This Week

We have had another busy week filled with our learning.

In maths we concluded the section on column addition and subtraction. Ask your son if he can show you how to set them out. Can they explain the method we have been learning? Which is easier, adding or subtracting?

Our art lesson was to make our own stained glass windows using a frame and coloured tissue paper.

They look beautiful on the windows especially when the sun shines.

History saw us exploring morse code. If your son bought home a morse code alphabet can you write each other a message in code?

Geography saw the boys becoming town planners. They had to design a town that was good for the residents to live in. They had to think about where key features would go. Can they name some?

In RS we have been thinking about the lead up to the Christmas period. The boys were able to recall facts they had been taught in good detail. Well done boys.

Thank you for sending in all of the costumes for the Christmas show. Things are progressing well and we are into full rehearsals. Make sure you know the songs as well as your lies boys!

Have a lovely weekend boys.

This Week

What a wet and blustery week it has been but the boys have been working hard after the half term break.

In Maths we have been focussing on column subtraction without exchanging. The boys are remembering to start with the ones column before moving onto the tens column.

Next week we will look at column subtraction with exchanging! The boys have had a short input on this to hopefully help them consolidate their understanding next week.

 

Christmas play rehearsals have started! Please help to ensure that your son knows their lines and when to come in.

The singing of the songs is going well but any practice the boys can do running through the lyrics and actions would be great!

Art has had the boys drawing with scissors! Ask your boys what this means and who the artist was that we looked at.

Our new history topic is communication. This week we had a go at writing in hieroglyphics! Can your son tell you 3 facts about the Ancient Egyptians and hieroglyphics?

Can you write any names or sentences at home in hieroglyphics?

Geography this half term will have us exploring being map makers. This week we thought about directional language to guide someone around our treasure maps!

Ask your son what the picture below is.

Can they explain how it helped them write directional instructions to find different objects on their maps?

What directional vocabulary did we use boys?

The boys impressed us with their knowledge about what medicines are, what type of medicine they have taken and safety and the dangers in Science.

PSHE saw us celebrating how we are different and what makes us special. The boys worked collaboratively and each contributed what made them them or special.

Have a great weekend boys 🙂

Sandwiches and Assembly

Wow, another busy week in 2OA.

Our class assembly on Wednesday morning went really well. The boys spoke clearly and confidently and sang beautifully. We hope that you enjoyed it and would like to thank you again for your help with the learning of lines at home. The boys did themselves, and us proud.

Enjoy some photos that captured this event.

Thursday afternoon was our ‘sandwich making activity. The boys had to follow the set of instructions that they had written in English in order to make their sandwich!

The filling choices were; ham, tuna, cheese and marmite. Some boys had one and others had 2 or more! Cucumber and lettuce were additional extras the boys could pick!

The boys really enjoyed making and eating their sandwiches!

Over the half term maybe your son can make a sandwich for you for lunch.

Geography saw us conclude our topic of seas and coasts. The boys have retained lots of information and impressed me with their knowledge and understanding. Next half term we are moving onto ‘Map Makers!’

The boys have been working hard to master column addition in maths and after half term they will be moving onto column addition with subtraction.

They have made a great start to their retelling of The Lighthouse Keepers Picnic using their story plans in English.

PSHE saw us thinking about rights and responsibilities. We explored that as well as rewards there are consequences for our actions. The boys worked well together.

We would like to take the chance to wish all the boys and their families an enjoyable and relaxing half term.

BUT REMEMBER

Please do start learning the lines for the Christmas play over the holiday boys as it will be here before we know it!

 

I do like to be beside the seaside!

This week the boys were lucky to have a workshop with PERFORM which linked in with our topic of seaside holidays in Victorian times.

The boys were fully engaged and interacted well. I was told their knowledge of Victorian seaside holidays was good, well done boys.

Enjoy some photos. Don’t forget to ask your son what they did. Did they learn anything new about Victorian seaside holidays.

Geography saw the boys thinking about the seaside town of Blackpool. We explored a case study and they then designed a poster to encourage people to visit Blackpool. Did you know there are 3 piers?

Can your son name some of the attractions and what you can do on a visit to Blackpool?

In History the boys had to find words associated with seaside holidays in the past. They then had to put them into sentences to show that they understood what they meant.

We have been exploring what has changed with seaside holidays today compared to those in Victorian times. Can they name 2 differences and 2 similarities?

Science was understanding the importance of exercise. The boys spoke about the exercise they did both inside and outside of school. Can you name 3 effects that exercise has on the body?

In English the boys listened to the story of The Lighthouse Keeeper’s Picnic. They had to sequence the story using pictures and annotate them.

They thought about what could be in a picnic lunch and next week they will be making sandwiches following the instructions they wrote!

Next Wednesday is our class assembly so please use the weekend to ensure you know your lines and when you come in. You also need to know who is before you. Don’t forget to sing our song as well!

Have a lovely weekend boys 🙂

 

 

 

This Week in 2OA

Friday morning saw us join the senior boys in assembly as we came together to decide on which charities LHS will support this year. The Year 8 boys spoke and presented well for their chosen charities.

