Category Archives: English

Oliver’s Vegetables

English
Year two have started their new book ‘Oliver’s Vegetables’. Toucan’s have been discussing the story and trying to spot patterns in the text. We challenged them to remember all the different types of vegetables that have appeared in the book and that Oliver ate and enjoyed. Year two used their listening skills extremely well and managed to remember all of the vegetables and in the correct order!
 
On Monday Oliver tried carrots. He enjoyed them!
On Tuesday Oliver tried spinach. He loved it!
On Wednesday Oliver tried rhubarb. It was delicious!
On Thursday Oliver tried cabbage. It was splendid!
On Friday Oliver tried beetroot. It was mouth watering!
On Saturday Oliver tried peas. They were yummy!
On Sunday Oliver found the potatoes and the whole family enjoyed some chips. Now Oliver loved lots of different vegetables.
 
We will be spending the rest of the week story mapping  (including actions!) and getting to know Oliver a bit more.

Welcome Back!

Class Work, English

Toucans have settled in very well this week and are getting to grips with their new routine. They’ve caught up with each other’s news from over the summer holidays.

We began this week revising our school rules and motivating each other to be ‘Good to be Green’. The children are very excited to be trying to earn a Gold card and being able to choose a prize!

We’ve enjoyed lots of ERIC (Enjoying Reading in Class) sessions and we’ve been sharing our favourite fiction and non-fiction books.

On Friday Afternoon Toucans enjoyed a well-earned golden time! we’re looking forward to getting into our learning next week and starting our new book: ‘Oliver’s Vegetable’s.

 

Behaviours for Learning

Class Work, English, Maths, PSHE

Miss Williams’ group have really been focusing on applying the behaviours for learning. They have been trying so hard in all their lessons!

Toucans have been working really well together. We have been trying hard to ensure we listen to our partner and focus on what they are saying:

We have been taking real pride in our work. We are trying so hard to join our writing:

We have also been showing excellent concentrations skills:

These children have worked particularly hard to persevere with their reading. They are making great progress! 

Behaviours for learning are really helping us to improve!

Video: The Kapok Tree

Class Work, English

This week, Toucans have been reading a new book in English. It has beautiful pictures and is linked to their topic – The Rainforest. The Kapok Trees are one of the tallest trees in the rainforest and grow up the “emergent layer.” The class were entertained by the animal voices Mrs Parry used when she read the story to the class. She used a growling voice for the jaguar and a hissing voice for the snake. The funniest voices were the lazy sloth (very slow!) and the chattering monkey! The class looked at the text together and noted the exclamation sentences. They talked about using expression and appropriate intonation to entertain the reader and an audience. Toucans also considered the speed and volume of their voices needed to perform the story to an audience. After practising, the class braved the slight drizzle outside to record the story. They stood near the woodland walk to make the poem more authentic. If you listen carefully, you might be able to hear the real rain! We hope you enjoy our class version.

Out and About

Class Work, English, PSHE

Toucans spent a lesson outside to engage and explore the natural environment outdoors. They spent some quiet time, being mindful and listened to the natural sounds. We identified the noise of a Great Tit, using the RSPB website, once we got back inside the classroom. The children created pictures using natural materials and made streamers which were very effective on such a windy day! We enjoyed stories linked to the outdoor theme and heard a range of poems by Shirley Hughes. Toucans composed their own version of her poem “Out and About.”

What a Wonderful World!

Class Work, English, PSHE

Toucans have been enjoying our class book, thinking about different geographical and environmental features that the world has in it. Toucans watched a heartwarming video narrated by David Attenborough with the words to this famous song by Louis Armstrong. There was a true sense of awe and wonder as the children watched the clip.

Lexi like the penguins most and Elias like the monkey walking along best! We all liked different parts of the film!

Here is the song being sung by Louis Armstrong:

Using the We Are Here book the children learnt new facts.

Isla/Anren learnt that the Earth rotates around the sun.
Tatenda learnt rivers flow into the sea.
Karly found out about mountains.
Jacob learnt about sharks living in the sea.

Afterwards, the class got to work, rewriting their own verse for the song!

