Merton Bank Primary School

Welcome to Year 2

Year 2 is a warm, welcoming and happy classroom where lots of exciting learning takes place. We aim for all our lessons to be engaging and interactive, with a focus on making learning accessible for all our children. Throughout Year 2, children continue to develop their independence. They are given roles and responsibilities in the classroom, with a focus on working together and helping each other. In Year 2 we have a huge focus on supporting children to grow a love of reading, becoming readers who read for pleasure and purpose. The year is jam packed with high quality, hand-picked texts which we hope will help create life-long readers. Our children challenge themselves to achieve their full potential and we work hard to ensure our classroom is a safe space for everyone to try new skills and learn from mistakes. Mental health and well-being are high priority in Year 2. We work hard to support our children to be happy and free from worry and anxieties. We promote positive self-talk and resilience and guide children through any difficulties they face, ensuring they know how special and capable they are.

Things to remember

• Please continue to support your child’s learning at home. It is expected your child reads 3x per week at home. Please record this in your child’s reading record. Thank you for supporting your children at home. It truly is appreciated.

• Your child needs to bring their reading book, book bag and water bottle into school daily.

• All children in Key Stage One qualify for a free school meal. Please enquire at the office for more information.

• Milk and fruit are provided daily. Please pay for your child’s milk (costing £2 per term) termly in a sealed envelope.

• This term (Spring) we have PE every Monday and Thursday.

Spring Term Learning:

Spring 2 Overview

Take a look at some of the exciting learning taking place In Year 2 during Spring Term 2025!

Writing

The Adventure of Little Charlie

In our recent exploration of 'The Story of Little Charlie' by Pie Corbett, we embraced three focused toolkit choices to enhance our writing skills. We deliberately selected powerful verbs, such as ‘sprinted’ instead of ‘ran’ and ‘whispered’ instead of ‘said’. Adverbs enriched our descriptions; for instance, “she tiptoed quietly” painted a vivid picture. Additionally, we experimented with alliteration, crafting phrases like “Charlie’s curious gaze” to captivate our readers. Through numerous short burst writing activities, we displayed significant creativity and growth in our writing proficiency.

Reading

The Pirate Cruncher by Jonny Duddle

In our reading sessions linked to The SHINE Project, we have been exploring 'The Pirate Cruncher' by Jonny Duddle. This text serves as an excellent resource for developing reading fluency skills such as tone, expression, and pace. By engaging with the vivid illustrations and dynamic language of the story, we can practice these skills in an enjoyable context, allowing us to convey the narrative with appropriate emphasis and rhythm, thereby enhancing our overall comprehension and enjoyment.

Maths

Money, multiplication and division and length and height

In Spring, we will engage in a comprehensive overview of essential mathematical concepts, including money, multiplication and division, as well as length and height. We will develop our understanding of money by identifying coins and calculating simple totals. We will also explore multiplication and division through practical activities, enabling us to grasp the relationship between these operations. Furthermore, the curriculum will incorporate measuring skills, where we will compare and measure objects using standard units for length and height.

Geography

Why is our world wonderful?

Our Geography lessons in Year 2 are designed to foster a profound understanding of the world around us. We will engage in identifying the geographical characteristics of the UK and locating some of the world’s most remarkable places. We learn the names of the five oceans and how to accurately position them on a map. Furthermore, we will learn to draw human and physical features on sketch maps, investigate local habitats, and meticulously record our findings, promoting an integrated approach to learning.

History

Who was Sappho and why do we know so much about her?

In Year 2, our history lessons explore the life of Sappho, a girl living near Mt Vesuvius during the catastrophic eruption that led to the destruction of Pompeii in AD 79. We examine the trustworthiness of primary and secondary evidence, highlighting how these sources help us understand the event’s causes and effects. Through Sappho’s story, we will gain insight into the human experiences and the significant consequences of the eruption on the ancient city and its inhabitants.

Computing

Scratch JR and stop motion

In our Year 2 computing lessons, we harness the power of iPads to engage with Scratch JR, introducing us to the fundamentals of block coding, algorithms, and debugging. These activities not only foster programming skills but also enable us to explore sound recording and animation techniques. Additionally, we encourage creativity through the creation of stop motion animations on iPads, utilising onion skinning, flipbooks, and frames to enhance our storytelling capabilities.

PE

Target games and ball skills

Our Year 2 PE lessons concentrate on developing target games and ball skills, fostering an environment where we can enhance our physical abilities. Throughout these sessions, we employ a range of game-based activities that encourage the use of transferable skills, which are vital for sports such as hockey and tag rugby. By engaging in these varied activities, we not only refine our coordination and teamwork but also gain confidence in our ability to participate in different sporting contexts.

Art

Franz Kline and historical scenes

Our Year 2 art lessons are designed to foster creativity and encourage freedom of interpretation. By focusing on the renowned artist Franz Kline, we explore his distinctive techniques, embracing bold strokes and dynamic compositions. We have the opportunity to reimagine art inspired by the historical events of The Great Fire of London, allowing us to connect with the past while expressing our individuality. This approach not only nurtures artistic skills but also enriches our understanding of history.

Music

I wanna play in a band and Zootime

Our Year 2 music lessons focus on inventing a musical story while recognising different sounds. We explore the social narrative of how music enhances our world and educates us about our neighbourhood. We engage by playing or clapping simple rhythmic patterns with long and short sounds. We improvise using one, two, or three notes—C, D, and E—and learn to articulate our musical experiences using appropriate terminology. This approach fosters creativity and collaborative learning in a vibrant musical environment.

Forest School 

In our Year 2 forest schools, we have been engaged in a variety of enriching activities designed to foster creativity and practical skills. We have built enchanting fairy houses, constructed volcanoes connected to our history topic, and participated in hands-on maths activities that reinforce key concepts. Additionally, we have created a journey path which serves as a springboard for our writing exercises. These activities not only enhance learning but also inspire a love for the natural world.

Science

PATHs and PSHE

RE

Design Technology 

Take a look at some of the exciting learning in Year 2 during Autumn Term 2024

Maths

In maths, we have been busy becoming place vlaue experts! We have been busy partitioning and recomingin numbers to 100. We have used various representations to partiton numbers, we even used chalk outside to create our own part whole models. 

Talk for Writing- 'The Magic Porridge Pot' 

We have been learning 'The Magic Porridge Pot', using lots of actions and expression.  We have created text maps, descriptive sentences inspired by our text and even made our own delicious porridge. We have also enjoyed acting as the woodland characters Poppy meets on her journey.