Year 2 had a brilliant time on our trip to Mountfitchet Castle, where we explored the grounds and learned about life in the past. We then wrote fantastic recounts of our day.

We loved our "How to be a Knight" experience day. The children had so much fun building their own catapults and learning how to fence, which was a big hit! The children showed great teamwork, enthusiasm and bravery.

A big thank to all the parents who join our weekly reading sessions - the children really look forward to them each week.

This week Year 2 have blasted off into Space! We began our new book in literacy, learning all about the American astronaut Leland Melvin. First we learnt about America and discovered that they call crisps chips! Then we tried on a space suit and even had a taste of some food they would have eaten in space. 

In maths we have begun our new topic on Money. We have been learning to add notes and coins becoming expert shoppers! In PE we have been enjoying boxercise using real boxing gloves and pads to practice our moves. 

Finally in Science we have begun an experiment, we know that plants need water, soil and light to grow, but what happens if we take these away? We have planted some cress and are going to be watching them grow over the next few weeks to see what happens, so far the ones without water haven't grown at all! 

Year 2 have been busy and enthusiastic learners over the past few weeks. In English, we had a great time tasting delicious Chinese foods to inspire our poetry writing about strange food combinations based on a poem by Valerie Bloom. The children came up with some adventurous and imaginative ideas, from chocolate sushi to ice-cream and noodle soup. 

In Maths, we have been learning how to measure and compare the mass of different objects. We have been using grams and kilograms and practising reading scales carefully. 

In Science, we have been learning all about how to keep ourselves heathy. We discussed good hygiene habits and why they were important and had a go at brushing teeth, washing dishes, and brushing hair. 

Year 2 have been very engaged with our new class book, The Magic Paintbrush. As part of our learning, we enjoyed an exciting experience day where we made fantastic Chinese fans, linking beautifully with our story. In DT, we have been developing our sewing skills and practising a running stitch so we can make our own Chinese money pouches. In Science, we have been learning about how animals grow, including exploring the life cycle of a butterfly. The children have shown such enthusiasm and curiosity throughout the start of the new half term.

Year 2 have had a wonderful start to their Christmas activities. We went on a trip to St Peters Church where we heard the story of the Christmas Journey. The Wise Men, Shepherds and Inn Keepers each told their part of the story and helped us do some activities. We have been practising our performance for our Christmas Show and are excited to show our parents next! In literacy, we have started our new story A Crows Tale and started off by creating our own colourful crows. As the week goes on, we will find out how he lost his colours. 

The Year 2 team would like to say a huge thank you to all the parents, grandparents and adults who attended our Fantastic Finish on Wednesday. The children loved singing their song to you and watching the re-enactment of the Great Fire of London. We can't wait to show you the paintings we make next week with the prints you created together. This week, we travelled back in time to discover what school was like in the past. The children took part in a very special History lesson with their own (and very 'strict') old-fashioned teacher, writing on chalk slates and playing with traditional wooden toys. In science, we have been very busy exploring materials; investigating which types of balls bounce the highest and ensuring we carry out a fair test.