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Beech Class Blog!

Keep up to date with all the exciting activities and events happening in Year 2 by following us on our blog.

Page 43

  • Oh Otto

    Published 03/03/21, by Charlie Mackinnon

    Here is what Eva thought about this book: 

     I like this book because Otto was green and he was very silly and they all said oh Otto a lot.

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  • Charlie's Coat of Arms

    Published 03/03/21, by Charlie Mackinnon

    Wow! Charlie, we love the way you have designed this coat of arms. You have clearly given a lot of thought to the colour, the ordinary and the charge. Well done. 

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  • Wednesday 3rd March

    Published 02/03/21, by Charlie Mackinnon

    8:50am: Live Registration-

     

    9:00am: Live Math Lesson-

    Today we are going to focus on solving  finding the difference questions. Start by attending the live session.

    Now try the ‘Find the Difference Activity’ attached to this blog. 

    If you need extra help, try watching this video: 

    Aut2.11.3 - Find the difference on Vimeo

    Or you could re-watch the live lesson from today:

    https://youtu.be/IjkJdgjOhEg

     

     

    10:00-10:50: STEM Workshop: Rocket-Car

    You can find the link to this session by visiting the following site:

    Sevenoaks School Outreach Activities: STEMagination Week 2021

    Click on the Wednesday 3rd March activities and find today’s ‘Design and 3D print a rocket-car based on Bloodhound SSC’ Workshop. Click on the Teams Event Live Link. It will take you to this page: 

    Feel free to download the App if you wish. Alternatively, you can still watch the session by watching it on a web browser.

    An introduction to 3D printing with BLOODHOUND Education. Learn about the Bloodhound project and its attempt to break the land speed record by travelling at 1000 miles an hour in a specially designed rock car. Learn about 3d printing and the Bloodhound LSR. Build your own rocket car and race it. This workshop is led by Mr Alex Colenso, Head of Technology at Sevenoaks School.

    Those taking part would need the following materials:

    -Safety Scissors

    -Car template

    -Glue stick/Sello Tape

    -Foam sheet or cardboard from small delivery box

    -Barbeque skewer

    -1 straw

    -1 Balloon.

     

    Reading-

    Make sure your read at home for at least 20 minutes today. Log on to the Oxford Owl website, and select a book. Create a mini book review in which you explain what you thought about the book.

     

    Number Fluency-

    Start by watching Mr M’s learning video.

    https://youtu.be/_0mdxoRejAo

    Then go back to Mr M’s shop. Pick 2 items and work out the difference in value between the two items. Repeat this process for at least 5 pairs of items. 

     

    R.E.

    Complete the Humanism activity attached to this post.

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  • Tuesday 2nd March

    Published 01/03/21, by Charlie Mackinnon

    8:50am: Live Registration-

     

    9:00am: Live Math Lesson-

    Today we are going to continue to use efficient methods for calculating change. We will also explore how this skills can be used as part of a 2-step problem.

    Start by attending the live lesson.

    Once the live lesson is over pay another visit to Mr M’s shop. Pick an item from the shop. Which coin or note are you going to use to pay for it? Use the ‘Finding the Difference’ technique to calculate the change you would get from the shop keeper. Repeat this process for at least 5 separate items.

    Extension: Can you write a 2-step problem like Mr included in the live lesson. When you have written the 2-step problem, send it in so Mr M can try to work out the answer.  

    Here is the link to the video of today's lesson:

    https://youtu.be/7Js5FyNHmUc

    It will be live for 24 hours after filming. 

    Reading-

    Remember to read at home for at least 20 mins today. Also, please tune into the next chapter of The Witches.

    https://youtu.be/IXmXl50sCls

     

    Design Activity-

    This term, we are learning all about Knights and Castles. Today, we want you to design your own coat of arms. Start by completing some research on mediaeval heraldry.

    Follow this link to find out how to design your coat of arms:

    A beginner's guide to heraldry | English Heritage (english-heritage.org.uk)

    Step 1: Pick a colour

    Step 2: Pick a heraldic ordinary

    Step 3: Pick a heraldic charge

    You can use the English Heritage website and the attached activity pack to support you.

    When you have designed your coat of arms, please send in a picture so we can add it to the blog. 

     

    Number Fluency-

    Repeat the activity from yesterday but with taking away multiples of 10. You can find out everything you need to know by watching Mr M’s learning video:  

    https://youtu.be/mrkECU0MbeE

     

    Science-

    Which material is the stretchiest?

    In this lesson, we will be learning about elasticity. You will test a variety of household materials and will measure and compare their elasticity. You will need a piece of paper, a pencil and some household objects which will be explained in the video.

