Asquith Primary School

Thank you to everyone that has been in touch with us.  We have been trying to contact you all over the past six weeks and have heard from most of you now but if we haven't managed to reach you, please let us know how you are via the email below or by calling school. 

We will maintain contact with through the email address below and may drop you a message from time to time, just to see how you are.  Don't hesitate to contact us if we can be of help.

To contact us please email - year2teachers@asquithprimary.org

Thank you to everyone who has responded to our invitations for Transition Day.  Please come to the Year 2 doors on the day that you have been allocated and someone will be there to direct you.  Please be aware that we are unable to linger on the playground to chat but we are looking forward to seeing you all.

If you are unable to come, we will email you any of the activities that we have done so that you can share these with your child.

Please send your child with a mid-morning snack as well as their lunch.  Make sure it is wrapped and clearly labelled.

Any questions, don't hesitate to contact us via email.

Summer , weeks 5,6 and 7

Our final theme is 'The Olympics'.  At this time of year, we are usually enjoying lots of outdoor games and preparing for our Sports Day.  Lots of major sporting events have been cancelled, including the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games, so we thought we would keep our minds and bodies active and celebrate the games anyway.  This is our final topic pack, thank you for your continued efforts at home in keeping learning going.  On Transition Day, we will send home an activity for the holidays if you would like to complete it, but remember that reading, spelling and times tables will continue into Year 3 from wherever your child is at so it is important to keep these going if you can.

Please see below for our resources for the final pack - please note, the Spelling Grammar and Punctuation paper may not be in your pack, we have added it to the online resources but let us know if you would like it to be printed.  There are more resources online than in the pack.

2017 Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation

ENGLISH

MATHS

TOPIC

Summer 2, weeks 3 and 4 

 Our next theme is 'Castles' for the next few weeks.  You can either collect a printed pack, or download here.  Some resources (such as video clips) are only available here, so don't worry if you can't find everything in the pack.  We have also included a few extra sheets that are not mentioned on the overview, just to do if you want to and have the time.  As always, select the resources that your child is interested and that you have the time to dedicate to - everyone has different commitments and so as always, all the activities are optional.  If you find that your child is lacking motivation, but you really would like them to complete the work, you can let them know that you are able to email their work to us for feedback and that we are in contact to find out how you are doing.

If you have only just picked up our last pack on Mexico, or are still doing one of the themes from previous weeks, please continue with that if it suits you better.

Also remember our online resources and let us know if there are any passwords that are not working.

Thank you to everyone who has replied to our emails, we really appreciate you taking the time to do this and it is always great to hear from you all.  If you would prefer to speak to us in person, drop a request in to your email and we will try to contact you by phone when we are in school.

We hope that you are finding the resources useful - again, let us know if you would like more of something in particular and we will try to do this for you.

Hoping to see you all soon,

Mrs Seedhouse and Mrs Holdsworth

Non-Fiction Book about Castles

Below are a few videos of me reading extracts from a non-fiction book about castles - there is also one on your Bug Club account to read yourselves.

ENGLISH RESOURCES

MATHS RESOURCES

TOPIC RESOURCES

SPELLINGS

Are we getting excited about Year 3 yet?  If you are feeling confident with your Y2 spellings, have a sneaky peek at the list for Y3 and Y4 - a little practise at reading them and understanding what all the words mean will be really good preparation for next year.  Remember, these are for the next two years of school, so we have plenty of time to learn them.  We won't be using these in our spelling tests until you are ready.

The word reign would be a good one to use when researching castles, as well as century.  I wonder if you can work out what they mean.

Summer 2, week 2...

We hope that you enjoyed last week's theme.  This is our second whole school themed week, the children who are in school are following the same theme too and this week it is My identity! 

We are preparing packs this week for collection next week and we will let you know the exact day that they will be ready, nearer the time.  If you know already that you definitely do not want a new pack that is absolutely fine, but please email us as soon as possible to let us know.  Use the link below for this week's overview sheet.  Remember to stay in touch and stay safe.

Theme 2 - My Identity

Remember to send any pictures to us to share here - it can be about the home learning theme, of anything else you would lie to show us - below are pictures of Sam's All Abut Me board and Alannah's Mermaid Dream story book.  Also, some photos of what Jacob has been doing over the last few weeks - keep the photos coming! 

Welcome to Summer 2...

This is our last half term - and we really wish we could all be together.  Unfortunately this is still not possible yet, but whilst we prepare the school and adjust to re-opening to our Year 6 friends from Monday, we have decided to have two whole school themes for the next two weeks.  This means that families can work together on these projects.  The children who are in school will also be working on the same themes.  

