Year 2 – Autumn Newsletter 2024

Welcome to Year 2! I hope you have all had a lovely restful summer and are ready for the busy year ahead! Below you will find an outline of the curriculum for this term.

English

To begin with, we will be studying the story ‘A Squash and a Squeeze’ by Julia Donaldson followed by a study and comparison of different versions of the fairytale Little Red Riding Hood and the book ‘Meerkat Mail’ by Emily Gravett, we will be using these stories to help develop our sentence structure including punctuation and conjunctions and writing dialogue. Our writing will support improving our word choices such as exciting adjectives. Through other aspects of the curriculum (Science, Geography, History etc.) we will be developing our non-fiction writing.

Maths

To begin the term, we will be looking at number systems with a focus on place value, addition and subtraction. 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.

Topic-History and Geography

We begin the year with a history topic, we will be exploring the Gunpowder Plot and begin to investigate timelines for significant events of the past. After half term, we will begin a geography topic on continents and oceans. We will be focusing on the 5 oceans and 7 continents. We will also look at the United Kingdom and use atlases and compasses to understand the 4 points.

Science

Throughout the Autumn term we will be looking at the area of Science ‘Animals including Humans’ followed by ‘Uses of Everyday Materials’. Each area of learning will give children the opportunity to pose scientific questions along with answering them and developing the skills of classification.

Computing

This year in computing we will be starting off learning how to programme using the application ‘Scratch Junior’. Children will be introduced to coding along with revisiting how to stay safe online.

Art

In Art children will be introduced to sketching, shading and the work of Kumi Yamashita and her use of light and shadow in her work.

Design and Technology

In Design & Technology the children will be following on from their learning in year 1 preparing fruit and will be developing and practicing these skills in a safe way to create a planned dish. Children will evaluate different fruits and products before planning their own fruit tarts.

RE

This term our focus will be theology where we will be posing the question ‘Why is light an important symbol?’. We will explore the religions Christianity, Judaism and Hinduism to support our learning and responses to the question. We will also be exploring the British Value of tolerance and celebrating Harvest Festival.

PSHE

Our PSHE learning will lead us to think about families and people who care for us, revisiting the NSPCC PANTS and Speak Out, Stay Safe, consent (asking permission) and online safety.

Music

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

Physical Education

This term’s PE topics are fundamental skills, ball skills and team building. Our usual PE days are Monday and Thursday however this can be subject to change. Therefore all PE kits are to be kept in school, and will be sent home regularly for washing, please ensure they are back in school for Monday morning. Please check the uniform policy to ensure your child has the correct kit including a change of socks-particularly for girls if they will be wearing tights.

Homework

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 or Topic work to help support and consolidate their learning in the classroom. Homework will be sent home in learning logs – homework is due in every Wednesday unless otherwise stated.

Reading

Reading records are checked and books changed (as needed) daily. Please try to read with your child daily (including free readers), this will help their reading skills to develop as will discussions around the text. 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, please also indicate if the book is finished. If your child has read to themselves, get them to tell you what they have read.

Spelling

Along with listening to your child read, the children will be set spellings to learn each week. Children have been grouped based on a diagnostic assessment which is reviewed half termly. Spellings will be tested on a Thursday with new spellings set on Fridays. Please assist them in practicing their spellings and ensure that home spelling books are in school on Thursdays.

Snack and Water:

Please ensure that children have a water bottle with them each day, these can be refilled in the classroom. Although fruit snack is provided for KS1, children are welcome to bring in their own fruit snack, (usually for morning break), as sometimes the selection provided is limited.

Finally, please ensure all items of clothing, including PE kit, are labelled. It is so much easier to ensure children take home the correct uniform when it is named.

If you have any questions or concerns at any time, please email me via the office and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Kind Regards,

Mrs Tokeley