Exciting Experiment!

Hedgehogs had a super exciting and fun science lesson to finish our topic ‘Human Survival’. Year Two has explored how to keep their bodies healthy not only through fitness but hygiene too. We learnt that we need to drink lots of water, wash our teeth twice a day, wash our clothes, go to the toilet, wash our bodies etc. There is a lot for us to check and do. It sure did spark some conversation! One thing we did learn about through these lessons were GERMS! Hedgehogs were fascinated by good and bad germs so we completed a science experiment round that idea. It was the ‘Washing Hands’ experiment. Year Two had fake germs put on their hands (oil) and they then had to test which was the best way to kill them. We tried just cold water, cold water with soap and then warm water with soap. It was so much fun and the Hedgehogs loved being scientists. By the end of the afternoon, Year Two made a conclusion that warm water with soap was best to wash/kill all the germs and we certainly now know why we need to wash our hands properly. Well done Hedgehogs!

Fantastic Fireworks!

On Wednesday, Hedgehogs had a fantastic afternoon full of History and Art. Year Two learnt about fireworks night and why people celebrate this tradition on the 5th November. We explored the gun powder plot story (which was very interesting and sparked lots of questions), learnt a rhyme to remember the 5th of November and then made beautiful firework pictures using a range of materials. Year Two used different coloured paints, textured paper and even added glitter to create their fireworks! It was such a fun afternoon. The artwork looked brilliant and so realistic too. Each creation was so individual and the end result was really effective. Have a sneak peak below…

Happy Half Term Hedgehogs!

What a great last week Hedgehogs have had in our pile of leaves. Year Two have worked super hard this week in all their lessons. They’ve used all their brain juice to create stories, add/subtract tricky numbers and create some wonderful art work. Hedgehogs have also been brilliant in the other school bits like Harvest festival, open classroom and dress up day. We really have had such a lovely, joyful week. Well done Year Two and enjoy your week off!

Remarkable Rockets!

3,2,1.. blast off! Whooosh and we have rockets flying into our classroom! They sure do look spectacular all hung together. Over the last couple of weeks, Hedgehogs have worked super hard on creating their own spaceships. This has linked to our English story ‘Snail in Space’ and History topic ‘Significant People’ where we’ve explored astronaut Tim Peake. The rockets really took a lot of hard work. Firstly, Year Two covered some cards with tin foil. Then they add windows and wings with different coloured cards. Lastly, they added the fire at the bottom with tissue paper. It really does feel like we are in space… We can’t wait for our grown ups to see them next week at an open classroom.

Spectacular Stamps!

In Art, Hedgehogs have continued exploring the topic ‘Mix It Up’. Their challenge, over the last couple of weeks, was to make their very own stamps using clay and then use the stamps with paint to create pictures. Year Two had to use primary colours to make secondary colours and then see if their stamp worked to create their master piece. Hedgehogs were excellent at completing this challenge and were super excited too. First, Hedgehogs used the clay to make balls then flattened them out for the stamp base. Then they added holes with different objects to make their own, individual prints. Lastly, when the stamps were dry (which took a whole week) they used them with the paints. Eeeek! Hedgehogs were so sensible and surprisingly… It wasn't too messy. The time and detail the children took over their individual creations and artwork were amazing to watch. Year Two really did have lots of fun and every piece was so unique! Well done!

Swirly Snail Snacks

Over the last week, Hedgehogs have worked really hard in their Design and Technology (D&T) lessons. They have got really stuck into our ‘Remarkable Recipes’ D&T topic. This is all about food, food hygiene and cooking tools. Year Two explored a range of cooking tools such as vegetable peelers and whisks then had to explain what we use them for in the kitchen environment. They were excellent at naming the cooking tools and had said lots of them are in their kitchens at home! Hedgehogs then had a go at using some of the tools to make a ‘Swirly Snail Snack’ which linked to our English story. They had to use a knife to spread butter and jam then roll a wrap into a spiral shape. After, they had to cut the wrap into small chunks to make them into snails. We had such fun doing this and they tasted even better. YUM YUM! Miss Hall thinks we have some chefs in the making in Hedgehog class.

