Year 2 Mainstream
Celebrating Learning
CERES excursion by August
On Wednesday 14th May, we went to CERES with 2A, 2B and 2S. First, we caught a tram then we walked the rest of the way, and we were there. Our first activity was fishing so we got a net and put the net in the water and tried to catch animals.
The next activity was the habitat scavenger hunt. First, we got a picture of an animal, and we had to sort them into their habitat then we got a whiteboard to find bugs in trees or bushes. Our next activity was playing in the park, then we made seed bombs.
CERES excursion by Bonnie
On 14th May 2025, 2A, 2B and 2S went to CERES. First, we walked to the tram stop and got on the tram. We got off at Arthurton Rd and walked the rest of the way. We got some food from out lunchboxes then we did our first activity. It was so fun. After that we got some more food. We had a play and did the next activity. When it got to lunch, we played on the playground. It was so fun. We did the last activity and went back to school.
CERES excursion by Kitty
On Wednesday 14th May 2025, 2A, 2B and 2S went to CERES! We did lots of activities like making seed bombs, habitat scavenger hunt and wetlands observations. It was a lot of fun! Also, we went on the big millipede till it was shaking. Did I mention we all went on public tram? We waved at some cars. We did a lot of walking. We had to go. I was really sad to leave. We returned at 2:45pm.
CERES excursion by Eve
2A, 2B and 2S went to CERES. To get there, we got a public tram. My partner was Bonnie but we swapped when we were on the path to CERES. We walked some more. Finally, we got to where we were meant to be. We sat down and had out fruit snack. Then we had our first activity. It was fun. We went back for recess eating time. We went down to the wetlands. We were fishing for bugs. My group was Martha, Hazel, Casper and Lenny.
2A, 2B and 2S excursion by Navy
On Wednesday 14th May, 2A, 2B and 2S went on an excursion to CERES! At 9:15am 2A, 2B and 2S came to their line up spot and sat down. 2A were split into different classes. I was in Lucy and Matt’s group. All of my best friends were in Steph’s.
We walked out of school and got on the tram. We waited three stops and then we got off and waved at the cars, then we started walking. It was a long walk but we got there and had fruit snack. We put fruit scraps in the compost bins and talked about the bins.
We started doing activities like making seed bombs, habitat scavenger hunt, wetland observations and we played at the park. I was on top of the millipede. I saw my mum on her bike and she was waving and yelling “Navy, Navy, Navy” and I waved back. About a minute later, I saw her sticking her head around the fence saying Navy. She waved and I waved back. She got on her bike and rode back home. Matt took a photo of all of us and then we walked back. It was great.
From the Teachers:
What we have been up to:
The year 2s have been embarking further into our integrated unit of ‘Living Things - Caring For Country’ by exploring living things in gardening, learning about animals and their characteristics in writing and collecting information on the natural world in maths. Our excursion to the Ceres gave us some great insights into the Merri Creek Wetlands and the important relationships in the wetland ecosystem between plants and animals. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed having some of you along with us. Thanks for your support. It is much appreciated. A special thanks to Jo, Clarissa, Lucy and Maria for volunteering on the day.
Ceres quotes:
‘It was the best. I loved the activities. I think my favourite was fishing and looking for little critters in the wetland water. I love bugs and I love water.’ Hazel
‘I loved the activities too, but my favourite was matching the animal to its habitat because it was really interesting. We really had to think about it to find the right answer.’ Florence
‘I loved going on the tram because I love playing the game where you put your hand on the window and jump over every car that passes by’ - Lenny
‘I loved the fishing activity because it makes me think of Dad taking me fishing in the holidays’ - Djamalan
‘I loved making the seed balls! We first flattened the clay into the shape of a pancake, then we added potting mix to make it a pizza. Then we added the seed and folded it like a taco. We pinched the edges to make a dumpling, and finally we rolled it into a meatball.’ - Lilla
Maths:
We have been focusing on mental strategies for addition and subtraction including the 10s facts, doubles, related facts and using place value. These strategies will assist in the mental computation of larger numbers. Basic fact recall is practised through our weekly 'fast facts fluency' practise, and you may find a sheet coming home unfinished, which you could encourage your child to complete. Playing addition or subtraction snap or having a dice battle can promote this quick recall too. The integrated topic, ‘Living Things - Caring For Country’ has been a wonderful source of data collection inspiration. Students have spent time collecting and organising living, non-living and once living things. They have organised collections of objects from the Natural World, and they have plotted the lifespan of animals on a number line and compared the years.
Literacy:
Students have continued to develop their knowledge in phonics through long vowel sounds, including ai (snail trail), ay (play all day), or (sports shorts) and aw (Mr Shaw). In writing, we have gathered information about native Australian animals, taking notes then sorting the notes into similar topics and ideas. Students drafted an information report by grouping similar ideas together into sentences. Students will select one draft information report to publish over the next few weeks.
What’s to come in the next two weeks:
For our integrated topic we will look more closely at the connection between living things and their environments. We will discuss the link between plants and animals, and the Country where they live.
Students will continue looking at the efficient mental strategies for addition and subtraction and apply these to larger numbers. We will continue to develop ways to use number lines to solve comparison problems between different animals and we will explore making and interpreting graphs using data from our Ceres excursion.
Reading groups continue to review consonant digraphs and trigraphs and investigate stage 7 long vowel sounds. We will also explore information reports about animals in writing.
To reinforce their learning, students could be practising reading at home with their take home readers. Students who are reading other books should also be encouraged to record this reading in their reading diary.