Year 2
Eager Earthworms and Fearless Fireflies
Year 2 Team
Useful Information
PE
Academy lunches
Please see our Academy Lunches page for more information.
Letters
Please see the Letters Home page for copies of important letters that have been sent home.
Academy Curriculum Overviews
Year 2 Start of Year Newsletter
What Year 2 have been up to this week...
- Term 5 Update 2022
- Term 4 Update 2022
- 14 - 18 February
- 7 - 11 February
- 24 - 28 January
- 17 - 21 January
- 10 - 14 January
- 03 - 07 January
- 6 - 10 December
- 29 November - 3 December
- 22 - 26 November
- 15-19 November
- 8-12 November
- 1-5 November
- 18-22 October
- 11-15 October
- 4-8 October
- 27 September - 1 October
Term 5 Update 2022
This term in English, we have been exploring the text ‘Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah’ by Laurie Ann Thompson. We have spent time unpicking the main character, the journey he goes on throughout the story and how he has overcome challenges in his life. Children have found Emmanuel’s story of how he overcame a physical disability and cycled across Ghana spreading an important message to be very inspiring.
Our Maths learning this term has focused on basic arithmetic skills such as adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing, as well as finding fractions of amounts. We have also started to look at telling the time to 15-minute intervals, learning about o’clock, half past, quarter past and quarter to times. We have looked at one and two step word problems, interpreting what they are asking us to do and what operations we need to use to solve them. Some of these have even involved money, and we have been exploring what it means to receive change when you pay for an item and how to calculate it.
In our whole class guided reading lessons we have continued to learn about the different VIPERS skills (Vocabulary, Inference, Prediction, Explanation, Retrieval and Summarising). We have explored a range of different fiction and non-fiction texts together as a whole class, learning lots of new vocabulary and the skills needed to answer a variety of questions. Recently, we have been looking at stories from different countries, such as the Philippines.
We have also completed our SATS this term. Children have worked so hard and focused so well on these tricky quizzes and should be very proud of their resilience, even when some questions were challenging. We have also had a special party to celebrate the children and their efforts.
Our Geography and History this term centred around the Olympic Games. In Geography, we learnt about the continents and where different Olympic Games have been held. We learned about the North and South Pole and the Equator and used compass points to navigate to Olympic venues that were close to these on a map. Our History learning taught us about important moments in Olympic History, such as Jesse Owens’ historic victories at the Berlin Games and John Carlos and Tommie Smith’s stand against racism and segregation in America at the Mexico City Games. Our D&T learning also made links to this topic as we used clay to create our own Olympic medals, which we engraved with the Olympic rings. In Art, we have been exploring the work of Joan Miró and have been learning what sculpture is. We have made our own sculptures in the style of Miró, and have also designed our own artist’s signatures and then turned these into sculptures as well, learning a variety of different ways to attach pieces together and support them so that they stand upright.
We hope you enjoyed reading about what we have been up to this term and hope you have a lovely half term. We look forward to welcoming you back on Monday 6th June.
Term 4 Update 2022
This term in English, we have been exploring the text ‘Halibut Jackson’ by David Lucas. We have spent time unpicking the main character, the journey he goes on through the story and how events change his character. We have spent time looking at the techniques used by the author to engage the reader such as alliteration, repetition and dialogue. We have then applied these within our own writing alongside all the new vocabulary we have learnt.
Our Maths learning this term has covered shapes and fractions. We have learnt about the properties of both 2D and 3D shapes. In our fractions unit we have learnt how to recognise and find halves, quarters and thirds and used our knowledge to solve problems.
In our whole class guided reading lessons we have been learning about the different VIPERS skills (Vocabulary, Inference, Prediction, Explanation, Retrieval and Summarising). We have explored longer texts together as a whole class learning lots of new vocabulary and the skills needed to answer a variety of questions. Some of our texts have linked to our Science learning which has been a great recap for us.
