Year 2 RE- A Visit From Rev Ben
Today, Year 2 had a very special visit from Rev Ben as part of their learning about the Bible in RE. Everyone really enjoyed the visit and learned some great things! We discovered that the Bible can be like a torch, honey, and gold. Just like a torch helps us see in the dark, the Bible can guide us through life. It’s like honey because it’s full of sweet stories about kindness and love, and it’s like gold because it’s so precious and important to Christians. Rev Ben answered lots of our questions, such as when he got his first Bible, what his favourite Bible story is, when he became a Christian and a Vicar, and whether he reads any other books besides the Bible. He also brought in three of his own Bibles for us to look at—one he received when he became a Vicar, which has a tiny pearl inside, one he reads with his family, and another that has a different part to read each day. We would like to say a big thank you to Rev Ben for visiting us and helping us learn more about the Bible and why it is so special to Christians.
Year 2 English- Features of an Information Text
Year 2 had great fun playing a game of "Fastest Finger First" to spot the features of an information text. They searched for headings, subheadings, captions, labels, and facts— and did a fantastic job! This activity helped them get ready to write their own information texts about an animal of their choice, using all of these important features. Before they begin writing, they will gather facts by exploring non-fiction books and using the contents page, just as they’ve been learning. To finish off their project, they’ll be creating their own quiz questions to test each other’s knowledge!
Year 2 Maths- Missing Number Problems
This morning in Maths, Year 2 tackled missing number problems with great focus and determination. They applied their understanding of the greater than (>), less than (<), and equal to (=) symbols to reason whether the missing number should be greater, smaller, or equal to the given number. The children did a fantastic job, confidently using Base 10 resources to support and scaffold their thinking and explanations.
Year 2 Class Worship- The Story of Andrew
This morning, Year 2 listened to the inspiring story of Andrew in class worship. Andrew was a man who believed deeply in God and showed great bravery by travelling all around the world to deliver Bibles to people who didn’t have any. In some countries, Bibles were banned or very limited, and Andrew knew he could get into serious trouble for what he was doing. But because of his strong faith and his belief that everyone should have the chance to worship God, he overcame his fear and carried on. We were amazed at how courageous Andrew was. He didn’t give up, even when things were difficult or dangerous. His actions reminded us of other brave people like Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parks, who stood up for what was right, even when it was risky or scary. We also thought about Mary Jones, the girl who walked many miles and saved up for years just to get her own Bible, as this is a story we have recently learnt in our RE lessons. We talked about how her story led to big changes and helped many more people to get Bibles too. We saw how both Mary and Andrew were driven by their love for God and their desire to help others grow in their faith. Andrew’s story helped us think about the importance of courage, faith, and standing up for what is right, and so we had some beautiful prayers to reflect this to end our worship.
Year 2 Science- Collecting Materials and Building a Microhabitat
Today in Science, Year 2 took a trip to Whitehall Park to gather natural materials for building a microhabitat. The children collected a wide range of items, including pinecones, bark, twigs, logs, grass, leaves, moss, stones, and rocks. Back at school, we combined these with bricks and cardboard to carefully construct a microhabitat designed to attract a variety of minibeasts. We’re hoping to welcome creatures such as worms, ladybirds, slugs, snails, ants, spiders, beetles, woodlice, and earwigs. Just as we were finishing, we were excited to spot our very first visitor—a ladybird! A fantastic team effort, Year 2!
Year 2 Fundamental Skills
In Year 2 today we had a focused fundamentals skills session in which the children developed the skills of both galloping and rolling with aiming and predicting. The children first warmed up and then practised side galloping . We worked towards a moderate pace, vertical lift and with a rhythmical smooth action . Following this the children focused on rolling a ball. We used a target and the children looked at the key pints of bent legs, one handed through and release time. At the end of the session we had a Boccia style competition which the children loved.
Year 2 Junior Jam Sessions- Music, Computing and French
Year 2 are enjoying their Junior Jam sessions, In French, they've been asking and answering questions about their age and birthdays, growing in confidence with each lesson. In Music, the children have been getting creative by learning how to write a story to music, using rhyme to bring their ideas to life and add rhythm to their storytelling. In Computing, they've been exploring voice recording as a form of communication—learning how to record and share their own voice notes clearly and effectively.
Year 2 Maths
Year 2 have been working really hard in Maths this week! They’ve been focusing on numbers up to 100, practising how to place them accurately on a number line and making estimations when working with blank number lines. Today, the children have been busy comparing numbers and amounts up to 100, using the greater than (>), less than (<), and equal to (=) symbols. They’ve also been exploring the language of bigger, smaller, more, greater, less and fewer to describe and compare numbers and quantities. Fantastic effort, Year 2!
