Year 2

This week we have been learning two powerful mental maths strategies to help us add a two-digit number and a one-digit number more easily:

• Think 10

• Rebalancing

We used our whiteboards and pens to work through the problems step by step. We also used a part-part-whole model to help us see how numbers can be split and adjusted. These strategies help us solve tricky additions in a smart and efficient way!

⭐ Strategy 1: Think 10

Example: 72 + 9

When we use Think 10, we look for a way to make the next multiple of 10 because adding to a multiple of 10 is much easier.

Step 1: Look at 72

We know that:

• 72 needs 8 more to make 80.

Step 2: Break apart the 9

Using our part-part-whole model:

• 9 can be split into 8 and 1

Step 3: Add in parts

• 72 + 8 = 80

• 80 + 1 = 81

So,

72 + 9 = 81

By thinking about making 10 (or the next multiple of 10), the calculation becomes much simpler!

⭐ Strategy 2: Rebalancing

Example: 59 + 8

Rebalancing means we add 1 to one number and take 1 away from the other number to make the calculation easier — without changing the total.

Step 1: Look at 59

59 is very close to 60. That makes it a good number to adjust!

Step 2: Move 1

• Take 1 away from 8 (8 becomes 7)

• Add 1 to 59 (59 becomes 60)

Now the calculation becomes:

60 + 7

Step 3: Add

60 + 7 = 67

So,

59 + 8 = 67

The total stays the same because we balanced the numbers — we just made it easier to calculate!

🧠 Why These Strategies Help

• They make mental maths faster.

• They help us understand how numbers work.

• They build confidence with bigger numbers.

• They show that numbers can be flexible!

Using whiteboards helped us try ideas, make changes, and clearly see how part-part-whole modelling works.

🏡 Home Learning Targets

Here are three targets to practise at home:

1. Use Think 10
   Solve:

   • 64 + 8

   • 73 + 9

2. Use Rebalancing
   Solve:

   • 48 + 7

   • 69 + 6

3. Explain Your Thinking
   Choose one question and explain:

   • How did you split the number?

   • Did you make a multiple of 10?

   • How did you rebalance?

Try using a piece of paper to draw a part-part-whole model just like we did in class!

This half term in History, Year 2 have been soaring through the exciting history of flight! We kicked off our learning by becoming history detectives, exploring a range of mysterious sources and objects to help us uncover our new topic. We examined a passport, photographs of people who served in the RAF during the World Wars, aviator licences and model aeroplanes. The children loved using their prior knowledge and new clues to solve the mystery!

We then travelled through time to discover how flight has changed over the years — from hot air balloons floating gently through the sky, to airships, biplanes, and the modern monoplanes we see flying today. We took a closer look at biplanes, researching their key features and spotting how they have changed from their first invention to the aircraft we know now. We also explored the clever technology that makes flight possible and learned how it helps planes stay up in the air.

Next, we learned all about the famous Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, and their incredible achievement in inventing the aeroplane. Did you know the very first flight lasted just 12 seconds? It then took two whole years before a flight lasted longer than 30 minutes! Today, aeroplanes can fly for hours at a time, even faster than the speed of sound!

This week, we discovered how the history of flight links to our local area of Bushey. We learned about Bentley Priory and its important role during the Battle of Britain as the Headquarters of RAF Fighter Command.

All this fantastic learning has made us extra excited for our upcoming trip to the RAF Museum. We can’t wait to see the aircraft up close and bring our learning to life in the real world! 🚀

Try This at Home! 🏠✈️

1. Make Your Own Flying Machine
   Create a paper aeroplane or a model using recycling materials. Test different designs to see which one flies the furthest or stays in the air the longest!

2. Flight Fact Finder
   Research a type of aircraft at home — this could be a hot air balloon, biplane, or modern aeroplane. Can you find out when it was invented and one interesting fact to share in class?

3. Sky Spotting
   Look up at the sky when you’re outside and see what you can spot. Can you identify different types of aircraft? Draw a picture or write a sentence about what you saw and how it was flying.

4. Visit Bentley Priory Museum

Our Rapunzel Story Project

Over the last three weeks, we have been learning about the traditional tale Rapunzel and a modern version of the story. We compared the two stories and talked about what was the same and what was different.