We have been busy carrying out investigations in Science this term. At the beginning of the unit we were reminded of the effects of climate change and how it can cause extreme weather events such as hurricanes. We were challenged to investigate which material would be the best to build a house from in an area prone to hurricanes. We used our knowledge of materials from earlier in the year to make predictions before investigating which materials were strong and waterproof.
Our Geography and History linked to our theme ‘Building a Sustainable World’. We learnt about the global goals set out by the United Nations and focused on goal number 8 which is to promote decent work and economic growth. In Geography, we learnt about projects around the world working to promote sustainable employment and in History we found out what Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale did for nursing and the world. Our D&T learning also made links to our global goal as people around the world often make their own products to sell if they are not able to find decent work. We designed and made mobile phone pouches because we knew this was a product in demand, as almost all adults in the UK own a mobile phone. To do our part to make a difference we then sold these and the money we raised will go to the Village Enterprise charity that equips and empowers first-time entrepreneurs in Africa with resources and skills to start sustainable businesses. To find out more visit https://villageenterprise.org/ .
We hope you enjoyed reading about what we have been up to this term and hope you have a lovely Easter break. We look forward to welcoming you back on Monday 25th April.
14 - 18 February
In English this week, our focus has been on non-fiction texts, specifically biographies. We have learnt about the life of Mary Seacole and shared the stories of other incredible women from the book ‘Bold Women in Black History’. We then wrote our own biographies on Queen Victoria, making links to our history learning this term. In Maths, we have been drawing and interpreting pictograms further.
This week we took part in the ‘World’s Largest Lesson’. It has been given this name as many children around the world are taking part and because the world needs to learn this lesson. We began to explore the 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. Year 2 will be focusing on global goal 8 - decent work and economic growth. Over the next term we will be looking at different types of jobs and what the UN has done around the world to help people get jobs. We will be thinking about what we can do to raise awareness of being a fair employer and think about what we will look for in a job when we are older.
The Year 2 team hope you have a lovely break after a long and busy half term. We will look forward to welcoming the children back on Monday 28th February.
Reminders
Please ensure iPads are fully charged each day.
Please remember to record in your child’s reading record each day you read with them.
Spellings
This spelling list is for Friday March 4th.
The rule is that if the word has 1 syllable (a word with one vowel sound), 1 vowel and it ends in 1 consonant, you double the final consonant before you add ‘ing’,
patting
humming
dropping
running
hopping
clapping
sitting
flipping
wrapping
slipping
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
Year 2 Learning Games (padlet.com)
Times Tables Rock Stars (focus on 2s,5s and 10s).
Spelling Shed
Sumdog
7 - 11 February
In English this week, we have been learning about the features of acrostic poems. We then wrote our own poems based on the theme ‘This is Me’.
In Maths, our new unit is on statistics, and we have been learning how to make tally charts, draw and interpret pictograms.
There has been lots of DT taking place in Year 2 this week. We have been using sliders and levers to construct moving pictures.
Reminders
PE day in Week 7 will be on Wednesday 16th February.
Victorian school experience day- Thursday 17th February
Please ensure iPads are fully charged each day.
Please remember to record in your child’s reading record each day you read with them.
Spellings
Our spelling rule is adding the suffixes -er, -ed and -est to words that end with ‘e’.
nicer
writer
baker
hoped
loved
largest
closest
looser
safer
simpler
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
Year 2 Learning Games (padlet.com)
Times Tables Rock Stars (focus on 2s,5s and 10s).
Spelling Shed
Sumdog
24 - 28 January
In Maths, we have been learning to divide numbers by grouping and sharing. Hit the button (https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button) has division fact practise if children are keen to practise at home. Fluency in counting in 2s,5s and 10s will support learning of division facts. Any extra practise of this at home would be really appreciated by the year 2 team!
In History, we have been comparing toys from the Victorian era with modern toys. The children noticed there were quite a few similarities and were excited to learn that some toys from Victorian times are still around today.
