Year 2 Music - Dynamics Performance
In this exciting music lesson, Year 2 pupils explore how changing volume—known in music as dynamics—can bring their compositions to life. Working in small groups, the children develop their own 'call and response' percussion patterns, experimenting with contrasting loud and quiet sounds to make their performances as expressive as possible. They conclude the session by performing their pieces for their classmates and sharing helpful, constructive feedback.
Year 2 Science - Guess the Lifecycle Stage!
In this lively Year 2 science lesson, the children explored life cycles through hands-on activities and play. After putting various animal life cycles into the correct order, they moved on to studying the human life cycle. Taking turns, partners picked a stage of human life and acted it out using a list of suggested actions, while their partner tried to guess which stage they were portraying. It was a fantastic, fun-filled activity that the children thoroughly enjoyed!
Year 2 Science: Designing our Balanced Diet Shopping Bags
Healthy Eating Superstars in Year 2! This week, Year 2 became nutrition experts in Science as we explored what it means to eat a balanced diet. The children learned all about the five different food groups and explored our balance plate diagram to see how much of each group we need to stay healthy and strong. They quickly spotted that fruit, vegetables, and carbohydrates make up the biggest parts of a healthy diet, while oils and spreads take up the smallest slice! Putting their learning into action, the children then designed their very own healthy shopping bags, filling them with wonderful drawings of nutritious foods to buy for a balanced meal. Well done, Year 2!
Governor Vacancies
Could you help shape the future of Darwen St James? Darwen St James Church of England Primary Academy is looking for enthusiastic, dedicated individuals to join the team as Parent Governors and Foundation Governors. You do not need to be an education expert or have special qualifications. Your everyday experience, community insight, and care for the children are what matter most. What does a Governor do? Set direction: Help shape priorities and support the academy vision. Support and challenge: Ask constructive questions and act as a critical friend. Keep children at the heart: Oversee safeguarding, education, wellbeing, and resources. Bring a wider perspective: Use your skills, experience, and community insight to help the school thrive. Which role suits you? Parent Governor: Open to current parents and carers, giving families a direct voice in the school. Foundation Governor: Focuses on supporting and championing the school's Christian vision and ethos. Is it for you? If you care about the success and wellbeing of children, can listen and work as part of a team, and can commit a little time to attend meetings, complete training, and visit the school, we would love to hear from you. How to get involved Interested? Start with an informal conversation to learn more without any obligation. Telephone: 01254 703260 Email: [email protected] Address: St James Crescent, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0EY You can also scan the QR code on the poster for further governance information. Get in touch today to help make a positive difference.
Year 2 Maths - Working Together to Find Fact Families
Hands-on Maths: Unpicking Fact Families in Year 2 Our Year 2 mathematicians were put to the test this week during an active, hands-on maths lesson on fact families! The children were given a collection of completely muddled-up number sentences. Channeling their key knowledge of addition, subtraction, and number bonds, they set straight to work finding 3 friends with a matching number, but different calculation sentences. Once the number sentences were paired up, pupils matched each family to its corresponding part-whole model before building the numbers using physical Base 10 equipment. It was fantastic to see such great enthusiasm and teamwork throughout the room, with everyone mastering how numbers relate to one another—confident in the knowledge that if 6 + 4 = 10, then 4 + 6 = 10, 10 - 4 = 6, and 10 - 6 = 4!
Year 2 PSHE - Helping our Friends Feel Happy Roleplays
Spotting the Clues: Year 2 Turn Feelings Detectives Our Year 2 pupils put on their magnifying glasses this week for an engaging PSHE lesson all about understanding emotions! As "feelings detectives," the children investigated how to read the clues around them—looking closely at facial expressions, body language, and the words people use to work out how someone might be feeling. They then explored three brilliant ways to lend a helping hand whenever a friend is feeling down: offering kind words, finding a grown-up to help, or inviting them to play. Putting their skills into practice, pupils paired up to perform role-plays, taking turns to act out being upset while their partner stepped in with a compassionate solution. It was wonderful to see so much empathy, active listening, and kindness on display across the classroom!
