Year 2
Welcome to class 2 page. You will find information for each term and what the children will be learning. Updates will also be posted on our class dojo page.
If you have any questions please feel free to speak to the year 2 team.
Thank you,
Miss Reed, Mrs Hall, Mrs Whiting and Miss Cresswell
Autumn Term
Movers & Shakers
In the Movers and Shakers project, your child will learn five statements from Dawson's model that will help them identify people who are historically significant and use the words year, decade and century to describe dates and times. They will study the life and impact of a significant person in the locality and of 10 significant individuals from around the world. They will complete in-depth studies of significant explorers Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong, and significant activists Emmeline Pankhurst and Rosa Parks and think carefully about the impact of their actions. The children will also carry out an independent study of a significant person from the past and learn about people who are significant today. They will also learn how significant people are commemorated and design a memorial for a person they have studied.
Spring Term
Coastline
In the Coastline project, your child will use maps to learn about the location of the world’s seas and oceans and keys to learn about map symbols. They will also find out about the directions on a compass. They will learn about the human and physical features of a coastline, including the effects of erosion and how to stay safe when visiting the coast. They will have the opportunity to learn about the work of the RNLI, what happened to the SS Rohilla and about the coastal town of Whitby, including how Captain Cook is linked to the town. They will research the tourism industry and consider what features make a place a successful tourist destination.
Summer Term
Magnificent Monarchs
In the Magnificent Monarchs project, your child will learn about English and British monarchs from AD 871 to the present day and consider how the power of the monarchy has changed over time. They will study six significant sovereigns; Alfred the Great, William the Conqueror, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria and the current monarch, Elizabeth II.
In the autumn term our topic is “Movers and Shakers”.
This project teaches children about historically significant people who have had a major impact on the world. They will learn to use timelines, stories and historical sources to find out about the people featured and use historical models to explore their significance. It is a history based topic with other additional projects: can you make paper bridges? (DT), How do germs spread? (science), still life (art), remarkable recipes (DT), let’s explore the world (Geography), Habitats (Science), Human Survival (Science) and Mix it (art).
Novel study
The children will be reading the text Rosa Parks by Lisbeth Kaiser
PE
In school our PE days are Monday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon.
Homework
Homework will not be given out on a weekly basis but homework projects may be given out each term for the children to enjoy producing topic work in a creative way. Please refer to the newsletter for Autumn on this page to discover what the children will be learning this term if they have a keen interest and would like to do further research. Every week the children will be expected to practise spellings, read and practise their maths passport target. These can be recorded in their reading record books kept in their organisers so rewards can be given. Their reading book can be changed at any point in a morning coming into the classroom. Ideally, children should be listened to read every day. We ask that children read at least three times a week at home. Please write a comment in your child's reading diary if they have continued to practise their reading so there is a record of this. Please also refer to the online resources and logins provided for further homework resources.
SATS
Year 2 end of key stage assessments take place in May. The children will be practising skills in preparation for these end of year assessments throughout the year. Please use the pack provided from the SATS parents meeting.
Photos of class events, visits and successes will be shared through the Class Dojo app. Please make sure you check it regularly to see what is happening in your child’s class and use it as an opportunity to discuss with your child what they have been doing. Keep checking for home learning tasks too.
In the Spring term our topic is “Coastline”.
This term, we are diving into the topic ‘coastline’. In this project, your child will use maps to learn about the location of the world’s seas and oceans and keys to learn about map symbols. They will also find out about the directions on a compass. Children will learn about the human and physical features of a coastline, including the effects of erosion and how to stay safe when visiting the coast. They will have the opportunity to learn about the work of the RNLI and about the coastal town of Whitby. Children will research the tourism industry and consider what features make a place a successful tourist destination.
Religious Education
In RE we will be focussing on ‘Creation’ and the Christian belief that God created the universe. Children will also be exploring ‘salvation’, knowing that Easter is very important in the ‘big story’ of the Bible and that Christians believe Jesus rose again, giving people hope of a new life.
Mathematics
In mathematics, your child will use money to recognise and use the symbols for pounds and pence; combining amounts to make a particular value. They will solve simple problems in a practical context involving addition and subtraction of money of the same unit, including giving change.
Your child will calculate mathematical statements for multiplication and division within the multiplication tables and write them using the multiplication, division and equals signs. They will show how the multiplication of two numbers can be done in any order and that the division of one number by another cannot. They will learn to recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 5 and 10 multiplication tables, including recognising odd and even numbers.
Children will be learning to choose and use appropriate standard units to estimate and measure length/height in any direction (m/cm); mass (kg/g); temperature (°C); capacity (litres/ml) to the nearest appropriate unit using rulers, scales, thermometers and measuring vessels. They will then compare and order lengths, recording the results using >, < and =
Reading
Your child will be studying the text Katie Morag and the New Pier. A new pier is being built on the Isle of Struay. Most people think the pier is a good idea, but some people don’t want the pier to be built. People start to get the island ready for visitors but a storm causes problems. The ferryman comes to the rescue.
