Year 2 2025-2026
Welcome to the Year 2 Page! This page will help explain some of the awesome learning taking place in our year group!
The Journey Home
What a surprise to find a scroll in each Year 2 classroom on Tuesday morning containing feathers, animal footprints, a world map and a worrying message saying, “Please help us, we are in danger.” Sat with the scroll was the book The Journey Home, but before reading it we came up with lots of ideas about why some animals might be in danger.
After reading the book, we discovered that lots of animals around the world are in danger due to global warming, deforestation and poaching. To spread the message about conservation, we decided that we would retell The Journey Home (obviously making it even better by adding lots of interesting vocabulary!) and create a fact file each week about a different animal. We have been focusing on the polar bear this week but cannot wait to discover more about the African elephant next week.
Watch out - Dibden Purlieu now has 90 new passionate conservationists ready to help these endangered animals in whatever way they can!
Gymnastics festival
Earlier this week, six Year Two children had the wonderful opportunity to attend a gymnastics event at Noadswood School. They were extremely lucky to use the fantastic facilities and work with experienced coaches from Waterside Gymnastics Club.
The children rotated around eleven stations, practising a variety of gymnastics skills. They upheld our school values beautifully and showed fantastic sportsmanship towards one another throughout the event.
We are so proud of them!
Year 2 have been busy, busy, busy!
We began by learning why we actually have carol concerts - after all, it’s a bit pointless to attend one without knowing why you’re there! Since candles emit light (and Mrs Kempsey’s 90 candles are going to emit a lot of it!), we explored the classroom to see what else gives off light. We found lots of things!
Next, we spent time learning about what a lantern is and created our very own design criteria. Then we got creative and designed multiple lantern ideas — we’ll be choosing our favourite one next week!
We also explored different materials to help us think about what our lanterns could be made from.
It’s been a wonderfully busy and exciting week in Year 2!
Year 2 are here to save the day!
Oh no - Mrs Kempsey has a problem!
Mr Bowie asked her to order lanterns for the Carols by Candlelight assembly, but she accidentally ordered ninety electric tealight candles instead… oops! And to make matters worse, even if she ordered the lanterns now, they wouldn’t arrive in time.
But don’t worry - Year Two are here to save the day!
Over the next few weeks, they’ll be designing and creating their very own lanterns to hold one of Mrs Kempsey’s candles, which they will carry into the Carols by Candlelight assembly to make it look lovely and twinkly!
Shh… don’t tell Mr Bowie!
Year 2 Become Poets
Our Year 2 children have transformed into talented poets, writing incredible poems about the different stages of the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
They explored the thoughts and feelings of the passengers, imagined what the different senses might be experiencing and some even challenged themselves further by using similes to bring their writing to life.
We’re so proud of their creativity and thoughtful reflections!
Year 2 visit SeaCity Museum
Our Year 2's had a fantastic trip to the SeaCity Musuem in Southampton!
The children continued their learning about the Titanic, exploring the lives of significant people aboard, the differences between the class systems, and the key events that led to the ships sinking.
Our wonderful guides, Immie, Bea and Becky shared so many fascinating facts and stories that truly brought our learning to life.
The year 2's came away from the museum buzzing with knowledge and excitement!
Iceberg Ahoy!
This week, a mysterious box arrived at school filled with fascinating artefacts! After carefully exploring (and even trying on a few items!), we discovered they were linked to the RMS Titanic and the era in which it sailed.
We’ve spent the week learning all about the significant people aboard the Titanic and have created our own wonderful, informative fact files.
These will soon be showcased in Orchard’s very own Titanic Museum — opening in just a few weeks! We can’t wait to share our learning with everyone.
Fighting Fit!
In their third week of the Fighting Fit project, Year 2 have been hard at work after Mrs Kemp set them a special challenge: to design their very own fitness circuits to help the Crump family get fit and healthy!
The children first explored a circuit set up by their teacher to understand how it works. Then, with lots of enthusiasm and creativity, they got busy designing and testing their very own circuits.
We were so impressed with their ideas that we just had to share them! In a couple of weeks, our grown-ups will be invited to join us for a special Fighting Fit Workshop, where Year 2 will showcase their brilliant circuits.
Don’t worry grown-ups, the children have also been busy writing clear and detailed command sentences, so you’ll know exactly what to do!
Welcome back to school Year 2!
What a wonderful start to the new school year!
