Welcome to Year 2
Caterpillar and Spider classes are our Year 2 classes at the Isle of Ely Primary School.
Who works in our classroom:
Miss Georgia Russell Mrs Amy Wreathall
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Mrs Claire Harrison Mrs Samantha Lambert
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Mrs Jacky Pattenden
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Our curriculum
In Year 2 this half term, we will be learning:
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Subject |
Content |
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English |
Children will learn about characterisation using the Talk4Writing approach beginning with a cold write and then moving through the imitation, innovation and independent stages. Our model text is The Tunnel by Anthony Browne which provides children with a high quality example. We will be focusing on ensuring we use the spelling rules which have been taught and spelling common exception words correctly. These can be found in the files below if you would like to practise them at home. We will also build a ‘setting toolkit’ to improve the content of our writing looking at adjectives, using the power of three, verbs, adverbs and similes. During this half term, we will be reading Counting on Katherine a biography by Helaine Becker to develop our VIPERS skills (vocabulary, inference, prediction, evidence, retrieval and summarise). |
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Maths |
Addition and subtraction (2): This unit directly builds upon what children have learnt in Unit 2 and provides an opportunity for what they have understood to be applied to larger numbers. Children will progress to addition and subtraction involving two 2-digit numbers, again representing the steps within these calculations visually with different resources. Properties of shapes: This unit focuses on the properties of 2D and 3D shapes. Children will learn to describe and sort shapes based on the shapes’ mathematical properties, using the correct terminology. Although this is the first unit covering geometry in Year 2, children have experience of recognising, naming, describing and sorting 2D and 3D shapes from Unit 5 in Year 1. Children will also draw on their counting skills and their ability to compare and order numbers. In this unit, children will learn to describe and categorise shapes based on their number of sides, vertices, edges and faces |
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Science |
This half term, we are going to be learning about living things and their habitats. We are going to be learning about different habitats, such as desert and rainforest habitats and the animals that live in them. We will be learning about how animals have adapted and evolved to be able to survive in different environments. We will also be looking at food chains and learning vocabulary such as consumer, prey and predator and the relationship between these. |
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Geography |
In geography, this half term, we will be looking at maps. We will start by planning a map of the school site and then having a go at drawing our own. We will also learn about cartographers, planning routes and maps, globes and the equator. |
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Religious Education |
In R.E. this half term, we will be learning about the importance of Christmas in Christianity. We will explore the Nativity story, the importance of advent and who Christmas is celebrated around the world. |
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Design and Technology |
The focus this half term is to name the main food groups and identify foods that belong to each group. Describe the taste, feel and smell of a given food. Think of three different wrap ideas, considering flavour combinations. We will then construct a wrap that meets the design brief and plan. |
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Music |
West African Music: call and response: The children will use tempo, dynamics and timbre in their piece. They will play in time with their group. They will then use instruments appropriately. They will sing back the melody line in time and at the correct pitch. They will then play either a call and/or response role in time with another pupil. Finally they will perform their composition to the rest of the class. |
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Physical Education |
Sending and receiving: In this unit pupils develop their sending and receiving skills including throwing and catching, rolling, kicking, tracking and stopping a ball. They will also use equipment to send and receive a ball. Pupils will be given opportunities to work with a range of different sized balls. They will apply their skills individually, in pairs and in small groups and begin to organise and self-manage their own activities. They will build on their knowledge of sending and receiving by applying their skills in different situations. Yoga: Pupils learn about mindfulness and body awareness. They begin to learn poses and techniques that will help them to connect their mind and body. The unit looks to improve wellbeing by building strength, flexibility, co-ordination and balance. The learning includes breathing and meditation through fun and engaging activities. Pupils work independently, with a partner and small group. |
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Computing |
This term we will be learning about algorithms and debugging. By the end of the half term we will have learnt how to create an algorithm, debug a simple problem and understand machine learning in a simple context |
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Art |
This half term we will be focusing on line and patterns. We will learnt different types of lines and how lines create different effects within paintings and drawings. We will learn about visual and tactile texture and how to create this using different types of lines |
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Personal, Social and Health Education |
Myself and my relationships: In this unit, children will be learning to recognise and understand a range of emotions and strategies to help manage them. They will also learn about how to recognise the emotions of people around them. Anti-Bullying: 13th – 17th November 2023. To celebrate this, the children will partake in some activities with the theme of Anti-bullying at the forefront. |
Click the links below to view the Knowledge Organisers for the topics this half term:
Our class text is: Alice in Wonderland
Newsflash!
Week Commencing 27th November 2023
It has been a very busy week in Year 2. We spent a portion of the week completing assessments in Reading, Grammar, Spelling and Maths. The children were took this in their stride and saw it as an opportunity to 'show off' what they have learnt so far in Year 2. We also had a very exciting visit on Friday. The children took part in a workshop led by a geography expert. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part despite it being rather chilly!
Week Commencing 20th November 2023
This week, we began innovating our model text, The Tunnel. The children spent some time thinking of a new portal story with lots of teacher guidance. Next week, they will have the chance to write a totally unique portal story, using the settings toolkit practiced throughout the unit so far. In maths, we ended the addition and subtraction unit with an end of unit check, and began a new unit focusing on shape. The children have started to complete 'Mad Maths Minutes' twice a week. The aim of this is to improve their fluency with addition and subtraction. The children will move through the levels as they grow in accuracy and confidence. Nativity rehearsals have begun to ramp up, on Friday we came together in the hall to do the first read through of the script!
