Living and Learning: Be kind
Today, in Living and Learning, we had a powerful circle time with an important message.
In order to illustrate the effects of saying unkind words, we used two apples (one of which had been bruised).
We gave the first apple a variety of compliments and positive, kind comments as we passed it around the circle.
With the bruised apple, we passed it round and said unkind words and negative comments.
We looked again at both apples, and there was no change; both apples still looked the same. We then cut the apples open. The apple we’d said unkind words to was bruised and all mushy inside.
We talked about what we saw inside the apples. The bruised and mushy apple showed what would be happening inside every one of us if someone uses unkind words.
Living and Learning: Being Me
- I cover my mouth (when I yawn, cough, sneeze). Get your child to demonstrate the ‘vampire’ method to family members at home.
- I can say something good about myself. It’s important that your child can confidently talk about themselves in a positive way.
- I pay and receive compliments in a sensible way. Try paying compliments each day to each other! Some children struggle to hear positive words about themselves, but this is important for self-esteem. Try paying (and listening) to praise and compliments.
- I recognise my talents. Talk to your child about talents, whether academic, physical, social or emotional. Some of us may have a natural talent, but most have talents that derive from lots of practice.
- I know the difference between being proud and showing off. We encourage compliments to be paid – but encourage your children to know the balance between being having self-esteem and showing off.
- I use good table manners. This is another manners-related Living and Learning statement. Think about good table manners at home – not pointing our cutlery at someone or speaking with food in our mouths, for example.
Times tables
All children have recently received their login details for Times Tables Rock Stars.
In Year 2, we learn the two, five and ten times tables and these are the tables that have been assigned to the children on Times Tables Rock Stars, starting with the ten times table.
Occasionally there will be some division questions and as this is something we are beginning to learn, please support your child with these questions until they feel more confident to have a go.
Children will be bringing home some optional Times Tables Rock Stars sheets that can be completed over half term to improve these skills. They can return these to school if they complete them.
Other resources to support time tables and other number facts is Hit the Button. This is a great, fast-paced game and children can choose which times tables or number facts to work on during each game. This game is free to play online.
If you have any further questions regarding the resources mentioned, do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for your continued support.
Multiplication Experts
Year Three have spent their maths lesson today showing what they know and can do with multiplication. Have a look at the pictures, below.
Slice, cut, segment…
As we come to the end of our instruction writing in english, and to prepare the children to write their own instructions, we followed instructions to make fruit kebabs.
As we were making the fruit kebabs, we talked about the adverbs (safely, carefully, slowly), time connectives (first of all, next, finally) and imperative verbs (peel, slice, thread) needed for the instructions.
We also developed our food technology skills including peeling, cutting (using claw hold and bridge hold) and naming and using different equipment. Hopefully the children will want to try out these skills at home too!
We even thought about our maths learning by creating an array!
Spring term after-school clubs
Our spring term after-school clubs will be starting next week and while many of the clubs are full, we do have some spaces available for the following clubs.
Science: Seasons
This half term, our biology topic in science is seasonal changes.
In line with the KS1 science expectations, our main learning objectives are:
- I can observe changes across the four seasons.
- I can observe and describe weather associated with the seasons and how day length varies.
The vocabulary we will be learning and using in this topic include:
- winter
- spring
- summer
- autumn
- seasons
- day length
- temperature
- change
So far we have been learning the seasons and the corresponding months of the year that match each season. Some of the things we have noted that change across the seasons include:
- weather
- temperature
- trees
- plants
- animals
- clothes we might wear
This video (One year in forty seconds) helps to show the changes across the seasons.
On our class calendar, we note the weather and season on a daily basis. We also record the temperature using our thermometer giving children the chance to develop an important maths skill of reading scales.
We will be moving onto learning more about weather across the seasons and how the length of the day (and night) changes across the year.
Animals Adapt
In our Science lesson this week, we investigated how animals with blubber are more adapted to a cold environment than animals without. Challenge your child to fill in the gaps with the words below – the ones from our Science vocabulary list for the half term are in bold.
- inherit
- evolved
- survive
- thin
- adapted
- environment
Tennis opportunities
Today, Year 2 – Year 6 pupils have taken part in tennis sessions to give children a taster of tennis and to promote sessions starting locally at Chapel Allerton Tennis and Squash Club.
Celebrate Yorkshire themed menu
Catering Agency, our school meal provider, will be running a special themed menu on Thursday 16 January. Please contact the office, in the next few days, if your child would like a school dinner on this day (no action needed if your child normally has a school meal on this day).
