Welcome to Year 2 

Miss Fowler and Mrs Milbourne
 

Summer 2

Geography

In Geography, the children will be learning about the four countries that make up the United Kingdom. They will learn about some of their key features and about their capital cities. They will then focus on the city of London and its famous landmarks. They will compare how the city has changed since the time of the Great Fire (which the children learnt about last half term). They will use and make maps and use simple grid references. The children will finish the unit by creating a feature for our playground which marks how many miles we are from local towns, cities and London. 

English

In English this half term, we will explore various texts in detail. We will begin by looking at, 'The Buildings that made London' this is a stunning visual book which shows London in an enjoyable way. It explores London and its famous monuments and displays interesting facts in an exciting way. 

We will also look at a lovely fiction text called, 'Katie in London' by James Mayhew, this text explores London through a magical journey where a brother and sister travel around the famous monuments of London on the famous golden lion, which they stumble across in Trafalgar Square. Through these engaging texts, the children will create a narrative story, an informal letter and a non-chronological report about London.

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 unit will be, ‘Faces, Shapes and Patterns; Lines and Turns’. During this unit the children will: identify and describe the properties of 3-D shapes, including the number of edges, vertices and faces, identify 2-D shapes on the surface of 3-D shapes, identify and describe the properties of 2-D shapes, including the number of sides and finally the children will use mathematical vocabulary to describe position, direction and movement. We will then start our next 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.  The children will then start their next unit called, ‘Measures: Capacity and Volume’. During this unit the children will choose and use appropriate standard units to estimate and measure capacity (litres/ml) and temperature (°C) to the nearest appropriate unit, using scales, thermometers and measuring vessels. Finally, the children will start their final unit, ‘Measures: Mass’. The children will choose and use appropriate standard units to estimate and measure mass (kg/g) to the nearest appropriate unit, using rulers, scales, thermometers and measuring vessels and compare and order mass.

Science

This half term, in Science, the children’s new unit is called, ‘Growing Up’. During this unit the children will investigate what babies need to survive, how babies change into children and they will be able to name, sequence and compare the stages of a human’s life.  The children will also investigate if older children have bigger heads. Finally, they will make comparisons and investigate how animals and plants change and grow over time, which links back to our last unit Apprentice Gardener.

Art

In Art this half term, the children will explore the works of Minty Sainsbury, a modern artist who is famous for her highly detailed and instantly recognisable stylised architectural pencil drawings. The children will become familiar with her techniques and make various observations of her work. They will use technique such as hatching, cross hatching and blending and will have the opportunity to practise these before creating their very own Sainsbury London city scape master piece.

RE

In RE this half term, the children will be focusing on the religion of Islam as they enquire, 'Does completing Hajj make a person a better Muslim?'. The children will explore Hajj and consider how Muslims show a commitment to God (Allah). They will investigate how their God is really important to them and how they are prepared to make lots of effort to show this. The children will then explore the 5 pillars and the 8 doors to heaven.

PSHE

In PSHE this half term, our unit will be, 'Changing Me'. This unit will begin by the children understanding that everyone is unique and special recognising cycles of life in nature. The children will express how they feel when change happens and will discuss the natural process of growing from young to old and understand that this is not in their control. Next, they will understand and respect the changes that they see in themselves and will recognise how their body has changed since they were a baby. They will explore and respect the changes that they see in other people and will acknowledge the physical differences between boys and girls, using the correct names for parts of the body and appreciate that some parts of their body are private. Finally, they will discuss how to ask for help if they are worried about change.

Computing

The children’s first new unit is called, ‘Making Music’. During this unit, the children will be introduced to making music digitally using 2Sequence and will explore, edit and combine sounds using 2Sequence. Next the children will start a new unit called, ‘Presenting Ideas’. During this unit the children will explore how a story can be presented in different ways, make a quiz about a story or class topic, make a fact file on a non-fiction topic and make a presentation.

PE

PE this half term is timetabled for Monday (athletics) and Tuesday (rounders). 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.'