Year 2 Curriculum Outline 2018-19

Year 2 Curriculum Outline 2018-19

Our Learning Wheel explained Our learners

Our schools are small enough to ensure that each learner is known. By placing our learners at the centre of our approach, we create an education that allows individuality to flourish.

Developing character

Fostering a secure bedrock of self-esteem and a sure moral compass is essential preparation for a future in a complex world.

Learning segments

We group our subjects together into six curriculum areas. We teach subjects in an integrated way, because the future belongs to

Form teachers

those who can think way beyond narrow subject boundaries.

Learning to think

Education is not just about imparting knowledge.

It’s about teaching young people how to think for themselves: critically, creatively and collaboratively.

Outer circle

We prepare young people to blaze a trail in whatever field they choose. They leave us equipped with a breadth of skills, ready to become responsible global citizens.

2M - Mrs McWilliam 2L - Mr Leggoe

Teaching Assistants 2M - Mr Scarr 2L - Mrs Solive

Subject teachers Language and Communication Ms Prowse (French), Mrs Foreman (Spanish), Mrs Fernández Smart (Spanish) Physical Education and Well-being Mr Evans (Games and P.E), Mr Leggoe (Games and P.E), Mrs Parkin (Swimming) Performing Arts Ms Hyland (Music)

Humanities - Social Understanding Key Topics We will begin the first half of the Autumn Term learning all about ‘Into The Woods’ with a focus on plants and animals. The children will be visiting Wandlebury to find out more about woodland and grass habitats, finding out what plants and animals need to survive, looking at life cycles and food chains and discovering more about pond life. Pupils will use basic geographical vocabulary to describe key physical features of the woodland and will recognise how an environment may be improved and sustained.

In the second half of the Autumn Term we will be ‘Digging Down’, finding out more about the past through archaeology and the history of planet Earth. We will visit Saffron Walden Museum to find out more about rocks and fossils and how they were formed.

RS We will be spending the term looking at ‘Festival of Light’ celebrations across a number of different religions. Initially we will look at celebrations such as Birthdays and Harvest that the children will have experienced. Following this we will consider the significance of light within various religions, especially the Hindu celebration of Diwali, the Jewish festival of Hanukkah

and Christmas for Christians. In each of these focuses we will be using specific vocabulary, discussion, iPad research and will consider different ways of recording information learnt.

PSHEE This term we will be looking at special people, such as family and friends. We will look at how we are similar and different to different people, how we can keep friends and make up with friends when things go wrong. We will consider how to recognise behaviour that is bullying, understand some of the reasons bullying happens and how it makes people feel. We will consider who we can tell and what we can do if we see someone being bullied.

Language and Communication Key Topics The children will cover a daily structured phonics programme, leading to Language and Literacy. This is a complete literacy programme, designed to stimulate and challenge children’s thinking and create enthusiastic and life-long readers and writers. It provides explicit guidance for developing children’s reading comprehension and writing composition.

During our ‘Into The Woods’ topic we will be reading and writing stories with familiar settings, a range of poems and developing descriptive writing techniques, while our ‘Digging Down’ topic will provide opportunities for developing instruction writing and recounts.The children’s work can be supported at home by daily reading, with plenty of discussion to develop understanding of the texts. Visits to the library to borrow books related to our topics learning are also valuable.

Assessment In order to support our knowledge of the pupils in our classes we run a standardised reading and spelling assessment at the start of term. This allows us to reflect on the skills the pupils already have, and identify confidence in completing this sort of work independently. Careful attention is paid to the behaviour of pupils to ensure that they see these as simply another part of their learning in class.

French

Key Topics In French, we will revisit, consolidate and expand pupils’ knowledge of basic phrases about themselves through songs, games, rhymes and conversation activities. We will work on building confidence with basic numbers, applying these in games and speaking tasks and use songs to support understanding with larger numbers. Pupils will have the opportunity to respond to basic classroom language and key instructions. Pupils will work on a wide variety of colours and explore Christmas traditions in France.

