sounds previously taught to check they are secure in all
sounds.
Year 1 children are currently
reviewing set 1 sounds and learning set 2 sounds.
To find out Set 1,2,and 3 sounds
and how to say them, click the video on the right... The link to
the video is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkXcabDUg7Q
We will update sounds taught each
week.
You could try to find things at
home beginning with each sound. Spellings will be sent home each
Friday.
Sounds of the
week
Year 1- nk, ng, sh
Year 2- ow,oa,o-e
Science
We have been sorting different materials into groups. We found lots of different ways we could sort them by using our senses to describe them.
Can you go on a material hunt at
home? What materials can you find?
Topic: Superheroes
This week we have been finding out about a Superhero who lived a long time ago.... Florence Nightingale.
Children have begun to learn key
facts about her life in a fact hunt around the
classroom.
We used sketching pencils to
create some wonderful portraits of the lady with the
lamp.
Could you find out more about the
life of Florence at home?
BLOG UPDATE 2 - 18/09/20
Big congratulations this week
go to Ewan and Mary our new school councillors. I know they will
make great decisions for Class 2.
Things to do at
home:
Reading
books
This week all children should
have brought home a reading book to share with you. Please can
children return these on Wednesday and they will bring home a new
one on Friday.
Spellings
Children will bring home a
set of spellings to learn on Friday. They will have a spelling test
the following Thursday. We have been working in year groups for
Phonics sessions and the spellings will be based on sounds taught
each week.
Maths
This week children have been
finding number bonds to 5,6,7,8,9 and 10. It would be great to work
with children on these at home to help them to become more
confident with these number facts.
Example: Number bonds to 10
-
2 + 8
5 + 5
7 + 3
There will also be abacus games
added each week to support learning. You can find login details on
the website home page.
Learning this week
Literacy
We have continued our work
celebrating our beautiful world. We explored the school garden and
used our senses to write our very own poem describing what we
could, see, hear, smell, taste and feel. It was lots of fun
exploring in the garden with our clipboards recording the things
that we found.
To accompany our poems we also
produced some wonderful artwork showing the things we love about
our world.
RE
Our current topic is called
'Family'. So far we have discussed what we like to do with our
loved ones and how they take care of us.
This week we learned how we are
also part of God's family and he is always there for us. We read
the following Psalm and Year 2 children wrote their own versions.
This might be something to share at home together.
Blessed be God
God hears me when I pray for
strength.
God is strong for
me.
God takes care of
me.
How good God is to
me!
God helps me and I feel strong
again.
Thank you, thank you
God.
PE
We are having lots of fun
perfecting our aim in our Target games topic. This week in teams we
were playing games throwing bean bags and quoits to reach a
target.
Science
Children investigated
materials to build a house for the three little pigs. We made
predictions about which material would be the most suitable. We
then carried out a test to determine which would be the most
suitable.
BLOG UPDATE 1 - 11/09/20
Class 2 Superheroes
Welcome back!
It has been so lovely to see all of the children back in school with huge smiley faces. We've had a busy time in Class 2 this week learning new routines and exploring the classroom.
Our new topic is called 'Superheroes!'
We were surprised to find that in the holidays, Spiderman had visited our classroom and left us a few webs in the reading area. It has been a great place to choose new books to read and recommend to our friends.
There has been lots of excitement in the superhero head quarters. We have been creating watch gadgets for our favourite heroes. Designs were carefully planned and approved before construction could begin.
We have explored Maths through many games including playing dominoes and ordering number tiles. Children in Year 2 have been ordering numbers up to 100 and finding them on a number line.
Our writing has been based on the book 'Here We Are' by Oliver Jeffers which celebrates our beautiful world. It has been lovely sharing the story and we enjoyed making lists of places we would take someone visiting our planet for the first time.
Finally a highlight of the classroom this week has been our new role play area. St Gerard's Hospital. This area celebrates our 'real' superheroes, the NHS. We have loved playing the part of doctors, nurses and patients.
Welcome to Class 2
Celebrating our NHS superheroes