Year 2 Maths - Counting in 10's on a Number Line
Year 2’s Human Number Line! Our Year 2 mathematicians took their learning to another level this week: building an interactive human number line! Starting with multiples of 10 up to 100, the children worked together to line up in the correct order. Things got extra exciting when they had to reorder themselves using different starting points. They quickly discovered that even if a number line doesn't start at zero, the pattern stays the same! Whether starting at 0, 30, or 60, the children proved that counting in 10s follows the exact same sequence—so the number 40 always comes right after 30. It was a fantastic, hands-on lesson full of teamwork and big lightbulb moments!
Year 2 Art - Artists are Explorers and Collectors
Artists are Explorers and Collectors! Our Year 2 artists took their learning outdoors this week to discover how nature can be transformed into art. Inspired by artists who collect natural materials, the children explored our school grounds to gather a wonderful variety of leaves, twigs, pebbles, vibrant flowers, and berries. Working with fantastic focus, they carefully considered shape, colour, and texture to design their own temporary masterpieces. The children worked so hard on their compositions, experimenting with patterns and arrangements to bring their natural treasures to life. Take a look at the photos below to admire some of their incredible, creative artwork!
Year 2 Maths: Creating pictograms from data
Our brilliant Year 2 students have been turning into data detectives this week in maths! The children took charge of their own learning by surveying their classmates on some very important topics... Like favourite ice cream flavours and favourite sports. They did a fantastic job collecting the data using tally charts, and then beautifully presented their findings using pictograms! We are so proud of their amazing teamwork. Future data scientists in the making!
Year 2 D&T: Final product and testing
Our Year 2 designers have officially completed their Design & Technology project: creating chairs for our classroom bears! After weeks of planning, measuring, and building, today was the ultimate test. The children placed the exact bears they designed the chairs for onto their final structures to see if they were strong, stable, and most importantly, comfortable!
Changes to Free School Meals
REMINDER 🚨 IMPORTANT: Free School Meals Rules are Changing! 🚨Please read this update carefully, as all current Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility under the old rules will end on August 31st. To ensure your child continues to receive free school meals at the start of the new term in September, everyone needs to reapply. Old protections are ending, which means if you do not reapply and get verified, your child’s free meals will stop. 🌟 The Big Change: Expanded Eligibility for Universal Credit There is great news for many families. Starting this September, the government has expanded eligibility. The old earnings threshold is gone. * If you are in receipt of Universal Credit at any level (regardless of how much you earn), your child is now entitled to free school meals. This change means hundreds of thousands of additional children who missed out before will now qualify. 💻 The Application Portal is LIVE NOW! Do not wait until September. The portal is open right now, and applying early ensures everything is set up before the first day of school. Who needs to apply? Every family wanting free school meals from September—including those currently receiving them and those who are newly eligible under Universal Credit. How to apply: https://www.blackburn.gov.uk/schools-and-education/school-and-pupil-support/free-school-meals Take action today so your child doesn't miss out on a single meal! If you have any questions or need help with the online form, please contact the school office.
Get ready to Read to the Beat at Blackburn with Darwen Libraries this summer.
Get ready to Read to the Beat at Blackburn with Darwen Libraries this summer. Blackburn with Darwen Libraries annual Summer Reading Challenge for children age 4 – 12 years gets underway from 1st July, with children encouraged to read and rate six library books before 30th September, collecting stickers and prizes along the way. Audio books, eBooks and eAudio (on our BorrowBox app) can all count towards the final total, and this year children can mix and match with a range of reading related challenges too. Enrolment is completely FREE of charge, so don’t delay! Visit your nearest Blackburn with Darwen Library from 1st July onwards and get your Read to the Beat challenge started. Read to the Beat is a partnership between local libraries, The Reading Agency and Universal Music Group.
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