We then planned our own stories with a beginning, middle and end. We thought carefully about our main character and our villain. We planned how the character would be captured, how they would escape, and how they would later go on to capture villains themselves.

Our audience and purpose were to write an entertaining story for the Nursery children. Writing for an authentic audience is at the heart of our English curriculum as it really inspires the children to write and feel like a writer.  On Monday, we excitedly visited Nursery and read our stories to them. They absolutely loved listening and were a fantastic audience!

While writing, we learned how to use:

• Expanded noun phrases (e.g. the tall, golden tower)

• Commas in a list

• Subordinating conjunctions (e.g. because, when, if)

We are very proud of our hard work and our storytelling skills!

Three things to do at home

1. Read a traditional tale and talk about the characters and villains.

2. Write your own short story with a beginning, middle and end.

3. Practice using expanded noun phrases to make your writing more exciting.

This term in Year 2, we have been learning all about animals and their offspring. The children have been exploring different animal groups, learning what their babies are called, and discovering whether animals hatch from eggs or are born as live young.

We began by recalling what we already knew about the six animal groups: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects. We talked about their distinguishing features, such as whether they have fur, feathers, scales, or shells and discussed where different animals live.

Next, we matched animal offspring to their adult forms. Did you know that baby snakes are called snakelets? The children loved learning new and unusual animal names! We also discussed whether each animal is born from an egg or as a live baby, making links to the animal groups we had already studied.

We then explored how baby animals grow and change into adults. Using our observation skills, we sorted animals into the groups adult and young. We challenged ourselves even further by finding other ways to group them, including animals with feathers and without feathers, and animals that lay eggs and animals that do not.

The children were incredibly engaged throughout the learning, and it was exciting to see their curiosity grow as they confidently shared ideas, asked questions, and discovered new facts.

How you can support learning at home:

• Talk about animals you see in books, on TV, or outdoors and discuss what their babies might be called.

• Sort and group toys or pictures of animals in different ways, such as by where they live or how they move.

• Read animal information books together and look for facts about how animals are born and grow.

We are so proud of the children’s enthusiasm and thoughtful discussions during this topic and look forward to building on this learning as we continue our science journey!

Using the Inverse to Solve Addition and Subtraction (Year 2)

This week in maths, Year 2 have been learning how addition and subtraction are connected by using the inverse. The inverse means doing the opposite operation to help us find a missing number or check an answer. When we know one fact, we can use its inverse to help us solve a related problem.

The children have been working with numbers up to 100 and using cherry diagrams and bar models to represent numbers clearly and spot missing parts.

What do we mean by the inverse?

• The inverse of addition is subtraction

• The inverse of subtraction is addition

If we know the total and one part, we can subtract to find the missing part.
If we know the parts, we can add to find the total.

Representing problems with models

Cherry diagrams
These show a whole number with two parts underneath. They are useful for seeing how numbers are made and for finding missing parts.

Bar models
These show the whole as a long bar, split into parts. They help children see the relationship between the total and its parts.

Worked example

Problem:
___ + 7 = 60

We know the total (60) and one part (7). We need to find the missing part.

Step 1: Represent the problem

• In a cherry diagram, 60 is the whole, with 7 as one part and the missing number as the other part.

• In a bar model, the full bar is 60. One part is 7, and the remaining part is unknown.

Step 2: Use the inverse
Because the problem is addition, we use subtraction:

60 − 7 = ___

Step 3: Check
___ + 7 = 60

So, the missing number is 53.

3 things to do at home

1. Missing number sentences
   Write addition or subtraction sentences with a missing number, such as:
   □ + 34 = 80
   72 − □ = 25
   Ask your child to solve them by using the inverse.

2. Draw it out
   Choose a number up to 100 and split it into two parts. Ask your child to draw a cherry diagram or bar model and then write the matching addition and subtraction facts.

3. Check the answer
   When your child solves an addition or subtraction, ask them to check it using the inverse. For example, if they add two numbers, can they subtract one to get the other back?

These activities will help build confidence and deepen understanding of how addition and subtraction work together.

This week in English, Year 2 have been swept away into the magical world of Rapunzel! We began by reading the traditional fairy tale, bringing the story to life through role play as we retold it to our classmates. Stepping into the characters’ shoes helped us remember key events and retell the story with confidence and expression.