The charities voted for and that the school will be supporting are:

British Heart Foundation

Down’s Syndrome Association

Herts Young Homeless

Our seaside inspired pinwheels are going up on display. They really add a splash of colour to the display.

We painted our beach huts onto canvas this week after sketching and planning our design on paper. They are nearly finished and have a real beach vibe! They just need outlining before they form a number line in our classroom.

History saw us exploring how seaside holidays have become popular. Did you know that 200 years ago it was only the rich people who went on holiday! It was the invention of the steam train that made seaside holidays possible for everyone.

In Geography we looked at seas surrounding the UK. Can you name them? We used a compass rose to place them. Ask your son if he can remember some facts about the different seas. Why is the UK an island?

In PSHE we have been exploring the concepts or reward and consequence. We learnt that every action has a consequence and that rewards made us feel proud and happy.

Have a restful weekend to be ready for another week of learning!

 

This Week

Well it has been another busy week in 2OA!

Science has been focused on healthy eating and food groups. The boys have created delicious balanced meal plates to go up on display.

In English the boys have been writing descriptively about what they might see snorkelling in the sea. Adjectives were key to this. Can your son tell you some of the adjectives they used?

Maths has involved looking at counting on and back in different amounts. Can you set your parents a number chain to fill in the missing numbers on?

History has been comparing seaside holidays 100 years ago to those we have today. The boys have looked at similarities and differences. Some things haven’t changed. Can you name 3 things that are enjoyed today at the seaside that were enjoyed 100 years ago?

The boys explored responsibility in PSHE. They talked about what responsibility meant and the responsibilities they have. They then worked in groups to rank a set of pictures in order from the most important to least important.

Can you remember the meaning of a human and physical feature? In Geography we explored the features that were human and physical.

We sent home the script for our upcoming class assembly this week. Please can you rehearse your sons lines with them encouraging them to know who comes before them and speaking them with good expression.

They will need their scripts in school every day until after the assembly on Wednesday 4th October.

 

Have a lovely weekend

 

First Full Week!

Well what a busy start to the term.

Display work has been started in readiness for Open Morning.

We have been learning about the different continents and oceans in the world. Can your son name any of them?

In English we have been looking at postcards. Thank you to the boys who sent one from their holiday, they make a great display.

Our maths work has been focussing on place value, counting on in tens and ones and comparing numbers.

History has got us thinking about key features of the seaside. What makes the seaside the seaside? See if your son can name some of them!

PSHE explored worries. We talked about what might worry us, how it makes us feel and that is perfectly normal to have these feelings. The boys all signed the charter to.

Gabe bought in cut up apples and honey today to mark the start of Rosh Hashanah for the whole year. Thank you Gabe and Mrs Weinberg it went down really well with the boys!

Have a relaxing weekend and recharge your batteries ready for another busy week!

International Day

Today we have been immersed in different cultures and countries.

The boys made a great effort with dressing in their national costumes!

 

 

We started the day with painting plates. Bobby came into our classroom to talk about the Chineses New Year. We explored the colours associated with the New Year. Red and gold were particularly important. We found out that Chinese New Year can be at a different time each year unlike our New Year!

We used really fine paintbrushes to colour in the detailed picture and lettering.

Later on in the day we had 4 Russian Mums come in and tell us all about Russian Folk Art. We heard music being played on khokhloma spoons and decorated Dymkovo horses with patterns.

We were given the challenge to decorate our classroom door for the country we were given. Luckily we got Italy! We explored food, phrases, landmarks and the flag.

This is our finished door below. It is a celebration of all things Italian, food and landmarks.

To end the day we were very lucky that Nishant’s Dad came in and talked to us about Malaysia. He had produced a brilliant power point with help from Nishant. We learnt lots of facts about the culture and life in Malaysia. We also were very curious and asked lots of questions!

All that’s left is to say arrivederci !

Butterflies!

This week we were blessed that the 5 caterpillars we were given have become butterflies, 5 Painted Lady butterflies. Some of us were lucky enough to see them come out of their chrysalides! They have had a wide diet so far of sugar solution, banana and orange!

This afternoon we let them go and fly free.

In Geography we have been finding out about tornados. They really are a force of nature.Ask your son if they can remember how they are formed.

In History we have looked at Dame Ellen MacArthur and her amazing solo voyage around the world. We compared modern sailing to that of sailing at the time of Columbus. There were some big differences! Can your son name 3 differences?

In English we completed writing our ‘Voyage’ adventure stories. The boys carefully and thoughtfully wrote them using their plans. They were exciting and descriptive to read.

We have continued working on money in Maths. In particular we have focused on making totals and change. The calculation of totals and word problems have been challenging!

In Science we have studying the parts and functions of plants. Ask your son to tell you all about the function of the leaves and roots.

It was lovely to welcome so many parents into the classroom on Thursday for our open classroom. We hope that yours son enjoyed talking through all their wonderful work and learning just as much as you enjoyed seeing it.

Have a relaxing weekend.