Year 2 News 

Inquiry 

Inside Out Day 

The Year 2 students thoroughly enjoyed our first unit of inquiry for the year, "How We Express Ourselves," which was inspired by the characters from the movie Inside Out. The central idea of this unit was "Communication is influenced by feelings and emotions." 

Throughout the unit, we explored the emotional characters from the movie—Joy, Anger, Fear, Sadness, and Disgust—and the students were able to connect with them on a personal level. They eagerly shared their thoughts and insights, and they demonstrated a strong understanding of how emotions shape communication. 

The students did an excellent job applying this knowledge to real-life situations, both during discussions and in their daily school routines. They showed kindness and empathy toward one another and found meaningful ways to express how to manage emotions, both for themselves and others. 

The culmination of the unit was Inside Out Day, a celebration of everything the students had learned. It was a joy to share this experience with parents and family members. 

Throughout the unit, many students took action by having conversations at home, creating posters to display in the classroom, and even writing stories to express their understanding of the concepts. One student wrote a beautiful story that she shared with the class, illustrating real-world examples of how we express ourselves through our feelings. 

PowerPoints 

We were fortunate to have the Year 4 students work with us on creating PowerPoint presentations about emotions. They guided the Year 2 students through the process of: 

• Creating and saving PowerPoint presentations 

• Adding pictures, videos, and voice recordings 

• Applying transitions to slides 

The Year 2 students then had the opportunity to share their presentations with the Year 1 students, showcasing their newly acquired skills. It was a fantastic opportunity for both groups to collaborate and learn from each other! 

New Unit of Inquiry Provocation 

Last week, we began a new unit of inquiry focused on the transdisciplinary theme "Who We Are." The central idea for this unit is: "A balanced lifestyle is influenced by the choices people make." 

To kick off the unit and engage the students, we went on a hike around the school, followed by exercises designed to elevate our heart rates. We then practiced a relaxing meditation to calm our minds. To finish off, we gathered on the decking to enjoy some fruit and engage in friendly conversations. The students had a great time, and the activities sparked their curiosity, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the unit.  

Maths 

Each week, Year 2 students have the opportunity to participate in small focus groups, designed to further enhance their understanding based on their individual needs. The data for these groups is gathered from Essential Assessment, allowing each student to work closely with their teacher at their specific level. 

This term, students have been using Mangahigh to support their learning in Place Value and Time-telling. They've been putting in a lot of effort to earn medals on the platform, which is achieved through multiple attempts—showing the value of repeated exposure and practice. 

Well done to the following Mangahigh Gold Medallists: 

2A – Lucas, Albie, Lincoln, Oliver, Louis, Olivia, Eloise, Xander, Will, Maisie and Abigail 

2B – Frankie, Liam, Noah, Izzy, Archie, and Xavier K 

2C – Henry, Charlie, Jasper, Mia, Xavier N, Finn, Logan and Ivy 

Literacy 

Each week, the Year 2 students engage in a variety of activities designed to support their spelling focus for the week. One activity that has become a favourite is the creation of Graffiti Walls using their chosen spelling words. The students have put tremendous effort into designing vibrant, fun Graffiti Walls, all while getting valuable practice with their spelling. This week, we took it a step further and created Whole Class Graffiti Walls to proudly display in the classroom. 

The students have been focusing on improving their fluency and expression during our weekly Choral Reading sessions. Each week, they are given a passage that includes their spelling words, which they first read together as a class. 

Afterward, they pair up and read the passage to each other three times, aiming to increase their fluency and expression with each reading. This also provides an opportunity for them to give and receive constructive feedback from their partner, fostering growth and collaboration. 

Colour Run