Information for children and parents
September 2007
Welcome to Year 2. We have put together the following information to help you and your child to settle into Year 2, give you and a snapshot of what we shall be up to over the following term and how you can help your child. The curriculum may change slightly to match the abilities and needs of the children in our year group. If you have any questions please contact one of the Year 2 teachers.
Reading Books
Children are encouraged to change their reading books as necessary. To support them in reading they will read twice a week to an adult in school during our Guided Reading Sessions.
Reading diaries will be checked and signed at least once a week. Please feel free to use these as a means of communication.
PE and Games
Your child will need a PE kit (shorts, white t-shirt and pumps) and a games kit as above. In cold weather a tracksuit may be worn.
2BG will have PE on
Tuesday and Games on Wednesday.
2B will have PE on
Friday and games on Wednesday, but this is to be confirmed.
Please ensure that all kit and uniform is labelled.
Homework
Your child will be bringing a homework pack home on Friday 21st September. This will include Literacy and Numeracy homework for the
Literacy
During this term in line with the Revised Primary Strategy we will be covering the following:
Labels, List, Signs And Captions– this will involve the children making labels for their classroom.
Narrative Stories In Familiar Settings– the children will explore story structures and use role play to motivate them when writing their own stories.
Instructions And Recipes– this will involve adding ingredients, re-ordering
muddled recipes and inventing their own. Yummy!?
Poetry Patterns On A Page– poems with strong rhyme and rhythm for the children to learn by heart.
Explanations– children will identify features of non-fiction and explanation texts.
Poetry Really Looking– poems on the theme of dark and light.
In line with School Policy, we will be teaching joined handwriting. Further
information including examples will be sent shortly. We shall be following
Letters And Sounds for the teaching of phonics.
Numeracy
During this term we will be covering the following Units, this also reflects the Revised Numeracy Framework:
Counting to 100- using number lines and 100 squares
Place Value– two digits numbers, tens and units.
Addition And Subtraction– exploring ways to do mental calculations more
efficiently.
Money And Real Life Problems– focusing on how to solve problems (lots of oral work).
Measures Including Problems– includes time and
measurement of length.
Shape And Space– properties of common 2 and 3D shapes.
Mental Calculation Strategies- introducing x2.
Handling Data– solving problems by sorting, classifying and organising information.
Science
During this term we will be covering two units of work.
The first of these is Forces And Movement; during this work we will investigate how pushes and pulls affect the movement and shape of objects.
Our second unit will be Using Electricity; during this topic the children will explore the essential role that electricity plays in everyday life. We will also be looking at hazards associated with electricity.Everything Else!!
History – Why Do We Remember Florence Nightingale? This will include looking at why she is still important today.
Geography – Global Eye. This will introduce the children to the continent of Africa and the work of charities to improve eye care.
Design Technology – Making A Wheeled Vehicle. The children will use a range of skills to construct a Victorian bathing hut.
Art – Portraits. In this work children will produce a range of self portraits to communicate ideas about themselves.
RE – Special Books. Looking at the special books and stories in Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
ICT – Making Picture. The children will be using graphic software to produce pictures in the style of Mondrian and Jackson Pollock.
Theme weeks We will be having a Book Week the week beginning 15th October, this will conclude with dressing up as a favourite book character on Thursday 18th October. You may want to start thinking of ideas now! Sometime during this week we will be having a bedtime story afternoon - pyjamas optional!!
During the second half of the term we will be having a Christmas Craft session - you are all welcome to attend.
At present we have no visits planned for this term, although we are currently
arranging class visits to the library and pantomime. Details to follow once
confirmed.
Help Required!
Do you have any special skills or experiences that you would like to share with the children? If so please contact one of the staff in Year 2. You could come in for a one off session or a regular slot!
At the moment we are particularly interested in finding people to read with individuals or small groups, but admin help is also welcome.
During Book Week we would like a range of adults to share a love of books with our children.
More details to follow.