 |
Year Two Autumn Newsletter
Autumn Term 2009
Welcome to Year Two. Our topic for this term is Changes.
SATs.
The children will undergo statutory assessment at the end of Key Stage 1. There will be tests in literacy and numeracy throughout May. Please do not book your summer holiday at this time.
Literacy
The children will continue to be set for literacy this year.
In literacy we shall be looking at a variety of stories, poems and non-fiction books, especially those involving instructions. We shall be learning to write in a variety of ways, including stories, poems, instructions and recounts. Also in writing we will continue to develop the use of skills, for example in recognising sentences and using full stops, commas and capital letters.
We will also be consolidating and extending the children’s phonic knowledge through ERR to aid spelling and reading e.g. word families, patterns of letters, and words that sound the same but are spelt differently. The children will bring home the spellings they are learning each week.
In Year 2 the focus in reading is more about understanding what they have read. Please spend time discussing the text, finding out meanings of new words, etc. This may mean that only a few pages are read at a time - which is fine - but this will help your child with their comprehension work in class.
Numeracy
The children will be having a daily numeracy lesson and will also be set for this. Number topics covered will be place value up to 100, multiplication (10 times table and beyond if they are ready), division, fractions, data handling, measuring length, capacity and mass (weight), telling the time, money and shape (2D and 3D).
A variety of mental arithmetic strategies for problem solving and the addition and subtraction facts for each number up to 10 will be reinforced. There will be more detail on our website under the year 2 tab.
Science
The children will be sorting and classifying materials according to their properties. They will learn about natural and man-made materials and investigate how materials change when they are heated and cooled.
We will be developing the children’s scientific enquiry skills through a science skills week.
History
We shall be learning about Florence Nightingale and the changes she brought about for the nursing profession.
After half term we will be learning about Remembrance Sunday. During half term there will be a little research for the children to carry out on this topic. The children will be expected to find the war memorial in Ely and make observations about it. If they have access to a computer they will be encouraged to find out about Remembrance Sunday using the internet. They will learn about the significance of the poppy and why it is used as a symbol of remembrance.
Geography
Throughout the year we shall be following a unit called “Where in the World”. We will encourage the children to bring in pictures of places they have been to or come from and discuss these. There are no specific geography units this term.
PHSE+C
The children will be given opportunities to discuss the range of feelings / emotions that they experience every day and how they can change how they feel. We will also be looking at how the children can keep themselves safe in a variety of situations.
Music
The children will learn about duration of sound and the difference between rhythm and steady beat.
We will also be learning songs to perform for our Autumn and Christmas assemblies.
There will be an opportunity to learn the recorder in the Monday lunchtime recorder club (see clubs letter).
Design Technology
The children will be exploring the properties of paper by making a kite from paper. They will explore what changes they need to make to make the paper stronger and to make a frame for their kite.
Folding and scoring skills using paper and card will be improved through the production of a Christmas card.
Art
We shall be developing further the children’s close observational drawing skills, colour mixing and ‘filling in’ techniques.
The children will explore mark making with different media and will create Autumn and harvest pictures using these skills based on the work of Van Gogh.
I.C.T.
The children will be looking at the use of technology around school. Computer skills will be developed using word processing and other programs when using the computer suite.
P.E.
In gymnastics the children will be learning about different types of travelling and following different types of pathways.
In dance the children will be working on the theme of “Bubbles”. Through this they will be developing their dance skills and creating their own dance to music.
The children will have a weekly games session which will always be outside unless it is raining. The theme will be throwing catching and inventing games.
The children will need a P.E. kit of shorts, tee-shirt, warm clothes for outdoor wear and trainers or plimsolls; in a bag all named please.
P.E. days
Rowan Monday Tuesday Thursday
Willow Monday Wednesday Thursday
Maple Tuesday Thursday Friday
R.E.
We shall be looking at Harvest and the act of Thanksgiving within the Christian and Jewish faiths. Also as part of our R.E. work, we hope to visit the cathedral.
The Year Two staff look forward to working with you and your children this forthcoming year. If your child has any problems at school, please feel free to come and talk to us. Also, if you would like to help at school with any activities, please talk to your child’s teacher.
Here’s to a busy and successful year!
|
|
