Year 2
Autumn Term (1st half) - Singing in the Rain
Throughout the topic the children will learn about the weather and climate in the UK and compare this to other climates around the world.
English
In English sessions, the children will read a variety of books which link to the weather in different places.
They will use these as a stimulus to write for different purposes. For example, using the text ‘The Storm Whale’ the children will write a post card from their adventure, send a letter back home and also write a poem in the shape of a thunder cloud.
In Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling sessions, the children will learn how to write different types of sentences including statements, questions and commands. They will be learning about different types of punctuation, such as exclamation marks and question marks and will use these in their writing.
Maths
In Maths the children will re-cap and develop their understanding of the part part whole model and look closely at the place value of 2 and 3 digit numbers.
They will partition and build numbers practically before using this knowledge to compare numbers. They will then learn how to apply this knowledge to a range of questions and problems.
Children develop their counting, both forwards and backwards and and will count in steps of 2s, 3s 5s and 10s.
Children will continue to build on their knowledge of addition and subtraction and will be introduced to blank number lines.
Science
In science this term the children will learn about ‘Uses of Everyday Materials.’ The children will explore and name a variety of materials and discuss how they are used in the environment around them while thinking about why they are suitable.
The children will experiment with materials and explore how they can be changed by squeezing, twisting and bending. They will use their results to develop their skills of recording what they have found out.
The children think about how materials can be re-cycled and what the process of re-cycling involves.
Geography
The children will look at at the daily weather and seasonal changes in the UK. They explore this and become weather reporters through role play, incorporating the use of iPads to record their learning.
The children begin to use maps to name and locate the 7 different continents of the world. They create a large scale map in 7 teams ready for a class display.
The children use this map to learn the names of the world’s oceans and discuss how climate varies in different climate zones.
Art
In art the children explore a variety of techniques based on different places and artists.
Children explore the colour wheel and develop their understanding of warm, cold and complimentary colours.
They will also create rainbows using oil pastels as well as rain clouds and puddles using watercolours.
Computing
In computing this half term, children learn about how to stay safe online and discuss who to talk to if they need help or feel unsure online.
Children use ipads to film and record weather forecast adverts and then create and organise information in a poster about the weather using Microsoft Publisher, including using the internet to copy and paste images.
Autumn Term (2nd half) - King of the Castle
During this topic the children will learn about when castles were first built in the United Kingdom and how they have changed throughout history.
English
In English, the children read the adventure story ‘George and the Dragon’ before planning and writing their own version of the story. The children then explore the features of non-fiction texts and look closely at information texts.
They will use what they have learnt about castles from their topic lessons to write about Motte and Bailey casltes, arranging their ideas into subheadings. They then publish their amazing ideas into booklets.
In Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling sessions, the children continue using different types of sentences including statements, questions and commands in their writing.
They begin to think about reading their own work and checking they have used punctuation correctly.
Maths
This term the children continue to look at using addition and subtraction. They develop their skills to add and subtract any 2 digit numbers and become detectives to spot mistakes in their challenge questions.
The children are introduced to the £ and P symbols and learn to recognise coins and notes.
They select the appropriate coins to make different amounts and use <, > and = to compare coins.
In preparation for multiplication in the spring term, children begin to make equal groups using pictures and practical resources and relate this to repeated addition.
History
The children visit a castle and use this opportunity to look at how it’s built and explore the different artefacts on show.
They look back at how clothing, armour and buildings have changed over time and compare these to the modern day.
Throughout the term, the children learn about the Norman Invasion of England in the Battle of Hastings and how William the Conqueror ordered castles to be built in Britain.
They will research different parts of castles and what each part was for. The children will begin to think about why and how castles changed throughout history, comparing different castle structures.
DT
After the children have studied parts of castles, they use their knowledge to design and create their own castle through junk modelling.
They explore ways to join a range of materials to create the shape of the castle before painting their final product.
In time for Christmas, children explore moving pictures with sliders and levers and use these skills to design and create their own Christmas moving picture.
Computing
In computing this half term we will be thinking about algorithms and what these are. They will begin to understand algorithms by creating simple instructions for their partner.
Children will then use ‘Scratch’ and develop digital drawing skills to create their own sprite and develop a background scene.
They will then use these throughout the half term to create a simple animation including movement of sprites and conversations between them.
Spring Term - Off We Go!
Throughout this topic children will journey around the seven continents and learn about each destination they reach.
English
The children begin by recounting their own journey to school using different time connectives and a range of interesting adjectives to engage their reader.
The following texts that are read link to each continent as the children journey around the world. For example, when they visit Africa, the writing is based around The Leopard’s Drum.
The children explore a range of different writing genres including instructions, letters, postcards and poetry.
The following texts that are read link to each continent as the children journey around the world.
For example, when they visit Africa, the writing is based around The Leopard’s Drum.
The children explore a range of different writing genres including instructions, letters, postcards and poetry.
The children respond to the picture book ‘The Journey’ by Aaron Becker and use this as a stimulus for creative writing.
Maths
In maths this term the children look at different aspects of measure including estimating and comparing the weight of different objects. They learn to use and read weighing scales to measure using non-standard and standard units.
Children then explore capacity practically before applying this knowledge to problem based questions.
They learn how to use multiplication and division and look at how these relate to one another. Children will also look closely at fractions. They find fractions of shapes, objects and numbers.
Throughout this term children continue to develop their arithmetic skills involving all four operations and deepen their understanding of when to use the taught strategies.
Science
In science this term the children learn about ‘Living Things and Their Habitats.’
