Year Two autumn term

Please check Google Classroom for homework/remote learning tasks and lessons

Maths

We begin by learning about the place value of numbers up to 100 and then progress to adding and subtracting within that 100. Multiplication and division is later introduced this term where children learn new vocabulary e.g. 'lots of, groups of, share between...'

English

The children begin the year by inferring from the picture book 'Flotsam' and retelling the story. They then move on to writing their own stories using a story mountain structure. Within this term, the children also read Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Fantastic Mr Fox to create character and setting descriptions.

Read, Write, Inc.

Children receive phonics tuition in small ability groups for 40 minutes from Monday to Thursday. Two books are sent home weekly to read daily at home. One book is their colour coded RWI book including the sounds that they have been working on that week and the other is a 'share with me book' from our class library for children to attempt to read or get read to.

Science

Our 'Developing Experts' scheme offers exciting opportunities for investigation and new learning to be built upon prior learning. The unit ‘Animals, including humans 1 - Growth’ takes children through a sequence of lessons where they learn how to notice that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults. They find out about and describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival (water, food and air) and finally they learn how to describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food, and hygiene.

The unit ‘Plants’ teaches the children how to: observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants; and find out and describe how plants need water, light and suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy.

History

We settle the children back into school after the summer break by learning all about the history of 'Our School'. We invite a previous student of our school to share his own experiences of his time in school back when things were different to how they are today. The children look at maps and photographs to compare and contrast the past and present St Joseph's.

Just before breaking up for Christmas, the children learn about Guy Fawkes and delve into British History. They learn about the gunpowder plot and discuss what impact this has had on today.

Geography

Year 2 begin to build upon Year 1 knowledge of the Earth and learn about 'Continents and Oceans'. This is introduced in the Autumn term so that they can then progress into learning about how location of continents affects climate conditions.

Art

The children learn about colouring mixing of primary colours to make secondary colours through the theme Seascapes. They use water colour paints to blend colours and wash them into each other on their drawing of the seascape. They explore with pattern and lines to reflect artists' inspiration.

PSHE

Music

Music lessons are delivered by Miss Ridley from RockItMusic on Friday mornings. Children learn keyboard, drum, glockenspiel and steel pan skills. 

DT

The focus for our DT week this term is Level Mechanisms. 

We invite parents/guardians into school to help us to create a litter picker using a level mechanism that the children have been learning all about.