Category Archives: Computing

Managing Information

Computing

Today Toucans learned about how we can manage online information. We watched a video from the National Online Safety website and then had a class discussion. 

Here are our ideas:

What can we use laptops for?

  • Sending emails
  • Keeping in touch with friends and family
  • Finding answers to questions
  • Finding new facts
  • Using Swiggle to search for information

We then thought about possible dangers and what the solutions might be:

Potential danger: Evelyn – Using FaceTime or Zoom you could be bullied by an unexpected person.

Solution: Ryan – You can block them and make sure an adult is with you

Potential danger: Thomas S – Viruses

Solution: Edey – You could delete the game.  Salaf – You could tell a parent.

Potential danger: Using Roblox

Solution: Olivia – You can switch off the chat or always make sure an adult is with you.

We then discussed how our safest option for searching the internet is Swiggle. This search engine has even more protection for children. We discussed some places we had been to and how we could use Swiggle to find out more about these places.

Salaf – New York

Brooke – Wales

Eason – Japan and I was born in Hong Kong

Juwayriya – New York

Evelyn – Greece

Edey – Columbia

We decided next week to use what we had learned about managing information to research these places using Swiggle.

Computing

Computing

Last week in Computing we had a look at 2Investigate. We discussed how 2Investigate is a database and a database is used to hold lots of structured information. A few examples of data bases that we talked about was where all our assessment scores are kept as well as SIMS – where we take our register every morning and afternoon. Databases can tell us lots of different things and are very useful in lots of different types of jobs. We also had a look at how data from databases can be presented – we are focusing on bar charts.

In our most recent lesson, we all had a go at logging onto Purple Mash to use 2investigate. Miss Hookes gave us a step-by-step guide to follow to make sure we were all in the right starting place! We were then introduced to the collaborative function – where we could see what everyone was doing to our class database! 

We all had a go at creating ourselves on the class database and putting in the correct information in each field, hair colour, age, name and eye colour. Next week we are going to finish making ourselves on our class database and then use the bar chart function to find out as a whole class the answers to the following questions:

  • How many girls are in our class?
  • How many boys are in our class?
  • How many people have blue eyes?
  • What is the most popular hair colour?

Then once we have done this, the week after we will have a go at putting this data into our very own bar chart!

The Tomato Spider

Computing

This week in Computing, we learn all about the Tomato Spider. Here are some of the things we learnt… 

  • They are the size of an average tomato. 
  • They can be found in the long grass in your garden. 
  • They can also transform into birds if a predator is nearby. 
  • Finally, you will not believe this, BUT during the summer they like to sunbathe on the beach and in the winter, they like to cosy up by the fireplace. 

Here is the link where we found all this information: https://cocoon.education/tomato-spider/ 

But, the more we looked into it, we soon discovered there was no such thing as a Tomato Spider and someone had completely made it up! We researched safely on the internet to see if we could find any information on a Tomato Spider and we couldn’t find a thing!  

We were shocked to find out there was no such thing as a Tomato Spider, but this taught us that not everything we see on the internet is true and that we must always check with an adult when looking online at things we are unsure of. 

Debugging

Computing
On Friday afternoon, Toucan class were set a challenge to rescue the spaceman on 2Go on Purple Mash. The children are beginning to become very confident with logging onto the computers themselves using their emoji passwords. 
 
Before the children were set off on their challenge, we recalled what an algorithm was and what was meant by the term ‘debug.’ 
 
We had a go as a whole class first before the children went off with their partners and made a few errors, but we were able to recognise their mistakes and debug and start again!
 
The children were able to demonstrate an excellent use of two of their behaviours for learning. They worked with others to help succeed in the challenge of rescuing the spaceman. They were also able to show excellent perseverance when things went wrong and we had to debug!

Online Safety

Computing
On Friday afternoon in Computing Year 2 were discussing how to stay safe online. We went through a safer online computer agreement as a whole class and discussed the importance of staying safe online. 
 
The children have all signed an agreement about using the computers and the internet in school. We have agreed to…
  1. Ask a teacher or suitable adult if I want to use a computer.
  2. I will only use activities that a teacher or suitable adult has told or allowed me to use.
  3. I will take care of the computer and other equipment.
  4. I will ask for help or suitable adult if I am not sure what to do or if I think I have done something wrong.
  5. I will tell a teacher or a suitable adult if I see something that upsets me on the screen.
We discussed that if we were to break the rules it would mean we would not be allowed to use the computer, as well as this we spoke about how important it is for us to be nice to one another online as well as in person. In addition to this we spoke about the word ‘communicate’ and what is means. We also talked about how we can communicate with each other via the class blog on the school website.
 
What do you use the internet for at home? Please leave your comments below and get the conversation flowing!
 

Understanding cyber bullying, self image and self identity

Class Work, Computing, PSHE

Toucans discussed their understanding of cyber bullying and what to do if it ever happens.

Karly – If you receive a nasty text message you should always tell your parents.
You should block them as a contact too.

Corban – You should keep the the text as proof for evidence.

Ryan – You need to tell your parents.

Elias – You can tell the teachers at school.

The class watched an interactive film and used thumbs up/down to decide whether an action was right or wrong, related to cyber bullying. Afterwards, Mrs Parry described three photos of people and the children had to draw a quick sketch from her description. Afterwards, the class discussed who their trusted adults were, should they ever need support with cyber bullying issues. Finally, Toucans had some examples of online comments and had to decide how these would make them feel.

More Branching Databases

Circle Time, Computing

In Computing, Year 2 Toucans continued with sorting data today and some children completed their branching databases.

The children selected their own category today and sorted their items into groups by asking questions based on the group of pictures e.g “Does it have a tail?”, “Does it fly?”, “Does it eat fish?” etc.

Here are some completed branching databases.

Tatenda’s Branching Database

Ayra’s Branching Database

Jospeh’s Branching Database