Hello Class 2! I hope you have had a lovely festive break and a happy new year! We are looking forward to an exciting spring term, thinking about living things and their habitats, Italy’s natural environment and its impact on humans and creating sculpture inspired by film and literature.
As in Autumn Term, we continue with our pick up and drop off times, and school will begin at 8.45am and finish at 3.15pm. Please can children enter independently from the main school entrance, hanging their coats and bags in either the boys or girls’ cloakrooms. Please bring your reading book and record into class. Please let the office know if someone else will be collecting in the afternoon. Children in Year 2 continue to benefit from receiving a free piece of fruit/veg for a breaktime snack, but in Year 3 you will be required to bring your own from home: Please make sure that this continue to be in line with our healthy food policy: https://www.applebyprimary.cumbria.sch.uk/school-meals/. This term, the year 2 children will no longer be having afternoon breaktimes.
Reading: Children in year 2 will continue to benefit from Little Wandle schemed group reading, accessing carefully levelled texts in line with their progression. Selected children in Year 3 will also benefit from keep-up sessions.
All children will have an individual reading book which they can take home, and will be developing their understanding of reading for pleasure. Progress will be shared through their reading record from school, and I strongly encourage you to build this into a daily routine at home as well, letting us know how they did.
We are also reading through a shared class book, improving daily on our comprehension, grammar and spelling skills, although this will not be recorded via the reading record.
Don’t forget that you can also access a huge range of e-books as well through the school’s online library: https://appleyprimary.eplatform.co/
If you would like to volunteer to read with the class, this would be very welcome, and please contact the office to find out more.
English: Our book for this half term is called Varjak Paw, by SF Said. We will be using this to develop our understanding of direct speech, paragraphs, non-narratives using headings and sub headings and to write narratives about personal experiences.
Maths: In Maths we will be using the White Rose scheme to develop your child’s confidence in multiplication and division (Y2/3), money (Y2), shape, length and perimeter (Y2/3). We will also use ‘fluent in 5’ daily challenges to build their fluency and recall. If you wish to continue practicing at home, we recommend using the 1-minute maths app to help children build their fluency and ability with number, as well as the Times Table Rock Star app for multiplication/division.
Geography: This term we will be developing knowledge and understanding of Italy’s environments, to help us answer the question ‘How does Italy’s environment impact on its settlements?’. We will use maps and explore the different physical features of Italy, including its volcanoes and earthquakes, investigate its settlements, and compare what we find to the UK.
Science: In science we are exploring Living things and their habitats, we will be investigating animals basic needs, and the impact of exercise, identifying different offspring. We will then begin to identify how animals can be grouped, thinking of classification keys to group and name living things, both local and from a wider environment. We will think of how environments can change, and how this poses danger to living things.
Art and Design: Our Art and Design this term will be focusing on sculpture inspired by film and literature. We will be developing our skill in sketching and drawing and translate this to sculpture through use of different materials such as cardboard, clay and textiles. This can be quite messy, and you may want to provide a large old t-shirt for children to wear! We may require cardboard for certain activities, and if you have any available this would be very appreciated. Notification of when will be sent via Seesaw.
Computing: In computing, we will learn to make things happen in a sequence, creating simple animations, and simulations.
PE: In Class 2, Children will have PE sessions twice a week, on Mondays (pm) and Thursday (pm). Children should bring both outdoor and indoor clothing as we will be going outdoors as much as the weather permits. Please make sure all kit & uniform has your child’s name in it, so we are able to reunite lost items successfully. Earrings must be removed for PE and your child must be able to do this for themselves. PE kit consists of a white t-shirt and black shorts/leggings with suitable trainers. If your child does not bring their PE kit, they will not be able to participate in the activities.
French/RE: Through lessons with Miss Ridley, children will be investigating different RE and through our scheme Jigsaw, and will be learning some basic French focusing on numbers, colours and animals.
Communication: We will use Seesaw throughout the year to send announcements, share photos of significant events/achievements. You can also communicate directly with the teachers during working hours, and it is ideal for asking questions, receiving reminders and for sharing progress! Please don’t forget to use my direct contact page if Seesaw is not working, https://www.applebyprimary.cumbria.sch.uk/contact-mrs-dickinson/.
Please do not hesitate to send us a question via Seesaw if you have any queries.
Looking forward to seeing you all in January!
Mrs Clara Dickinson