Literacy
In writing we will be focussing on
- Non-chronological report – Pirates
- Instructions – how to make a bird feeder
- Non-fiction – lyrical explanation
Art and Design
Your child will be delving into the visual elements of flowers, including shape, texture, colour, pattern, and form. They also explore various artistic methods, including drawing, printmaking, and 3-D forms, using paper and clay.
Design Technology
This term children will be learning about making and strengthening structures, including different ways of joining materials.
History
In History children will be comparing Whitby in both the past and present day. Children will learn to explain what it was like to live in a different period, including different jobs from the past.
Science
In science your child will learn the names of the different parts of a plant and how they grow as well as observing how the seasonal changes affect how plants grow. They will learn how new plants can grow from seeds and bulbs and what they need to germinate. They will use their observational skills to find out where plants like to grow and investigate what plants need to grow and stay healthy. Your child will then use their research skills to find out about some unusual plants.
Your child will also learn the names and uses of everyday materials. They will find that materials can be shaped in different ways to make them more useful. They will test how different materials can be shaped and whether they will return to their original shape. Children will learn that the properties of materials mean they can be used in different ways and that objects are made from materials that have suitable properties for their purpose. They will find that objects can be made from one material or more than one material and that the same object can be made from different materials with similar properties. Your child will label objects with their materials and think about their properties and uses. They will learn about paper and test the properties of different paper types. They will also find out about recycling and sustainability.
PSHE
In PSHE we will be focussing on dreams and goals and the steps needed to achieve these.
- Goals to Success
- My Learning Strengths
- Learning with Others
- Celebrating Our Achievement
Children will also be focusing on ‘Healthy Me’, focussing on the following
- Being Healthy
- Being Relaxed
- Medicine Safety
- Healthy Eating
Physical Education
PE days will continue to be on Monday and Wednesday afternoon. Please ensure your child arrives in their PE kit on those days.
In Summer term our topic is “Magnificent Monarchs”
In this project, your child will learn about English and British monarchs from AD 871 to the present day and consider how the power of the monarchy has changed over time. They will study six significant sovereigns: Alfred the Great, William the Conqueror, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria and Elizabeth II. Finally, they will choose which of the sovereigns that they have studied is the most significant.
Religious Education
In RE will be exploring the religions of both Islam and Judaism. Children will learn about a special book in each religion as well as their beliefs, places of worship and important figures.
Mathematics
In mathematics, your child will build on prior learning and revisit halves and quarters. Your child will begin to think about thirds and the equivalence of two quarters and one half. They will learn to use fraction notation and discover the role of the numerator and denominator. Your child will learn how to complete fraction sentences as they find fractions of quantities. They will also discover patterns as they investigate counting in fractions.
Towards the end of this term your child will begin to develop the concept of statistics in the form of tables, tally charts, pictograms and block diagrams. Children will learn to use tally charts as a systematic method of recording data as a running total for an unknown quantity. They will learn to use tally charts and tables to produce pictograms and block diagrams from data they have collected as well as data which is given. Children use their knowledge of one-to-one correspondence to help them interpret the data presented and sort categories by quantity. They will use their knowledge of the two, five and ten times tables to draw and interpret pictograms.
Reading
Your child will be studying the text Queen Victoria’s Bathing Machine. Queen Victoria wishes to swim in the sea but cannot allow her subjects to see her getting into the water wearing only her swimming suit. Fortunately, her loving husband called Prince Albert comes to her rescue. He invents a bathing machine that is perfect for his queen.
Writing
In writing we will be focussing on:
Narrative - The Building boy
Recount – Yorkshire Wildlife Park
Narrative – The Marvellous Fluffy Squishy Itty Bitty
Art and Design
Your child will be learning all about portraiture. They will analyse the portraits of Tudor
monarchs and compare Tudor portraits and selfies today. They use photo editing software to create royal portraits.
Design Technology
This term children will be learning learning about fabric home products and the significant British brand Cath Kidston. They will learn about sewing patterns and using a running stitch and embellishments before making a sewn bag tag.
Science
In science your child will learn all about growth in animals by exploring the life cycles of some familiar animals. They will build on learning about the survival of humans by identifying the basic needs of animals for survival, including food, water, air and shelter. As part of our learning we will be visiting Yorkshire Wildlife Park!
PSHE
In PSHE we will be focussing on Relationships. Children will explore different relationships and how they can stay safe.
Families. Children will also be learning all about how their bodies change over time.
Physical Education
PE days will continue to be on Monday and Wednesday afternoon. Please ensure your child arrives in their PE kit on those days.