Autumn 2

This half-term, we are learning about the Great Fire of London. We have learnt about the events that took place, how the fire started and what caused it to spread so drastically. In English, the children will be doing some follow-up writing about the Great Fire of London, including an explanation text and a diary entry – thinking about how it might have felt to be there.

In maths, we are focusing on addition and subtraction on a numberline – doing big jumps for tens and small jumps for ones (see picture below). Then later, we are moving on to learning about 2D and 3D shapes. Where the children will do the following:

• identify and describe the properties of 2-D shapes, including the number of sides, and line symmetry in a vertical line
• 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, [for example, a circle on a cylinder and a triangle on a pyramid]
• compare and sort common 2-D and 3-D shapes and everyday objects

In science, the children are exploring the uses and properties of everyday materials and in art, they are using pastel techniques to work towards a piece of art depicting the Great Fire of London.

P.E will continue to be on a Wednesday and Thursday, so please have P.E kits in school.

Children who are doing the Little Wandle will continue to get a new book each week which they read in school and take home with them. Children on Accelerated Reading are encouraged to change their books as soon as they have finished it. All reading records are collected every Friday and children who have read 5 times a week or more receive a Dojo!

Homework for the half term has been sent home to all children and is attached via a link on this page.

Things you may choose to do at home in Autumn 2:

Writing - 
In class, we have been writing explanation and diary texts. Perhaps the children may want to explore this further. For instance, they could write an explanation of something in their lives, such as their hobby, i.e. what it is, what it involves and how it works, or a diary entry from their own life. This could be a trip or holiday they have been on or even a visit to someone’s house. You may wish the children to write freely, but if you choose to hone in on specific things, look for consistent use of capital letters and full stops. Sneaky tip - if you want to encourage writing even more at home, you can use the free version of chat gpt and ask it to come up with writing ideas at home for year 2 and it will also list tens of ideas. 

Maths - 
Practise your times tables - focusing on 2, 5, and 10. Earn yourself points on Times Tables Rockstars!
Have a go at adding two 2-digit numbers, like 43 + 36, using a number line. Do big jumps when adding tens and small jumps for ones.
Example: 

There are also numerous apps and websites for maths games appropriate for KS1. For instance, bbc bitesize or topmarks.

Handwriting -
In Year 2, we have been having a big push for handwriting and introduced joining up. When practising at home, please ensure the children are sitting properly (there is advice for this on the following website, as well as hand warm-up videos). Handwriting videos | Oxford Owl We use the Nelson handwriting scheme at school. Practise books for these are available to buy or you can just pick any letter to practise, then practise putting that letter into different words. Below is an example of a joined up script, following the Nelson Scheme. Other activities like lego and playdoh also develop the the fine motor muscles so we encourage these too!

Spelling - 
Please find ideas for spelling activities at home on the attachment below named Spelling Games, where I have listed 20 different games you can play. Including word searches, writing words in playdoh and anagrams. Below are the common exception words for Year 2, that the children are expected to spell by the end of the Year. We have also been focusing on spelling patterns - using ed, ied, es, ies, ing, er and ier this half term, in words such as jumped, hurried, copied, fishes, foxes, cries, stopping, shorter, bigger, and heavier.

 

 

Autumn 1

We have thoroughly enjoyed welcoming our new students into Year 2 and meeting all parents and carers. For those of you who were not able to attend the ‘Meet the Teachers’, please see the uploaded Powerpoint for any information you may have missed.

This half-term, we will be focusing on place value and addition/subtraction in Maths. We will be reading ‘Jim and the Beanstalk’ by Raymond Briggs in English and supporting the children to write their own alternative fairy tales.

For the children who are progressing through the Little Wandle reading scheme, they will read with a TA twice a week and these books will also be sent home. Those who have finished the scheme will be able to select Accelerated Reading books in their level. Please could you ensure children have their reading records daily in case there is an opportunity to read with an adult and all reading records will be checked on Friday.

P.E will be with Mr Stocker on a Wednesday and Thursday. Please make sure children have their kit in school, especially on these days. As both the sessions are at the end of the day, children will change in class and then come home in their kit. It is also helpful if children can have an art apron at school. Please ensure that your child is prepared with wellies on the wetter days and that everything that comes into school is labelled with their name so it can find its way back if it becomes lost.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Best wishes,
Miss Nicholls and Mrs Barber