Year 2 Bulletin

Investigations

Our Investigation sessions take place three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 9 – 11 a.m. Each session follows a particular instructional model, which is based on three distinct parts, of different durations:

· WHOLE: the class begins the session together

· SMALL: individuals break off into small groups

· WHOLE: the class comes back together for presentations by the Focus children,

Reporter and Photographer

Instructional Model

Whole:

Teaching Point

A teaching point is chosen as the focus for a 5 -10 minute exploration. This may be a specific spelling pattern, punctuation norms in a text, a feature of the date on the calendar (perhaps a new month/season/time), a particular text type layout or a maths concept or strategy. All of which directly relates to the curriculum content being covered at that time. This week we have been exploring geography - what it means, what geographical zones are, and how they affect us, and how we identify the continents and oceans of the world.

Learning Intention

To understand what geography means – the study of the earth’s land, water, air, and living things, particularly humans.

We brainstormed what Geography meant, looking at the morphology of the word:

Greek root ‘geo’ meaning earth

and ‘graphy’ meaning writing or description

Then we watched a video, from BBC Teach, ‘Geography’, which explained hemispheres, continents, oceans, poles and the equator.

Focus Children

Each Focus child shares an item they may have brought in, or an idea of interest they might have, or a wondering about a specific topic. Students are encouraged

to widen their investigation with open questioning, rather than closed questions, which may reveal only a limited scope, such as a one word or sentence answer.

Sometimes we will need to widen a scope, at other times, narrow it down to focus more specifically.

Reporter & Photographer

The Reporter and Photographer are given their tasks for the session. These revolve around a particular curriculum focus, which changes each time, but always includes English, Maths or Well-being, weekly. It could be the current spelling/grammar focus or maths concept or well-being practice.

This week, one of our reporter’s focus areas was Spelling. The Reporter was tasked with interviewing 20 children, and for each individual, record two ‘ou’ or ‘ow’ words. e.g. brown / loud / frown / ground.

One of our photographer’s focus areas was Maths (measurement). They were tasked with taking 20 photographs of objects less than 30 cm (the length of our standard ruler).

Small:

The Focus children use their Investigation Books to record their research, including charts and diagrams, where appropriate. At times, they may also make a model of their findings or create a resource, such as an information book.

Teachers circulate between them, scaffolding, guiding and assisting where necessary.

The remainder of the children will have chosen an area from the Investigation Choice Board. Currently there are twelve choices:

Writers’ Workshop, Reading Zone, Ewe in Stitches (Knitting & Crotchet), Film Studio, Upcycling, Dance Studio, Science Lab, Art Studio, Maths Zone, Sewing Centre and Research Hub

The core areas of Writers’ Workshop, Reading Corner, Art Studio, Maths Zone and Research Hub are permanent areas of provocation. The other areas will change throughout the year, and be linked in, where possible, with the Big Idea:

Our world is divided into geographical zones and this impacts on where we live.

· What are the geographical zones in our world?

· How do these zones define how places are used by us?

· How can we care for our neighbourhood?

Whole:

Presentations

The Focus children, with the aid of their research from their Investigation Books,

share their findings with the audience. The Speaking and Listening component of the curriculum is the focus here. Responsibility is given to the audience for respectful listening, and the presenters for addressing the listeners.

Questions about their research, are asked of the presenters.

Anchor charts are used to support and guide them in their presentation.