Information about learning in Year 2

The Home/School Partnership Curriculum Newsletter Spring Term 3 2014

Near and Far!

This term we will be continuing with our Learning Theme ‘Near

and Far’ where we will be focusing on learning about

Antarctica. We will be developing our research skills by finding out

about life in cold countries and how animals and people adapt to

living in extreme conditions.

For the marvellous middle of our learning theme, we started off the

term with a fantastic frozen day! We had lots of fun making our

own snow, designing snow flakes and creating snowy scenes.

Marvellous

Middle!

Art

Do you know any famous artists?

During this term Year 2 will be at famous

artists from around the world. This will

include recreating famous paintings using

a range of tools and techniques.

Near and Far!

Geography

Would you like to live in a cold country?

As part of our geography learning, Year 2 will be locating the world’s seven continents and five

oceans. In relation to this we will identify seasonal and daily weather patterns in the United

Kingdom and the location of hot and cold areas of the world in relation to

the Equator and the North and South Poles.

We will be studying the human and physical geography of where we live, comparing the similarities and differences to Antarctica.

Science

How do animals adapt to different climates?

Throughout the term we will be learning

about how animals live in other countries

through adaptation. This will include looking

at animals in hot and cold countries. We will

be finding out about and describing the basic

needs of animals, for survival.

English

Would you like to visit the land of the Bumbley Boo?

As part of our English learning year 2 will be looking at how people live in cold countries.

They will be creating a fact sheet for someone their age to inform others about life in

Antarctica.

We are also learning about poetry. We will be reading lots of Spike Milligan poems, focusing

particularly on two poems, The Ning Nang Nong and The land of the Bumbley Boo. We will

look at the features of a poem including rhyme and alliteration and using them to create our

own nonsense poems.

Subjects linked to the theme...

PSHE

PSHE in year 2 this term will look closely at

comparing our lives to children around the

world.

Maths Learning

This term we will be looking to “master” maths in the following areas:

Money-

recognise and use symbols for pounds (£) and pence (p); combine amounts to make a

particular value

find different combinations of coins that equal the same amounts of money

solve simple problems in a practical context involving addition and subtraction of money of the same unit, including giving change

Measures-

choose and use appropriate standard units to estimate and measure length/height in any direction (m/cm) to the nearest appropriate unit, using rulers and scales

compare and order length and record the results using >, < and = Exploring calculation strategies:

recall and use addition and subtraction facts to 20 fluently, and derive and use related facts up to 100

show that addition of two numbers can be done in any order (commutative) and subtraction of one number from another cannot

add and subtract numbers using concrete objects, pictorial representations, and mentally, including: a two-digit number and ones; a two-digit number and tens; two two-digit numbers; adding three one-digit numbers applying their increasing knowledge of written strategies.

PE

Indoor - Multi-skills.

This term we will be focused on throwing, catching, aiming, rolling and balance skills. Each lesson will have a focussed skill while also developing enhancing core skills. These skills will be applied and practised in some competitive and non-competitive situations.

Outdoor - Benchball.

A new sport for Key Stage 1 this year, Benchball is a great sport to develop throwing and catching skills. Children will learn three passes; chest pass, bounce pass and shoulder pass. Basic pivoting techniques will be taught along with learning how to play as part of a team.

Year 2MH will have PE lessons on Mondays and Wednesdays with Mr Long.

Year 2MD will have PE lessons on Wednesday and Thursdays.

Reading

In Year 2, the children will continue to read different texts in a guided reading session.

Throughout this term we will focus on recalling some specific, straightforward

information from both fiction and non-fiction texts. Children will have a clear idea

of where to look for information.

In the back of your home school log there are several reading bug challenges for

you to complete! We look forward to seeing these completed and celebrating how many bug

points your child has gained over the term! Happy reading!

Music

In Year 2, the children will be

looking at the musical concepts

of pulse and rhythm. They will

also be creating various

compositions using different

percussion instruments.

RE

Who inspires you?

Year 2 will be focusing

on people in

Christianity including

Jesus and St. Francis of

Assisi. They will also be

exploring who inspires

them in their lives.

Computing

Year 2 will focus on how to

train a robot through

simple programming .

Lunchtimes

Please continue to practise using a knife and fork independently.

Please ensure all menu planners are returned at least a week in advance to enable the correct

meal is allocated.