As a precursor to Active Schools Week the children made the most of their first Sports’ Day since Junior Infants – the class enjoyed playing games together and snacking before our races, great fun was had by all!

Second class thoroughly enjoyed Active Schools Week with yoga and playball being favourites. In class we tried to incorporate sporting and active activities as much as possible. In English the children created games in groups that involved a hoop/beanbag or no equipment, they then wrote the procedure for how to play the game.  The children then demonstrated how to play the games using bossy, clear language and the rest of the class got the opportunity to play their game!  We completed an orienteering activity around the 3^rd and 4^th class yard which was excellent as the children really had to explore teamwork strategies.

As Gaeilge we focused on active Caitheamh Aimsire – ag dreapadh, ag imirt peile, ag sleamhnú, ag luascadh etc. It was a fantastic week!

Ms. Dolan’s second class attended a “Gallery in the classroom” workshop on zoom that was hosted by the National Gallery of Ireland.  Our tour guide was called Elaine and she guided us through the entrance of the Gallery as well as showing us 5 different pieces of art:

• Caravaggio, The Taking of Christ, 1602
• Berthe Morisot, Le Corsage Noir, 1878
• Mainie Jellett, A Composition, 1930s
• Jack B. Yeats, The Liffey Swim, 1923
• Saoirse Wall, Gesture 2, 2014

The children responded to the art – discussing what they liked/didn’t like about the pictures.  Elaine told the children some history about each painting and showed its location in the gallery!  It was a wonderful workshop – the children and adults in the room couldn’t wait to visit the gallery in real life soon!

On World Book Day we all dressed up as our favourite book characters and read our books out to our class pals.

We explored the character of Willy in Anthony Browne’s book “Willy the Wimp”.  Willy changes from the beginning of the book to the end!  We discussed adjectives to describe Willy at the beginning and at the end of the story, and then the children wrote a paragraph describing him.  They also added in a picture.

Art was inspired by our work on Polar Explorers.  We looked artwork by Ted Harrison and the children discussed the colours that he used.  Some children chose to draw other polar animals such as an Arctic Fox or penguins!

We also looked at the book “Lines and Scribbles” by Debora Vogrig.  Children created artwork inspired by the book – adding in a colour of their choice!

During Science Week we enjoyed thinking creatively and scientifically!

Second class completed a STEM activity, they predicted what they were going to do with 20 paper ear buds, 10 cubes, some sweets & erasers, and either blue tac or sellotape.  I then asked the children to create Bone Bridge that could hold the sweet & erasers!

We also took part in activities to develop our Maths Eyes, where we took pictures of things in the classroom with our Maths Eyes.  Asking questions and answering each others questions!

We also had some show and tell activities as well as some organic chats by the class library!

In S.E.S.E we looked at Lighthouses!  We looked at the different parts of the lighthouse as well as locating some on a map in Ireland.

We then read the book ‘Hello Lighthouse’ by Sophie Blackall!  We then discussed a Day in the Life of a Lighthouse Keeper.  The children wrote a recount as the keeper!

We also used the book to discuss adjectives!  We developed nouns, adjectives and “-ing” words to do with the sea and we created Sea Poems.

During Art the children created two backgrounds, one for the back of their poem and the other for their lighthouse!  Thankfully we had Mrs. Power to help us with the painting :)!

Second Class have been exploring the Mé Féin theme throughout September.  We finished off all our great work – by creating “Mo theach” with all our information!

After reading The Dot Second Class created Freeze Frames based on the phrase “You can do it!”.  The children froze after 3 and then the rest of the children discussed what they were doing.  Their scenarios included teaching others to look after nature, teachers encouraging children in class, encouraging others when running in a race and supporting a fellow worker on the building site!

Second Class had a wonderful trip to Airfield.  We had lots of fun learning about different animals and how they contribute to the farm.  We also learnt about the flowers and crops that are grown in Airfield.  We went on a frog search and even caught some in jars!  Finally we had lots of fun playing the the playground.

We all had a fantastic day!

Second class had a very exciting visitor at school today.  Jack Flash, the magician, came in as a special treat!  He did some really cool magic tricks and some very impressive stunts and even had Mr Edgar performing a trick!

Sports day was a little bit different in second class this year!  We had lots of fun trying different sports.  We did orienteering, relay races, obstacle courses and circuits.  We also had an ice cream to cool us down at the end of the day!

On a lovely sunny day last Tuesday we tried to line up as the Irish flag with the colours in order, but we had a lot more green than white and orange!!

In Second Class we made slime to celebrate Science Week 2020.  We mixed together pva glue, contact lens solution and baking powder to make the slime.  We had so much fun making it!

Second Class had a fantastic trip to Olympian Gymnastics Club in Tallaght.  We had loads of fun learning new skills and practised walking on the beam and using the bars.

Second class made some spooky slime during a science lesson to celebrate Hallowe’en.  We had loads of fun mixing together pva glue, baking powder and contact lense solution to make it.  Happy Hallowe’en from Ms Gallagher’s Second Class!

Second class had a wonderful trip to Greenan Farm in Wicklow.  We had loads of fun playing games with wheelbarrows and learnt about the history of the farm.  We saw loads of farm animals and even got to feed a few of them too.  The best part was all the fun we had in the maze, which was very tricky to find our way out!

Second class went on a school tip to Olympian Gymnastics’ brand new location last week.  We had loads of fun learning new skills like cartwheels, handstands and scorpion kicks.  We also had an amazing bouncy castle at the end.

We love to be active in 2nd Class!!