Healthy Hedgehogs!

On Wednesday, Hedgehogs worked super hard in their Science lesson. We explored our topic ‘Human Survival’ even further this week and in particular healthy eating. Year Two definitely knew that vegetables are super healthy and chocolate is not so healthy (even though we love it). Hedgehogs’ had the challenge and worked as a team to make a healthy plate of food linked to a well balanced diet. We learnt about protein, diary and carbohydrates. It was super fun as we had lots of different foods. They then drew their own healthy plates and some of their choices looked delicious. Well done Year Two for being super scientists!

Amazing Astronaut!

This week, Hedgehogs started their new History topic called ‘Movers and Shakers’ which is all about significant people that have made an impact for good and bad reasons. In our History lesson, we explored a local significant person that is still alive. We learnt all about Tim Peake. He was an astronaut that went to the international space station and achieved lots of incredible things. Hedgehogs loved learning about him and they were all so excited that he originally came from down the road in Chichester! Year Two learnt lots of facts about Tim Peake and then added these facts into rockets. Some wrote some really interesting and even Miss Hall learnt lots of new things too. The lesson ended with lots of Hedgehogs wanting to fly into space!

Hello Happy Hedgehogs!

WOW, What a fantastic first week and a couple of days! It has been lovely getting to know all the New Year Twos’ and been great watching them settle into our pile of cosy leaves. They all have been very grown up in the classroom and have all been looking very smart taking the role very seriously as top of KS1. I think it is going to be a super (sparkly) year. It has been brilliant to be back in the classroom with happy, helpful and hard working Hedgehogs. 

They’ve had their spikes at the ready and noses down working super hard on their English, Maths and adjusting to new routines. We’ve had so much fun learning, exploring, and making all things hedgehogs. We have also started some of our new topics including ‘Mix It Up’ and ‘Human Survival’. Already Year Two are keen to learn new things and get stuck into different activities. Have a sneak peak below…

Interesting Insects!

Another week of hard work in Hedgehog Class so close to the end of the year! Year Two has worked super hard in English this week. They have been working hard on creating their very own non fiction books about insects. We have spent weeks unpicking nonfiction texts linked to this topic and explored all the different features we would find in a nonfiction text such as captions, photographs and a contents page. Hedgehogs have built a bank of work linked to these features by creating their own versions ready to put in their books. They’ve written lots of facts about bugs, added diagrams showing different parts of minibeasts and even added ‘Did you know?’ boxes. They’ve all taken such time and pride over the booklets. We are so excited to share these with our grown ups and inform them on different information about bugs!

Magnificent Machine and Mechanisms!

Hedgehogs have worked hard on a new D&T topic this week which is called ‘Push and Pull’. This topic is all about amazing machines and how they work. One thing Year Two has been learning about is mechanisms. We have already explored and made a sliding mechanism which means this week, we looked at the lever mechanism. Hedgehogs had to follow instructions to make the lever by cutting, assembling and using a split pin to create the correct motion. We learnt that a lever mechanism needs a pivot and the moving part can move in a circular way. Year Two was excellent at creating this movement and the end product worked a treat. We certainly do have some mechanics in our class! Well done Hedgehogs.

Super Sewing!

Hedgehogs have been working super hard on their D&T topic ‘Cut, Stick and Join’ this week. Year Two were super excited on Tuesday because they got to complete the next part of their sewing project which was making a bag tag. Who knew sewing could be so fun? Who knew we had a whole class full of designers? Hedgehogs had the challenge of creating their own bag tags using a running stitch and fabric. They absolutely smashed this task! They’ve spent weeks planning, practising and preparing for this activity. Year Two had to thread their own needles and then join pieces of material together using their knowledge on stitching. Not only did they make little bag tags, some of the Hedgehogs even embellished their bag tags with a shape using another piece of material. Miss Hall was so impressed with all their perseverance and sewing skills. Each bag tag was so unique. Well done Hedgehogs. We now know who to go to if we need any dresses fixed…

A Very Exciting Visit!

