Junk Modelling Explosion!

Wow… well, on Tuesday, our classroom looked like it had an explosion of recycled goods happened. There were boxes, yogurt cups, kitchen rolls and even straws being used for every part of our DT lesson. Basically, there was recycled junk everywhere. This was because Hedgehogs have started creating their PIRATE SHIPS. The buzz in the classroom was lovely. Year Two didn’t make a sound as they knuckled down and started constructing their boats together. They worked brilliantly and were really motivated to use their plans to create their vision of a pirate ship.

As Miss Hall keeps saying ‘its not mess, its working progress’. So keep an eye for more updates on our creations. Thank you so much for all the recycled materials donated this week for our pirate ships.

Shell Artists!

Hedgehogs had a lovely art lesson on Wednesday. In the lesson, Year Two had been studying shells and using their observation skills to see what colours the shells were, what shapes they could see and explore the different textures. There were lots of shells with lovely spirals and swirly lines. Hedgehogs then had to use their observational skills to draw the shells using sketching and different tones. They learnt how to press lighter on the sketch pencil for lighter tones and push hard for darker tones. They really took their time and the creations were almost looked real.

We also incorprated some printing using polostyrene tiles and ink. Year Two loved this and had lots of fun! They made simple patterns in the polostyrene, using a blunt pencil, to then print and make a background for their sketched shell. It was really creative and everyone was so engaged with their pieces of artwork. Have a sneak peak below but also make sure you look at our classroom window too!

3D Shape Madness!

This week Hedgehogs’ have been learning all about 3D shapes. We have explored the very complicated, names of 3D shapes and spooted htme in the environment. Then Year Two spent some of the week counting faces, edges and vertices. This has been a challenge in itself (even Miss Hall got confused with edges) but Hedeghogs perserved and were brilliant at doing this. as well as teaching Miss Hall. We drew faces on the shapes to count the faces, used blue tack on the edges to count those and whiteboard pen on the vertices to count them too.

One of the challenges this week was to make 3D shapes using blue tack and pasta. This was a task to help us count edges. Year Two were great at following the instructions and building their very own 3D shapes. It has been a very hands on week with 3D shape with lots of fun resources and building. Take a sneak peak below…

Welcome Back!

Hedgehogs’ have had an excellent start to this half term. They have come back refuelled, enthusiastic and ready for another few weeks of learning. This week, we have been exploring 2D shapes in maths, editing our stories in English and learning sea shanties as part of our topic. Year Two have been super busy and have impressed Miss Hall with all the work that has been going on. Below are a few snippets of our week. Have a look for yourself at how hard working Hedgehogs have been …

Pirate Themed Gymnastics!

Over the half term,Hedgehogs’ have been focusing on gymnastic routines with strong poses, movement and beginning/endings linked to their pirate topic. They have been excellent at putting these skills to pirate themed music and then performing to our friends.

They were super excited because, on Monday, we got the walls bars out and they preformed their routines on them. Year Two were super sensible and flexible when climbing up high and slithering through the bars. The buzz in the hall was so exciting. It was a real treat to end the half term!

We had a visitor!

On Tuesday, Hedgehogs’ had a very special visitor come to our classroom. It was a fire fighter! They came in to speak about the importance of keeping safe around dangerous fire lighting things such as lighters and matches. Year Two also learnt what to do if there was an emergency. They were excellent at listening, asking questions and really understood the importance of fire alarms at home. Hopefully Hedgehogs’ went home and checked theirs. If you haven’t then do…

We were also very lucky as the fire fighter put his special fire uniform on to show Hedgehogs. They were fascinated by the helmet and how thick the jacket was. Year Two also learnt a poem too - Matches, lighters, never touch. They can hurt you very much! Ask your child to show you the actions with the rhyme.

If you wanted to explore this more then you can access resources through - https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire-emergencies-and-crime/west-sussex-fire-and-rescue-service/safety-advice-for-young-people/learning-zone/#early-years-and-key-stage-1

Drawing on the tables!

This week, in maths, Hedgehogs’ have been focusing on division. Miss Hall has been so impressed with how quickly Year Two have understood this. She has been blown away with some of the division number sentences Year Two have been exploring.