Whole School Worship - Agent Ananias
We learned about a very special mission given by God this week in worship. God directed Ananias, a disciple in Damascus, to heal Saul of his blindness and baptise him. Despite Ananias's fear due to Saul's reputation as a persecutor of Christians, he obeyed the Lord's assurance that Saul was a "chosen instrument". Ananias laid hands on Saul, restoring his sight, and then baptised him, marking his dramatic conversion from persecutor to the apostle Paul, a key figure in spreading Christianity. We reflected on what we learned from the story and the children shared their thoughts, including that we should trust God’s choices, and that everyone has the ability to change.
Year 2 Art- Clay Tiles
In today’s art lesson, Year 2 students created their own clay tiles. They began by rolling out their clay, turning it regularly to ensure a smooth, even thickness throughout. Once their slabs were ready, they carefully cut them into neat rectangular shapes. Before starting their practical work, the children were introduced to the artist Rachel Whiteread, who is known for casting everyday objects and empty spaces in materials such as plaster. They were fascinated and amazed by the idea of capturing negative space in this way, which sparked some thoughtful discussion and curiosity about how clay can be used creatively. The children then explored a range of decorative techniques. They particularly enjoyed working in relief, adding shapes to their tiles using the score and slip method. They also had fun making impressions in the clay using a variety of tools and objects, experimenting with textures and patterns. Year 2 are thoroughly enjoying their clay unit, and it’s wonderful to see their creativity and skills developing each week. We can’t wait to see the final pieces after all their hard work. Well done, Year 2!
Friday Celebration Worship
This morning, we took a moment to reflect on what has been a busy and wonderful third week of school. Our week began with a focus on God’s Big Story in Whole School Worships, where we came together to deepen our understanding. Year 6 had a fantastic time creating artwork in the Darwen Town Centre, while Years 3, 4, and 6 took part in a Let’s Go Sing Choir workshop, which has inspired even more children to sign up for our school choir. Year 5 enjoyed a Move and Learn session with BwD, and our entire school embraced the excitement of the new clubs that started this week, including Foodie Friends, Football, Fred & Pearl Craft Club, Choir, Netball, and Forest Schools. We also took time to celebrate our individual value award winners, with a huge well done to Zachary and Hollie in KS1, and Eva, Emily, Jack, and Elsie in KS2, for their dedication across the curriculum, their embodiment of our Barney’s 4Bs and Christian Values, and for spreading joy throughout the school. In addition, we were pleased to award India Mill as our Value Award winners for the second consecutive week, and Year 6 as the winners in KS2 with 100% attendance, while Reception and Year 1 in EYFS and KS1 earned recognition with a fantastic 99.3% attendance. Next, we celebrated our out-of-school achievers, including Albie for earning his 5m and 10m swimming certificates, Evie for her bravery in attending Rainbows for the first time, Alice for being awarded Cheerleader of the Week, Peyton for winning Star of the Week at gymnastics, Grace for achieving a highly commended in her recent acro exam, Charlie for being named Student of the Week at Junior Dragons Martial Arts Club, Ava for being awarded Squirrel of the Week, Mason for being runner-up in a recent darts tournament, Lyla for receiving a certificate of excellence for her gymnastics and acro talent, and Annabel for being named Star of the Week at her dance school. Finally, we ended our worship with some heartfelt prayers from Mason, Ella, and Zachary, who prayed for those affected by war and conflict, for those suffering from illnesses, and for those who don’t have enough food—especially as Harvest approaches. We also sang “Our God is a Great Big God.” A quick reminder from Mrs. Ham: Next Friday, September 26th, we’ll be hosting the Macmillan Coffee Morning. All donations will be greatly appreciated.
Year 2 RE- How Does the Bible Tell Us About God’s Big Story?
Today in our RE lesson, Year 2 explored how God’s Big Story is told in the Bible. They learned about the seven key elements of God’s Big Story, beginning with Creation and ending with the Kingdom of God. They then placed a variety of Bible stories into the correct part of the story, demonstrating a great understanding of a complex concept. Year 2 also delved into the key messages within these stories. They reflected on Jesus’ compassion and power through the miracle of feeding 5,000 people, understood the birth of Jesus as God’s way of offering help to the world, and explored the theme of second chances in stories like Jonah and the Whale. They also discussed how God does good in the world for those who trust in Him, as seen in Noah’s Ark and David and Goliath. Well done, Year 2! Keep up the great work!