Year 2 2023 - 2024

We would like to welcome everyone back to year 2 and we hope you have had a lovely summer break.

Meet the Year 2 team:

2G - Mrs Graham and Miss Norman

2FM - Mrs Moody (Monday), Miss Fitzsimons (Tuesday-Friday) Mrs Snaylam and Mrs Hodges

 Things to Remember

• Please ensure all items, but especially coats and jumpers are clearly labelled with the child’s name.
• We aim to go outside often so please can you ensure your child brings a waterproof coat each day to school - one can be left on their peg if you prefer.
• Children need to bring their water bottle in every day.
• For this term on a Tuesday and Thursday your child needs to come to school in full PE kit. Thursday will be our outdoor PE session.
• Children will bring a reading book home every Monday and Thursday and this needs to be returned each Monday and Thursday with their reading diary.

Here is an overview of our curriculum for this Autumn term.

Come and See

Family: Beginnings- In this topic we will be exploring how every beginning is an opportunity for a new start. We will think about the many beginnings each new day offers. We will look at how God is present in every beginning. In our lessons we will read ‘The  story of Creation’ and how God made the world. We will also learn about the importance of starting each morning with  prayer.

Belonging: Signs and Symbols- In this topic we will talk about signs and symbols and how a sign tells us something we need to know and how a symbol means something really important. Children will recognise signs and symbols used in baptism and use some of the religious words and phrases used in the Sacrament of baptism.

Loving: Preparing- In this topic we will be looking at the preparations most families make for Christmas. Children will learn about the preparations made by Christians during Advent. They will look at the preparations made at home, in school and in the parish. Children will listen to and reflect upon the Christmas story.

Judaism: Shabbat- We will look at how family and community are very important within Jewish life. Children will learn that the most important day of the week is Shabbat (the Sabbath). We will look at the rules about the Shabbat and how it is a time for prayer, study of the Torah and rest.

English & Phonics

In Autumn 1 the children will be exploring two texts ‘The Hueys in the New Jumper’ and ‘What We’ll Build’ both by Oliver Jeffers. 

In Autumn 2 the children will be exploring two texts 'The Dragon Machine' and 'The Tin Forest' both by Helen Ward.    

Some of the children will be following the Read Write Inc programme and will still receive two books a week. Please remember that we recommend that the children read the books several times to build confidence and fluency. One will be a familiar text that they have looked at in class, (this will also be available to read via the Oxford Owl Website) and one will be an unfamiliar read that is linked to the sounds and tricky (red) words learnt that week.

Spellings

We will begin to send spellings home this term, also known as ‘red’ words that will be differentiated according to their reading level. The spellings will be assessed in their writing during the week. The spellings will also be sent home on a Thursday alongside their reading book. These ‘red’ words are non-decodable, so they will have to learn how to spell them.

Handwriting

Please encourage your child to practise their handwriting at home. The links below model how to write their letters on the line and with horizontal and diagonal lines.  

Handwriting stage 1a/1b

rwi_RPhO_HW_1a.pdf (oxfordowl.co.uk)

rwi_RPhO_HW_1b.pdf (oxfordowl.co.uk)

Handwriting Stage 2

rwi_RPhO_HW_2.pdf (oxfordowl.co.uk)

rwi_RPhO_HW_3.pdf (oxfordowl.co.uk)

Capital Letters

rwi_RPhO_Capitals_chart.pdf (oxfordowl.co.uk)

Maths

In Maths, the children will be focussing on recognising the place value of each digit in a two-digit number and to be able to compose and decompose two-digit numbers using standard partitioning.  They will learn to compare and order numbers from 0 up to 100; use <, > and = signs. They will read and write numbers to at least 100 in numerals and in words. The children will also focus on addition and subtraction. The children will recall and use addition and subtraction facts to 20 fluently and derive and use related facts up to 100. They will secure fluency in addition and subtraction facts within 10, through continued practice. We will also start to add and subtract across 10. They will be looking at money and the children will use the symbols for pounds and pence and think about different coins we can use to make a particular value. Later in the Autumn term we will be solving problems that involve addition and subtraction. The children will also start to recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 5 and 10 times tables.

