Welcome to Year 2 - Autumn Term
Key information:
Amsterdam- Class Teacher: Miss Davenport
Teaching Assistant: Miss Amson
Helsinki - Class Teacher: Mrs Culshaw
Teaching Assistant: Miss Valente
PPA cover/support staff: Mr Raiswell (PE) and Miss Friesner will be working across Year 2 for PPA cover.
Pick up and drop off: All Year 2 children will enter and exit school through their classroom doors. The doors will be open at 8.40-8.50am and again at 3.15pm
PE Days: Wednesday and Thursday every week.
Children should come to school in their PE kit suitable for outdoor weather.
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Curriculum overview for the Spring term:
English – Writing
This half term we will be looking at the books ‘The Dragon Machine’ during Spring 1 and ‘Major Glad and Major Dizzy’ during Spring 2 . We will be using various genres of writing to explore new vocabulary and learn new writing skills such as:
We will be using various genres of writing to explore new vocabulary and learn new writing skills which are outlined below.
Spring 1
Writing outcome: To write a story based on the model text using own ideas for a change of character and machine
Greater depth writing outcome: To write the story from a new character’s point of view to allow for a description of emotions and viewpoint throughout the story.
Spring 2
Writing outcome: Writing a diary entry from Major Glad’s Point of view
Greater depth writing outcome: Include in the diary how Major Dizzy felt. What did Major Glad notice about him?
English – Reading
Our book for guided reading Spring 1 is called ‘The Dragonsitter’ and in Spring 2 is called ‘Owen and the Soldier’.
We will work on many reading skills which are outlined below.
Spring 1
Spring 2
Our lesson sequences follow the structure below.
Class read:
Our teachers are reading books that fit in with our monthly reading challenges.
Maths:
The Maths units we will cover in the Spring term are Money, Multiplication and Division, Length and Height and Mass, capacity and temperature.
Money
- Counting money – in pounds and pence.
- Making the same amounts.
- Choosing money.
- Comparing amounts of money.
- Calculating with money.
- Making a pound.
- Finding change.
- Two-step word problems with money.
Multiplication and division 
- Recognising, making and adding equal groups.
- Multiplication sentences and arrays.
- Making equal groups by grouping and sharing.
- 2 times tables and dividing by 2.
- Doubling and halving.
- Odd and even numbers
- 10 times table and dividing by 10.
- 5 times table and dividing by 5.
Length and height 
- Measuring in CM and M
- Comparing lengths and heights.
- Ordering lengths and heights.
- Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing with lengths and heights.
Mass, capacity and temperature
- Compare mass.
- Measure in G.
- Measure in KG.
- Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing with mass.
- Compare volume and capacity.
- Measure in ML.
- Measure in L.
- Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing with volume and capacity.
- Temperature.
Times tables focus: 2’s, 5’s and 10’s.
Useful website: Hit the button, times tables rock stars, times tables speed tests, BBC bitesize and top marks.
History – ‘Significant People’
The focus of our topic this term is History. We will be looking at the lives and impact of Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole. We will consider why they are significant and what lasting changes they had on the world today. We will also be having a visit from ‘Florence Nightingale’ in February to further our knowledge and be able to ‘experience’ some of the issues she faced in the Crimea.
Science:
This half term our topic in science is ‘Plants’. We will be focusing on understanding plants, how they grow, what they need to stay alive, how plants have to adapt to different environments and climate change. This will be a hands-on topic with lots of investigations.
Design and technology:
This term our D&T project is to create a chair to hold ‘baby bears’ weight from recycled materials. We will be investigating structures and which shapes hold the most mass.
Art:
During the Spring term we will be completing a project called ‘Expressive Painting’. We will explore how painters use paint in expressive and gestural ways. Explore colour mixing and experimental mark making to create abstract still lifes.
Music:
Mrs. Friesner will be teaching us music, using a variety or percussion instruments and different songs.
PSHE:
In PSHE we will be completing our jigsaw modules on Dreams and Goals, where we will focusing on new skills and what it takes to make a dream a reality and Healthy me, focusing on what makes us healthy in body and mind.
Computing:
Our computing unit is around creating pictures, making music and presenting.
Reading and homework:
The homework for Year 2 is to practise spellings ready for our spellings test on Fridays, practise the 2’s, 5’s and 10 times tables and to read with an adult x3 times per week to work towards achieving our 2026 reading challenge.
The expectation is that you read with your child 3 times per week, ensuring they are reading their coloured book. A quick note to say reading has taken place in the reading journal is fine.