Year Two

Toys Over Time - Inquiry

As part of our second Unit of Inquiry, Our Community Through Time, the Year Two students participated in an exciting incursion with Supreme Incursions called Toys Over Time. It was wonderful to see students using their imaginations through dress-ups and storytelling, solving puzzles and games, and engaging in active play with toys enjoyed by previous generations. During the workshop, we explored the history, origins, and stories behind some of the world's most loved toys.

Spinning Tops

We learned that spinning tops are among the oldest toys in the world and have evolved into modern toys that some of us still enjoy today, such as Beyblades! We explored how the materials and designs of toys have changed over time. While spinning tops were once made from clay and wood, they are now commonly made from plastic, which affects how they spin and perform.

Slinky

Have you ever wondered how the Slinky became a toy? It was invented by accident! A man named Richard James dropped a spring from a shelf and noticed it "walk" down to the floor. This unexpected observation led to the creation of one of the world's most famous toys. Many students also recognised the Slinky from the Toy Story movies.

Mr Potato Head

We also learned about Mr Potato Head. Did you know that when it was first invented, children used real potatoes? They would stick different pieces into a potato to create eyes, noses, mouths, and other features. Some of these pieces were even given away in cereal boxes! As families became concerned about wasted food and messy potatoes, a plastic potato body was eventually introduced.

Matchbox Cars

Lastly, we learned about the origins of Matchbox cars. Before Hot Wheels became popular, Matchbox cars were some of the best-selling toy cars in the world. The story begins with a young girl named Anne, who wanted to take her toy car to school. At the time, students were only allowed to bring toys that could fit inside a matchbox. Her father, Jack Odell, created a small toy car that fit perfectly inside one. The idea quickly became a huge success, and Matchbox cars were born!

We had a fantastic time learning about toys from the past while discovering how they have changed over time. We hope you enjoyed reading about some of our learning and the interesting stories behind these classic toys!

The Year Two Team

Skye Bailey, Fiona O’Reilly, Molly Todd and Nicola Veneris