All week we have been exploring strategies to workout division number sentences. One of the ways we did this was to draw on the tables. You read that right… DRAW on the tables (don’t tell Mr King).

Hedgehogs had to write the division number sentence on the table and then draw the correct amount of circles it was being divided by. They then split the number into the circles using dots. Even reading that sounds like a brain ache. BUT Hedgehogs were super at this! Have a sneak peak below. The pictures will explain themselves…

WANTED... Captain Blue Beard!

Over the past couple of weeks Hedgehogs have been exploring the book ‘Never mess with a pirate princess’. They have been so enthusiastic and gripped by the book. So much so that we are planning to write our own versions next week. However…whilst reading the book, we had some terrible news. The horrible and mean Captain Blue Beard (who steals children’s teddy bears) had gone missing!

So, in English, Year Two created their own wanted posters to try and capture him. They had to include a detailed description of him using adjectives as well as adding other features of a wanted poster such as a reward for whoever finds him. The posters were brilliant and Hedgehogs really understood the task and mission. Have a look at some of the work they created…

A Chinese New Year Inspired Art Week!

WOW… what a very exciting week Hedgehogs have had. This years art week theme is ‘80 days around the world’ as we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the book. So Year Two were given the country Hong Kong and we explored the art created there. Hedgehogs’ decided to research further into Chinese New Year and looked at the different colours, traditions and decided to create art around this theme.

Year Two have been so creative, expressive and really enthusiastic about the artwork they have created. We have made 3D lanterns, stencils to make a collaborative piece and even attempted Chinese writing inspired by an artist from Hong Kong called Kwok Mang Ho. They have really show great perseverance with some of the work as well as have the freedom to recreate their own pieces. Miss Hall has been really proud! Below are some snap shots of our organised chaos…

Make sure you come along to Hedgehogs gallery, next Tuesday, to see the inspiring artwork they have created!

Welcome back meee heartiesss!

First week back at school and Hedgehogs’ have certainly rested and are ready to go with their learning. We have started our new topic this week. It is called ‘Land Ahoy!’ and as you’ve probably guessed is all about pirates. Check out google classroom for more information. Year Two have been super enthusiastic and already know so much about this topic.

One of their favourite lessons this week was creating their very own treasure map. Hedgehogs’ tea stained some paper, added land marks and then plotted where the treasure would go. The end results were excellent and even Miss Hall thought some of them were real! That’s how good and realistic they were. Take a look through your telescopes below…

Happy Christmas Hedgehogs!

WOW… what a sparkly and fabulous week Hedgehogs have had. Miss Hall has been so impressed with how hard working, sensible and super Year Two have been. They did absolutely brilliantly in the nativity, written some very informative booklets and boogied away at the Christmas party. It has been a wonderful week to end the term.

Now it’s time for a well deserved two weeks off. Enjoy a fun filled, restful and magical Christmas and we will see you in the new year!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Wow, what a hard working week Hedgehogs’ have had. It has been non stop and slgihtly topsy turvey. They have been knuckling down on their ‘Queens Quizzes’, continued to WOW us in nativity practises (eeeek 4 sleeps to go) and had the excitement of a Christmas dinner and jumper day. Hedgehogs’ have continued to be hard working throughout the madness and really shown they are sensible Year Twos. They have made us all very proud.

You many have heard that Year Two have also had a very naughty elf visit our classroom who has been up to all sorts of mischief. There are a few snaps below of what he has done to our learning space. Miss Hall can’t keep up with the chaos!

We’ve gone back in time!

Hedgehogs’ have been working super hard on their history this week. They have stepped into a Time Machine and gone back in time. We been exploring the past and the present. This involved looking at vehicles, toys and even schools. Some of the Year Twos faces were in shock with what their teach would’ve been like back in the day and the punishments they would get for even being a minute late.

One of the things we explored was the equipment the children used in the past and Hedgehogs’ were fascinated by the chalk and chalk boards as well as the ink and ink pens. So we tried them out! They discovered that it was pretty hard to write and draw with ink as they constantly had to dip their pen in the ink and also try not to splodge ink on the page. It was such a challenge but we had such fun doing this. Take a look at some of the creations…

If I Built A House…

As part of our topic, Hedgehogs have been exploring a book called ‘If I Built A House’ and it sure has captured their imagination. It’s all about how one boy redesigns a house with the most coolest rooms (Year 2s words not Miss Halls).

