Year 2

At Hollybush we have designed each term around one of three themes: Explore, Discover and Create.  Explore is our Autumn term theme with a specific focus on Geography, Science and Computing. 

The core subjects of Maths and English will take place each morning. Each Friday, our English lesson will have a grammar focus, delivered by Mrs Botterman.

PE will take place every Tuesday afternoon, with Matt, our PE specialist, and on Thursday with myself. You will see from the weekly timetable (see below) that the children will have 2 hours of PE each week. Children will also take part in the ‘Hollybush Hike’ each morning. I am a firm believer that children learn better with lots of active breaks - research proves how important activity is – new brain cells, mental well-being, and positive habits for life. Fun and engaging active breaks will range from ‘ Active Blasts’ from Get Set 4 PE, dancing challenges, hula hoop challenges, skipping challenges and more! These will all become part of our daily routine! 

Every Tuesday afternoon, I will be off timetable for my personal planning time, Ms Richardson (who the children know very well) will deliver PSHE. See below for a more detailed look at the weekly timetable.  Of course, from time to time this will change.

For Maths we follow the White Rose Year 2 Scheme of Work.  This provides excellent resources for both teachers and parents.  The scheme is based on a mastery approach to Maths.  You can find out more about this on the curriculum part of the website under ‘Maths’.  We will also be rehearsing our 2, 5 and 10 times tables - it is incredibly important that your children are confident with their times tables as these need to become second nature by year 6 SATS. 

In English this half-term, we will be focusing on two books: ‘Lizzie and the Cloud’ by the Fan Brothers and ‘Wolves’ by Emily Gravett.   

For Lizzie and the Cloud, the writing outcomes will include: 

Descriptions | Adverts | Market stall pitches | Letters of advice / Postcard in role | Guidebook for how to care for a cloud.

For Wolves by Emily Gravett, the writing outcomes will include:

Captions | Information writing | Character descriptions  | Comparisons | Non-chronological leaflet.

You will see from the Y2 writing checklist (see below) what the national expectations are for Year 2.  Page 3 of this document outlines the ‘working at the expected standard’.  

During the second half of the term, we will be covering African Folk Tales and also African animal fact files. We will also be reading ‘We are Water Protectors’ by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade. The writing outcomes will include:

List poems | Non-chronological reports (animals) | Chronological reports (life-cycles) | Character description | Protest signs | Environmental campaign.

Two areas of Science will be covered during the Explore term, these will be taught by our lovely Mrs Botterman. The first is called, 'Animals’ and the second is ‘Humans'.  

During the ‘Humans’ topic, the learning outcomes will include:

Human growth | things humans need to survive | staying healthy | the importance of exercise | hygiene | sleep.

During the ‘Animals’ topic, the learning outcomes will include:

Animal growth  (the lifecycle of a butterfly,  the life-cycle of a chicken, the lifecycle of a frog.) We hope to get some butterflies of our own - watch this space! 

In Computing the children will explore the world of IT around us, with a particular focus on staying safe online. Followeed by ‘Digital Photography.’ 

In Geography we will be looking at the continents of the world, hot and cold climates and learning about Africa. 

For each subject and specific learning block, we have developed knowledge organisers.  These are a helpful summary of what will be taught and what the children need to learn.  Click below to take you to the relevant knowledge organisers for this term.