Year 2
Wednesday 25th April 2012
Dear Parents and Carers,
We have a very exciting and busy term ahead.
We have several topics this term, including Traditional Tales, Ethiopia, Health & Growth and Mini-beasts (after half term). As always we invite children to bring in artefacts linked to our topics to show the class, including mini-beasts! We will of course take great care of them.
Glue sticks
We would really appreciate any donations of glue sticks.
Literacy
Our focus in Literacy this term is comparing different stories by well-known children’s authors, including Eric Carle as well as alternative versions of Traditional Tales. We will also be using information books to help us ask and answer questions about our topics. We will continue to focus on full stops, speech marks and general punctuation. Weekly spellings will still be sent home to practise, with a test on Fridays. The children are doing tremendously well with joining up their handwriting. We hope they will all be joining by the end of term.
PHONICS -In class the children will be undertaking regular phonics practise.
READING will continue in the same way as last term. Please do encourage your children to do some reading every day and as they get more confident they can be allowed to read silently. This is a great year for reading!!
Numeracy
Counting and ordering
Partitioning and calculating with a focus on problem solving
Securing number facts and understanding shape
Handling data and measures
Time
Multiplication and division
Science
We have saved our ‘Mini-beasts’ topic for after half term so we can use our wonderful outside learning environment in the warmer weather. We will also visit a local nature reserve with the children where they will do some pond dipping and insect catching with nets among other exciting activities. We welcome parent helpers to accompany the children on this trip and will inform you of the details nearer the time.
ICT
During our Mini-beast topic the children will be learn to create their own PowerPoint presentations. The children’s work across the curriculum will continue to be enhanced by using a range of relevant websites with opportunities to use computers throughout the week.
Geography
During this half term we will be learning about life in Ethiopia. The children will be finding out the food, landscape, climate and school life. We will discuss the similarities and differences to their own life. We will have an Ethiopian style role-play corner and would welcome any artefacts to bring it to life.
Art
Artwork will be linked to our Ethiopia topic and mini beasts including tie dye, mini beast sketching, papier mache mini beasts, clay bowl making and African patterns. In addition we will be looking at the artwork of Eric Carle and reproducing his style.
P.E.
The topics this term are skipping and preparing for Sport’s Day. In gymnastics we will be balancing on a range of apparatus. Please ensure the children do have their P.E kits, including suitable outdoor footwear. Thank you.
PHSCE
Through Circle Time we will be discussing issues related to moving on and change. We will also be looking at how friendships change. At the end of the summer term we will be focusing on Changes, ready for the children’s transition to Year 3.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards,
Mrs C MacArthur Mrs K Ellwood
