We have had such a busy, fun filled half term and the children have worked so incredibly hard. In KS1, we wanted to take the opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! Here are our fantastic children singing for you...

In our DT unit, we have been making some amazing fire engines. We linked this to our learning this term all about the Great Fire of London. 
The children started by collecting materials including cardboard boxes, straws, pipe cleaners, lolly pop sticks and bottle tops. Then after planning our designs, we attached the wheels to the axle and pushed it through the box to create a moving vehicle. Then, the children painted their engines a bright red colour and used black for the wheels. Finally, the children used different materials to attach hoses, ladders, windows, doors, sirens and more to create a fantastic fire engine. 
Year 2 have worked so hard these last few weeks on researching, planning and making their vehicles. We hope you were impressed when they came home!

Today, Years 1 and 2 and FS2 went on our annual festive visit to the Lamproom pantomime and we thought it was the best on yet! The children had so much fun joining in with the songs, clapping, cheering and booing the baddy.

Some of our friends even got to go on stage to perform a song with Muddles! The pantomime was so funny this year, one of the children even asked if they could watch it again!

It was a pleasure to watch the children having so much fun. They behaved so well we were really proud of each and every one of them. What a wonderful start to the Christmas treats at school!

Year 2 had a wonderful surprise on Tuesday morning! We were visited by Santa's elves. They had hidden in the woodlands next to our playground and it was Year 2's mission to find them!

All the children managed to find their very own elf and we are using them to inspire our writing for the next two weeks!

What an amazing day Year 2 have had!
We had a very special visitor to our class today - Sir William Petty. Sir William was good friends with the famous diarist, Samuel Pepys and taught us an awful lot about the Great Fire of London.
First of all, Sir William showed us a huge map of London and explained all about how the fire started and why it spread so quickly.

Then we learnt how the fire would have been put out in 1666 using a human chain and buckets filled with water.

In the afternoon, we worked together to draw a map of the new London to be built after the Great Fire. We made sure to leave space between the houses and buildings so that a fire would never spread in the same way agein.

Finally, Sir William posed for us to draw his portrait.

We all agree that our Great Fire of London day has been absolutely amazing and we hope you enjoy looking at the photos of us having a fabulous time!

This half term, we have started our new art unit- printing. The children began by using different resources to experiment printing and creating repeated shapes. They had a lot of fun and did really well. 
This half term they will be learning how to create a repeated, printed pattern whilst learning about the artist Orla Kiely. 

This half term, the PE curriculum for Year 2 is all about dance!
We will be working towards grooving our moves in our Christmas production, but today the children were working on learning a choreographed routine to one of my favourite party bangers - Reach for the Stars.
The children were very focused on trying to remember the moves and dance in time with the beat. This routine was learnt and performed within one lesson and I think you'll agree that they really are superstars. 

This half term, the children have worked really hard on their glockenspiel skills and have learnt a short melody to an instrumental part in the song. It is still so tricky to play alongside singing but I am sure they will manage it this year! Here is a little clip of their hard work. 

Today, the year 2 children finally made their boats. These boats have been weeks in the making. They have planned the materials, brought them in from home and designed their boats before making them today. They used different containers made from different materials and cellotape, glue and bluetac to construct a boat with a sail. I saw some sparkly boats and even one with a window and a slide! Lots of our boats floated and we all sat together to test them. The children were really supportive of each other which was lovely to see. Well done year 2, they might be soggy now but they did the job!

​Wow – what a busy and exciting time we’ve had in Year 2!
This week in RE we’ve been learning all about Diwali, the Festival of Lights. We found out that Diwali is a very special celebration for Hindus. It’s all about light winning over darkness. People celebrate by decorating their homes, sharing sweets, wearing colourful clothes, and lighting diva lamps.
We had a go at making our very own diva lamps – and didn’t they turn out amazingly?
First, we shaped the clay carefully with our hands. Some of us found it a bit tricky, but we kept going and made lovely little bowls. Then we decorated them with bright colours and patterns using sequins and beads. They really do look ready to shine!
When we put all our lamps together, the classroom looked so bright and cheerful – just like Diwali itself.
We’re so proud of our learning and our creations. Maybe you can spot yours in the photos!
Happy Diwali from Year 2!