Welcome to Year 2
Summer Term 1
This half term our topic focus will be Geography. Our key question is ‘What is it like to live by the coast?’ We will explore the human and physical features that can be found along the UK coastlines, and we will also learn how these impact the people living there. We will learn the difference between a sea and an ocean and the different animals that live there. Finally, we will learn ways of keeping our oceans safe for animals and we will create a piece of artwork using recycled materials that might have otherwise found their way to the ocean.
In English, our core text will be Traction Man! By Mini Grey. Please follow this link to see the story.
We will complete 3 written tasks:
After listening to the story and carefully studying the illustrations the children will share their favourite one with their friends by writing a setting description for one of the places where Traction Man has an adventure.
The children will use an informal tone to write a postcard to Grandma from Traction Man from the setting they described in the previous writing outcome.
The children will plan a story for Traction Man visiting their school, including an exciting event where Traction Man needs to help save the day. They will design all aspects of their story.
Our Maths lessons will focus on measurement. We will use rulers to measure simple objects to the nearest centimetre and order sets of lengths measured in centimetres and metres. Next, we will move on to learning about the properties of 2D and 3D shapes The children will learn to describe and sort shapes based on
the shapes’ mathematical properties, using the correct terminology whilst doing so.
In PSHE we will be learning to stay safe and healthy with a focus on healthy bodies and healthy minds. This will also include learning about safe and unsafe use of household products and medicines.
In Science, our unit continues to be: Animals including humans and our key enquiry question is: What do animals and humans need to survive?
We will:
- Describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival
- Describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food and hygiene
- Learn that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults.
- Describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using simple food chains.
- Carry out comparative tests
- Ask questions to find out more about the human body and animals
In RE our topic will be ‘How can we look after our planet?’ The children will learn about the views of different religions/beliefs regarding the origins of the world. They will consider the ways in which religious and non-religious individuals and organisations show care and concern for the planet. This unit builds on the EYFS unit ‘Our beautiful world’, by extending an understanding of all people as belonging to groups and sharing a group identity, which may be expressed through actions and beliefs. This unit also places the foundations for later units of work in Year 3 on caring for our world.
In Art the children will develop their knowledge and skills with clay that they have studied through their previous units of work. They will develop various art and
design techniques using colour, texture, form and space. They will learn about the work of various artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines and making links to their own work.
In computing we are going to be having lots of fun creating media using stop motion on the I pads. We will be storyboarding and learning about simple animation such as flip books before then moving on to using ‘Stop Motion Studio’ to create our space themed animation.
In Music we will develop our knowledge and understanding of dynamics, timbre, tempo and instruments. We will also begin learning to compose and play motifs.
Previous Learning
Spring term 2
This half term our topic focus will be History. We will be learning about how and why people explore. To do this we will focus on the adventures of Ibn Battuta, Ernest Shackleton and also Neil Armstrong.
Our Maths lessons will build on previous work where equal groups were introduced as a key idea for multiplying and dividing. We will focus on two methods of division (grouping and sharing), and how to calculate using these two different strategies. The children will be introduced to the division sign (÷) and will learn the importance of equal groups when dividing, and how to distinguish between the number of equal groups and the number in one group.
In English, our core text is a wonderful story called 'The Great Kapok Tree' By Lynne Cherry. We will be using this text to help inspire us when writing character descriptions and information pages about the Amazon rainforest. We will also write letters explaining why cutting down the rainforest is harmful to nature.
In Science we will continue the unit Animals Including Humans. The children will learn about the basic needs for all humans to survive. They will study the importance of exercise, a healthy diet and good hygiene as ways to keep us healthy. They will also look at the offspring of different animals and how they develop and change into adults as they grow.
In DT the children will be introduced to the fundamentals of mechanical design by creating a moving monster. Through practical activities, they will design and construct a monster with moving parts, using creative materials to represent features like fur, scales, and claws.
Computing has links to our history topic, through data handling the children will be learning how astronauts survive on the ISS, including identifying necessary items, designing sensor displays and exploring habitable planets.