In Music, we have been exploring rhythm and pitch on the xylophones and challenging ourselves to learn some simple tunes.
In Science, we have been considering the suitability of materials for different objects. For example, is wood a suitable material for a T-shirt? The children used their reasoning skills and science knowledge to explain why they would choose a certain material.
Reminders
Please ensure your child has a warm, waterproof coat in school daily.
Please ensure iPads are fully charged each day.
Please remember to record in your child’s reading record each day you read with them.
Spellings
This week are spellings focus on adding -ing to words that end with ‘e’.
hiking
shining
surprising
joking
hoping
smiling
loving
writing
coming
caring
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
Year 2 Learning Games (padlet.com)
Times Tables Rock Stars (focus on 2s,5s and 10s).
Spelling Shed
Sumdog
17 - 21 January
Year 2 have loved developing their map skills in Geography this week. We have been focusing on maps on the school. We found different places of interest around the school and went outside to find different locations.
In History this week, we have been comparing the clothes worn by Victorians to present day clothes.
In Science we put our investigation skills into action finding out how different materials change shape.
Our DT focus this term is on making Victorian toys. We learnt that thaumatropes were designed by John Ayrton Paris in 1825. Images are drawn on 2 separate disks and when the thaumatrope is spun, they appear to combine. We ma enjoyed coming up with designs and then testing them once made.
Reminders
Please ensure your child has a warm, waterproof coat in school daily.
Please ensure iPads are fully charged each day.
Please remember to record in your child’s reading record each day you read with them.
Spellings
This week are spellings focus on adding the -er and -est suffix to words that end in ‘y’.
happier
happiest
angrier
angriest
drier
driest
tidy
tidier
funnier
funniest
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
Year 2 Learning Games (padlet.com)
Times Tables Rock Stars
Spelling Shed
Sumdog
10 - 14 January
In English, Year 2 have started writing their innovated version of ‘Grandad’s Island’. Our focus has been on use of an apostrophe to show possession and high level vocabulary.
In maths, we have been learning how arrays can help us when multiplying.
In History, we recalled key dates and facts about the Victorian Era. We used our knowledge of Queen Victoria to create a top trump card.
In Geography, we compared photos, aerial images and maps of our school grounds thinking about the key differences between them.
We continued our learning about materials in Science, this week learning about whether a material is natural or man-made.
The children were very excited to get the xylophones out in music and begin to explore the sounds they can create using them.
Reminders
Please ensure your child has a warm, waterproof coat in school daily.
Please ensure iPads are fully charged each day.
Please remember to record in your child’s reading record each day you read with them.
Spellings
Spellings for 21st January are as follows:
copied
replied
spied
fried
applied
relied
identified
multiplied
magnified
supplied
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
Year 2 Learning Games (padlet.com)
Times Tables Rock Stars
Spelling Shed
Sumdog
03 - 07 January
It has been so lovely to welcome Year 2 back after the Christmas break! The children have settled back into classroom routines really well.
We have explored our new English text ‘Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies and used our knowledge of making equal groups to begin to write multiplication sentences.
Our afternoons have had a PSHE focus, looking at ways to keep safe. We have discussed ‘Clever Never Goes’ which teaches children that they must never go anywhere with anyone, a stranger or a familiar face, unless plans have been made. We have talked about what private means and that some parts of our body are not for sharing with anybody else. We have also revisited some key points about keeping safe online and road safety.
In Science, our unit this term is ‘Use of everyday materials. This week we explored the properties of different materials and began to consider why certain materials are used to make things.
Reminders
Please ensure your child has a warm, waterproof coat in school daily.
Please ensure iPads are fully charged each day.
Please remember to record in your child’s reading record each day you read with them.
Spellings
Spellings for 14th January are as follows:
flies
supplies
replies
cries
copies
babies
carries
spies
tries
lorries
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
Year 2 Learning Games (padlet.com)
Times Tables Rock Stars
Spelling Shed
Sumdog
6 - 10 December
Year 2 Newsletter
What a great term we have had in Year 2. We are so proud of how much more independent the children have become with their learning over the past term. This week we have been finishing our curriculum learning.
