Welcome to our Year 2 Class at St James’
Welcome to Year 2. My name is Mrs Scott and I am the class teacher. We are supported by various Teaching Assistants in Year 2 on a daily basis. We will be doing lots of Maths and English in the mornings and we’ll be having lots of fun in all of our other subject in the afternoon. I have a passion for art and music so there will definitely be a focus on these subjects. In Year 2 we think the ‘Sky is the limit – that we can achieve anything if we try’ so we work to aim high in everything we do.
Year 2 Noticeboard
- We change our reading books weekly. You will need your reading book and reading journal every day.
- PE in Year 2 is on Thursdays. Make sure you have your full St James PE kit.
- Homework is given out each Friday and should be returned before the following Thursday.
- Spellings are handed out on a Friday and will be tested on Friday of the following week.
- Please bring fresh water daily.
- We pray every day in school. Please help your child to become familiar with our prayers here Little Book of Prayers EYFS and KS1
Autumn in Year 2
As the leaves turn golden brown and the days get shorter and colder, we’re going to have a term full of excitement and fun. Here’s what I’ve planned for us.
During the first part the autumn term we ‘dive’ into ocean and coastal life in so many ways. In English, we help Mr Grinling, the famous Lighthouse Keeper, to protect his lunch from greedy seagulls. In our Geography lessons, we try to answer questions as to why our oceans are important and why we need to protect them. In Science we look at the amazing creatures we find in the ocean and discover how they are adapted for their incredible deep-sea life. In art we discover why artists many years ago started to paint still life compositions of very ordinary things and we then have a little go of our own. In RE ‘Beginning’ is our theme so we thank God for the gift of creation and pray for a brilliant start to Year 2. Our faith journey began at Baptism, so we look at the signs and symbols of this Sacrament and reflect on Christians’ special day.
In the second part of the Autumn term, we turn our attention to royal life. In history we explore the role of a monarch and compare queens from the past. The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch is the class text where a prince and a dragon are outwitted by a really smart girl. We will write a story about George and a dragon and write instructions “How not to be a regular princess’. In science, we explore human-made and natural materials and investigate the properties of various objects in our everyday lives. We carry out an umbrella investigation to find the best materials to keep Mrs Scott dry on the yard. In ICT we learn about different devices and how to use them safely. PHSE.and RSE focuses on relationships and how we cope mentally when things don’t go according to plan. In RE we explore how Hindu families practice their faith and ask the ‘Big Question’ Why do we prepare for Advent?
Tips on how to help your child’s learning during the autumn term
- Try to spend 5 minutes a day on Times Tables Rock Stars – Mr Monaghan is always on the lookout for timetables champions.
- Have a look around for habitats. Turn over a stone in your local park or look under a rock at the seaside.
- If you’re lucky enough to visit a castle, then Alnwick Castle is open until the end of October. If you need something closer to home, go on visual tours of castles with these fantastic links-
- https://usborne.com/us/quicklinks/quicklink/let-s-explore-castles
- When you put on your wellies or pop open an umbrella, have a think about the different materials they are made from. See if you can spot materials that are natural or made by a human in your local area.
- Most important of all enjoy those bright autumn days with family and friends.
It’s the end of our Autumn Term
What a super half term we have had. We loved learning about strong women such as Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth I. There was an Elizabeth in the Paper Bag Princess story who was also a strong and determined lady and we had fun writing about being a rebellious princess! In science we looked at materials and carried out an investigation of suitable materials for Mrs Scott’s umbrella. Waterproof polyester was the best! In RE we have enjoyed Advent and the countdown to Christmas, and we loved learning about the Festival of Lights in our lessons about Hinduism. Maths week was fun when we got to do lots of practical maths activities outside in the winter sun. We have done a lot of singing and rehearsing for our Christmas show however it was brilliant doing our Wriggly Nativity for our families. It has been a busy half term for parents too and I really appreciate all your help with homework and spelling lists. I hope you all have a happy and Holy Christmas and enjoy a well-earned break during the holidays.