So, Hedgehods have turned into architects and designed their own dream house. They were so imaginative! We had skate board rooms, a cinema and even a room filled with dogs. Miss Hall liked the idea of a penguin room! Take a look at some of the sketches below…

Hedgehogs have come back with a BANG!

Welcome back happy Hedgehogs! After a lovely week off, Year Two have come back refreshed, eager and ready to learn. We have started our new topic ‘Street Detectives’ which Hedgehogs have loved. Although we have only dipped our toes in so more blogs will come linked to these as we dive deep into the topic.

BUT…One thing that shone this week was the Hedgehogs’ firework pictures. We learnt about the history of bonfire night and the gunpowder plot story. They were then given the opportunity to explore different media’s and create their very own fireworks. We used paint, oil pastels, chalk and even glitter (Miss Hall couldn’t resist). The outcomes were so individual and very expressive. Take a look and remember to ooooo and ahhhh…

Spaghetti Madness!

It wasn’t paper towers this week… it was SPAGHETTI! To finish our tunnels, towers and turrets topic, Hedgehogs got to make their very own towers using spaghetti and blu tack and what a mess they made. There was so much concentration, team work and most importantly joy in the room when building these. Through all the investigations and studying of towers, Year Two really understood what they need to do to create a sturdy and well built tower to make sure it was stable. Miss Hall was so impressed with their perseverance, group work and positive attitude towards this delicate and tricky task. Hedgehogs absolutely aced it! Have a look at them working hard below…

We Became Authors!

This week, Hedgehogs have become real authors. Yes they have written their own stories! We think some could even be published in a book shop.

Year Two have worked hard to understand why stories are so important and the planning behind them. They have all recreated their own versions of the ‘The Very Last Castle’ and Miss Hall has been so proud of every single one of them. Hedgehogs made sure they included a beginning, middle and end as well as adding adjectives and bold writing to make them exciting.

All they need to do is become illustrators and add pictures to their books. They are so excited to share these stories next week during the book look session with parents. For now here is a sneak peek…

I Have Cities, But no Houses. I Have Mountains, But no Trees. I Have Water, But no Fish. What Am I?

MAPS! In geography this week, we got the maps out and used our skills to read the key to spot bridges, castles, towers and tunnels on them. Some of the maps were bigger than the Hedgehogs!

Our focus this week was bridges and we explored all sorts of bridges all over the world. Hedgehogs were fascinated at how long and big they were. We even ended up watching how bridges are made. They loved the water boat cranes and found them amazing. When using the maps, Year Two were brilliant at pointing out different landmarks (some children even got side tracked and found Fishers Farm!) and were able to highlight where a bridge was in our local area. They then added their own bridges to maps, sorted bridges in science and even designed their own.

Miss Hall has set Hedgehogs a mission to find a bridge on the weekend… Will they succeed?

Tower Off!

This week, with bake off on our TVs, Hedgehogs’ thought they’d get involved… It wasn’t a bake off though, it was a tower off!

During the week we have been exploring lots of different famous towers from around the world and how they are built. Hedgehogs’ were very good at spotting famous towers in England. Whilst exploring these, we found out that most of the building had a wide structure at the bottom working up to a thinner top which was the top tip of the day.

So the challenge was to build the tallest, most stable tower with paper and tape BUT Hedgehogs’ only had 20 minutes to create this. There was stuff everywhere but Year Two loved the challenge. They worked brilliantly in teams and the results well… look for yourself.

Castle Attack!

This week, Hedgehogs have continued to work hard on their new topic ‘Tunnels, Turrets and Towers’. The stand out moment was on Thursday when they turned into scientist and completed their first ever science experiment in Year Two. It was called Castle Attack!

Hedgehogs had to work in groups to build a castles out of wooden bricks and then find the best material to knock it down with. They used a range of resources such as paper, play dough and cotton wool to attack their creations. Year Two had so much fun completing this and found that the tennis ball was the best at knocking down the bricks as it was the hardest material. Have a look through the arrow loop shots below…