On Tuesday, Year Two had some very exciting visitors come and help us with our learning. Can you guess who they were? Something with lots of feathers, lives by a pond and sometimes quacks. That's right. We had a visit from two ducklings! Hedgehogs were so lucky to have them come visit and we got to ask their owners lots of questions. Then, Hedgehogs got to stroke and feed them! The ducklings were only five weeks old and were a special kind of duck called a runner duck. It was great because it fitted right in with our ‘Animal Survival’ topic. It was such a lovely afternoon and Year Two was very inquisitive. A huge thank you to our visitors! We LOVED having you visit us.

Wonderful Wetlands!

Hedgehogs had the BEST day on Wednesday. We hopped on a coach and went down to Wetlands for our school trip and it was wonderful. It was a jammed pack day full of a variety of activities. We completed some pond dipping, went on a sensory walk and then finished the day on a bug hunt safari. Year Two found some very interesting bugs and created the most beautiful sensory, colour palettes using plants. They were so engrossed and engaged with all the activities. We learnt so many new facts linked to our ‘Animal Survival’ topic and I think we’ve become brilliant bug experts. Our grown ups were also brilliant and got stuck right in (thank you). I was so proud of all the Hedgehogs and they should be really proud of themselves for presenting our school so positively! Well done Year Two! 

Super Sports!

WOW… What a super first week back at school! Hedgehogs have absolutely loved sports week. They have been very excited, energetic and enthusiastic about all the different activities. Year Two have bounced their way through different songs on trampolines, experienced some fencing and even completed a fitness class. There certainly have been some huge smiles on the Hedgehog's faces. Everyone has been so brave and supportive towards one another! It has been lovely to see the Hedgehogs push themselves out of their comfort zones and try all the new sports (thank you Miss Dore). I can confirm that Year Two is definitely a sporty class. Have a look at the snaps below…

Perfect Paintings!

The final royal portrait has been made! Well… for now. As you know, Hedgehogs have been working hard on their portrait skills and learning how to make realistic pictures using different techniques and media. This week Year Two finished their royal paintings of themselves. They were excellent at adding their face features exactly how it would have been if a king or queen was being painted. Then Hedgehogs added a necklace or crown with gold to show the power they would have if they were a monarch. The results were excellent and Year Two really did take their time over the detail and colours they chose to represent themselves. They are now hanging up in the classroom in our ‘gallery’ and each painting is so unique. We can’t wait for people to see them. Well done Hedgehogs! 

Clever Computing!

Hedgehogs worked super hard on their Art topic ‘Royal Portraits’. We've really looked into the detail of royal portraits and all the different aspects where we explored their meaning. On Wednesday afternoon, they were all excited because we were doing art with the computers. Yes, you read that right… laptops! Year Two had the challenge of creating themselves as a royal resident using a paint program. They were excellent at using all the different tools, using a mouse and some of the designs were very detailed. When Miss Hall created hers we all giggled as it had some very interesting looking ears. Hedgehogs were brilliant at computing and we all had such a lovely afternoon!

VE Day Celebrations!

WOW… What an amazing day we had on Thursday! We spent the day learning about and celebrating VE day. Hedgehogs were so interested in all the facts and different soldiers linked to the war. We even learnt there were some local heros from Ifold, Kirdford and Plaistow. Year Two had lots of questions! They worked so hard in the morning and made decorations such as bunting and crowns for our celebration in the afternoon. Then, later on in the day, Year Two had some scones with jam and shared our gratitude medals with one another. It was such a special moment and Hedgehogs were so grateful and definitely enjoyed the sweet treat. They all made me so proud. Well done Year Two!