Year 2 – Spring Newsletter 2023

Dear parents/carers,

Happy New Year! Welcome back, we hope everyone had a good break and we are looking forward to the new term of learning.

English

To begin with, we will be exploring fiction with a focus on the story ‘The Pirates Next Door’ which will give the children the opportunity to further develop their story writing skills, before moving onto recounts in the first person, a film study and information writing. Through other aspects of the curriculum (Science, Geography, History etc.) we will continue to develop our non-fiction writing.

Ensuring your child reads for at least 15 minutes a day will help their reading skills to develop along with discussions around the text read. It is just as important to read to your child regularly along with listening to audio books. It is important that an adult records in the reading record every time your child reads at home, whether this is a schoolbook or a home book. If your child has read to themselves, get them to tell you what they have read – these discussions should also be recorded in their reading record.

Maths

To begin the term, we will be looking at the measures of money before moving onto multiplication and division, length & height and finally mass, capacity & temperature. We will be using a variety of equipment to help children build their practical mathematical skills to support problem solving and calculations. The children will also be developing their mathematical vocabulary to develop reasoning tasks. To assist with children’s mathematical development encourage them to handle real money and understand the value of coins and notes along with reading the time on an analogue clock, weighing, and measuring around the home for different reasons such as cooking, woodwork etc.  Continue to practise the times tables and start using Times Table Rock Stars.

History and Geography

We begin the term with a Geography topic – Ghana. We will be learning about this country and making comparisons with our own. We will continue to use atlases and develop our research skills.  In History we will be exploring Transport where will find out how transport has changed, order transport chronologically and great inventions.

Science

Throughout the Spring term we will be looking at uses of everyday materials. We will have the opportunity to do investigations around this topic.

Computing

In computing we will be looking at the world of photography, finding out what makes a good photograph, how to use digital camera and how to edit and enhance a picture. The children will then be learning about online safety and safe research when conducting it online.

Art

In Art children will be studying African art with a focus on the artist Durer and Ghanian stamped cloth. The children will learn about the styles and be inspired to create their own paintings and prints.

Design and Technology

In Design & Technology the children will creating transport using mechanisms. The children will test existing models, design, make and evaluate their work.

RE

This term our focus will be human and social sciences. Our two questions we will be exploring are: How to Christians belong to their faith family? And How do Jewish people celebrate Passover (Pesach)?

PSHE

Our PSHE learning will lead us to think about living in the wider world with a focus on:

• Inclusion and belonging; sameness and difference
• Challenging gender stereotypes
• Watch out – helping to make good viewing choices
• Values, money and me

Music

In Music we will be developing the skills of listening and appraising, musical activities and perform and review.

Physical Education

The children will have PE on a Monday and Thursday this term. The children will cover dance. Invasion games, fitness, and yoga in their PE sessions. All children must come to school in their PE kit on PE days, please check the uniform policy to ensure your child has the correct kit.

Homework

Along with listening to your child read, the children will be set spellings to learn each week. Six sets of spellings will be issued for the half term and tests will take place every Friday; please assist them with look, cover, write, check activities to consolidate their learning or an alternative method that suit your child’s way of learning. The children will have one piece of homework to complete each week or a project over a few weeks: these will be English, Maths, Science, PSHE or Topic work to help support their learning in the classroom. Spellings and homework will be sent home in learning logs – homework is due in every Wednesday unless otherwise stated.

Please ensure children do not bring any toys into school and you will be notified of when we will have show and tell.

Kind Regards,

Miss Morton & Mrs Bond