Welcome to Year 2
Our Class Teachers are Mrs Levinsohn and Mrs Sumser
Autumn 2
Welcome to Year 2
Our Class Teachers are Mrs Levinsohn and Mrs Sumser
Our Curriculum
Geography - The United Kingdom
In Geography, Year 2 will become explorers of the United Kingdom. They will identify its four countries and capital cities, locate major cities using compass directions, and investigate both human and physical features across the UK. Children will also explore the different types of weather we experience and discuss some of the traditional foods and customs that make our country unique.
Key Enquiry Questions:
1. Which countries make up the United Kingdom and what are their capital cities?
2. What are some of the human features of the United Kingdom?
3. What are some of the physical features of the United Kingdom?
4. What types of weather do we have in the United Kingdom?
5. What do people eat in the United Kingdom that is special to this country?
Science – Fighting Fit
In Science this half term, Year 2 will continue to learn about how to stay healthy in our Fighting Fit unit. We will explore how animals, including humans, have offspring that grow into adults and find out about the basic needs for survival—water, food and air. Children will also learn about the importance of exercise, hygiene and eating a balanced diet to keep our bodies healthy and strong.
Maths
In Maths this half term, Year 2 will be learning about multiplication and division. Children will recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2-, 5- and 10-times tables, use arrays and repeated addition to solve problems, and begin to understand that multiplication can be done in any order, while division cannot. They will also learn to recognise and sort odd and even numbers.
Focus Objectives:
Recall and use multiplication and division facts for 2, 5 and 10 tables
Understand that multiplication is commutative, but division is not
Recognise odd and even numbers
Solve multiplication and division problems using arrays and practical resources
English
Our core text this half term is The Dragon Machine. Children will be inspired by this imaginative story to create their own descriptive writing, focusing on sentence types, correct use of punctuation and developing their use of subordination.
Writing Focus:
Write sentences with different forms (statements, questions, exclamations and commands)
Use the present and past tense correctly and consistently
Use subordination to extend ideas
Use punctuation correctly, including question and exclamation marks
Art – Self Portraits in the Style of Picasso
Children will study the artist Pablo Picasso and learn how to create expressive self-portraits in his distinctive style. They will experiment with line, shape and colour to create artwork that reflects their own individuality.
Music and Drama – Christmas with the Aliens
This half term, the children will be busy rehearsing for our Christmas play, Christmas with the Aliens! They will learn festive songs and dances and practise performing confidently in front of an audience.
PSHE – Health and Wellbeing
In PSHE, we are learning about how to keep our bodies and minds healthy. We will explore different emotions, understand the benefits of being active, learn breathing techniques to help us relax and discuss the importance of a balanced diet and good dental hygiene. We will also look at how having a ‘growth mindset’ helps us to persevere when things are tricky.
RE – Christianity
Children will continue to explore Christian places of worship, focusing on the key features of a church, what happens there, and why these spaces are so special to Christians.
Spanish – Vamos a Cazar un Oso
Children will enjoy retelling this familiar story in Spanish, learning new vocabulary linked to describing nature. We will then use what we have learnt to write our own Christmas themed bear hunt story in Spanish!
Class Novel
The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher
Moving into Autumn 2, we will explore Tom Fletcher’s The Christmasaurus. Set during the festive season, this whimsical story focuses on a boy with a disability, highlighting the theme of acceptance and celebrating diversity in a positive light. The narrative encourages empathy and informs students about inclusivity, especially at a time of year when themes of giving and togetherness are so important. Reading this story will enrich class discussions about differences and the value of celebrating everyone’s unique abilities.
Our focus Children’s Rights Article for the term is:
Article 15 – Setting Up or Joining Groups
Children will learn they have the right to meet with friends and join groups and will discuss how we respect others’ choices and work together kindly in class and on the playground.
Our focus Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is:
SDG 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing
We will be learning about ways to stay healthy—physically and mentally—and how taking care of ourselves helps us feel good and learn better.
PE Days:
PE days remain Wednesday and Friday. Children will explore patterns of movement, rhythm and coordination through dance. Please make sure your child wears their PE kit on both days.
Homework:
Homework will be handed out on Fridays and should be returned by the following Friday.
Please check Seesaw for regular updates on our learning, key messages, and homework tasks.
Thank you for your continued support!