Year 2

Autumn

In Maths lessons, children use lots of manipulatives to learn and explore. Children will use Numicon, base 10, 10 frames, number lines, counters and cubes to name but a few.

To start the Autumn term, children will explore place value, we will be counting objects within 100, partitioning numbers and placing them in place value charts. We will continue to count in 2s, 5s and 10s and learn how to count in 3s. We will use number lines to estimate numbers, compare numbers using comparison symbols and write numbers to 100 using words and numerals. After place value, the children will use their knowledge of number and learn how to add and subtract within 100. They will learn number bonds and fact families and use an array of resources to confidently answer number sentences.

To finish the term, the children will learn about Shape, they will recognise more 2D and 3D shapes. They will sort shapes into different groups according to their characteristics. They will look for lines of symmetry and make patterns using different shapes.

Spring

The children will begin the Spring term by learning multiplication and division this will include the 2, 5, 10 and 3 times tables. After this the children will explore fractions including 1/2, 1/3 and 1/4. We will finish the term by learning shape and time.

We will continue to use number to problem solve and take part in weekly mastering number lessons.

We also focus on basic skills in Maths continually throughout the year; including:

• counting in steps of 2, 3, and 5 from 0, and in 10s from any number, forward and backward (and relating these to the 2, 5 and 10 timetable)

• recognising the place value of each digit in a two-digit number (10s, 1s)

• identifying, representing and estimating numbers using different representations, including the number line

• comparing and ordering numbers from 0 up to 100; use <, > and = signs

• reading and writing numbers to at least 100 in numerals and in words

• using place value and number facts to solve problems

We will also be focusing on our times tables this year and practice these daily to ensure we are confident with our multiplication.  Please encourage your child to access TT Rockstars daily to become fluent with their multiplication facts.

Autumn

In Science, the topic this Autumn term is Living things and their habitats. The children will learn about a range of habitats and how animals adapt to suit their environment. The children will learn about minibeasts and the microhabitats that they are found in. We will discuss the difference between living, dead and never been alive animals and begin to classify them into the categories. The children will learn about food chains and order animals using vocabulary such as producer, consumer, prey and predator. During this term, we will go to the Museum of Liverpool, we will be able to consolidate our learning and explore extinct animals in the dinosaur area and explore marine life in the aquarium and look at microhabitats in the bug house.

Spring

This term, we are going to be deepening our knowledge of Animals including Humans and explain how animals have offspring. The children will also learn to identify the basic needs of humans and animals. After the Easter break, the children will move onto investigating how to use everyday materials. They will investigate suitability and how solid objects can change shape.

Autumn

Religious Education runs through all that we do in Class 1, and we make links to our school work and home lives regularly through RE lessons and Collective Worship and PSHE lessons.

We began this Autumn term with the branch of Creation to Covenant -through scripture, the children will learn about the story of Noah and God’s promise to us. We will listen to and use psalms to reflect on God’s awe and wonder. We will revisit the symbols of Baptism and visit Sacred Heart church to watch a staged Baptism service. After half term the children will be learning scripture from the branch of Prophecy and Promise. The children will learn about John the Baptist, Zechariah and the share and celebrate the Christmas story which will be read through the lens of St Luke.

We are also lucky to have Fr Fitzgerald coming into class each half term to share the Good News with us.

Autumn

In the first Autumn half term, the children will be exploring and delving back into the past for our history topic How was schools different in the past? During this unit of work, children will find out that schools have been in the locality for a long time but they have not always been the same. Children look for similarities and differences and use a range of sources enabling them to recognise some continuity between their lives and the past. We will invite a visitor to talk about what school was like in the 1960s.

After half term, children will use their Geographers minds and learn about the weather, with the topic entitled. Would you prefer to live in a hot or cold place? They will learn about seasonal and daily weather patterns in the UK. We will use maps to look at hot and cold places in relation to the equator and the North and South poles. The children will be introduced to the basic concept of climate zones and mapping out hot and cold places globally. We will compare features in the North and South Poles and Kenya as well as in the local area. They will also learn the four compass points and the names and location of the seven continents.