Next, we explored a modern twist on the classic tale. This sparked great discussions about how stories can change and how characters can be shown in different ways. We focused on using expanded noun phrases and powerful adjectives to describe Rapunzel’s personality. To deepen our thinking, we sorted these adjectives into a zone of relevance, deciding which words best matched her character and explaining why.

The classroom then turned into a forest adventure! Through energetic role play, we acted out Rapunzel’s journey — crawling through thorny bushes, climbing tall trees, and paddling through icy streams. This immersive experience helped us understand how exciting verbs and vivid imagery make writing more engaging for the reader. Using these ideas, we wrote past tense sentences describing Rapunzel’s adventurous journey through the forest.

🏡 Three Things to Do at Home

1. Retell the Story Together
   Ask your child to retell the story of Rapunzel using toys, drawings, or role play. Encourage them to use story language such as Once upon a time, suddenly, and happily ever after.

2. Character Description Fun
   Choose a character from Rapunzel and think of three adjectives to describe them. Can your child turn these into expanded noun phrases?
   Example: the brave, kind princess.

3. Action Verb Adventure
   Go on an imaginary journey around your home or garden. Pretend to crawl, climb, tiptoe, or splash just like Rapunzel. Afterwards, help your child write or say a sentence in the past tense about what they did, using exciting verbs.

We have loved seeing the children’s enthusiasm and creativity shine through this fairy tale work!

What a fantastic autumn term it has been in Year 2! We are so proud of all the hard work, enthusiasm, and positive attitudes the children have shown over the last few months.

This term, the children have completed three wonderful stories, written creative poems, and even sent a letter home to parents using the post box, which was very exciting! We also enjoyed a walk around Bushey, taking in our local area and learning together outside the classroom.

In school, the children have worked hard to learn and follow our new school rules: Ready, Respectful, and Safe. In maths, they tackled some tricky calculations, showing great resilience while learning how to solve problems by rebalancing. In science, we have explored different materials, and in PE, the children have developed their skills and confidence through gymnastics.

Our festive period was full of joy and creativity. The children put on a lovely singing show, proudly shared their books with parents, and carefully made calendars and cards as special gifts for their families.

A huge thank you to all parents and carers for your continued support—it truly makes a difference and helps the children thrive.

Everyone now deserves a restful and well-earned break. We wish you all a happy holiday season and a brilliant New Year. We look forward to welcoming the children back on January 5th.

See you next year! 🎉✨

  Young Coders in Action! 🌟 (more…)

This week in English, we have been exploring the wonderful story Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña. The book follows a young boy on a journey with his Nana, who teaches him to notice the beauty in ordinary moments by using all of his senses. Inspired by their adventure, we set out on our own journey of discovery.

We began by listening to different pieces of music, sketching the feelings and images that came to mind. From swirling colours to calm landscapes, the children created expressive illustrations and then transformed them into vivid descriptive sentences.

On a snowy Wednesday morning, we continued our exploration with a walk up the local high street to Andrew’s fruit and vegetable shop. Along the way, we searched for local landmarks and practised using rich adjectives to describe the unexpected beauty around us. The children’s imaginations were wonderful. Some noticed trees that “looked like skeletons’ legs,” while others pointed out “beautiful, bright poppies covered in sparkly white snow.”

It was a week full of creativity, curiosity, and learning to see the world a little differently just like Nana teaches in the story.

Today, our school came together to honour and remember all those who have served and continue to serve in the Armed Forces.

In class, we used oil pastels to create beautiful poppy artwork, thinking carefully about what the poppy represents — hope, peace, and remembrance. The bright red petals reminded us of the courage and sacrifice of those who fought for our freedom.

We also had a very special assembly with soldiers from the Royal Air Force and Army, who shared their experiences and helped us understand the importance of Remembrance Day. They spoke about bravery, teamwork, and why we wear our poppies with pride.

After this, Year 2 walked down to the war memorial statue to pay their respects. They laid a wreath on behalf of the whole school, standing quietly to reflect on the lives lost in wars past and present. It was a thoughtful and moving moment for everyone.

What can you do at home?

1. Create your own poppy – Use paper, fabric, or craft materials to make a poppy and display it in your window.

2. Share a story – Talk with a family member about someone they know who served in the Armed Forces, or look up a local war hero together.

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.” 🌹