During our Music lessons the children will be taking inspiration from composer Gustav Holst as they develop their knowledge and understanding of dynamics using instruments; learning to compose and play rhythms to represent planets.
As last half term, in RE we will continue to learn about how and why people pray. This half term we will focus on Islam, Sikhi, Christianity and also non-religious views.
In PE we will be completing a unit of work focused on gymnastics.
Our PSHE topic explores the importance and diversity of families, and the characteristics of healthy, positive family relationships. It enables children to recognise when they may feel unsafe and how to ask for help if they need it.
Spring term 1
In Geography our key enquiry question is: How would life be different if I lived in Africa? The children will learn to locate Africa on a globe, use aerial photos to identify landmarks and highlight human and physical features. They will create a map of a chosen African settlement and then construct basic symbols to be used in a key. They will also comment and make observations about what they can see in as well as draw simple features (e.g. buildings, roads, trees) and label these diagrams. They will explore whether all areas of Africa the same and why is Africa so much warmer than the UK. They will also consider what are the differences between Kenya and England including how Nairobi and London compare. Finally, we will make sure there's time for listening to different types of African music and lots of dancing!
In Maths, there will be a focus on addition and subtraction of money using part-whole models and bar models, in addition to counting methods enabling children to find the most efficient strategies, such as counting on from the coin or note of highest value to find the total. Children work with pounds, pence and notes, and towards the end of the unit they will work with pounds and pence together.
In English, We will continue to work through the Place Value of Punctuation units before moving on to writing a text of our own based on Little Red Riding Hood.
In Science, our unit is Animals including humans and our key enquiry question is: Why do we need to keep healthy?
In Art the children will develop their knowledge of colour theory and create landscapes using complementary colours. The key enquiry question is How can artists use colour?
In computing we will begin by learning about how to stay safe online and then we will learn more about word processing.
In Music the children will learn West African call and response songs
In RE our key question is: How and why do some people pray? As we explore this we will focus on Christianity, Islam and Sikhi.
In PE we will be completing a unit of work focused on dance.
In PSHE we will finish the similarities and difference unit and then move on to Caring and Responsibility. We will think about and discuss the special people in our lives. We will consider why they are special and how they care for and keep us safe.
Autumn term 2
In History our key enquiry question is: What changed after the Great Fire of London? We will be exploring the causes and consequences of the 1666 fire.
In Maths, We will progress to addition and subtraction involving two 2-digit numbers, like last half term, we will learn to represent the steps within these calculations visually with different resources.
In English, We will use what we learnt last half term to help us build singe clause sentences.
In Science, our unit is Animals and their Habitats and our key enquiry question is: Why do animals live in different places?
In DT we will be designing and creating a small chair for baby bear.
In computing we will be learning about algorithms and debugging.
In Music the children will continue learning about music inspired by different areas of the British Isles before moving on to leaning about orchestral instruments.
In RE our key question is: How can we make good choices?
In PE we will be completing a unit of work on multi-skills.
Autumn term 1
In Geography our key enquiry question is: What are the similarities and differences between living in Todmorden and London? We will be learning about and then comparing the main human and physical features of two settlements.
In English, we will begin learning about verbs and nouns and how these are used when writing sentences.
In Maths we will focus on our ability to read and use numbers to 100 in a variety of contexts.
In Science, our unit is Uses of Everyday Materials and our key enquiry question is: How can everyday materials be used? .
In Art we will learn about monochromatic patterns, shapes and styles which will help us design a mehndi pattern.
In computing we will be learning about computing systems and networks.
In Music we will be learning about the music of the British Isles and creating music of our own. We will compose a piece of music as part of a group and evaluate and improve a group composition.
In RE our key question is: How is new life welcomed?
The children will learn how babies are welcomed into families. They will think about why it is important to welcome people and especially new babies. They will study initiation rites including infant baptism and the aqiqah.
In PE we will be learning about team games.
Meet the staff...
Year 2's Bookshelf
These are some of the texts that we will be learning about and learning from this year.
Ferney Lee Road, Todmorden,
Lancs, OL14 5NR
01706 254848
admin@ferneylee.calderdale.sch.uk