Welcome back!
The main focus this term is to settle into Year 2, work hard, work together and have fun. Have a look below to see what we will be learning about this term and keep an eye on Class Dojo for extra information and to keep up to date with what we are all up to in school.

English
Reading
We will explore a range of texts linked to our units of learning, by using our Reading for Inference skills.
Books we will be reading:
· Beegu
· First book of Animals
· Lost and Found
· Oi Cat! 
· The Two Grannies
· Meerkat Mail
· I Don’t Like Snakes
· Gorilla
· Animal stories

Writing
Fiction – Meeting Tale – Billy the Brave Knight
We will be learning the tale of Billy the Brave Knight​, and exploring the features the author has used and the effect they have. We will then learn how to write our own similar meeting tale, which will include a lot of action.
Key vocabulary:
past tense, meeting tale, toolkit, setting, action, adjective, verb, simile, metaphor, adverb, opening, build up, problem, resolution, ending,

 

Maths - Place Value, Addition and Subtraction
We will focus on Place Value, Addition and Subtraction. In place value, we will be learning how to recognise tens and ones, use a place value chart, partition numbers, write numbers and compare numbers up to 100. In addition and subtraction, we will develop our understanding of adding and subtracting numbers, working towards being able to add and subtract two-digit numbers.
We will continue weekly practise of Number and Lightning to develop children's arithmetic skills.  
Key vocabulary:
numbers, place value, biggest, smallest, more, less, addition, subtraction, tens, ones, digit, partition

Science – Animal’s needs for Survival
We will explore animals' needs for survival, including mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and humans. This will include learning about how humans and animals have basic needs of water, food and air.
Key vocabulary:
survival, mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, humans, needs, food, water, air

Art and design – Drawing: Understanding tone and texture
We will explore a range of materials to create marks and tones. We will study textures and use different pressures to control and make different marks. We will build up a drawing through outlines and then add tone and shade.

Key vocabulary: 

shade, tone, grip, mark making, materials, refine, sketch, texture

History – How were schools different in the past?

We will explore how schools were different in living memory, as well as the 1900s. We will then use our knowledge to compare similarities and differences between schools now and in the past.
Key vocabulary:
past, timeline, date, different, decade, present, important, similar, modern, living memory, evidence, source, beyond living memory, preferred

Music – African Call and Response
We will use instruments to represent animals, copy rhythms, learn a traditional Ghanaian call and response song and recognise simple notation, before progressing to creating call and response.
Key Vocabulary:
rhythms, timbre, dynamics, tempo, call and response, rhythm, structure

My Happy Mind – Meet your Brain

This module is focused on giving children a foundational knowledge of the brain and teaching them how they can look after their minds to be at their very best.  Children learn that their brain is an organ and that it has many functions. They learn that the brain controls most of what we do and that it is an amazing thing! Children learn that they can choose what to focus their mind on, and recognise that concentrating on learning something new helps their brain remember and grow.

Key Vocabulary: 
amygdala, hippocampus, pre-frontal cortex, neuroplasticity

PE – Multi-skills and Gymnastics
In multi-skills, we will be working on the skills of throwing, catching, running and jumping. In gymnastics, we will develop our gross motor skills by working on balancing, climbing and using our different body parts on apparatus.

Key Vocabulary: 
apparatus, throwing, catching, running, jumping, skills, balance, climbing

Religion and World Views – Why do we need to give thanks?
We will be using a range of sources, including survey data, to learn about beliefs around using offerings to show gratitude. We will also get hands-on with artefacts used during Hindu puja and write lyrics for a song of thanks.
Key vocabulary: 
appreciate, autumn, Brahman, Christian, deity, disciple, diva, emotion, express, grateful, gratitude, harvest, Harvest festival, Hindu, hymn, incense, Jesus, Krishna, kum kum, lyrics, mandir, miracle, praise, prashad, pray, provide, puja, Radha, season, sense, shrine, thankful, thankfulness, worship

Key dates:
03.09.25 – term begins

18.09.25 – Jeans for Genes day

22.10.25 – Hallowe’en disco

22.10.25 – Hallowe’en lunch

23.10.25 – School closes for half term

02.11.25 – School opens for Autumn term 2

Website links to support learning:
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/Search.aspx?q=fairy%20tales
http://www.ictgames.com/placeValue.htm
Please check Dojo at the end of each week to see how you can support your child at home.