Video: Here We Are

Class Work, English, PSHE

Toucans have been introduced to the book “Here We Are” this week. They shared facts about what happens on planet Earth and also about the entire Solar System. Using Google Earth, the class zoomed right in to find exactly where we are on the planet. The children enjoyed looking at Mrs Parry’s interactive toy model of the Solar System to check they had got their facts right! Afterwards, they all studied an aerial map of Bells Farm school and identified different areas of the school including our classroom. Each child completed a mind map, considering four aspects of family, friends, home and school. The children used their information to independently produce a leaflet, for an alien, all about “Planet Earth.” Please look at our working wall photos and short film clips!

Letters to Professor Pole!

Class Work, English

Today, Toucans are busy writing their replies back to Professor Pole. At the start of their topic, he sent them all a video message asking them to help him answer some questions he had. Toucans have been gathering lots of information about the Arctic (North Pole) and Antarctica over the last few weeks and are all becoming experts!

Do you know the answer to our questions?
What animals live in the North Pole?
What is the land and climate like in the North Pole?
How do people and animals survive in the North Pole?

Karly’s letter to Professor Pole

Ayra’s letter to Professor Pole

A Special Delivery

Class Work, English

During ERIC today, Miss Williams suddenly appeared, carrying a large, brown box. Excitedly, Toucans watched in amazement as they were shown some beautiful, new books – especially for them to read in class. There really was something for everyone!

Mrs Parry spotted “Journey” from her days in Year 3 and was eager to look at the other two books in the series, realising she would be able to tick off a category on the latest reading challenge!

Toucans thoroughly enjoyed listening to Mrs Parry read “The Book With No Pictures,” It really made them laugh… read the book and find out why!

Reviewing books!

Class Work, English

In ERIC this week, some children have chosen to write book reviews, recommending good reads to other children.

Shriya – We are learning about Florence in class too! I like the part where the soldiers get better.
Karly – I like the Snow Queen. I have this book at home too.
Maya – I like the Twelve Dogs of Christmas. It is a happy story.
Daniel – I like The Lazy Ladybird is really funny!

Questioning a text

Class Work, English

This week Toucans have been learning how to question a text to improve their understanding. When we are reading we need to always be thinking and wondering what will happen. The class all had the cover of a book to look at and compose questions about what they would like to find out. Can you think of a question for the cover……….I wonder………?

Enjoy Reading In Class!

Class Work, English

Toucans are really enjoying their ERIC time. We love to share a book with our friend and like to hear an adult read to us. Mrs Parry has shared her treasure chest of favourite childhood books with the class and has been reading some of these special books with the class. The children have also loved being able to sit outside in the sun and read together too! What is your favourite story? What books did you enjoy over the summer and during lockdown?

Instructions

Class Work, English

Toucans have been writing instructions about how to wash your hands and brush your teeth. They have been learning about all the features needed to make a good set of instructions. Can you remember what they are? What type of verbs do you need when you write instructions? Where do you need to use a semi colon? The class were able to follow a set of instructions to make a Toucan mask.

A good story

Class Work, English

This term we have been enjoying stories by Anthony Browne. Today we started to read ‘Willy’s Stories’ which we loved! The book is about how Willy goes through some magical doors and enters well-known stories such as Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz. Each time he leaves us with a question to think about.

We used one of his stories to help us to think about what makes a good story. This week we are going to put this to good use as we write our own story in this style.

Typing our non-chronological reports

Class Work, Computing, English

This week we are combining our English and Computing skills to type up our non-chronological reports. We are learning how to use Publisher to type our reports to send to Professor Pole. We are learning keyboard skills including where to find the enter key and punctuation keys. We are also learning how to change the size and font of text.

Later in the week we will learn how to add pictures to our reports and then we will send them off!

Toucans Read to Swans

Class Work, English

This afternoon was the moment we have waited for all week! We took the stories we have written and illustrated to read to Swans class. Some of us were very excited to read to our brothers, sisters and friends and some of us made new friends. It was wonderful to see everyone enjoying our stories.

Our teachers were extremely impressed with how well Swans sat and listened and how clearly Toucans explained their stories. Well done everyone!

Non chronological reports

Class Work, English

We had another exciting letter from Professor Pole today! He congratulated and thanked us for writing such good letters. He was also very pleased we had helped him to make new umbrella. However, he has another problem and has asked for our help again.

He has to write a non chronological report sharing his research. As we have learnt about them before we decided would be just the people to help him! First we sorted different texts to remind ourselves of what a report needed to look like.

We are going to draw together all our learning and write him a report he knows what it looks like.