English
The Bear Under the Stairs by Helen Cooper
We will use this story as a model to discuss the children's own fears and how they have dealt with them. Children will write letters of advice to the main character and back before writing their own story of a child who is scared of something that might be in the house. The sequence of learning finishes with children making comparisons between real bears and toy bears and using this as the basis for an information report about bears to give to William to help him feel less scared.
Monster Phonics
This half term we will review all previous taught spelling patterns and revisit the Year 2 Common Exception Words. These words were part of the children's spelling homework last term. It is important that the children can read and spell all of these words. At home, spend some time each week to look over the children's spellings in their homework book and practise spelling these words in different ways. Look at the Spelling Challenge Cards for inspiration!
Science: Uses of Everyday Materials
Building on their knowledge of everyday materials and their properties, the children recognise that materials are suited for specific purposes and explore actions such as stretching and bending affect the shape of solid objects. They compare the suitability of materials; gather and record data in tables and block graphs and use their results to answer questions. Children learn about the harmful effects of plastic and explore eco-friendly alternatives.
Geography
Enquiry: Why does it matter where my food comes from?
This enquiry provides an introduction to farming and farms. It will enable the children to explore a number of key geographical concepts such as location and distribution, as well as establishing a clear grasp, in simple terms, of fundamental geographical processes including economic activity and trade. The enquiry therefore is not just about the children knowing ‘where’ their food comes from but also – and equally importantly – it’s about enabling them to understand ‘why’ it’s important to know. To this end the children have opportunities to begin to understand and reflect upon, in basic terms, why locally sourced food and free-range production regimes are considered environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Design Technology: Mechanisms
Making a Moving Monster
After learning the terms; pivot, lever and linkage, children set to designing a monster that will move using a linkage mechanism. After practicing making linkages of different types and varying the materials they use. The children can also bring their monsters to life with the gift of movement.
Physical Education: Gymnastics
Within this gymnastics unit, the children will be challenged to explore different ways that they can link movements and balances together. The children will perform a sequence on apparatus focused on; jumps, rolls and balances.
Computing
The children will be introduced to the term ‘data’. They will begin to understand what data means and how this can be collected in the form of a tally chart. The children will learn the term ‘attribute’ and use this to help them organise data. They will then progress onto presenting data in the form of pictograms and block diagrams then use the data presented to answer questions.
Why not try the pinned activities for the Code Disco on Busy Things!