Welcome to Year 2 

Miss Fowler

Mrs Milbourne, Mrs Parfitt and Miss Chisholm
 

Autumn 1

History

Our theme this half term is called, ‘What do we know about the Victorians and the way they lived?’ and is History based. In History lessons, the children will start the unit by locating the Victorian period on a timeline and understanding chronologically when this era was. Following this, the children will then focus on Queen Victoria’s family tree and what the key events were during her reign, including exploring inventions created during this time. Then using this knowledge, the children will be answering the following question: Why was Queen Victoria an important person? Finally, the children will focus on how Victorians lived, with a focus on life as a child in Victorian times.

English

In English this half term, we will be reading a variety of exciting books but focusing on, ‘Major Glad, Major Dizzy’ by Jan Oke and ‘Daisy Saves the Day’ by Shirley Hughes. We will be covering a range of genres over the half term, starting with a non-chronological report about toys to support the children with accessing ‘Major Glad, Major Dizzy’, which is based on the true discovery of a hidden hoard of Victorian toys under the author's floorboards. The children will also be writing a diary entry from the perspective of one of the characters from the book. As part of this learning, the children will be taking part in some drama-based activities to get them into their character’s role. The children will then use ‘Daisy Saves the Day’ by Shirley Hughes to inspire their writing as we focus on story writing. Finally, we will finish the half term by reading some traditional tales and the children will be writing their own traditional tale.

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 over the year, including: whole class comprehension lessons, Little Wandle reading groups and one to one reading.

Maths

In Maths, we will begin the term by focusing on place value. The first unit of work is linked to number, this will include reading, writing, representing, partitioning, comparing and ordering numbers up to 100. Next the children will start the unit called, ‘Addition and subtraction of 2-digit numbers’ and will learn to 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 and adding three one-digit numbers.

Science

This half term, in Science, the children will learn about different ways to keep themselves healthy. They will consider the importance of eating a range of different types of food. The children will explore the importance of exercise and hygiene and will have the opportunity to work scientifically by identifying and classifying food.

Art

In Art this term, the children will be looking at the artist John Sargent Singer. The children will explore portraits/paintings created during the Victorian era. They will investigate what the portraits reveal about the subjects, their interests and their life. During the unit, the children will learn new skills, including different sketching techniques, to enable them to create their own portrait masterpiece.

RE

In RE, we will be exploring the following enquiry questions: ‘What did Jesus teach?’ and ‘Is it possible to be kind to everyone all of the time?’. This unit is linked to Christianity.

PSHE

In PSHE this half term, the children will consider many aspects linked to the unit, ‘Being Me In My World.’ During this unit, the children will consider: their hopes and fears for the year, their rights and responsibilities, the choices they make, as well as recognising feelings. 

Computing

Our first Computing unit is, ‘Online Safety’. During this unit, the children will learn the skill of searching and sharing online (on Purple Mash), they will learn how to email safely and learn all about digital footprints.

PE

PE this half term is timetabled for Tuesday (tag rugby) and Wednesday (football). 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.'