Spring

In the first Spring half term, the children will be exploring the topic Why is our world wonderful? During this unit of work, children will use maps to name the countries and capital cities of the UK. They will also learn about the oceans of our world. We will explore landmarks from our country and look at natural habitats from around the world. We will finish this topic by asking each other how we can care and protect our natural habitats.

After half term, children will use their Historian minds and learn about the history of the flying industry. How did we learn to fly? They will learn about significant people who made history by contributing to the development of flying. They will develop their knowledge of historical events by plotting the history of flights on a timeline.

Other Subjects

Autumn

Children will also continue to study other subject areas. In Music lessons this term, children will play tuned and untuned percussion tapping to the pulse and playing different rhythms. They will start to explore notation and compose their own short melody. After half term, we will explore West African call and response songs, and they will compose their own song.

In Art this term, we will be focusing on painting techniques using Primary and Secondary colours. They will make collages and also use pastel hues. After half term the children will learn Design Technology. They will be joining materials to create a bag. We will also explore and create food from different cultures.

In Computing lessons, the children will use the Purple Mash and will be learning about how to stay safe on the internet. They will also learn how to use emails and send and receive. After half term, the children will learn how to search for information on the internet and how to present that information using different publications.

The children will also continue to learn PSHE/RSE, E-safety and British values. During this Autumn term, the children will learn about their health and wellbeing: they will explore how to recognise feelings and understand what goes on in our bodies. They will learn about medicines and how to stay healthy. They will learn about relationships and explore the difference between families, respecting each other and celebrating being unique. The children will be taught how to keep safe online.

To keep physically active, in PE lesson children will be taught and learn ball skills and how to move with the ball in different ways. After term we will move onto specific fundamental skills in gymnastics.

Spring

In Music lessons this term, the children will develop their singing technique. They will practice a range of pitch and tempo. They will use breathing techniques to be able to sing in longer phrases. Before singing, the children will warmup their bodies and voices and be able to explain why this is important.

In Art, the children will focus on drawing techniques and how artists can create landscapes by using lines and shades. After half term, the children will use their Design Technology lessons to plan and make sliders and levers. They will use these techniques to make a moving story book.

In computing lessons, the children will learn about coding and how to create a set of instructions to create a simple algorithim to solve a given task. After half term, the children will learn how to use questioning and branching to find answers.

The children will also continue to learn PSHE/RSE, E-safety and British values. During this Spring term, the children will learn about their health and wellbeing: they will explore how to be safe in communities. They will learn how to be safe around medicines and how we can deal with big feelings. We will discuss relationships and how to respect ourselves and how to develop relationships in the community. The children will also explore how we keep safe online and not share information.

To keep physically active, in PE lessons, children will be taught how to improve our skills in dance, team building and fitness.

At the end of KS1 there are Optional Assessment Tests (SATs) taken by our Year 2 pupils. They will be taken during May 2025.  The tests are in Reading and Maths (arithmetic and reasoning).  The Year 2 teacher will make a judgement based on the child’s performance in class as well as the test outcome to decide whether the child is working towards or at the expected standard and submit this data to the local authority.

We are promoting physical activity as much as we can throughout the school day – this is proven to have a positive impact on mental health and well-being! We will be participating in the Daily Mile and there are playground activities at break and lunchtime.

PE takes place every Monday.  Please send your child in wearing the appropriate PE kit (white T-shirt, black/grey or red shorts/leggings, plain black pumps or trainers)

Please encourage your child to read every night for around 5-10 minutes. It is important they reread the same text to build their fluency, expression and understanding of what they have read.

Spellings are given every Friday and new reading books are also given out on this day.  A topic homework will be set each half-term based around what the children are currently learning about in class. Please return reading books and reading records by Wednesday each week. It is important that you comment and sign your child’s reading record. The children will also go to the school library to choose a reading for pleasure book. We would like to encourage you to share the love your reading with your child and read the reading for pleasure book together.

Homework books

Children will be sent home with homework books every Friday which needs to be returned on Wednesday morning.