Welcome to Year 2, Faith class!
Our teacher is Miss Sheehan and our teaching assistant is Mrs O’ Gorman.
Our topics for this term will be:
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Place Value
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Addition and Subtraction
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Shape
We will be focusing on Fiction stories and Non-Fiction (Instructions) this autumn term. Children will complete range of SPAG activities linked to each unit, building up to an extended Big Writing task. Alongside this the children will complete daily Monster phonics sessions, spelling and handwriting tasks weekly.
Please ensure that your child brings their reading book into class every day and ensure you are reading regularly with your child at home. Remember to ask your child questions about the text they read as this will help them to improve their comprehension skills. Please note that reading records must be signed by an adult each time a child has read, this may only be a page from a book but must still be recorded in the child’s reading record book. Children are given a reading book on Mondays and some children will still receive a Monster Phonics book on a Friday. All books must be returned on Mondays.
Creation and Covenant
In this branch, pupils will learn about the story of Noah, mainly focusing on God’s promise, or covenant, with Noah and with all creatures that ‘nothing of flesh shall be swept away again by the waters of the flood’ (Gen 9:15), a promise symbolised by the rainbow. God’s promise to Noah is not one way; it depends on Noah (and his family) turning back to God and taking responsibility for the gift of Creation they have received. Noah must be a good keeper, or steward, of the Earth and all living things. The Catholic Church recognises the story of Noah’s ark prefigures the ‘salvation by baptism, for by it a few… were saved by water’ (CCC 1219). The Sacrament of Baptism forms the next part of Creation and covenant as the sacrament is a covenant with God (YC 194) and, as in the story of Noah, a person is reborn from the waters.
Prophecy and Promise
The liturgical season of Advent is explored as the four weeks of preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas. Children will explore some of the special stories of Advent and learn about the importance of Mary and some of the words of her Magnificat. Pupils are invited to understand some of the symbols used during the Advent season, namely the Advent wreath, and to explore how other cultures prepare for Christmas, such as Las Posadas, the nine-day prayer and pageant that originated in Mexico. Additionally, pupils should be encouraged to make links with the message they hear in Scripture and actions, considering how Christians today can bring joy to the world.
Materials
Our topic this term is Materials. Children will learn about different materials and learn to discuss and describe their properties and how they are used in the environment around them. We will continue to use ‘Science Ninja’ in science where the children work towards achieving stickers for different methods of enquiry.
Working Scientifically:
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Ask relevant questions; use different types of scientific enquiries to answer them.
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Set up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests.
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Identify differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas and processes.
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Make systematic and careful observations and, where appropriate, take accurate measurements using standard units; use a range of equipment, including thermometers and data loggers.
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Record findings use simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts and tables.
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Report on findings from enquiries, including oral and written explanations, displays or presentation of results and conclusions
Science Ninja:
The children will have the opportunity to gain a science ninja sticker. These focus on the key skills:
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Recording
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Observing
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Measuring
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Equipment
In ICT the children will be introduced to basic skills, word processing and typing skills. In addition, they will be learning about how to use the internet safely.
History: Neil Armstrong
In History we will be learning about Neil Armstrong and the moon landings which includes the 1960’s space race.
Geography: Continents and Oceans
In Geography we will be learning about Continents and Oceans of the world. We we locate and label these on maps.
Children will have PE lessons on Mondays and Fridays. Please ensure that your child comes to school in their PE kit (a round neck t-shirt, not a polo shirt please) and that each item is clearly labelled. Children are not allowed to wear earrings during P.E. (it would be helpful if they didn’t wear them at all on these days).
Art
In Art we will be learning different art skills. The children will be sketching, painting, using pastels and drawing from observation. Our topic this half term is ‘The Starry Night’ where the children will learn about contrasting colours such as dark and light colours.
D&T
Mechanisms: Making a moving monster
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
• Identify the correct terms for levers, linkages and pivots.
• Analyse popular toys with the correct terminology.
• Create functional linkages that produce the desired input and output motions.
• Design monsters suitable for children, which satisfy most of the design criteria.
• Evaluate their two designs against the design criteria, using this information and the feedback of their peers to choose their best design.
• Select and assemble materials to create their planned monster features.
• Assemble the monster to their linkages without affecting their functionality
PSHE- Following TenTen Life to the Full
Module 1: Created and Loved by God
Created and Loved by God explores the individual. Rooted in the teaching that we are created by God out of love and for love, it helps children to develop an understanding of the importance of valuing themselves as the basis for personal relationships.
Homework
Homework will be given out on Thursdays and will need to be returned to school for marking on Monday. Alongside homework it would be helpful to your child if you could help them practise reading and writing spellings given each week, reading and spelling common exception words and helping them practise the two, five and ten times tables (please note they must know these in sequence, mixed up and related division facts). Spellings and tables will be assessed weekly. Please not that additional work may be given to your child during the week to aid their learning.
Edward De Bono's six thinking hats
We continue to use Edward De Bono's six thinking hats to help us to organise our thinking and process or ideas. There are 6 hats and each has a different colour and so a different use or meaning. When children answer questions in class, each question will have a different colour hat attached to it. The diagram below shows you in better detail how we use them. Ask your children what hats they have used in their learning today!
Habits of Mind
The Habits of Mind are a collection of 16 thinking dispositions designed to help children develop their critical and creative thinking skills. Every week children are taught to use a different ‘habit of mind’ to help with their thinking and apply this to their work.
Visual Maps
The children are now using visual tools in all areas of their learning. These tools help the children map out their ideas and organize their thinking.