Physical activity – the facts
In August 2016, the Government released its Childhood Obesity Strategy. This document outlines actions which will address the rising rates of childhood obesity.
Yorkshire Sport Foundation have produced the following poster with statistics and key information from the strategy.
We continue to monitor and improve our physical activity provision (see our current PE Provision Plan (pe-and-sport-premium-2016-2017) and our previous PE Provision Plan (pe-and-sport-premium-2015-2016).
Packed lunches
Struggling for ideas for a healthy packed lunch?
Change4life have some great tips and easy to prepare ideas based on the Eatwell Guide.
Also make reference to our Packed Lunch Guidance.
Skittle Toy
This week, our STEM project has been to make our own version of a Victorian skittle game. The children were shown a big version at the start of the week and then had to design and make their own table top version. They have measured, sawn and drilled, solved problems, worked cooperatively to finish their toys. They have also written sets of instructions to tell others how to play the game.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have the time to make a toy for every person so the children worked in pairs. If your child doesn’t bring the toy home, they’ll take home some of the left over materials so that they can make their own at home.
Trapped in the ice!
In a Science lesson this week, we investigated how we could release some people who were trapped in ice!
Children had to think about how they could release the people. There were lost of suggestions: smashing the ice, melting it by using hot water, the sun, a radiator, using salt, using the warmth from our hands.
We tested some of these and measured how quickly the ice was melting by measuring how much water had melted and how much they had melted by observing them carefully.
James Mayhew Homework
Thanks for all the letters and emails to James Mayhew. We’ve even had a response from the author to Will’s email!
Below are some of our favourite homeworks. A special mention to Albie’s letter and Harris’ email which were also chosen as favourites.
STEM themed week
Year 2 have had a busy start to our STEM themed week. Can your child remember what STEM stands for?
Firstly, Mrs Garside visited us and we made our own cupbots. Using cups, pens, a battery and a motor we had to use our problem solving and thinking skills to make the cupbots draw a picture. This certainly tested our resilience but the children worked together to get some great results.
Our next visitor was Lucy, from Marks & Spencers, and we found out all about their famous melt in the middle chocolate puddings. We learnt how the pudding was designed and tested to make sure it was the perfect pudding. To make it last longer, an ingredient called an emulsifier is added and we observed the effect of this ingredient. Finally, we had chance to do some tasting!
We are all very excited about our class STEM project. All will be revealed at the end of the week, at the STEM fair, but for now here is how we have been testing the prototype.
Year 2 famous artists for a day
This afternoon saw the opening of the Year 2 Art Gallery. Thank you to all family who came to visit. We hope you enjoyed seeing all the amazing work Year 2 have produced during our Katie and… topic.
You could have a read of the books that helped us create all of this fantastic art.
You could put on your headphones and listen to the pieces of music (Adagio for Strings and O Fortuna) and then show the different emotions in your art.
You could take a vote on your favourite piece of art.
You could spend the time viewing the many pieces of artwork.
We hope you enjoyed our hands on live poppy field art for Remembrance Day.
Did you attempt some spirograph art? It’s not as easy as it looks!
Thank you for the donations to our school charities, Leeds Mind and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
We have been very impressed with the engagement and enthusiasm from the children throughout this topic. We will miss Katie and her adventures.
Anti-bullying tips
Thank you, Emma (Year 2) for recommending CBBC for lots of Anti-Bullying Week advice.
‘Power for good’
Next week is national Anti-Bullying Week.
The theme this year is ‘Power for Good‘ with the following key aims:
- To support children and young people to use their Power for Good – by understanding the ways in which they are powerful and encouraging individual and collective action to stop bullying and create the best world possible.
- To help parents and carers to use their Power for Good – through supporting children with issues relating to bullying and working together with schools to stop bullying.
- To encourage all teachers, school support staff and youth workers to use their Power for Good– by valuing the difference they can make in a child’s life, and taking individual and collective action to prevent bullying and create safe environments where children can thrive.
Our school definition has recently been reviewed by the School Council and remains unchanged.
‘Bullying is when you hurt someone, physically or emotionally, several times on purpose.’
We also encourage children to use their ‘Power for Good’, if they were to experience or witness bullying, by using another STOP message, start telling other people.
In class, children will discuss these aspects of bullying:
- Our definition of bullying (above)
- Types of bullying – cyber-bullying and prejudice-based bullying related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion and belief, special educational need and disability
- What to do if children experience bullying. The key message is to tell someone (start telling other people)
Recently the School Council responded to this question, ‘What would you do if you were bullied‘?
- ‘Start telling other people – tell someone who I trust and who I can talk to.’
- ‘I would tell someone I trust (family member, member of staff or friend).’
- ‘If I were bullied, I’d tell my parents, a friend, a teacher and if nothing changed I would phone ChildLine (08001111).’
- ‘I’d tell a teacher, maybe a friend and put in a worry in the ‘worry box’. Also, I’d tell a parent.’
- ‘I would tell anyone I trust: my friends, my mum or dad or a member of staff. They could sort it straight away.’
- ‘I’d tell my mummy and daddy.’
All classes have access to their class SEAL box or a whole school worry box where they can tell an adult any concerns about bullying or any other issues.
For further support, bullying resources can be found at…
- http://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/resources/disablist-bullying/resources-for-parents/
- http://www.childline.org.uk/explore/bullying/pages/bullying.aspx
- http://www.bullying.co.uk/advice-for-parents/
- http://www.youngminds.org.uk/for_parents/worried_about_your_child/bullying
Moortown’s artists
We’d love to see you next Tuesday to share our learning from our Katie and…topic. Art gallery open 2:45-3:30pm.