It also means that we can prepare the next Home Learning Packs, ready to collect in Week 3.  In the meantime, if there are any tasks or activities that you are still to complete from any of the previous packs, you have a little time to do so,  Previous resources for our last two themes can be found below, and don't forget our online resources on Purple Mash, Education City (there are loads of games on here) and there are lots of books on Bug Club which are there to be enjoyed.

As always, please contact us via the email above if you have any questions, or if you would like us to telephone you in person.  

You should have received an email with the Home Learning letter, if not, a copy can be found below by following this link.  We hope that you enjoy it! 

Theme 1 - Heroes

Remember to keep in touch and send us any pictures that you would like to share.  Poppy, in Maple Class, has made a start on her 'Heroes' work.

Summer Term - Weeks 4,5, and 6 

We are now entering the second half of this half term, and so are updating the resources that we have provided so far.  If you are still working on the previous resources and enjoying the Traditional Tales theme, please continue with that.  However, if you feel ready for a new challenge, try out our new topic resources.

This new unit is Geography based, with a focus on comparing our own immediate environment with a different country.  Usually, in school, we choose to compare Morley to Mexico City.  However, whilst at home this is a good opportunity for your child to choose any country that they are interested in.

All resources are optional (once again) and we hope that you are able to download them, or collect from school, if you wish to use them.  

Please email us if you have any questions, or you or your child just want to get in touch to say hello.  We will always respond and are always pleased to hear from you.  If you would prefer to speak to us, either email  us, or call school and leave a message and we will contact you by telephone the next time we are in school.

Remember to log on to the websites that we provide, regularly as there will be work allocated to these.

BUG CLUB - https://www.activelearnprimary.co.uk/login

EDUCATION CITY - https://www.educationcity.com

PURPLE MASH - https://www.purplemash.com/sch/asquith

Please also visit Top Marks - https://www.topmarks.co.uk/

You may wish also to do a weekly spelling test and times table test too, to try to keep the regular practise up.  'Hit the Button' on the Top Marks website is a great way to practise.

Below are electronic copies of everything that we put in the pack.

Follow this link to hear the story of Baby Rattlesnake

ENGLISH RESOURCES

MATHS RESOURCES

TOPIC RESOURCES

Check out our super language skills!

HANDWRITING RESOURCES

Friends re-united...

Send us a picture every now an then, of our classmates.  We would love to see what you are up to and stay in touch until we can be together again!

BBS bitesize is a great resource, with introductions available on the iplayer and online resources and games.  It has been specifically made by the BBC to support distance learning and follows the National Curriculum for all year groups.  If you have children of different ages at home, you will need a couple of devices or to stagger the activity times as it is presented in age phases.

We have been playing a maths game called Karate Cats at home this morning (KS1)- there is a good range of maths questions and some funny character costumes! 

PREVIOUS RESOURCES

Maths

If any of you need extra ideas or activities for maths, please remember the sheet that we gave out on parents evening which lists all the practical objectives which you can fulfil at home (telling the time, using money, measuring etc).  But there are a few more online resources out there too.

We use 'White Rose Maths Hub' as our maths scheme in school, so please visit their 'Home Learning' page if you want any additional challenges.  They have a video tutorial, followed by an activity sheet, and the answers too.  Don't worry if you don't have a printer, we don't in our house, so I have done things practically (with my Year 1) and my Year 6 has written the answer on paper for me to mark.  Either of these methods works well.  Don't feel you need to keep any evidence of what you have done - just have fun 

https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/

Keeping Active

Many of you will be familiar with the Joe Wicks workout.  This is great, but if your children want something different (mine found it a bit long) and more child friendly - on Cbeebies, there is a show which is only 7 minutes long and it has a bit of Science and Geography in it too...but you will need pink sweat bands (you'll see what I mean if you watch it).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06tmmvz 

Websites

We will update activities that are allocated on Education City and Purple Mash, each Monday.  Bug club books will also be added if your child has run out.  All education websites are experiencing up to a 500% increase in demand, so if something doesn't load, it usually due to a high volume of activity - try again later in the day.

Keep sending us pictures and any questions, please ask via the Year 2 email.

Mrs Seedhouse and Mrs Holdsworth.

Click on this link for the School's Daily Optional Challenges 

 Ash Class - Teacher, Mrs Holdsworth

Maple Class - Teacher, Mrs Seedhouse and Mrs Skelton (Thursday)

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that came to our Habitats Exhibition, we hope that you enjoyed seeing the children's work and that you are as proud of them as we are.