    Which material is the stretchiest? (thenational.academy)

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  • Jake's Board Game

    Published 01/03/21, by Charlie Mackinnon

    Jake, we really love this board game!

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  • Oscar's Board Game

    Published 01/03/21, by Charlie Mackinnon

    Wow! Look at the plan for Oscar's board game. I can't wait to see what the game ends up looking like.

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  • Adding Multiples of 10

    Published 01/03/21, by Charlie Mackinnon

    Eva, we love the way you used a number-line to help you add multiples of 10. 

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  • Monday 1st March

    Published 01/03/21, by Charlie Mackinnon

    8:50am: Live Registration-

    Join us for live registration. 

     

    9:00am: Live Math Lesson-

    In today’s lesson, we are going to explore how to calculate change. We are going to use a technique called ‘Finding The Difference’.

    Please start by attending the live lesson. If you cannot attend this session, we will do our best to film it and add the link here for 24 hours after filming. Here is the link: 

    https://youtu.be/wNSubcexSXA

    Once the live lesson is over pay another visit to Mr M’s shop. Pick an item from the shop and imagine you are paying with a £1 coin. Use the ‘Finding the Difference’ technique to calculate the change you would get from the shop keeper. Repeat this process for at least 5 separate items.

    Extension 1: Can you calculate the change if you bought an item with a £2 coin?

    Extension 2: Can you calculate the change if you bought an item with a £5 note?

      

    Reading-

    Remember to read at home for at least 20 minutes today. Please also have a go at the attached reading comprehension activity all about Knights and Dragons. If you need help reading the text, please read it with an adult. Then you can pick the level of challenge for the questions you want to answer independently.  

     

    STEM Workshop: Bubbles and Balloons-

    You can find the link to this session by visiting the following site:

    Sevenoaks School Outreach Activities: STEMagination Week 2021

    Click on the Monday 1st March activities and find today’s ‘Bubbles and Balloons’ Workshop. Here you will find a link to the session. The password for this session is: pop-bang

    Please note, this is NOT a live session. The link will be live and can be viewed any time between 8:30 and 12:30pm. The session will last for about 50 mins.

    Here are some of the questions that we will investigate:

    Can you make a bubble last forever?

    Can bubbles be made square?

    Are you brave enough to stick a skewer in a balloon?

    Can you make a balloon helicopter?

    You be wowed by the giant bubbles and whizzing balloons.

     

    Number Fluency-

    Today we will be exploring how to add multiples of 10 to single and 2-digit numbers. Start by watching Mr M’s learning video:

    https://youtu.be/ZpLFgHie-6I

    Now play the adding on multiples of 10 game modelled in the learning video. You will need some single number cards, a dice and a pen and paper.

     

    P.E.-

    An introduction to running, jumping and throwing:

    Children will be involved in activities introducing running stride, basic throwing actions & simple stretches as part of a cool-down. Please note this lesson will require some physical exercise and additional equipment, beyond a pen, pencil or paper. Please see the equipment slide near the start of the lesson video and make sure your child is adequately supervised when equipment is required. Parents and carers are responsible for ensuring that children follow the correct safety advice provided at the start of this lesson and the instructions the teacher gives during the lesson. Parents and carers are responsible for supervising activities where required and for seeking medical advice in advance if your child has a medical condition that may prevent them taking part in physical activity.

    An introduction to running, jumping and throwing (thenational.academy)

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  • This Week's Learning

    Published 28/02/21, by Charlie Mackinnon

    Term 4 Week 2

    This week is St Barnabas STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths) Week. So we have lots of fantastic STEM activities for you to complete. We have organised STEM workshops on Monday and Wednesday as well as competitions to enter and a Friday challenge to complete. We have also planned some extra topic related building and making sessions as well.

    In Maths, we will continue to look at money. This week we will focus on finding the difference and calculating change. We will finish the week by solving some 2-step problems.

    We will also complete Science, P.E., Art and Design and R.E. lessons in line with our regular timetable.

    Hopefully, this will be our last week of home learning. Thanks for all the hard work, resourcefulness and dedication that you have shown over the last few weeks. We can’t wait to see everyone back at school on March 8th!

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  • Friday Challenge: Clever Camouflage

    Published 26/02/21, by Charlie Mackinnon

    Beech Class have been investigating how camouflage can help it to make it more difficult for creatures to be caught by predators. Here is how they recorded their results:

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  • Stefan's Amazing Instructions

    Published 26/02/21, by Charlie Mackinnon

    Wow! Stefan, what an amazing piece of instruction writing. We are so impressed. 