Week Commencing 13th November 2023
This week in Year 2 we began thinking about habitats and how habitats help the plants and animals that live within them. In maths, we continued using written and concrete methods to add and subtract and built on this understanding by adding and subtracting 2 two digit numbers. In writing, we learnt our new model text 'The Tunnel' by orally rehearsing and adding actions to each sentence. Nativity prep has begun, all the children know their parts and we will soon start to come together to rehearse! If the children with speaking parts could practice their lines at home, that would be very helpful! Thank you in advance and have a great weekend.
Week Commencing 6th November 2023
This week in Year 2 we began our new science topic 'Living Things'. The first lesson focused on sorting a variety of things into 'alive', 'dead', or 'never alive'. This task drew on the children's prior knowledge about what makes a living thing 'alive'. In maths, we continued using written and concrete methods to add and subtract and built on this understanding by adding and subtracting 2 two digit numbers. In writing, the children completed their non-fiction writing on an animal of their choosing. On Friday, we began our new writing unit. Our model text is The Tunnel by Anthony Browne. In this unit, the children will focus on building their setting toolkit.
Next week is also Anti-Bullying week. Please explore the parents and carers page for more information and resources. The BBC’s Own It page also has a whole suite of links and clips to support your child with online behaviours.
Have a great weekend!
Week Commencing 30th October 2023
Welcome back to Autumn Term 2! This half term is jam packed with curriculum learning as well as some other exciting events in the run up to Christmas, including the KS1 Nativity. This year, your child will have a part and potentially some lines to learn, as well as learning the songs. The Year 2 team are going to inform you of your child’s part and lines they need to learn, so keep an eye out for a slip in your children’s bags with their part and any lines they may have. In the first week back we continued with our innovation in writing, where we wrote a non-fiction piece about a wolf! In maths we moved on to adding and subtracting 10’s and introduced the column method, representing 2 digit numbers using base 10 equipment. Take care over the weekend and enjoy the fireworks!
Week Commencing 16th October 2023
This week in Year 2 we continued to story map our model text, as well as practice writing tools including writing in the present tense, using compound words and writing commas in a list. In maths, we continued with addition and subtraction. We focused on adding by making 10 using number lines to help us. In Design & Technology, the children worked in groups of 6 to make a Ferris Wheel, including an axle mechanism! The children did a fantastic job and have managed to design and build moving Ferris Wheels. Great work Year 2!
Week Commencing 9th October 2023
This week in Year 2 we began a new unit of writing. We started by doing a 'Cold Task'. This is where the children are given a visual stimulus to prompt them to write sentences about something. This is a non-fiction unit about a creature. Our model text is about an abominable snowman. We will spend the final week of term exploring and story mapping this. In maths, we continued with addition and subtraction. We focused on adding by making 10 using tens frames to help us. In art, we began to create a snow palace using squares, rectangles and triangles. Next week, we will use our knowledge of tints and shades to paint it.
Week Commencing 2nd October 2023
This week in Year 2, we planned and wrote our own version of The Snow Queen. We spent some time writing our own ideas using the tools the writer uses in the model text. In maths, we began a new unit of addition and subtraction; we focused on what happens when we add and subtract numbers, as well as refreshing our memories on number bonds to 10. We used concrete equipment as well as written methods in our learning. In computing, we created a class invention, using our knowledge of inputs and outputs.
Week Commencing 23rd September 2023
This week in Year 2 we began to innovate our text, The Snow Queen. We spent some time identifying the tools the writer uses in the text. Next, we shared ideas and the children had a chance to apply them in their own writing. In maths, we compared numbers and counted forwards and backwards in 2s, 5s and 10s. We used concrete equipment as well as written methods in our learning. In science, we learnt about the human digestion process, which the children found fascinating and disgusting in equal measure!
Week Commencing 18th September 2023
This week in Year 2 We explored a new text 'The Snow Queen'. We spent some time drawing a story map and creating actions to help us to embody the story. We practiced using correct punctuation, expanded noun phrases and past tense verbs. In Maths, we explored number lines including estimating where numbers go on a number line. We used concrete equipment as well as written methods in our learning. In computing, we went on a technology hunt around school to photograph lots of examples of technology we have in school. Great job this week Spiders and Caterpillars!
Week Commencing 11th September 2023
It has been a busy week as usual in Year 2. We finished writing our own version of the poem, First Dog on the Moon. The children enjoyed thinking creatively about the different things they would be able to sense if they were on the moon. In maths, the children explored partitioning numbers in different ways, using concrete equipment as well as written methods. In history, we learnt more about life in Ancient Egypt! Well done for all of your hard work this week Year 2.
Week Commencing 4th September 2023
Hello to all parents and carers children of Year 2!
It has been a fantastic start to the school year. The children spent the first part of the week getting to know their new environments and establishing routines. There was also lots of new learning going on across all subjects including where Egypt is located and the importance of the River Nile to the Ancient Egyptians. All of the Year 2 team are so proud of how resilient the children have been coming back to school after the long summer break. Well done Caterpillars and Spiders! Have a restful weekend and see you on Monday.