Making Music

Y2 have spent time really getting to grips - in a very 'hands on' way with our Sound topic!
After learning all about the ear on Monday - which bits of it do what - we then started using them in a very big way.
On Wednesday morning our KS2 recorder teacher, Mr Hill, came in with his saxophone, clarinet and recorders. He borrowed a guitar, a trumpet and a tambourine and everyone explored how these instruments make sound. We finished the lesson by all having a 'go' on the recorder.
On Wednesday afernoon Jessie Prewett's mum, Helen, came in with her flute. She played some tunes and showed the children how blowing into a flute is like blowing across the top of a milk bottle. The the children went off in groups with Helen to all try making the flute make music.
Then.... this morning Scott, Chloe's dad, came in with his collection of drums. He showed the children the different drums made different sounds. The children then got up in groups to make some drum sequences - WOW! Our school cooks couldn't believe their ears working behind the shutters in the kitchen!
Many thanks to all our volunteers for making this a very special, interactive two days for the children.
Thanks as well, parents, for the help given to the children to learn their lines. A last push over the weekend and we'll be there!
Talking of performances - our evening performance on Wednesday starts at 6.00pm. We would like the children back in school by 5.30 so we can get them changed. Help doing this would be gratefully received!

baubles and glitter

After a hard week of Ms Gower and I nagging the children to remember the standards ow work we expect from them everyone let their hair down on Friday and had a day of making Christmas decorations. The picture says it all! By 3.15 we all looked like glitterballs - including the teacher! (I got some very funny looks indeed at a service station on the M5 on the way to visit my family!) If you haven't already been to see it take a look at the whole school's work in the main hall. As Y2 would say - it's lush!

Talking of Christmas a big plea and reminder - we need the children to learn their lines fir the play. Many thanks for all the effort so far. From tomorrow onwards we'll be rehearsing 'scriptless'!

Making - then showing - masks

As promised here are the pictures of Y2 making their masks then showing them in our class assembly today. We couldn't decide whether the class looked better with the masks on or off! We hope you enjoy looking at them.

Making and Painting!

Firstly - apologies for the upside down picture last week - I am getting to grips with our new camera! Talking of pictures, this week's photos are on the camera in school and I am on my PPA day at home right now! I'll put the pics on tomorrow.

We have had lots of fun this week painting and making. We finished our unit of literacy all about instructions by making a mask on Friday. The children are evaluating their work today with Ms Gower as the concluding piece of this Big Write.
We also had lots of fun on Thursday afternoon mixing up primary colours to make colour wheels. We also started thinking about our Christmas production, Babushka. Parents - if your child has a speaking part PLEASE spend time with them helping them to learn lines, this would help us tremendously. I hope the costume requirements are clear. If not please catch me any day except today and Wednesday this week.

Books, Domes and Dishes!

Y2 have been very busy this week doing lots of 'doing'!
In P.E. the whole of the school took part in a Virtual Festival. KS1 played Domes and Dishes in their classrooms, divided into 4 teams - strawberries, blueberries, bananas and apples - we had two whole P.E. lessons of turning over and back again! We play our next part of the festival after Christmas - watch this space for the winners!

In Literacy we have been reading writing and following instructions. This week we have focussed on making books - each day we have read instructions about a different sort of book and on Friday everyone made their own book - take a look here at our hard workers!

We also had a postcard this week from Wellington's friend, Charley who lives in Germany - Charley had been on holiday to Holland and send Wellington and Y2 some information about windmills.

Oh - and we mustn't forget that Wellington has a very special visitor from France over here, too, Antoine. Y2 have been helping Antoine and Wellington to write some French words. Tres bien!
T

Celso Paco and good sitting!

This week Y2 have been working hard at listening and managing distractions - pictures show a selection of Y2s demonstrating good sitting and, as promised Y2, someone else doing very bad sitting indeed....!
We have worked with Amandine and have also watched Mozambiquan performer Celso Paco sing and dance to us.
Don't forget to bring your leaves and quality words to school tomorrow, children!

Y2 goes European!

This week we have been very lucky to have Ulrike Grave spending the week with us in Y2.
Ulrike is in her final years at school in Bremen, Germany and she shared some of her experiences with us, taught us how to count in German and told us about life in Germany which helped us with our topic work.
The picture shows Ulrike 'being teacher' as she showed Y2 (and Mrs Shore!) how to count to 5.
On Thursday Ms Gower worked with Ulrike and the children to make a book about German life. Next week we will be having Amandine - our French assistant - in the class and Ms Gower will be doing the same with her.
Watch this space!