Class 2 (Y1&Y2)

Summer term 2025

Welcome back Class 2.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter break. Does anyone have any Easter chocolate left? I am looking forward to another exciting term of learning, including the Yr 1 Phonics Screening Check, swimming lessons, sports day later in the term and hopefully a class trip!

 

In all that we do, we aim to build Relationships, be Respectful, be Resilient, be Resourceful and be Reflective; these values are also reflected in all areas of our learning and we regularly refer back to them.

 

Curriculum:

We carefully plan the curriculum to suit the learning needs of all our pupils and make them excited to learn. Where possible, the curriculum areas are linked to provide context to their learning and allow them to delve deeper into the topic.

 

Throughout the term, in Maths, we will look at the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division), money, fractions and time. There will be some variation in coverage for each year group. Times tables (2, 5 and 10) for year 2 and recalling number bonds are fundamental skills that supports learning in all areas. Please support your children by regularly practising their times tables, and pairs to 10, 20 and 100 (Yr 2).

 

Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty. It should be offered as a precious gift” – Kate DiCamillo.

The pupils will have daily opportunities to read through Read Write Inc and have access to our ‘Reading Garden’ where the children can explore a wide variety of genres. For children who are no longer on the Read Write Inc programme, the children will have daily opportunities to read and develop their comprehension skills; we use VIPERS (Vocabulary, Inference, Predict, Explain, Retrieve and Summarise). It is so exciting that they will also now have access to Reading Buddies to support independent reading at home.

Throughout the week we also enjoy listening to a variety of books as a class which we can then discuss altogether. Please support your children’s learning by regularly engaging with stories and books at home; this can be listening to them read, reading to them or discussing what they have read. Please can records and books be bought into school every day.

 

In the lead up to the Phonics Screening Check I will also start to send home additional resources to practice spotting those special friends and sounding out words using ‘Special Friends, Fred Talk, read the word’. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

 

In English, we will begin by looking at the story of ‘Traction Man’, followed by ‘Stuck’ where various writing outcomes will be generated such as story writing, character descriptions, poetry and letter writing. Throughout the term, we will explore other texts to develop our writing skills and encourage pupils to apply the various grammar, punctuation, spelling and handwriting content taught.

 

‘Plants’ makes up our topics in Science this term. Pupils will start by exploring the structures of plants and trees and then begin to identify and name different types of garden plants, wild plants and common trees.

 

In our History topic we will be exploring changes within living memory focusing on childhood. We will consider how toys have changed, how school life has changed and what impact technology has had.

 

In Design Technology we will be looking at the different food groups and nutrition considering where food comes from. This will then be used to support the children in making their own butter and using the buttermilk to make scones.

 

In Geography, we will be exploring the impact of tree felling in our local area, with a particular focus on Cookworthy forest.

 

Linked to our Geography work in Art we will focus on sculptures and the work of Michelle Reader. We will be working towards building a sculpture of a tree using recycled materials.

 

For Computing, the children will be exploring and learning about making music and programming quizzes.

 

In Music, each unit adapts an integrated approach where games, elements of music (pulse, rhythm, pitch etc.), singing and playing instruments are all linked.

Madam Clark will continue to teach the children French on a Thursday afternoon where links are made to class topics and texts as well as basic French words and phrases.

 

In our Religion World Views, we continue to follow units within the Devon Agreed Syllabus. The units: ‘Why does Easter matter to Christians?’ And ‘What makes some places sacred to believers?’ will be taught and explored.

Within RSE (relationships and sex education) will be exploring the topics ‘Being my Best’ and ‘Growing and Changing’. To start with we will be exploring health and wellbeing focusing on healthy eating linking this to our DT topic. These topics will be taught through the Coram Life Education SCARF resources, who have a useful family page on their website if you would like to know more.

 

PE is planned for a Tuesday afternoons. However, it is always useful if the children have their PE Kits in school for the whole week.

This half term, Class 2 have WildTribe. – dates will follow in the school newsletter. Please can children bring in:
-Waterproofs to go over school uniform. If they don’t have waterproofs, please bring in a long sleeve top and trousers (not jeans).
– Wellie boots (in a carrier bag in case they get muddy)
– A coat (separate to normal coat if possible as they often get wet and or muddy).
You might also like to pack spare socks in case theirs get wet or your child is wearing tights to school.

 

Homework:

Homework will be posted on Class Dojo on Tuesdays. This will include:

• Maths challenges through DoodleMaths for both year 1 and 2, this will usually be linked to the work we have covered in our maths lessons that week.
• Learning spellings. These will be written into spelling journals each week based on the common exception words and will be specific to your child according to assessment. The spelling journals are for practising spelling at home, however it is essential that they are bought back into school every Monday for new spellings. Some strategies that the children have been enjoying to help with their spellings are Rainbow Writing and Pyramid Writing which I have posted about previously on Class Dojo. Although there will be no formal spelling check each week, we will look for evidence within their writing and during morning activities. I will, however, periodically carry out spelling checks to see how the children are progressing. We will continue to stick a copy of the assessment in their spelling journals; the highlighted words being the words the children spelled correctly.
• Reading five times a week with an initial from a parent in their reading records. Reading regularly provides children with the necessary phonics practise (Fred talk/ Sounding and blending). As they grow in confidence reading consistently helps the children develop their on-sight word reading, fluency, comprehension and stamina, which are all fundamental to supporting their progress across the curriculum. Each week the children complete their five reads, they will earn a house point.

Children receive House points as a reward. Rewards may link to our Carey Qualities, it may be for fantastic work, or using super language. There are endless possibilities.

Fraser Bear is ready for another term of exciting adventures with you all. Show and Tell bags will go home on Thursdays and Fraser will go home on Fridays.

 

The children’s well-being is of paramount important to us and as a school we aim to create a happy, healthy environment for all. If you have any worries or questions, please do not hesitate in coming to see me. Please email the school office if you have any urgent concerns to ensure we receive it straight away.

 

Miss R Preece (Class Teacher) and Miss T Farrow (Teaching Assistant).

Class 2 – Timetable

Class 2 Long Term Planning