What will Year 2 be learning in the Autumn term?

English  

In English this term, we will start off by looking at fairy tales and traditional tales. We will read a range of tales and look at their features. Using drama we will retell the Princess and the Pea and then write a recount. We will then look at an alternative version of this story and use it as stimulus to write a letter in role. Finally we will look at an alternative version of Little Red Riding Hood called Super Red Writing Hood. 

As part of our History lessons we will go on a trip to Cadbury World then write a recount of the day when we return to school. 

After half term, we will we will read Greta and the Giants, which is a book based on the the environmentalist Greta Thunberg. We will write a diary entry in role based on the book and then write a non-fiction letter to a government representative to campaign for environmental change in the local environment.

During D&T week we will make Eton Mess then write our own set of instructions. 

Weekly reading comprehension and guided reading sessions take place each week we will focus on a new spelling rule/pattern from the Supersonic Phonic Friends Year 2 spelling programme. 

Weekly handwriting lessons will initially focus on correct letter formation and then we will start to teach the children to how to join their handwriting correctly.  

          

    

           

•  Use globes, satellite images and geographical vocabulary to describe Earth.

• Understand that a map is a 2D model of the world and know what continents are.

• Explain what an ocean is and name Earth’s five oceans and find out facts about them.

• Use atlases and maps to locate the UK in the world and discuss were we live in the UK.

History 

In History this term we will start with a local history topic and look how the chocolate manufacturer 'Cadbury' has changed over time.  We will answer the following questions: 

• How can we find out about the past?
• How did Cadbury become so well known for its chocolate?
• What was the first chocolate bar made by Cadbury?
• What was so special about the Bournville factory and village?
• Is Cadbury still the same as when it first began?

After half term we will move on to studying a range of significant explorers and answer the following questions: 

• Who was Ibn Battuta and why do we remember him today?
• Who was Matthew Henson and what was his role in Arctic exploration?
• Why is Amelia Earhart known as a brave explorer of the skies?
• Why is Neil Armstrong still remembered as a significant explorer today?
• How has exploration changed over time?
• Are there still explorers travelling to new places in modern times?
• How has exploration changed over time?
• How can we remember and celebrate significant explorers from the past?

After half term we will complete a unit of work from the Understanding Christianity syllabus and explore Why Christmas matters to Christians.

PE

We will start with 'Sending and Receiving' and 'Fitness' units of work

In the 'Sending and Receiving' unit we will:

• practise throwing and catching, rolling, kicking, tracking and stopping a ball
• use equipment to send and receive a ball
• work with a range of different sized balls
• apply skills individually, in pairs and in small groups and begin to organise and self-manage activities.

In the 'Fitness' unit we will:

• take part in a range of activities to develop components of fitness
• explore and develop agility, balance, co-ordination, speed and stamina
• work independently and with others
• develop perseverance and show determination to work for longer periods of time.

After half term we will start units of work on Dance and Gymnastics.

During the Dance unit we will:

• explore space and how the body can move to express an idea, mood, character or feeling
• expand our knowledge of travelling actions and use them in relation to a stimulus
• build on our understanding of dynamics and expression
• use counts of 8 to keep in time with the music and a partner
• explore pathways, levels, shapes, directions, speed and timing
• work independently and with others to perform and provide feedback; beginning to use key terminology.

During the Gymnastics unit we will:

• explore and develop basic gymnastics actions on the floor and using apparatus
• develop gymnastics skills of jumping, balancing and travelling individually and in combination to create short sequences and movement phrases
• use shapes, levels and change direction in movement sequences
• improve our performance through feedback and recognise elements of high quality performance
• learn to work safely with and around others and whilst using apparatus.

Year 2's PE days are:

2H:  Monday and Wednesday

2B: Tuesday and Wednesday

Please ensure your child comes to school on these days wearing their PE kit - school PE t-shirt (or plain white t-shirt), school jumper/cardigan, black shorts/jogging bottoms/leggings and a pair of trainers (If possible, please can the trainers have velcro fastening since laces cause much disruption to the lesson?).

Art

Our Art lessons will focus on 'Colour' this term.  In this unit we will:

• explore the work of Piet Mondrian, Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock and discuss their use of colour. We will then produce pieces of artwork in their style.
• investigate how primary colours can be mixed together to make the secondary colours purple, orange and green
• investigate how colours can be lightened or darkened by using white and black.

Design & Technology

The Design and Technology unit will focus on 'Food' and we will look at 'Remarkable Recipes'.  The children will:

• recap on the sources of food, namely plant and animal sources and name foods from each source.
• look at a range of tools used for preparing and cooking food and investigate the features and suitability of each tool.
• discuss and explore reasons for cooking food
• discuss what a recipe is and how it is structured and follow a recipe to make Eton Mess
• discuss what food is required to make a healthy meal and then choose a healthy meal to cook. 

Important reminders

Please make sure that your child brings their water bottle, reading book and reading diary into school every day. Your child may not necessarily read on the same day each week so it is really important that they come prepared every day. We cannot issue the next book until the previous book has been returned. Any lost or damaged books will incur a cost of £5. Thank you for your support with this matter.