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Year 2 is both an exciting, and important year.  We have lots of great things planned and lots of hard work to do, but there will be a lot of fun on the way.  To get you excited, are a few highlights...

Autumn term - Superhero theme with a dressing up day- Friday 27th September

                        Harvest celebration- Tuesday 15th October 2.30pm

                        Visit to Morley Fire Station- Wednesday 13th November

                        Y1/2 Christmas Concert- Monday 16th December 2.30pm Ash and Aspen parents

                                                                Tuesday 17th December 9.00am Maple and Pine parents

Spring Term -  Chinese New Year dance workshop Tuesday 28th January afternoon

                        Lotherton Hall, visit to see the Penguins Wednesday 29th January. 

                        ASSESSMENT WEEK in Y2 wk beg: 27th January, therefore there will be NO spelling and times table test.

                        Friday 28th February 2020 - 2.10pm Habitats Exhibition followed by SATs talk. 

                        2nd March - Phil Earle, children's author, coming in to speak to Year 2.

                        4th March - Class photos - remember to do your hair everyone :-)

                        5th March - World Book Day - don't forget to decorate your potatoes!

                        9th March - Eggs arrive! Hatching chicks in our very own classroom!

Please visit our class page as often as you can, to keep up to date with all the latest news.

Key information

Essential equipment!  All your child will need for the day is a water bottle and a small book bag.  If you do not have one, they are available from the school office - large back packs are not required and we do not have the space to store them.  PLEASE KEEP THESE SEPARATE as soggy books are no use to us.  Thank you.

PE days are Monday and Thursday  Children must wear a PE kit for both lessons which consists of royal blue shorts, white t-shirt, pumps or trainers. In the better weather we will be having PE lessons outside so children also need an outdoor kit.

Homework.  Every week they will have spellings and reading to complete. Spellings are tested each Tuesday and books will be returned to you on Wednesday.  Please practise as much as you can.  Reading books are changed every Monday (Maple Class) or Tuesday (Ash Class), your child will also have books allocated on Bug Club, as well as some spelling and grammar activities to consolidate learning, so please log on.  They will also have maths homework which will be during the spring term this will mainly be times table/ division facts to learn by heart.

Guided reading  will take place once a week.  Please can you make sure that they have their books and reading records in their book bags for when they read. In the new homework policy it is recommended that your child reads daily for 10 minutes. Whenever someone listens to them read can we encourage you to write a comment in their reading records at least once during the week. As your child becomes a more confident reader and can read to themselves they can also write a comment in their records. This is also a good form of communication if you need to pass any message onto us. 

Reading is essential to success!  Please read with your child as often as you can - school books, library books, any books at all.  Reading to your child is as important as them reading to you - so share a book whenever possible too.

Our Bedtime Book Bear, Bertie (Herbert Henry Bear) will be coming home to share stories with your child at some point in the year...more information to follow.

Spelling These will continue to built on from Year 1.  We use green spelling books for your child to practise their words and where they will do their test.  This means that you can see which words they still need to work on to complete the level. The day that they have their test may change from one week to the other, so please keep the book in their bags. They will only get a new set of words sent home once they have got all the words correct.

Below is the whole set of spelling lists.

Spelling lists

Well, we weren't sure if we would make it, but...we saw the penguins at Lotherton Hall! 

A huge thank you to all our volunteers, we couldn't have done it without you!  And well done Year 2, you were brilliant.

How do penguin feathers work?

After visiting the penguins, we decided to do a science experiment to see how the penguin feathers help them to stay dry.  We coloured in two penguins, one with wax crayon and the other in felt tip.  Then we squirted them with water to see what happened.  You could try this at home!

Fire, fire!  Fire, fire!  Spray the water. 

Maple class had a terrific time at Morley Fire Station this week, a huge thank you to Blue Watch for letting us come to visit.  We learnt all about what is kept on the fire engine, and why.  As well as learning about the important parts of a fire fighter's uniform.  The children also really enjoyed the walk!  We hope Ash Class have a great time on Monday.

WE ARE SUPER!

What an amazing day we all had dressed up as Superheroes. Thank you to all the parents who helped their children design and make their costumes. During the day we made up our own comic strips, created a Superhero ID card and designed our own powerful shields.

Amazing Science

We had an awe and wonder Science day with lots of exciting experiments going on. We made slime using cornflour, invisiable ink using lemon juice and a secret picture using wax crayons and paint. We watched dancing raisins and rainbow skittles. We even made a bottle of coke explode. It was a fun day to end our first half term in Year 2!