Binary Trees

 In Computing yesterday, our aim was to construct a binary tree to separate different items -

Mr Spracklen was very impressed with the focus we all showed in attempting this task. Families will be able to review their child's binary tree in their non-core folders when they visit for Parent Consultation Meetings this week.

#InspiredToLearn - #WeLoveComputing 

Year 2 - Week 4

Hello everyone, we hope you have had a super weekend!

This week in Year 2 we have had a great week. In Maths we started our new unit of Multiplication and division. We looked at equal groups and moved on to using the x sign. This will continue next week. In English we have been focusing on being water protectors. We made a pledge to protect our water and wrote about how we can save water and how important water is. In Science we continued to look at living things and their habitats and made a diorama. 

During the parent information session a Maths fluency workshop was mentioned. The date for this is Thursday 1st February at 9am. This is a workshop where families are invited in to take part in a Maths session with their children. It will last around half an hour to an hour. Families and children will be working together to complete Maths tasks. Once completed, children will have 5 home learning tasks to complete. We hope to see many of you there.

In Art we recreated a piece of art in the style of our Artist Jean Michel Basquiat. The children really enjoyed doing this.

This week is also parent consultations. If you have not yet booked a slot, please do so.

 We have an exciting activity happening tomorrow as we are taking part in a KAPLA workshop. 

 All parents are invited in at 3.15pm to view the KAPLA creations with their children. We are so excited to see what the children create during the day. 

Home learning for this week is below:

See you all tomorrow!

Miss White, Mrs Bernard, Mrs Burgess and Mrs Thomas

Quadcopters Video

Today in Computing we watched a short section of a TED Talk by Raffaello D'Andrea called, 'The astounding athletic power of quadcopters' -

The children in Year Two were really enjoying this video when I had to stop it so they could move onto their next lesson. 

I promised them I would share the link with you on this blog, please see below -

Direct URL = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2itwFJCgFQ

This video is ten years old now but it's still one of my favourites to show young children the magical beauty that lies within applied Maths, Physics, Coding/Computing...

Asking Yes / No Questions

 Today in Computing we used Yes/No questions to separate information - 

We were essentially playing 'Guess Who' -

And here is why...

Playing Guess Who can be a fun and effective way to develop computing skills, particularly in the area of effective questioning, for Key Stage 1 (KS1) pupils. 

Here's how - 

Logical Reasoning: Guess Who requires players to make logical deductions based on the information they receive. This helps in developing basic logical reasoning skills, a fundamental aspect of computational thinking.

Yes/No Questions: The game inherently involves asking yes/no questions to narrow down the possibilities and identify the hidden character. This aligns with the concept of algorithmic thinking, where a sequence of steps (questions in this case) leads to a solution.

Problem-Solving: Players need to think strategically about the questions they ask to eliminate characters efficiently. This involves problem-solving skills, another crucial component of computational thinking.

Pattern Recognition: Through the process of asking questions and receiving answers, children can start recognising patterns and using them to make more informed guesses. This skill is transferrable to recognising patterns in code and problem-solving.

Communication Skills: Verbal communication is essential in Guess Who. Players need to articulate their questions clearly and understand the responses. This helps in developing effective communication skills, which are important in programming and coding where clear instructions are crucial.

Data Management: The game involves managing a set of data (characters) and narrowing down the options based on received information. This aligns with the concept of data management in computing.

Algorithm Development: Players unconsciously develop a simple algorithm for solving the game - asking questions based on previous responses to eliminate possibilities. This is a basic form of algorithm development.

Critical Thinking: As players progress, they might need to think critically about the information they have gathered and make strategic decisions about which questions to ask next. This critical thinking skill is applicable in many aspects of computing.

Incorporating games like Guess Who into our #InspiredToLearn Computing lessons not only makes the learning process enjoyable but also helps children develop essential skills that are foundational for more complex computational thinking in the future.

Year 2 - Week 3, home learning and boxes

Hi everyone! We hope you have all had a lovely weekend and feel ready for the week ahead. We are still looking for shoebox sized boxes, please bring these in if you have them!!

We have had another great week in Year 2 and have been so busy. We finished our Maths topic of money and will be moving on to multiplication and division. In English we wrote letters as the role of an object in the classroom, such as a chair, and wrote reasons why they would want to quit the classroom. In Science we continued to looking at living things and their habitats. We planned a diorama and will be making these in our next Science lesson.

This week's home learning is below and has a Science focus.

We still have some children who do not have their PE kit in school. Please can you double check your child has this in school and if they don't, please send this in.

Any questions please email or see us at the door in the morning or after school.

Miss White, Mrs Bernard, Mrs Burgess and Mrs Thomas

Using and Creating Pictograms (Computing)

In Computing today, we learnt that the information provided on pictograms is of limited use beyond answering simple questions.

We collected information about the types of home we all live in -

Then we created pictograms with the information we had collected -

Maybe you could have a go at creating your own pictogram at home?

Mr Spracklen would love to see the results.

Year 2 are on the lookout for boxes

Hi all, Year 2 are on the lookout for boxes. The ideal size would be a shoe box! If you have any of these at home please can you bring these in. We need them for Science. Thank you!

Week 2 and home learning - Year 2

Hello everyone! Wow, what a busy week we have had in Year 2. We can't believe how fast this half term is going already. 

In Maths we have been carrying on with our unit of Money. This week we have looked as calculating with money, making a £1 and also using addition and subtraction. Next week will be the final week of money. In English we have been using the book 'the day the crayons quit'. Children have been writing reasons why the different colours have quit and also coming up with reasons why other objects in the classroom could quit. This has been so enjoyable and the children have been so immersed in their learning. In Science we continued to look at living things and their habitats. Children learnt about why different animals are suited to different habitats. 

Children really enjoyed Art this week. We explored warm and cool colours. Children then created a colour wheel using paints and mixing these colours together. 

Home learning this week is below. If you do want a printed version please let us know!

We hope you have a lovely weekend! See you on Monday.

Miss White, Mrs Bernard, Mrs Burgess and Mrs Thomas