Year 2

SUMMER TERM Learning

English

Our theme in Summer 1 is ‘Fictional Worlds and Fantasy.’ We will be reading ‘The Dragon Machine’ by Helen Ward and ‘Ocean Meets Sky’ by Eric Fan and Fan Terry. We will use these texts to inspire a range of writing, including setting and character descriptions, diary entries, letters, instructions, dialogue and narratives. In Summer 2 our theme changes to ‘Urban Metropolis’. We will be reading ‘The Great Fire of London’ by Emma Adams and James Weston Lewis and ‘Rosie Revere, Engineer’ by Andrea Beaty. Our study of this text will be complemented by our trip to the Tower of London in June. These books will provide us with a focus for persuasive posters, short explanations and speech.

During whole class reading and phonics, we will be developing comprehension and reading skills as well as working on the spelling and grammar curriculum for Year 2.  There will continue to be a weekly spelling test on Fridays. Finally, we will also be continuing our work on writing in pre-cursive and cursive script during our handwriting lessons.

Maths

This half term, to support the children as they prepare for their KS1 SATs in May, we will re-visit using and applying addition and subtraction, multiplication and division as well as fractions. After half term, we will introduce measure in terms of length, height, capacity, volume and mass whilst re-visiting time, position and direction. We will also continue to develop the children’s ‘number sense’ through our regular Mastering Number sessions.

Science

Our science topic in the first half term is about plant growth where we will be examining the conditions seeds and plants require to grow fully, carrying out comparative tests. In Summer 2 our topic changes to making connections. This topic will link themes and lessons explored throughout the year, focusing primarily on plant-based materials.

Computing

We will be focusing on creating stop motion animations to tell a story; data handling using spreadsheets and labelling images as well as completing a series of sessions focused on online safety.

Geography

We are studying Geography in Summer 1 this term, exploring what it is like by the coast and comparing this to where we live in London. This topic also delves into the features of a coastline and how people use it. We will use Weymouth as a case study.

History

We will study History in Summer 2, and our topic for this term will be ‘What is a monarch?’ We will look at today’s monarch and compare him to William the Conqueror. We will also explore how castles have changed over time. We will look at primary and secondary sources and continue to develop our skills for talking and writing like historians.

Art & DT

In the summer term, the children will continue to work with our art and DT specialist, Ms Konc, this time to design and make 3D structures in the form of clay pots. In Summer 2, the plan is for the children will be making functional pouches using textiles and the associated skills of threading and sewing.

PSHE

We will be focusing on citizenship in Summer 1 within our school environment and local community. We will move onto economic wellbeing in Summer 2, where we will explore the difference between wants and needs and how we can look after money responsibly.

Music

This term, we have ten weeks of djembe drum lessons run by a Wandsworth music specialist. This will hopefully culminate in the children performing to other children towards the end of their sessions.

PE

In Summer 1 sessions will focus on striking and fielding games and fitness (2G) and target games (2H).

In Summer 2 sessions will focus on sending and receiving, athletics and net and wall games. We will also use these sessions to prepare for Sports Day down at the track.

RE

This term, children will be exploring how and where some people, from a range of religions, talk to God. The children will be identifying similarities and differences between religions and making links between new and previous learning about these religions.

Reminders

Children to come into school in their PE kits on their PE days (Tuesdays and Wednesdays). If you haven’t got the school PE kit and/or tracksuit, the kit should be non-branded in blue and white. Children should keep all reading books in their book bags each day; please continue to read daily with them as it is invaluable to developing their spelling, comprehension and storytelling skills. All children should be aiming to stay in the Green Zone on Doodle maths (5-10 mins daily) and regularly engage with Times Tables Rock Stars (5 mins daily). Your children will reap the rewards of completing this homework both in the short and long term, gaining confidence and fluency.