In Maths, we have continued our learning on money and have been learning how to find change from a given amount. ‘The Change Game’ is a great game to practise finding change at home. Please find the link below.
In History, we have been comparing holidays in Victorian times to present day. We were surprised to learn there are lots of similarities!
We have been busy practising songs for our Christmas performance. We are very excited for the show!
We have lots of lovely festive activities planned for the last week of term. The children are certainly ready for this after all their hard work.
Thank you for all your support this term. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Miss Lyons & Miss Newbery
Date for the diary/Reminders
Wednesday 15th December-Christmas Performance
Thursday 16th December- Class Party
-
Children can wear their own clothes.
Friday 17th December- Toy Day.
-
Children can bring a sensible toy (nothing valuable) to school and wear a Christmas jumper or own clothes.
Spellings
No spellings. Enjoy a relaxing break!
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
Year 2 Learning Games (padlet.com)
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/money/coins-game
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/money/toy-shop-money
https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-5-8/the-change-game/
29 November - 3 December
Year 2 Newsletter
In English, our new text is ‘Meerkat Mail’. The children are in the process of innovating the story to write their own journey tale.
In Maths, we have been finding totals by adding notes and coins.
In Science this week, we learnt about one of the most precious resources on the planet- water. We learnt about a girl who must walk 8 hours a day to collect water for her family! We thought about the ways in which we use water in our day to day lives and how we can help reduce the amount of water that is wasted each day.
In Geography, the children loved recapping the names of the seven continents with a catchy song. We learnt about weather patterns around the world and how those continents that sit along the equator have a hotter climate.
Last week, the children produced some fantastic Art work using a variety of techniques learnt during skills lessons.
Date for the diary
Christmas Performance- Wednesday 15th December
Reminders
You should have all received a letter about your child’s costume for our Christmas performance. Please ensure these are in school by Wednesday 8th December.
iPads continue to be used regularly for learning so please ensure these are charged ready for the first week back.
Spellings
Spellings for next week:
wild
climb
most
only
both
old
cold
gold
hold
told
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
Year 2 Learning Games (padlet.com)
22 - 26 November
Year 2 Newsletter
In English, we have been using the letter writing skills we have learnt to write a letter from the perspective of a seagull. We have been so impressed with the vocabulary the children have been using in their writing.
In Maths this week, we have begun our new unit in which we are learning about money. We have been learning to recognise different coins and notes. The children have been adding coins together to find a total. There are some great games on Topmarks.com that the children are familiar with that they could use to practise at home (links below).
In Science this week, we were learning about non-renewable and renewable energy sources. We talked about the different things we can do to reduce our energy use and be energy superheroes.
In Geography, we revisited last week’s learning about landmarks. The children recreated some famous UK landmarks using junk modelling. In History, we learnt about Isambard Kingdom Brunel and used the facts we had learnt to create fact files.
Date for the diary
Christmas Performance- Wednesday 15th December
Reminders
iPads continue to be used regularly for learning so please ensure these are charged ready for the first week back.
Please send in costumes for the Christmas performance in with your child by Wednesday 8th December.
Spellings
Our spelling rule for next week is that the /l/ sound at the end of words can be spelt ‘il’.
pencil
pupil
April
nostril
evil
every
everybody
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
Year 2 Learning Games (padlet.com)
15-19 November
In English, we have finished writing our letters. We have been so impressed by the children’s understanding of lots of new vocabulary. We hope you enjoy reading some snippets from them.
We have been working so hard to master column subtraction this week in Maths. We are so proud of them! Any opportunities to practise addition and subtraction of numbers within 20 at home will really help your child’s number fluency.
We had an exciting visit from some local police officers. They explained what their role in our community is and showed us the equipment they use to support them in their job. Miss Newbery even got locked in the back of the police riot van!
