Year 2
Autumn term
Movers and Shakers
This term, pupils will learn about historically significant individuals who have made a lasting impact on the world. Through timelines, stories, and historical sources, they will explore the lives of these figures and use historical models to understand their importance.
In English, we will study the text Traction Man, creating our own character descriptions and developing new settings. Pupils will also compose a colour poem and write a persuasive letter to a local museum, suggesting the inclusion of a new significant individual in their exhibits. Grammar learning will focus on building strong sentence structures through the use of coordinating conjunctions, expanded noun phrases, and appropriate verb tenses.
In Mathematics, the focus will be on place value up to 100, as well as addition and subtraction across tens. Pupils will also explore the properties of 2D and 3D shapes. Learning will be reinforced through practical activities, followed by opportunities to apply new knowledge to problem-solving.
Spring
Magnificent Monarchs
This term, pupils will study the English and British monarchy from AD 871 to the present day. Using timelines, portraits, royal palaces, and other historical sources, they will research and compare six significant monarchs. To enrich this learning, the children will also enjoy an educational visit to Windsor Castle.
In Mathematics, pupils will build on their understanding of place value, adding and subtracting two-digit numbers across boundaries and applying this to money problems. They will also begin to develop their skills in multiplication and division, focusing on the 2, 5, and 10 times tables.
In English, pupils will write an information text to accompany a self-portrait in the role of a monarch. They will also write a diary entry from the perspective of an animal, linking to science work on survival. Later in the term, we will explore Mixed-Up Fairy Tales before pupils create their own alternative fairy tale. Grammar learning will introduce the use of adverbs and subordinating conjunctions.
Summer
Coastlines
This project introduces pupils to the physical and human features of the UK’s coastal regions, with a special focus on Whitby in Yorkshire. Their understanding will be enriched through a visit to Southsea Beach, where they will also take inspiration for their own 3D beach hut designs and models.
In English, pupils will study the wordless picture book Flotsam, creating character descriptions of the creatures it features. Following their beach visit, they will compose an email to a friend recommending the beach as a destination, and they will also write instructional texts on how flowers grow. Across the term, pupils will consolidate and apply the grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary skills developed throughout the year.
The children will apply their knowledge of number and place value to a range of mathematical concepts this term. They will develop their understanding of different measures, including weight and capacity, and will be introduced to fractions, focusing on halves and quarters. In addition, pupils will begin to explore methods of data collection and representation through the use of pictograms and tally charts.