The children look at different habitats around the world and research which animals live in each habitat.
They have the opportunity to discuss and explore why and how animals have adapted to their environments. In addition, the children find out about dependency within habitats and the importance of food chains.
History
During topic lessons children discover who Christopher Columbus and Sir Francis Drake were and look at their significant journeys in history.
Children also have the opportunity to discover and experience what life was like for a sailor when they visit the Golden Hinde Ship.
Geography
Building on the learning from Autumn term, children re-cap the 7 continents and 5 oceans. They look at each continent more closely across the term.
For example, they compare and contract the Arctic and Antarctic regions as well as participating in a European food tasting afternoon.
To complete the topic, children journey to space and learn about the order of the planets in the Solar System.
Art
In art lessons the children explore and evaluate different types of printing techniques including block and mono printing.
The children improve their sketching skills through observational drawing and develop their watercolour skills to create paintings of Christopher Columbus’ ships.
DT
The DT focus for the half term includes joining materials and sewing to create different puppet types. The first session allows children to explore a variety of puppet types.
They design and create a finger puppet using fabric glue to join the materials. Their main design then incorporates sewing skills to join felt together for their glove character.
Finally they evaluate their product suggesting what they have learnt and what they may do differently next time.
Computing
In computing this term the children practise their word processing skills through a range of activities using programmes including Microsoft Word and Microsoft Publisher.
They continue to use a range of apps on the iPad including Stop Animate to produce their own mini films of the Great Barrier Reef.
In addition, the children continue to develop their programming and coding skills by navigating BeeBots using a range of directional language.
Summer Term (1st half) - A Bug’s Life!
During this topic children become mini beast explorers and plant detectives in their local environment.
English
The children enjoy researching different mini beasts using the internet and a range of books from the library. They use different subheadings to create sections for a non-fiction information text.
Within their writing, they are encouraged to use a range of conjunctions and to include relevant and specific adjectives.
The children read and respond to ‘Harry the Poisonous Centipede’ before writing across a range of genres to compliment the text.
The children develop their ability to read back over their own work and check that it makes sense to them.
As well as this, they begin to think about editing their work by checking for punctuation errors and up-levelling words where possible.
Maths
The children look at reading an analogue clock to tell the time to 5 minute intervals. They solve simple time problems and think about what they do at different times in their daily routine.
The children continue to re-cap all number based skills and have further opportunities to apply these skills to problem solve.
They begin to think about using systematic ways to solve problems and aim to find all possible answers.
Science
The science this term is based on plants. The children will learn to label different parts of a plant and a tree as well as gaining an understanding of what their jobs are.
The children will attend a workshop at a local garden museum to support their learning and will continue to have weekly sessions planting and harvesting in the school’s edible garden exploring which parts they can eat.
Linked to our topic, the children learn about mini beasts. They closely observe a range of mini beasts in the school grounds using magnifying glasses and cameras to explore their features.
Children learn to collect data and use this information to discuss findings and make conclusions.
Art
The children explore a range of artists who have created art based on gardens and plants.
They use their fingers to paint and re-create Monet’s Water Lily Pond and then compare his style to Vincent Van Gogh and his Sunflowers. The children will think about which style they prefer and what they liked about it.
In addition, they use ink and watercolours to create symmetrical butterflies. Using their knowledge of mini beasts, the children use clay to create their own designs and paint them.
Computing
In computing this half term the children continue to develop their programming and coding skills using Sphero robots.
They begin by navigating the Sphero by using a simple ipad app and then move on to block coding to make more complex instructions
Summer Term (2nd half) - I Need a Hero!
Throughout the final summer term the children explore a range of fiction and non-fiction heroes. They initially time travel to the past and discover significant figures who have helped shape our lives today before looking at cartoon heroes.
English
Children’s texts in this half term initially link to real life heroes in their community and significant historical figures. They will produce non-chronological reports, looking carefully at how these are structured.
The children will read a range of comics as well as following ‘Traction Man’ as a class text.
They will have the opportunity to write their own scene which they then turn into a comic strip. To support this topic the children will visit the Cartoon Museum to explore the art work and the artefacts there.
Maths
The children use the inverse to check their calculations, focussing particularly on multiplication and division. They will learn their 2, 3, 5 and 10 times table off by heart and relate these to division facts.
They compare number sentences using < > and = as well as applying this to complete missing number problems involving these symbols.
The children investigate a range of problems involving the skills taught across the Year 2 curriculum, moving on to more complex, 2-step problems when they are ready.
Science
The science topic this term will be ‘animals.’ Children look at different animals and their offspring and sort animals into those which give birth to an egg or to live young.
In addition to this, children learn about how humans develop from birth and change throughout their life.
They then think about their own bodies and link this to keeping healthy. They do this by carrying out simple investigations to explore what happens to their body when they exercise.
They make predictions, record their results in simple tables and discuss what they have found out to draw simple conclusions.
History
In history throughout the term the children travel back in time. Initially, they disocver a variety of local heroes and compare how their equipment and uniform have changed over time.
They then focus on historical figures and the impact they have had on our lives today.
DT
In DT this term the children have an opportunity to make the Perfect Pizza for a super hero.
The children have the chance to taste and compare a variety of ingredients before designing and creating their own pizza.
As they eat their delicious creations, they will develop their evaluating skills, thinking about what they enjoyed most about their pizza and if they would change anything if they cooked it again.
Computing
In computing this half term the children think about sharing information on the internet safely.
They create their own blogs and have the opportunity to visit each other’s blog post and comment on the information there.
Curriculum
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