It has been another full and exciting week of learning in Year 2 and 3!

English

In English, we have been learning a new text through oracy, using lots of discussion and performance to help us really understand it. The children have also been practising their VIPERS reading skills (Vocabulary, Inference, Prediction, Explanation, Retrieval and Sequencing) to deepen their comprehension.

We have also been exploring the features of instructional writing, identifying what makes a clear and effective set of instructions. The children were fantastic at spotting headings, numbered steps and time connectives.

Maths

In maths, both year groups have been working hard on key skills:

• Year 2 have been learning how to subtract across 10 and have also been solving mixed addition and subtraction problems.

• Year 3 have been focusing on the 3, 4 and 8 times tables, as well as related division facts.

Please continue practising times tables at home with Year 3 - it really makes a difference! (Year 2-x2, x5 and x10).

Geography

We have started an exciting new topic: "Why are rainforests important to us?" The children began by asking thoughtful questions and sharing their existing knowledge.

We have been learning about where tropical rainforest biomes are located around the world and have started to look more closely at the Amazon Rainforest. The children were fascinated to discover just how important rainforests are for our planet.

PSHE

In PSHE, we began our new unit, Healthy Me. The children set themselves a personal challenge to improve their fitness, showing great maturity and enthusiasm.

PE

In PE, we have started our new unit on striking and fielding. This week focused on developing accuracy when throwing, catching and stopping a rolling ball. There was some fantastic teamwork and determination on display.

French

In French, we have continued learning vocabulary linked to "My Family", building confidence in speaking and understanding simple phrases.

Science

In Science, we began our topic on light, thinking about different light sources and how light helps us to see.

Looking Ahead - World Book Day

Next Thursday, we will be celebrating World Book Day. Children are invited to dress up as their favourite book character, and a fun-filled day of reading activities has been planned across the school to celebrate our love of books!

We can't wait to see the wonderful costumes and share our favourite stories together.

What a fantastic half term it has been!

The children have worked incredibly hard over the past weeks, showing determination, enthusiasm and such positive attitudes towards their learning. We are so proud of everything they have achieved - not only academically, but also in the way they have supported one another, challenged themselves and lived out our school values each and every day.

We truly couldn't have asked for a better way to end the half term than with our wonderful trip to Cotehele. The children represented our school brilliantly. They planted saplings with care and determination, demonstrating excellent teamwork and responsibility. It was a joy to see them embracing the experience so positively and showing off their very best Brunel values throughout the day.

They were a credit to the school.

Now it is time for a well-earned rest. We hope you all enjoy a relaxing and refreshing half term break, and we look forward to welcoming the children back, ready for another exciting term of learning.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

See you after half term! 

Last week was another busy and productive one in Year 2/3, with the children working hard across the curriculum and continuing to develop their skills and understanding.

English:
In English, the children focused on simple sentence construction, learning how to write clear and complete sentences. We revisited the importance of capital letters, finger spaces and full stops, and began to think carefully about punctuation to make our writing easier to read and understand. The children showed great effort in applying these skills to their independent work.

Maths:
In Maths, we worked on solving addition and subtraction problems, encouraging the children to choose appropriate strategies and explain their thinking. They practised using number bonds, place value knowledge and written methods to help them solve calculations accurately.

History:
Our History learning focused on the Wright brothers, exploring who they were and why they are significant. The children learned about their determination, early experiments and how their work helped lead to the first successful powered flight. This linked well to our wider topic on the history of flight.

RE:
In Religious Education, we learned about the first disciples, discussing who they were and why Jesus chose them. The children reflected thoughtfully on ideas of friendship, trust and following a role model.

Other Learning:
Alongside these focus areas, the children continued to engage enthusiastically in all areas of the curriculum. They showed positive attitudes, curiosity and a willingness to challenge themselves in lessons throughout the week.

Well done, Year 2/3, for another week of hard work and fantastic learning!

Class Blog: Weekly Learning Update (Year 2/3)

We've had another wonderful week in Year 2/3, full of rich learning experiences and exciting events. The children have continued to impress us with their enthusiasm, resilience and growing confidence across the curriculum.

Class Assembly:
A huge well done to all the children for their brilliant class assembly this week! They made us incredibly proud as they shared everything they have been learning about 'What Was Important to Ancient Egypt?' From mummification to hieroglyphics, gods and goddesses to daily life, their knowledge shone through. Most importantly, they spoke clearly, remembered their parts, and supported one another beautifully throughout the performance.

Cinema Trip:
We also enjoyed a fantastic visit to Saltash Studios to watch Dogman. The children behaved impeccably on the walk to and from the cinema and were a credit to the school. They thoroughly enjoyed the film and happily chatted afterwards about their favourite moments - a lovely treat during a busy term!

Christmas Show:
Exciting news - lines for the Christmas performance have now been handed out and rehearsals have officially begun! Thank you in advance for practising lines at home. The children are already singing enthusiastically and we can't wait to see the show come together.

Topic - Antarctica:
Our learning about Antarctica was brought to life this week with a fascinating visit from Jay Gates, who has worked on a ship supporting scientists travelling to Antarctica. The children were captivated as Jay shared photographs, stories and real-life insights.
They learned about:

• The extreme climate and what it's like living in such freezing conditions

• The remarkable wildlife, including penguins, seals and whales

• Local scientists and explorers who have contributed to Antarctic research

• The different research bases found across the continent

• And even the meanings behind the colours of icebergs - something that truly amazed them!

The children asked thoughtful questions and came away inspired, ready to continue exploring this incredible part of the world.

Continuing Classroom Learning:
Alongside all these special events, we have continued our formal learning:

• Maths: Ongoing work on addition and subtraction, using place value to help solve calculations efficiently.

• English: Continued study of Jack and the Beanstalk, by writing their own versions of the story.

