2 Redwood

Welcome to the Year 2 page!

Here, you'll find everything you need to stay connected with our Year 2 journey. We'll keep this page updated with important announcements, homework assignments, curriculum highlights, trip information, and snapshots of what we're learning in class.

Check back regularly to see what’s new, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions. We’re excited for a fantastic year ahead!

Here's a breakdown of what your child will be studying and how it supports their growth and understanding of the world around them.

English: The secret of Black Rock

English: Retelling Stories with a Different Ending

In English, the children will practice retelling familiar stories, but with new, creative endings! They’ll use their imaginations to think of what could have happened if the characters made different choices. This helps them:

Think creatively
Improve their writing
Use descriptive words to make their stories more exciting

English: Writing a Diary Entry

The Year 2 students will write a diary entry from Erin’s point of view after a day at Black Rock. They’ll describe what happened, how Erin felt, and what she saw. This will help them:

Practice writing in the first person (using “I”)
Learn to tell a story in the correct order
Develop their writing skills by describing events clearly and using emotions

For example, Erin might write about discovering a secret cave at Black Rock and how exciting it was to find shiny stones and imagine pirates hiding treasure there!

Maths - Money

Pupils should be able to recognise coins based on their real-life experience, as well as earlier learning in Year 1, but may need a quick recap on each coin and its value. They will need to be formally introduced to the term “worth” and its meaning in this context. Although children may have seen values written as, for example, “5p” meaning 5 pence, some might need to be explicitly introduced to this notation. Children use their knowledge from place value and addition and subtraction to find the total value of a set of coins, with all answers being less than £1. They should be able to count up in 1ps, 2ps, 5ps and 10ps, and use related facts to count up in 20ps as well as finding the total of a mixed set of coins.

Geography: UK vs. Non-European Country

Students will explore the geographical similarities and differences between London (a city in the United Kingdom) and Mogadishu (the capital of Somalia). They will study both the human and physical geography of each location, such as:

Landmarks: What famous buildings and locations define each city?
Climate: How does the weather differ between London and Mogadishu?
Population Density: What do the numbers tell us about the size of these cities and how people live?
Land Use: How are the spaces in these cities used – for parks, homes, offices, etc.?

Using maps and atlases, students will compare these two cities in depth. By understanding how geography influences daily life in both locations, they will develop a broader worldview and appreciate cultural and environmental diversity.

Science: Everyday Materials

Children will explore different materials commonly used in daily life, such as:

Wood
Metal
Plastic
Glass

They will learn how materials are suited to specific purposes and how they can be altered through actions like squashing, bending, twisting, and stretching. They will also look at how different materials can be used for similar objects, helping to build critical thinking skills about material properties and their practical uses in everyday life.

Art: Portraits and Poses

In this unit, students will delve into the world of still life art. They will:

Study significant still life artists and their techniques
Learn how to use colour and composition effectively in their own art
Create their own still life arrangements and explore different ways of portraying objects

This project encourages creativity, attention to detail, and an understanding of artistic expression.

Religious Studies and World Views

Students will explore various world religions and belief systems, including:

Christianity
Islam
Sikhism
Judaism
Other world views

They will engage with the stories and special books central to each of these religions and world views, helping to promote an understanding of different perspectives and values. This fosters respect for diversity and encourages open-mindedness in children as they learn about various traditions and teachings.

Personal Development: Keeping Safe

A key part of your child’s learning this year involves understanding the importance of safety and well-being in different contexts:

Being Safe: General safety principles for children.
Online Relationships: How to communicate safely and respectfully online.
Mental Wellbeing: Strategies for maintaining a healthy mind and emotional resilience.
Internet Safety and Harms: Understanding the risks of the internet and how to stay safe online.
Health and Prevention: Learning about personal health, hygiene, and ways to prevent illness.
Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Education: An introduction to the dangers of these substances.
Basic First Aid: Simple first aid skills, empowering students to help themselves and others in an emergency.

Technology: Robot Algorithms

In this unit, children will be introduced to the basics of programming and logical reasoning. They will:

Create and Debug Programs: Learn how to build simple programs and fix any errors they encounter.
Use Logical Reasoning: Develop the ability to predict the outcomes of different actions in a program, honing critical thinking skills.
Explore Algorithms: Understand how instructions and steps can create a sequence of actions, much like how robots follow algorithms to perform tasks.

This provides students with an early introduction to coding, problem-solving, and computational thinking.

We look forward to a year of learning, creativity, and discovery! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further information on any of these topics.