In computing this half term, the children have been learning all about algorithms and giving clear instructions. They practised following step‑by‑step sequences and enjoyed creating their own by changing the order of instructions to see different outcomes. The class loved using the Bee‑Bots, designing routes for them and predicting where they would travel. They also learned how to test and debug their programs, showing great perseverance when things didn’t go to plan. It’s been lovely to see their confidence grow as young programmers.

In geography this half term, the children loved exploring the Arctic and finding out what makes this part of the world so special. They began by locating the Arctic Circle and learning about its extremely cold climate. We looked closely at the region’s physical features, including ice caps, seas and tundra landscapes, before learning about some of the animals that live there. The children also explored Arctic cities and towns and enjoyed comparing life in the Arctic to life here in the UK. By the end of the unit, they could talk confidently about the similarities and differences between the two places.

The children really enjoyed their visit to the library. We listened to a story read out by the librarian, Designed our own robots based on what we read in the story and chose a book to take away to read in class.

It was so lovely to see so many parents attend our workshop in preparation for Lumiere. Everyone worked hard with their story front covers and petals for our Peter Rabbit theme.

In music this half term, the children have been developing their listening and rhythm skills through lots of fun, practical activities. They learned how to keep a steady beat and clap simple rhythmic patterns using long and short sounds. The class enjoyed exploring high and low pitches and loved having a go at improvising using the notes A, B and C. We also spent time responding to different pieces of music, sharing thoughts and using musical vocabulary with growing confidence. It’s been lovely to see their enjoyment shine through as they listened, moved and created their own ideas.

In PE this half term, the children have really enjoyed their football sessions with our NUFC coach. They have been practising how to dribble and turn with the ball, and they are becoming much more confident controlling it while moving. The class have also been learning some of the key rules of the game and trying out corner kicks, goal‑shooting and simple tackling skills. It’s been lovely to see how well they communicate and work together during the activities, and their confidence has grown each week.

In DT this half term, the children worked brilliantly as young chefs, learning all about where different foods come from and how to prepare them safely. A real highlight was our Pickle Palace workshop, where the children made traditional Norwegian lefse to link with our Arctic learning. They practised measuring, mixing, peeling and slicing, and they quickly picked up the importance of hygiene and safe food handling. The class showed great teamwork as they followed the recipe step by step, and they were very proud when they tasted their finished lefse.

In science this half term, the children learned all about different habitats and the living things that depend on them. They explored the rainforest, ocean and polar regions, noticing what makes each habitat special. We also talked about how environments can change and why this can be a problem for the animals that live there. The children especially enjoyed creating their own habitat models to show how plants and animals survive in their environments.

In our art lessons, the children loved getting creative in our Map It Out unit. They explored how artists use lines, shapes and symbols to represent places and began experimenting with their own imaginative map designs. The class had great fun using different materials to build up textures and patterns, and they enjoyed adding details that told a story about the places they created. It was brilliant to see their confidence grow as they made choices about colour, layout and composition. By the end of the unit, each child had produced a unique, expressive map artwork they were really proud of..

In computing this half term, the children have been learning how to take clear and thoughtful photographs. They explored different devices and practised capturing their own digital photos, thinking carefully about whether landscape or portrait would work best. The class enjoyed experimenting with light and angles and quickly spotted how small changes can improve a picture. They also learned how to retake and refine their photos, talking confidently about what makes a good shot. It was lovely to see their creativity grow with each lesson.

In our Sensational Safari unit, the children really enjoyed learning all about Kenya. They began by finding Kenya on a map and exploring what the weather and climate are like there. We looked at different landscapes and used maps to learn more about the savannah. The class also found out about the people and culture of Kenya and loved comparing life there with life in the UK. By the end, they could talk confidently about the similarities and differences between the two countries.

In our materials unit, the children loved exploring different everyday materials and spotting what they’re used for. They investigated how materials can bend, stretch, twist and squash, and enjoyed testing which ones are best for different jobs. The class were really engaged when learning about Charles Macintosh and John McAdam, and they were quick to see how their inventions solved real problems. By the end, the children were confidently choosing suitable materials and explaining their ideas clearly.

In our DT unit, the children had a fantastic time learning how to design and build their own moving fire engine. They investigated how wheels and axles work together to create movement. The class worked carefully to construct their chassis and select suitable materials, making sure everything was aligned so their models ran smoothly.. Our local fire department paid us a visit and the children were thrilled to look closely at the equipment and see the fire engine up close. By the end, they were confidently testing their vehicles, talking about what worked well and what they could improve next time.

Year 2 thoroughly enjoyed their Fire Engine workshop today in preparation for our DT topic. Everyone was enthusiastic and very inquisitive with their long list of questions. Thank you very much to the local fire service who took the time to come and visit our school and talk about their roles as a firefighters. We now have many aspiring firefighters for the future!

In this unit, the children learned about what caused the Great Fire of London and talked confidently about the events that followed. They explored how the fire changed the city and began to see why it was such a significant moment in history. We also looked at when the fire happened and linked it to other events from the same time. The class enjoyed comparing different accounts, noticing how stories can change depending on who is telling them. They were especially interested in the idea that eyewitness accounts aren’t always reliable, and they loved investigating this through our discussions.

We had a special guest from Durham University come and deliver a Great Fire of London workshop for our history topic. He was blown away by how much the children remembered about the fire from our previous lessons. In this workshop, we explored how we know about the Great Fire of London today considering there is nobody still alive from that time. We looked at artefacts, diaries and maps and discussed how these objects help us picture what happened all those years ago. The class enjoyed all the activities, especially the quill writing at the end!