Topic Summary
Why do plants and animals need each other to survive?
In this topic, through exploration of different habitats, the children learn about how most animals are adapted to their habitat in order to survive. They begin to understand the impact humans are having on habitat loss. One of our key texts in English, the Unexpected Visitor addresses this issue, when a fisherman learns the impact of overfishing.
In the topic we will be teaching the children the following key concepts:
- Diversity - Why do we need diverse habitats?
- Community – How do plants and animals work together to form a community?
- Beauty – What is the role of beauty in nature?
- Interdependence - How are plants and animals interdependent?
Visits
- Monday 29th September - European Day of Languages
- Wednesday 22nd October - Harvest Collection
- Trip to Northumberland Zoo
- Walks within local area
Subject Information
English
We will use the story The Unexpected Visitor as an inspiration for our English work this half term. We will develop our reading skills to learn new vocabulary and make predictions.
In writing we will focus on expanding our sentences and learning how to write narratives. We will teach the children to use noun phrases to add interest to their writing and how to add description. We will also be reading a mystery text towards the end of the half term to become detectives: what can we work out about the character from the clues the book gives us?
Other Key Texts
- A mystery text!
- Something Fishy
Children will also continue to work in their phonic groups every day reinforcing their sounds and spellings to read and write. In addition to this the children will read 1-1 with an adult through the week.
Maths
We will start by looking at place value and develop the following skills:
- Recognising the value of 2-digit numbers and representing them using a variety of representations including dienes, numicon and number lines.
- Comparing and ordering numbers using these symbols <,>,=
- Read and write numbers in numerals and words.
We will then move on to addition and subtraction and:
- Practise fluently recalling addition and subtraction facts to 20.
- Begin to add and subtract 2-digit numbers using, resources and pictures before working mentally.
- Understand the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction.
Science
Our Science work this half term will focus on animals as well as some work on plants. We will:
- Look at classifying objects into living and non-living
- Build and place a bug hotel in the grounds and observing to see which bugs can be spotted.
- Look at a variety of habitats and which animals may live in each habitat.
- Look at what animals eat and create food chains to show primary and secondary sources.
Geography
In Geography we will begin to develop a sense of place by:
- Creating maps; including keys of our classroom and school.
- Using atlases to locate the countries and capital cities in the United Kingdom.
- Locating and naming the seven continents and the five oceans.
We will also link our Geography and Science work looking at the human and physical features of different habitats.
PSHE and RE
In PSHE the children will we focusing on ourselves and learning to listen and share information about each other. We will think about what makes us special and celebrate these attributes. Our key question will be: what makes us a good friend?
In R.E this half term we will learning about Judaism. The children will gain an understanding about Jewish beliefs and traditions. We will be looking at Jewish artefacts to further enhance our understanding.
Art
We will begin our year 2 artwork by building our drawing skills looking at:
- Creating texture using a pencil
- Creating hard lines and soft lines and everything in between
- Creating different patterns and shapes
We will then use these skills to create some art inspired by the habitats we have learned about.
Computing
We will be learning about computer systems and the parts of a computer. We will be looking at how computers are controlled and recognising technology in the world around them. Throughout the term the children will be using their imaginations to invent a new product which has a computer element in it.
Children will also recap how we keep safe online.
PE
We will have our first PE session of the week on a Tuesday and this term we will be practising arm movements and hand/eye coordination to hit and return balls.
On a Thursday the children will be taking part in dance lessons. They will be using images of penguins to create a solo dance which incorporates changes in direction and speed. The children will perform their dance to music and explain their choices to their peers.
Music
In music this half term we will explore improvising rhythms to musical backing tracks, play melodies on percussion instruments and sing clearly through call and response songs.
We will also introduce the children to the first of our musicians. This half term, we focus on music by the band Coldplay and think about how the band are 'global warriors' with their efforts to generate their own power during their concerts.
If you would like any further details about this half term's curriculum in Year 2, please speak to your child's teacher.