• Science: Further investigations into forces and magnets, beginning to explore how different materials respond to magnetic force.

It has been a packed and memorable week - well done, Year 2/3!

What a busy and exciting week it has been in Year 2 and 3! The children have shown wonderful curiosity, enthusiasm and teamwork across all areas of the curriculum, and we are very proud of their hard work. A flurry of snow was enjoyed for a brief moment today!

English

In English, we have been learning to become questioners-asking and answering thoughtful questions about the texts we read. This helps us understand stories more deeply and builds confidence in reading comprehension.

We have also continued developing our descriptive writing skills. The children have been working hard to describe settings in detail, use accurate speech punctuation, and begin planning their own imaginative version of Jack and the Beanstalk. We can't wait to see where their giant adventures lead!

Maths

In Maths, the children have been practising working across 10s and 100s. They have been using practical strategies and place value knowledge to solve problems and explain their thinking.

Class Assembly

Rehearsals are well underway for our class assembly, ready to share with you on Monday afternoon. The children are very excited to perform and celebrate their learning with you.

RE

In Religious Education, we have been learning about Shabbat and how it is observed in the UK today. The children discussed family traditions, special meals, and the importance of rest and togetherness.

PSHE

In PSHE, our focus has been on how families may look different from one another but are all important. The children shared thoughtful ideas about what makes a family special and how we can appreciate the differences between us.

PE

Our gymnastics unit continues. This week the children have been practising linking jumps and travelling movements, working on balance, control and creativity in their floor routines.

Art

Our penguin and Antarctic scenes are looking wonderful. The children are using colour, shape and texture to bring their icy landscapes to life.

Science

In Science, we explored forces and magnetism. The children enjoyed predicting and testing which materials are magnetic and how different forces can make objects move.

Geography

In Geography, we learned about the physical features of Antarctica. The children were fascinated to discover that Antarctica-despite all its ice-is actually classified as a desert because it receives so little precipitation. We explored its mountains, ice shelves, and unique climate, linking what we learned to our Art too.

Design & Technology (Sewing)

A real highlight has been our festive stocking sewing project. The children have shown brilliant perseverance and growing confidence, supported by some wonderfully patient parents and grandparents.
If you are able to offer your help with sewing over the coming weeks, please do get in touch-your support makes such a difference.

We look forward to seeing you at our class assembly on Monday.
Next week brings even more excitement with our cinema trip and a special visit from a real Antarctic pilot!

Have a lovely weekend, and thank you for your continued support.

What a fantastic week of learning we've had in Year 2/3! The children have shown such enthusiasm and curiosity across all of our subjects - it's been lovely to see them so engaged and eager to share what they've discovered.

Maths:
In Maths, we have continued our work on addition and subtraction, building on our understanding of place value to help us add and subtract larger numbers confidently. The children have been using their knowledge of tens and ones to partition numbers and find efficient strategies for solving problems. It's been wonderful to see how they are becoming more independent in explaining how and why they chose a particular method.

English:
This week we began our new whole-school genre focus - traditional tales - with the much-loved story of Jack and the Beanstalk! The children have enjoyed retelling the story in their own words, identifying key features of a traditional tale, and practising their comprehension skills by retrieving and summarising important information. There's been lots of great discussion about characters, settings, and what lessons we can learn from Jack's adventure!

RE:
In Religious Education, we started our new topic: How do festivals and family life show what matters to Jewish people? We began by learning about Shabbat, exploring how Jewish families prepare for and celebrate this special day of rest. The children were fascinated by the traditions and rituals, and they reflected thoughtfully on what makes family time special in their own homes too.

PSHE:
Our new PSHE unit, Celebrating Difference, got off to a great start. We talked about how every family is unique, and how these differences make us all special. The children spoke beautifully about the love and care that families share, no matter what they look like or how they are made up.

Topic - 'Who lives in Antarctica?'
Thursday was a particularly exciting day as we launched our brand-new Geography and Art topic: Who lives in Antarctica? The children revisited the seven continents and discussed their relative sizes before using maps to explore the lines of latitude and locate the icy continent itself. In Art, we looked at cold colours to begin our Antarctic-inspired paintings and created our own adorable penguin families using oil pastels - they look fantastic! The children are already brimming with questions about life in such an extreme environment.

Science:
In Science, we began our new unit on Forces and Magnets. The children explored different types of pushes and pulls and thought about where we can see forces in action in our everyday lives. They are very excited to start experimenting with magnets next week!

It's been a busy and inspiring week of learning - well done, Year 2/3!

Please see the attached document for more about what we will be learning this half term in Mousehole class.

What a fantastic final week before the half term break it has been for Mousehole Class! The children have worked incredibly hard and shown such enthusiasm across all areas of their learning.

In History, the class has been busy creating double-page knowledge spreads to answer the question: "How important was Ancient Egypt?" The children explored fascinating themes including the River Nile and how it supported daily life, the afterlife and mummification, hieroglyphics, and a range of artefacts and inventions that tell us so much about this remarkable civilisation. Their work beautifully showcased both their historical understanding and creativity.

In English, the focus has been on writing non-chronological reports. The children have used their research and planning skills brilliantly to produce well-structured and informative pieces of writing. It's been wonderful to see their confidence as writers continue to grow.

On Thursday, we celebrated Black History Day. The children learnt about Rosa Parks and discussed her courage, determination, and the lasting impact she had on the civil rights movement. They also thoroughly enjoyed taking part in an African dance workshop, moving to the rhythms of traditional music and exploring another vibrant aspect of African culture.

Mousehole Class have truly been marvellous this week-their positive attitudes, teamwork, and effort have shone through in everything they've done.

Have a restful and enjoyable half term break, and I look forward to another exciting half term of learning when we return!