Welcome to Year 2!

The team is Miss Gyte, Mr Digby, Miss Olive and Mrs Jubb. 

Year 2 has 2 classes:

Class 5: Miss Gyte and Mrs Jubb

Class 6: Mr Digby and Miss Olive

Dates for your diaries

• Monday 13^th April – School starts back at 8:30am
• Wednesday 22^nd April – Class 6 library visit
• Wednesday 29^th April – Class 5 Library visit
•  Monday 4^th May – Bank Holiday (School closed)
• Friday 22^nd May – Last day of School
• Monday 1^st June – INSET (School closed to children)
• Tuesday 2^nd June – School starts back at 8:30am

Our learning this half term will focus on narrative writing.

In our Book Study, we will read What Is a Refugee? and My Name Is Not Refugee, which will help us think carefully about themes such as belonging, identity and change.

In our English lessons, we will also study Tomorrow. We will focus on writing narratives, where children will learn how to:

• Structure a story with a clear beginning, middle and end
• Use descriptive language to make their writing interesting
• Sequence events clearly for the reader

We will continue to develop our sentence structure, vocabulary, punctuation and editing skills throughout the term.

Reading is one of the most important skills the children need to learn at this age. We expect the children to read their book at home each day for a short time. This needs to be written in their reading record books. The books you are given will be read throughout the week and will be changed on Fridays.

As part of Readmore@Phillimore on Wednesdays we will be holding a library day. Children who have their book bag will be able to borrow a book for the week.

We will explore

1. Mass, Capacity and Temperature – measuring, comparing and solving practical problems
2. Fractions - Recognising, finding and comparing halves, quarters and thirds.
    
3. Children will continue to develop their reasoning and problem-solving skills through practical activities and real-life contexts.
4. Children will continue developing fluency in addition and their 2, 5 and 10 times tables
5. Children will complete mock SATs to prepare for June assessments.

Our Wider curriculum

Geography
In Geography, we will learn about where we live and our place in the wider world. Children will identify Darnall, Sheffield and Yorkshire, and understand that we are in the north of England. We will explore the countries and capital cities of the UK, including London, and learn about its landmarks. Children will use maps and simple compass directions to locate places such as Eyam and track how the plague spread. We will also learn about the four seasons, recognise common types of weather, and begin to understand why seasons change across the year. 

Art – Painting and Mixed Media: Life in colour
In Art, children will develop their skills in colour mixing and learn how to create different textures using paint. They will explore how primary colours can be mixed to make secondary colours and experiment with making colours lighter and darker. Children will also create collages, carefully choosing and arranging materials to achieve different effects. Throughout the unit, they will be encouraged to talk about their artwork, explain their choices and reflect on how they can improve their work.

Science – Consolidation
We will be consolidating our learning.

PE

• Skipping
• Dance (Get Set 4 PE – Year 2)
• Athletics (Get Set 4 PE – Year 2)

Our PE days are Mondays and Thursdays. Please make sure that all children are in the correct PE uniform, hair is tied up and they are not wearing jewellery. The children should come to school wearing their PE uniform on PE days.

RHE (Relationships & Health Education)

In RHE, children will learn about keeping themselves safe and understanding their bodies. They will explore the importance of consent, personal space and knowing that their body belongs to them. Children will learn the difference between secrets and surprises, and who they can talk to if they are worried. We will also learn about the stages of growing up and how people change over time, helping children to understand themselves and others.

Music – Contrasting Dynamics (Theme: Space)
In Music, children will explore how sounds can change using dynamics (loud and quiet). They will use their voices and instruments to create different sound effects and build simple soundscapes. Children will work together to compose rhythms and patterns, sometimes inspired by themes such as planets. They will also learn to listen carefully, identify changes in music and describe what they hear using musical vocabulary.

RE – How do some people talk to God?

In RE, we will explore what prayer is and why it is important to many people. Children will learn that prayer is a way of communicating with God and that people from different religions, including Hinduism and Islam, pray in different ways. We will explore special places such as mandirs and mosques, and learn how actions, objects and words can show belief. Children will also understand that people within a community can have different values and beliefs, and we will discuss respect and understanding.

Dates for your diaries

• Monday 23^rd February – School starts back at 8:30am
• Wednesday 25^th February – Class 6 library visit
• Wednesday 4^th March – Class 5 Library visit
•  Thursday 5^th March – World Book Day
• Thursday 5^th March - Y2 Links Sports Day 9:30am – 2:30pm
• WC 9^th March – Parents meetings (please sign up via class dojo)
• Friday 27^th March – Last day of School
• Monday 13^th April – School returns at 8:30am

Our learning this half term will focus on persuasion.

In our Book Study, we will read Yasmin’s Hammer and The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me, which will help us think deeply about fairness, resilience and how people respond to challenges in their lives.

In our English lessons, we will also study Vlad and the Great Fire of London. We will be focusing on the genre of persuasion, where children will learn how to:

• Present strong arguments
• Use persuasive language
• Encourage an audience to take urgent action in response to the Great Fire of London

We will develop our sentence structure, vocabulary, punctuation and editing skills throughout the term.

Reading is one of the most important skills the children need to learn at this age. We expect the children to read their book at home each day for a short time. This needs to be written in their reading record books. The books you are given will be read throughout the week and will be changed on Fridays.

As part of Readmore@Phillimore on Wednesdays we will be holding a library day. Children who have their book bag will be able to borrow a book for the week.

We will explore

1. Money – recognising coins and notes, making amounts and solving money problems
2. Length and Height – measuring and comparing using standard units
3. Mass, Capacity and Temperature – measuring, comparing and solving practical problems
4. Children will continue to develop their reasoning and problem-solving skills through practical activities and real-life contexts.
5. Children will continue developing fluency in addition and their 2, 5 and 10 times tables

Our Wider curriculum

History – The Great Fire of London
We will explore the events of 1666, understand why the fire spread so quickly, and consider how London changed as a result.

GeographyWe will learn about Sweden and Pakistan and compare them with the UK, exploring similarities and differences in climate, culture and geography.

Design & Technology – Mechanisms: Moving Monsters

Children will explore simple mechanisms such as levers and sliders to design and create their own moving monster.

Science – Plants
We will investigate how plants grow, what they need to survive, and observe changes over time.

Computing
Children will learn what algorithms are and how to create and debug simple programs.

PE

• Skipping
• Dance (Get Set 4 PE – Year 2)

Our PE days are Mondays and Thursdays. Please make sure that all children are in the correct PE uniform, hair is tied up and they are not wearing jewellery. The children should come to school wearing their PE uniform on PE days.

RHE

We will explore Fake News – understanding what it is and how to question information, Who am I? – exploring identity and individuality and How can I stay safe? – learning strategies to keep safe in different situations

Music

Music – Contrasting Dynamics (Theme: Space)
We will explore loud and quiet sounds, building contrast in our music inspired by space

RE

We will learn about prophets in Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and understand why they are important in each faith.