Giraffe (Year 2)
Welcome to Year 2!
Giraffe Class are taught by Mrs Gardner and Mrs Bland.
We are using Class Dojo again this year to reinforce positive behaviour in and around school. As the children are now in Year 2, we are really promoting an independent attitude to learning. This year we encourage the children to take on more responsibility in the classroom and around school.
If you have any concerns or questions then please feel free to message us on Dojo or contact the Office - https://www.classdojo.com/
At the bottom of this page I have posted some useful websites to support with learning outside of school as well as the Year 2 spelling list.
General Giraffe notices -
* Homework will be sent home on Thursday and returned the following Wednesday. All work needs to be completed in homework books. Homework will be Maths. This will be discussed with the children before they take it home. If your child is a bit unsure then please feel free to message us on Dojo or bring the homework into school so we can work it through together.
* Reading at home is very important and should be completed daily. All children should try to discuss their school books with someone at home to improve their reading skills. Please make sure to record any reading in your child's reading record so we can track their progress and provide a set of new books once completed.
* PE with Mr Dickinson will be on Monday afternoons and PE with Mrs Gardner on Tuesday afternoons. Please ensure earrings are removed on these days unless your child can remove them independently in school. All PE kit must be named and appropriate for the weather conditions. An extra pair of socks may be useful on rainy days!
* Forest School sessions will be posted on Class Dojo.
Autumn Term 1
English
This term we will be reading '10 Things I Can Do to Help my World' by Melanie Walsh. This is a non-fiction book that explains ten ways in which we can help our planet. We will be learning about the problems of plastic pollution and learning to persuade others about the dangers of too much plastic in our environment.
Later on in the term we will then be reading 'Out and About: A Book of First Poems' by Shirley Hughes. We will be reading lots of poetry inspired by nature and the outdoors and even creating some of our own!
Maths
This term Giraffe Class will be learning:
place value, addition and subtraction.
We will also be introducing Times Tables Rockstars towards the end of the term! This is a website used from Year 2 to Year 6 as a way to practise times tables and division facts. Your child will be provided with an account that they can access at school/at home. In school we will be getting lots of practise as part of our computing time!
Science - Everyday materials and their properties
Topic - Geography: continents and oceans
Computing: Computing systems and networks - information technology around us
Art: Craft and Design: Map it Out
RE: How should we care for others and the world and why does it matter?
PSHE: Being me in my world
Music: Hands, feet, heart
PE: Travelling and moving with equipment
Autumn Term 2
English
During this term.... we are reading 'The Dark' by Lemony Snicket! This is the story of a boy named Lazlo who is afraid of the dark. The dark lives with him in the house but usually stays locked away in the basement, but one particular night it comes to visit him! We will be writing diary entries, letters to the characters as well as a non-chronological report on nocturnal animals.
Maths
This term Giraffe Class will be learning:
Addition and subtraction, shape
Science - Everyday materials and their properties
Topic - History: Lives of significant others (Guy Fawkes)
Computing: Creating media - digital photography
DT: Structures: Baby Bear's Chair
RE: What can we learn from scared books?
PSHE: Celebrating difference
Music: Ho, Ho, Ho
PE: Sending and receiving with feet and sticks
Spring Term 1
English
This is a lovely story of two friends on a journey to discover gold! Although they may run into some trouble along the way...
We will be writing a set of instructions, poetry, writing in role as the characters and at the end of the term we will be writing our own inspired narratives! 
Maths
This term Giraffe Class will be learning:
money, multiplication and division
Science - Living things and their habitats
Topic - Geography: Australia
Computing: Programming - robot algorithms
ART: Painting and Mixed Media: Life in Colour
RE: What can we learn from sacred books?
PSHE: Dreams and goals
PE: Gymnastics
Music: I wanna play in a band
Spring Term 2
English
This term we will be reading 'Traction Man is Here!' by Mini Grey - Traction Man is the brand new action figure who is here to save the day! This superhero searches for the Lost Wreck of the Sieve and later in the bathtub, he conquers the Mysterious Toes that are stealing his pet, the brave little Scrubbing Brush. These are just a few of the action-packed adventures played out by the boy and his new toy!
We will be writing our own stories inspired by the comic-book style of Traction Man is Here, as well as writing recounts and writing to persuade.
Maths
This term Giraffe Class will be learning:
Length and height and mass, capacity and temperature
Science - Living things and their habitats
Topic - History: The Great Fire of London
Computing: Data and information - pictograms
DT: Mechanisms: Fairground Wheel
RE: How and why do we celebrate special and sacred times?
PSHE: Healthy me
PE: Sending and receiving feet and stick
Music: Zootime
Summer Term 1
English
This term we will be reading 'The Diary of a Killer Cat' 
Maths
This term Giraffe Class will be learning:
Fractions and Time
Science - Plants
Topic - History: Castles
Computing: Creating media
Art: Sculpture and 3D : Clay houses
RE: Who is a Muslim and what do they believe?
PSHE: Relationships
PE: Sending and receiving
Music: Friendship song
Summer Term 2
English
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Maths
This term Giraffe Class will be learning:
Statistics, Position and direction.
Science - Animals including humans
Topic - Geography: Maps and atlases
Computing: Programming B
DT: Mechanisms: Making a moving monster
RE: Who is Jewish and what do they believe?
PSHE: Changing me
PE: Athletics
Music: Reflect, rewind and replay
Here are some websites that may be useful for homework or for extra learning at home. I have also uploaded the Year 2 spelling list below -
Maths
* https://ttrockstars.com/ (times tables practice - see login details)
* https://play.numbots.com/#/account/school-login/16257 (number bonds, addition/subtraction facts - see login details)
* https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button (number bonds, times tables, division facts, halves/doubles)
* https://whiterosemaths.com/ (great free resources that we use across the school to plan Maths)
Reading/English
* www.teachyourmonster.org (reading support)
* https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/ (good for e-books and online reading)
* http://www.pobble365.com/ (amazing for story writing or creative writing)
* https://www.literacyshed.com/home.html (good examples for writing)
Books for Year 2 children aged 6-7 | School Reading List (lots of ideas for books your children might enjoy)
Science
* https://explorify.wellcome.ac.uk/activities (experiments/investigations you can do at home)
* https://www.stem.org.uk/ (experiments/investigations you can do at home)