Science

In Autumn 1 we will be looking at Animals including humans. The children will learn that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults. They will find out about and describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival (water, food and air). We also look at the importance of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food, and hygiene.

In Autumn 2 we will be looking at the use of everyday materials. The children will identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses. We will also find out how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching.

Geography

In Autumn 1 we will be focusing on Geography.  In fieldwork we will be learning about the local area, and name and locate key landmarks. We will learn to recognise a natural environment and describe it using key vocabulary. Make observations about, and describe, the local area and its physical and human geography. The children will follow a route on a map and use simple compass directions (North, South, East, West).

History

In Autumn 2 we wll be focusing on History. In this unit we will be focusing on local history and we will be studying the history of Little Crosby. We will look at maps and photographs to identify significant building s in Little Crosby and what they were used for in the past. During this unit we will visit Little Crosby and we will make sketches of the Blacksmith/ Ned Howard’s cottage, the Well& Cross.

You, Me, Everyone

In Autumn 1 we will be focusing on our No Outsiders books. We will look at the following three books and themes.

The Great Big Book of Families by Mary Hoffman- To understand what diversity is.

Just Because by Rebecca Elliot- I know that some bodies work in different ways.

What the Jackdaw Saw by Julia Donaldson- There are different ways to communicate.

In Autumn 2 we will cover a unit from 'Life to the Full'. We will look at how we are created by God out of love for love.  We will also look at democracy and the importance
of rules. Children will also follow the learning in 'Journey in Love'. They will recognise the joy and friendship of belonging to a diverse community. Before Bonfire Night we will look at the importance of firework safety.

P.E

In PE this term the children are focusing on fundamental movement skills, target games, and gymnastics. Our indoor PE session will be on a Tuesday and our outdoor session will be on a Thursday.

Art - Drawing

In Autumn 1 we will be developing our drawing skills by looking at silhouettes of animals and patterns on animals. The children will produce their own silhouette of an animal and be able to draw their animal’s pattern.

DT - Structures

In Autumn 2 we will be developing our design skills to make a zoo enclosure. The children will design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria. Children will evaluate their final structures and look at how they could improve their design.

Computing 

In Autumn 1 we will be looking at IT around us. We will look at how IT is being used for good in our lives and how IT benefits society. We will learn about the responsible use of technology and how to make smart choices while using it.

Music

In Autumn 2 we will be looking at creating rhythms and organising them in a particular structure. We wil look at identify the structure of a piece of music and describe the musical texture as being thick or thin. The children will look at ways of writing down different textural layers and will compose their own piece of music with different layers.

Wellbeing Fridays

The children will be taking part in a variety of activities for a session on Friday afternoons. The activities vary from sport, to arts and crafts and singing. 

Homework

Daily Reading – It’s important that you read every night for at least 10 minutes.

Children will bring home their book bags with a reading for pleasure book on a Monday and this should be returned on a Thursday.  This is a book that could be read to your child at bedtime or something they could share with you by telling you the story through the pictures.

Book bags will also go home on a Thursday with 2 phonics books or a reading scheme book.  These should be returned no later than the following Monday. The books will be matched to your child’s reading level and will help them consolidate the sounds and tricky (red) words learnt that week.  It will help your child to read these books more than once to help improve reading speed and expression.

*Please can you sign your child’s reading record to show they have read when book bags are returned on a Monday*

Spellings - The children will have five spellings from their own reading level. Spellings will be tested during the week. The children will be expected to apply these spellings in a sentence. We will no longer set a test; instead they will be assessed during the week in their written work.

Other Homework - Occasional projects linked to topic work will be set throughout the year. Maths activities to go home when relevant and to support learning.

If you need to speak with your child's teacher, please approach us on the playground and we can arrange a time. We would ask that you kindly wait until we have seen all the children safely to their parent or carer before speaking to your teacher and we will be happy to chat. Alternatively, you may wish to ring the school office to arrange an appointment.

We look forward to working with you all this year. Please contact any member of the Year 2 team if you require any further information.

Mrs Graham, Miss Fitzsimons, Mrs Moody, Miss Norman, Mrs Snaylam & Mrs Hodges