     

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  • Friday 25th February

    Published 26/02/21, by Charlie Mackinnon

    Reading-

    Remember to read at home for at least 20 minutes today.

     

    Catch Up-

    We are not going to add any new English or Maths activities today. Instead, please use time today to catch up with any activities that you missed during the week.

     

    Art and Design-

    During our Art and Design time over the next two Fridays we would like you to design, make and play your own board game.

    Today, we want you to research what sort of board game you would like to make. Have a look at the games you have at home, (you could even play some games to test them out) look in a catalogue or, with an adult, search online for board games. 

    We found this 'Make Your Own Board Game' video produced by the National Museum Australia. It may give you some ideas.

    https://youtu.be/r-7IvAnDCDE

    Think about what interests you and how you could use this in your game. Think about how the game will be played and how players will take part. What will the aim of the game be? Once you have some ideas, write and draw them down on pieces of paper. Use today to spend time thinking through your ideas and designs to make a detailed plan, which will make it easier to create your game next week.

    Please send us in pictures of your plans.

    Also, please start to collect materials you will need to make your board game for next week. You may need cardboard, paper, pens,stickers, recycling, glue ......etc.

     

    Friday Challenges 

    (These challenges are optional- yuo can do as many or as few as you want. Please send us in anything you complete so we can add it to the blog and share your work in celebration assembly.)

    This month would be the 204th Birthday of the famous scientist Charles Darwin. So all of your Friday challenges are inspired by the work of Charles Darwin.  

    Charles Darwin travelled all over the world in his boat, The Beagle.

    We would like for you to follow in his footsteps. Here are the activities that you can choose from:

    Wonderful Worms!

    When Charles Darwin wasn’t voyaging around the world on his boat, The Beagle, you may well have found him in his garden looking for worms. Darwin became obsessed with earthworms. He decided to count how many were in his garden then moved most of them into his study to investigate them. Here is how you can follow in his footsteps:

    Step 1: Catch a Worm

    Worm charmers have many techniques to coax worms out of their burrows, including dancing on the ground to create vibrations. Try some different techniques to charm the worms in your garden or in the park. What is the most effective technique?

    Step 2: Draw Like Darwin

    The secret to Darwin’s success as a scientist was his use of careful observation and the detailed records he kept of his findings. Here is an example of one of Darwin’s sketches of a worm:

     

    Step 3: Let’s Investigate

    Charles Darwin noticed that the soil in some areas of his garden seemed to contain more worms than others. Use your worm charming technique in various different locations around your garden and/or park. Are some types of soil more likely to have worms in? Can you use graphs or charts to present your findings?

     

    Clever Camouflage

    Darwin found out that animals that were able to hide really well were more difficult to catch and were more likely to survive. These animals were then able to pass these characteristics onto the next generation.

    You can follow in Darwin’s footsteps and find out for yourself how important camouflage is by completing this activity.

    Step 1: Lay out pieces of newspaper across an entire table or surface.

    Step 2: Cut out 10 identical butterflies from newspaper.

    Step 3: Cut out 10 identical butterflied in bright coloured paper.

    Step 4: Place all 20 butterflies on the newspaper covered surface and cover them with a blanket or sheet.

    Step 5: Get another member of your family to act as a predator. Uncover the butterflies and challenge your family member to see how many butterflies they can catch in 10 seconds.

    Step 6: Count up the butterflies. How many did they catch up altogether? How many newspaper butterflies? How many bright butterflies?

    Step 7: Repeat this investigation several times with different members of your family. What do you notice about your results? Did you spot any patterns? Can you explain why your results happened?  

     

    Darwin’s Finches

    Darwin discovered creatures were more likely to survive if they were well suited to their environment. He discovered this by closely looking at the beaks of finches. Here are some sketches that he made:

    You can follow in his footsteps and find out for yourself why the size and shape of beaks is important by completing this activity:

    You will need

    -Different sized seeds/beans or pasta – pumpkins seeds, sunflower seeds and flax seed are good choices. Small toy insects are also fun to try. (this is to represent the food)

    -Different sized pairs of tweezers or scoopers (this is to represent the beaks)

    -Pots

    -A stop watch

    Step 1: Pick a scoop or pair of tweezers

    Step 2: Set yourself a time limit- 30 seconds for example. See how many of each item you can pick up and put in a pot.

    Step 3: Repeat this activity with all the different scoops and tweezers. 

    Step 4: Think of a way of recording your results and presenting your findings.

    Now it’s time to draw a conclusion. Imagine that each different tweezer or scoop was the beak of a bird. Which of these birds do you think would be able to get the most food and be most likely to survive?

    Extension: Design a bird with a beak shaped like the most successful scoop or tweezer.

     

     

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