In Science this week Year 2 have been learning about what happens to our household waste once it gets collected. We learnt about the three R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle) and how following these can limit unnecessary waste. The children had a go at sorting recycling into the correct colour boxes. It would be great for them to get some real life practise at home!
In Geography, we learnt what a landmark is and found out facts about some famous landmarks in the UK. In History, we compared life in the Victorian times to life now. In Art, we experimented with water colours and use cling film and salt to create different effects.
Date for the diary
Christmas Performance- Wednesday 15th December
Reminders
iPads continue to be used regularly for learning so please ensure these are charged ready for the first week back.
Spellings
Our spelling rule for next week is that the /l/ sound at the end of words can be spelt ‘el’
metal
hospital
animal
equal
capital
people
everyone
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
8-12 November
Year 2 Newsletter
Having studied the structure of a letter last week, we have begun to innovate the letter we received using our own ideas. The children having been challenging themselves to include the new vocabulary we have learnt. We can’t wait to share photos of some finished letters next week.
In maths, we have been securing the use of the column method to add. The children have learnt how to regroup 10 ones to a ten and how this is represented when using this method. We are currently learning to use the same method to subtract. Any opportunity to practise adding numbers within 10 at home will really help your child’s number fluency.
In Science this week Year 2 have been learning about global warming and its impact on Earth. We learnt that the atmosphere is warming up due to increased greenhouse gases and that this is causing sea ice to melt, flooding, droughts, and powerful storms. We designed posters to demonstrate our understanding of the global impact.
In History, we discussed the royal family. We learnt that a monarch is a king or queen. We had fun discussing some different rules and deciding if we would bring them in if we were king or queen. Lots of the children seem keen to learn to drive but not so keen on only being able to buy chocolate from the queen.
Date for the diary
Christmas Performance- Wednesday 15th December
Reminders
iPads continue to be used regularly for learning so please ensure these are charged ready for the first week back.
Spellings
Our spelling rule for next week is that the /l/ sound at the end of words can be spelt ‘el’
travel
towel
vowel
angel
tinsel
Mr
Mrs
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
1-5 November
We hope you all enjoyed half term. The children have settled back in well and have hit the ground running with this term’s learning.
Our text in English is ‘The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch’ by Ronda and David Armitage. This week we shared the text and discussed some of the key vocabulary. We then received a letter telling us about what had happened to the main character, Mr Grinling. We have studied the structure of the letter in preparation to write our own innovated versions.
In maths, we have been adding 2 digit numbers and have begun to learn how to use the column method.
Our afternoons this week have focused on Black History Month and Remembrance Day.
We spent time talking about what makes us unique. The children created posters which they then spent time sharing with their classmates. We found out about a girl called Marley Dias who loves reading but didn’t see herself represented by characters in the books in school. She decided that she would find as many books as she could with black girls as the main character. The children then designed a character that they would like to see in a book.
We learnt about the work of the armed forces and the role of the cadets. We discussed why Remembrance Day is important and why poppies are used as a symbol.
Reminders
iPads continue to be used regularly for learning so please ensure these are charged.
As the weather is starting to get colder, please make sure your child brings a coat to school.
It is great to see so many children enjoying their reading books at home. Please remember to record in your child’s reading record each day you read with them.
Spellings
Our spelling rule this week is ‘le’ makes the /l/ sound at the end of a word.
little
apple
middle
table
bottle
some
come
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
18-22 October
What a great first term the children have had in Year 2! We are so proud of how well they have settled into their new classes and all the fantastic learning that has taken place.
We have thoroughly enjoyed reading the children’s stories which they have finished writing this week. It is lovely to see the children making careful choices with the vocabulary they have chosen to use which we have talked a lot about this term.
As part of Black History Month, we looked at the work Marcus Rashford has done to help others.
We hope you have a lovely half term break and we look forward to welcoming the children back on Monday 1st November.
