YEAR 1
This week we have been looking at more space related poems. Firstly, we used actions to help us remember a poem. We worked in groups to come up with the actions and perform our poem to the rest of the class. We have read a poem called ‘Moon’ and then we drew pictures for each verse of the poem to demonstrate our understanding. Finally, we created our own rhyming poems for a poem called ‘Moon, Moon’.
In Maths we have been using a balance to identify heavy and light objects. We have also seen how the balance is equal when it holds two objects of the same weight. We also used cubes to find the mass of different objects in the balance. Then we looked at capacity and hold much water different vessels can hold and the terms we use to talk about how full or empty something is. Finally we measured capacity by seeing how many cups of water a vessel could hold.
In Science we have concluded our unit on Comparing Materials by, firstly, looking at ice. We described ice and observed what happened it to during the course of our lesson. We tried to speed up the melting process by putting salt on the ice. We learned that ice is made up of particles that move away from each other as the ice turns form a solid into a liquid. Finally, we did a test to find out which type of paper is best to mop up a spill. We tested tissue paper, writing paper, greaseproof paper and a paper towel. We discovered that paper towels are the most absorbent.
In Topic, we have been looking at the explorers Robert Scott and Felicity Aston. Both travelled across Antarctica. Scott and a team travelled across Antarctica to reach the South Pole over 100 years ago, whilst Aston travelled across Antarctica on skis by herself in 2012. We compared their journeys and how modern day travel is so different to that of 100 years ago.
YEAR 2
Another fun and happening week for Year 2! The children are motoring on and the sun is beginning to make occasional appearances. We have taken advantage of that when possible by having the children complete some work in the sun.
In Topic, we dug up our rain gauges and measured the amounts left over the last week. According to our measurements and instruments, it has been wet in recent days! We also learnt about the polar regions and what makes the Antarctic and Arctic unique places on the planet. Aside from cold weather, we looked at which amazing animals, plants and insects inhabit these areas.
In Science, we continue to record the growth of our bean plants in our sheets and block graphs. In fact, we had to transfer them from plastic cups into a large tray of soil to accommodate their growth. We also dissected the seeds from red beans, mungo beans and lentils. They all exhibited similar characteristics, interestingly, despite looking quite different.
In Maths, we revised our knowledge of doubling and halving, completing the relevant mastery checkpoint. This was also the case for fractions such as quarters, thirds and halves. In English, we wrapped up our work on contractions and learnt about speech marks.
This week was International Day and Year 2 were allocated the country of Iceland. Not only did we discover the amazing hot springs and volcanoes, but also that Iceland has a very small population. We also looked at Iceland’s amazing heritage to learn about the Vikings, who were fearsome warriors and expert navigators who worshipped Gods such as Odin and Thor. In English, some of us completed reading comprehension activities on the amazing long ships that the Vikings used to colonise large sections of the globe. Valhalla we are coming!
Excellent, Year 2, well done.
RUSSIAN
This week Year 1 learned about voiceless and voiced consonants and symbolic representations of them, while doing some cutting and sticking. Well done, Year 1!
MUSIC
Years 1 and 2 studied traditional music and dance in Iceland. The students learned the Viking song and performed it with great enthusiasm. In our music class, we watched the Viking dance and learned to dance it in pairs. The students were delighted with the action of this dance.
ART
As Year 1 children we are learning about Amelia Earhart, an incredible strong woman in history. We made a 3d cardboard airplane this week. Airplane crafts are super fun for kids to make, and they have the added bonus of playing with them afterwards too!
Year 2 chose Iceland, so this week we designed a lopi sweater. The lopi, or lopapeysa, the traditional Icelandic sweater, is defined by its unique quality, handknitted in unspun wool of Icelandic sheep and its circular and symmetrical yoke pattern. The name lopapeysa goes straight to the point as it is made up of two words: lopi, standing for unspun wool from the Icelandic sheep and peysa, which means sweater in Icelandic.