Spanish Key Topics The primary focus for Spanish lessons is on listening and speaking. The children will learn through a range of songs, stories, rhymes and games. Lessons will link to the thematic learning topics, for example by naming the plants or animals in Spanish and using them as a starting point for describing objects by colour and size, using a verb plus adjective. The children will learn a poem and focus on both pronunciation and performance skills. The second half of term introduces the children to classroom language and basic instructions.

They will have plenty of opportunity to practise counting and pronunciation practice will focus on the key vowel sounds.

Mathematical Understanding Key Topics Our approach is based on the following key ideas – daily mathematics lessons; direct, interactive teaching; a systematic development of mental calculation; and regular homework to reinforce tables and number bonds.

We adopt a cross-curricular approach to learning, linking topics with our Thematic Learning programme wherever possible. Examples of these include looking at timelines, exploring maps and when investigating planets within our Solar System. Forest School activities further support our Mathematics programme.

Children are expected to: be actively involved in answering questions. contribute to discussions during teaching activities and follow up discussions. be able to explain and demonstrate understanding of their learning to others. have a hands-on approach to their learning. employ the ‘build it, draw it, write it, say it’ approach to their learning. tackle problem solving tasks with an ‘everyone can’ mindset. develop strategies for mental calculations.

Key Learning Objectives: to count, read, write and order numbers to 100 and understand place value. to look at number patterns, odds and evens, doubles and halves.

to know number facts - number bonds, times tables (x2,x5,x10). to know and recognise inverse operations. to estimate, measure and compare lengths and masses using standard units.

To encourage confidence in using a variety of resources - digital, visual, kinaesthetic and written.

Assessment Low-key end of term assessment to check progress against learning objectives.

Physical Education and Well-being Key Topics There will be a focus on individual sports alongside modified team sports during the Autumn term. Pupils will learn the skills of fencing from visiting coaches from Cambridge Sword whilst experiencing a variety of other individual sports. Opportunities to work collaboratively as well as individually will ensure pupils are given the best chance to have fun in many different sporting settings. Continued development of motor skills including throwing and catching will be prominent throughout lessons as well as improving spatial awareness and controlled actions when performing. Year 2 pupils will swim on a half termly rotation with Year 3. Year 2 will begin swimming on Thursday 13 September and swim in the first half of term throughout the academic year. When not swimming, pupils will remain in school for a PE lesson where the focus will be on individual sports during this session.

You can help by encouraging your child to stay active outside of school. Discuss the importance of a healthy and balanced diet and any involvement in sports clubs outside of school will not only benefit your child physically but mentally and socially too. Extra swimming lessons would also be beneficial for those who require a little more confidence in the water.

Creative and Performing Arts Key Topics Throughout the Autumn Term, the children will learn how to use more intricate patterns and textures when producing 3D work. They will learn to use equipment safely and creatively and will learn to join with confidence. When evaluating their work they will be encouraged to look at and talk about their own work and that of other artists. They will continuously review their products and communicate what they think and how they feel about it.

In music we are learning how to notate the rhythm and pitches of a song. We use the rhythm names ta and tete for long and short sounds and the kodaly hand signs so and mi for high and low notes. Once notated, we will transfer this onto pitched percussion instruments. We are

also starting to play the recorder. After half term will start to prepare for our spring term musical.

Scientific Understanding Key Topics During our thematic learning and forest school sessions the children will identify and name a variety of common wild and garden plants, including deciduous and evergreen trees. They will identify and describe the basic structure of a variety of common flowering plants, including trees.

They will develop observation skills and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants. Using first-hand experience, pupils will think about and discuss whether comparisons and tests are fair or unfair, will draw conclusions from results and begin to use scientific knowledge to suggest explanations for them. They will make generalisations and begin to identify simple patterns in results presented in tables.

After half term, they will Investigate pushes and pulls as forces.