Reminders
iPads continue to be used regularly for learning so please ensure these are charged ready for the first week back.
As the weather is starting to get colder, please make sure your child brings a coat to school.
It is great to see so many children enjoying their reading books at home. Please remember to record in your child’s reading record each day you read with them.
Spellings
There are no spellings to learn over half term. Spellings for the first week back (Friday 5th November) will be as follows:
write
wrong
wrap
wrecked
wriggle
what
why
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
11-15 October
This week we have begun to pull all our amazing ideas together to write our narratives. The children are innovating the story of ‘The Tear Thief’ by making their own choices about aspects such as the main character and the story setting. They have been making careful language and working hard to create powerful descriptions by using expanded noun phrases and similies.
In Maths, we have been exploring different strategies to help up add number together.
In Science, we learnt about how important a healthy diet is for growth and development. The children sorted foods into different food groups on a healthy plate.
The children enjoyed looking at photos of some more geographical features of the UK and India. They made comparisons between the features of the two countries.
In Art, the children have started to create self portraits inspired by Picasso. We are looking forward to showing you some of the finished portraits on the website next week!
In RE, the children learnt about Rosh Hashanah which is the Jewish festival that celebrates the start of the New Year. We learnt about the special things Jewish people do and eat the celebrate.
Reminders
As the weather is starting to get colder, please make sure your child brings a coat to school.
It is great to see so many children enjoying their reading books at home. Please remember to record in your child’s reading record each day you read with them.
Spellings
There will be no spelling test this week as we have a school INSET day on Friday 22nd October.
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
4-8 October
This week we have been getting ready to write our own innovated version of ‘The Tear Thief’. The children have created a story map and began to think about the language they want to include in their narrative.
In Maths, we have been recapping number bonds to ten and adding numbers within 20. Hit the Button (https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button) is a great game to build fluency with number bonds if you get a chance to practise at home.
The children enjoyed learning about the ways that exercise affects our bodies. As a class, we did different exercises for a minute and then observed the changes in our bodies.
In geography, we studied maps of our local area. We talked about the different services we have close to where we live. The children mapped the different services close to school and created symbols for each in a key.
The children loved creating art influenced by Indian culture. We looked at rangoli and mehndi patterns ahead of the children creating their own.
Spellings
Our spelling rule this week is that ‘kn’ can make a /n/ sound at the beginning of a word. Our spelling test will take place on 15th October.
knee
knock
know
knew
knight
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
27 September - 1 October
This week the children have produced excellent writing linked to our text ‘The Tear Thief’. We have been discussing different emotions and how we can use similies to create powerful descriptions for readers.
In Maths, we have been identifying one more/less and ten more/less using a hundred square. We have also been finding missing numbers on a number line
In science, we looked at the life cycles of humans, butterflies and frogs. The children had lots of fantastic questions for us to discuss.
The children have really enjoyed studying our local area in Geography and History. We have been revisiting our knowledge of the countries that make up the UK and naming capital cities and the seas that surround us.
Thank you for ensuring your child’s iPad comes into school fully charged every day. Just as a reminder, please ensure all uniform is named so we can easily reunite any lost property.
Spellings
Our spelling rule this week is that the letter c before e, y and i makes an /s/ sound. Our spelling test will take place on 8th October.
race
city
space
circle
ice
Home Learning
Please follow the link below to a Padlet which contains links to lots of great games your child can play at home to support their learning.
Homework
No homework has been set here yet
Times Tables
Times tables are essential mathematical skills and we teach them in some form every day. With a sound understanding, children are able to progress their numeracy skills and become more confident with numbers.
When it comes to times tables, speed AND accuracy are important. We would like to ask you to help your son/daughter with some times tables practise for 5 minutes a day. There are many websites specifically set up to help children make rapid progress and build their confidence. Here are three that you can use:
Sumdog
Any time you can spend supporting your child to improve their times table will make a big difference.