Welcome to our Year 2 Class at St James’
Welcome to Year 2. My name is Mrs Scott and I am the class teacher. We are supported by various Teaching Assistants in Year 2 on a daily basis. We will be doing lots of Maths and English in the mornings and we’ll be having lots of fun in all of our other subject in the afternoon. I have a passion for art and music so there will definitely be a focus on these subjects. In Year 2 we think the ‘Sky is the limit – that we can achieve anything if we try’ so we work to aim high in everything we do.
Year 2 Noticeboard
- We change our reading books weekly. You will need your reading book and reading journal every day.
- PE in Year 2 is on Thursdays. Make sure you have your full St James PE kit.
- Homework is given out each Friday and should be returned before the following Thursday.
- Spellings are handed out on a Friday and will be tested on Friday of the following week.
- Please bring fresh water daily.
Autumn in Year 2
As the leaves turn golden brown and the days get shorter and colder, we’re going to have a term full of excitement and fun. Here’s what I’ve planned for us.
During the first part the autumn term we ‘dive’ into ocean and coastal life in so many ways. In English, we help Mr Grinling, the famous Lighthouse Keeper, to protect his lunch from greedy seagulls. In our Geography lessons, we try to answer questions as to why our oceans are important and why we need to protect them. In Science we look at the amazing creatures we find in the ocean and discover how they are adapted for their incredible deep-sea life. In art we discover why artists many years ago started to paint still life compositions of very ordinary things and we then have a little go of our own. In RE ‘Beginning’ is our theme so we thank God for the gift of creation and pray for a brilliant start to Year 2. Our faith journey began at Baptism, so we look at the signs and symbols of this Sacrament and reflect on Christians’ special day.
In the second part of the Autumn term, we turn our attention to royal life. In history we explore the role of a monarch and compare queens from the past. The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch is the class text where a prince and a dragon are outwitted by a really smart girl. We will write a story about George and a dragon and write instructions “How not to be a regular princess’. In science, we explore human-made and natural materials and investigate the properties of various objects in our everyday lives. We carry out an umbrella investigation to find the best materials to keep Miss Anderson dry on the yard. In ICT we learn about different devices and how to use them safely. PHSE and RSE focuses on relationships and how we cope mentally when things don’t go according to plan. In RE we explore how Jewish families practice their faith and ask the ‘Big Question’ Why do we prepare for Advent?
Spring in Year 2
In this chilly spring term, we warm our bodies as we travel to the continent of Africa through Eileen Browne’s ‘Handa’s Surprise’. In this delightful book we look, hear and taste the delights of African culture. In geography we explore Africa even further by looking at the country of Kenya where we will ask ‘Big questions’ such as: Will we see some giraffe or will we need an umbrella? In science we investigate electricity; looking at how to keep ourselves safe around electrical equipment and discussing how power reaches our homes. We will then make simple circuits to illuminate a light bulb. In ICT we learn the art of coding- which is all about writing instructions for computers. In RE we look at Holy books and how they are used to guide good Holy lives and why the Eucharist is so special to Christians. In art lessons we looking at the work of Audrey Flack and Rembrant to provide inspiration for our own observational drawings and paintings.
In the second part of the Spring term, we are thinking carefully about our planet through ‘A Planet Full of Plastic’ by Neal Layton. Mrs Scott’s packed lunch has far too much plastic and we are going to spend the next couple of weeks in our English lessons persuading her to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. In science we will be investigating different materials particularly the materials which are doing the most harm to the world. In RE we are preparing for Easter through our Lenten preparations; thinking about ways we can pray, give and fast. World Book Day happens this term and we are looking forward to reading our favourite poems and dressing up as our favourite characters. The South Tyneside Music Festival takes place in March so many of our music lessons will be spent preparing for the big show. In history we learn about three special Queens: Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II and discover what they were famous for during their reigns. In art we will be looking at the vibrant colours and interesting shapes of African masks and making ‘relief’ sculptures in a similar style.
Summer in Year 2
We visited Jarrow Hall Anglo-Saxon Farm Village
On Friday 26th April as part of our exciting new topic “Changes in the Past” we visited Jarrow Hall: Anglo-Saxon Farm Village and Bede Museum. We took part in an interactive session which will allowed the children to explore the farm and village and to discover how life and farming have changed over the last 1000 years.
The children had a great day and asked some fantastic questions about homes and life in the past.
What a final term! We worked really hard on our end of year assessments and we were really pleased with our final scores. In English we went on an adventure with Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach; writing diary entries and newspaper articles for James and his insect friends. In design technology, we sewed for the first time and made a class quilt based on the theme of God’s Wonderful World. It looked great. In RE we discovered that planet Earth is a treasure to be looked after and we thanked God for his awesome world. We combined Active Maths and Geography and had a go at orienteering on the school premises. Fieldwork Fortnight was a huge success. We visited the local park to conduct a survey about insect population and discovered that there were very few natural habitats. To attract more wildlife to Hebburn, we made tin can hotels, seed bombs and bird feeders. To celebrate British Values, we took part in the school’s ‘General Election’ and voted to have a Labour Prime Minister. Our trip to Adventure Valley was the best day ever!