Welcome to Year 2 

Miss Fowler and Mrs Milbourne
 

Summer 1

History

Our driver subject this half term is History. We will investigate what made the 1666 fire of London so 'great'. We will begin by identifying how the Great Fire of London began and what happened during the Great Fire, including their own hypothesis of why the fire spread so quickly. We will then explore how many houses were destroyed and discover if more could have been done to stop the fire. The children will learn all about Samuel Pepys, Thomas Farriner, Thomas Bloodworth, King Charles II and The Duke of York and their actions and involvement during this major historical event. The children will finally move on to investigate what was learnt from this event and whether or not they managed to rebuild London in a way to avoid this happening again.

English

In English this half term, we will explore various texts in detail. We will begin by looking at 'Vlad and the Great Fire of London' this is a lovely narrative written from a flea's point of view during the time of The Great Fire.  We will also look at Fire Cat, this is another narrative written from a boy's point of view where he meets and is inspired by Samuel Pepys so begins to write his very own diary. The children will use the knowledge from these books to write their own diary entry, information text, newspaper article and biography.  

Reading, as always, will be a crucial part of the children’s learning and will be part of English lessons every day (for example the children will be making predictions, exploring new vocabulary, summarising what we have read etc.). In addition to this the children will have a variety of reading lessons, including: whole class comprehension lessons, Little Wandle reading groups and one to one reading. 

Maths

In Maths, our first new unit will be, ‘Addition and Subtraction of 2-digit Numbers (regrouping and adjusting)’. During this unit, the children will use the ‘make ten’ strategy to add ones and regroup. They will then move onto using the ‘make ten’ strategy to subtract ones and regroup. We will then move onto a unit called, ‘Money’ where the children will learn to: recognise and use symbols for pounds (£) and pence (p), combine amounts to make a particular value and find different combinations of coins that equal the same amounts of money. Finally, the children will solve simple problems in a practical context including giving change. We will then start our new unit, ‘Exploring Calculation Strategies’ where the children will add and subtract numbers mentally, including: a two-digit number and ones, a two-digit number and tens and adding three one-digit numbers. Finally, the children will learn how to add and subtract numbers with up to two digits, using written methods. 

Science

This half term, in Science, the children will become apprentice gardeners. The children will begin this unit of work by planting different seeds so they can observe their growth over the coming weeks. During this unit, the children will learn all about what different seeds and bulbs 'need' to grow, they will explore various seeds and what they will grow into, find out if it matters 'how' seeds are planted and whether this has an impact on their growth.

Design and Technology

This half term the children will be making a balanced, healthy pizza in their D&T lessons. They will start the unit by discussing their favourite pizza and will compile information into a pictogram. They will also consider healthy eating and complete a balanced plate by sorting their favourite pizza ingredients. After this, the children will investigate a variety of bread-based products to decide which would make a good pizza base and will explore where the pizza base would be placed on the balanced diet plate. Next, the children will explore and discuss a variety of pizza toppings. They will look at food categories and balanced diets, and be challenged to sort pizza toppings into groups. Using all the knowledge they have learnt from this unit, the children will design a balanced, healthy pizza. Finally, the children will make (including the dough!) and then evaluate their pizzas.

RE

In RE this half term, the children will be focusing on the religion of Islam and this enquiry question, ‘Does going to a mosque give Muslims a sense of belonging?’. During this unit, the children will bring the two ideas of special places and prayer together to investigate whether praying in a mosque gives Muslims a sense of belonging.

PSHE

In PSHE this half term, our new unit will be ‘Relationships’. The children will start this unit by looking at how everyone’s family is different and that there are lots of forms of physical contact within a family and that some of this is acceptable and some is not. The children will then explore things that could cause conflicts with friends and will learn how to use a positive problem-solving technique to resolve any conflicts with their friends. Next, the children will explore secrets and how sometimes it is good to keep a secret and sometimes it is not good to keep a secret. Finally, the children will recognise and appreciate people who help them in their family, school and community.

Computing

This half term the children will learn how to create various pictures using computer software. The children will learn how to create various styles of art including Impressionism and Pointillist art, they will look at the work of Piet Mondrian and William Morris and create a surrealist eCollage.

PE

PE this half term is timetabled for Monday (tennis) and Tuesday (fitness). Children should come to school wearing a white T shirt, black shorts/joggers, school sweatshirt or cardigan and trainers on these days. 

Useful websites to practise key skills at home:

English:

Oxford Owl - provides access to free e-books (You have to create a free account to view them) 

This website is American, but it has some nice phonics and reading games.

This website is currently free with the username: march20 password: home

Your child has an individual log-in for this website. They can play spelling games based on lists of words. I will set 3 spelling lists to practise per week. Try using the code '#710619' to enter a hive game for common exception words! 

Use these links to find an interesting image. What do you think is happening? Can you describe what is happening in your exercise book? Can you write a story about it?

'Mr Thorne Does Phonics' has lots of grammar and phonics short episodes 

This blogger has compiled a list of children's authors with great books to read, each author has a few reading based activities on their website. 

Audible has lots of free audiobooks for children while you're learning at home.

Alphablocks games and some episodes can be found here. 

Maths:

This website has LOTS of age appropriate maths resources and they have produced home learning packs for each year group with helpful videos and activities for each day of home learning. 

This website has lots of interactive maths games. 

This website groups games together well and you can search by subject.

Times Table Rock Stars - your child has an individual log in for this.

This is a story based maths game which your child can log into with their TT Rock stars log ins.

Other subjects:

This is a fantastic website with lots of videos, interactive activities and printable resources around all the subjects as well as current events. Great for exploring if you want some extra material in your home learning. 

Once clicking this link, choose 'Espresso' from the drop down log-in menu in the top right hand corner. You will receive a username and password for this website. 

This website often has child - friendly news items, and they will be uploading some free content when schools close. 

With this link you can take a virtual tour around the British Museum, London. 

This website has lots of activities you can do in the garden, as well a lots of information about animals and plants for research tasks.

Find out information and take quizzes using this link.

These games are the first steps of computer programming, they are very engaging for children. 

This is a typing game for children beginning to learn to type. 

This website has fun movement videos for children

SEND SUPPORTED RESOURCES

We work with a company called SEND Supported at school and they are releasing newsletters each week offering support and guidance to parents of children who many have additional needs in school. Please find below a link to these newsletters:

There are also lots of other resources and information available on their website. The 'Things to do Issue 2 - Resources' file has some lovely activities for all children regardless of whether they have additional needs or not. There are lots of great visual puzzles and games for children to play so please have a look if you can. There are also resources available now to support with developing children's memory skills in 'Thing to do Issue 3 - Resources.'