The theme for this half term is 'Explorers' The information below will let you and your parents know all about the learning that will take place.

English

This term our focus text is 'My Name is not Refugee' by Kate Milner. The focus objectives covered will be:

• Some use of -ly to turn adjectives into adverbs
• Some apostrophes for simple contracted forms
• Some words with contracted forms are spelt correctly
• Some use of verbs to mark actions in progress

Read, Write, Inc: Phonics will take place daily, following the Read, Write, Inc. scheme. These lessons will incorporate learning phonics sounds, reading and spelling. Children when ready will move on to the Reading Comprehension programme. 

Maths

In Maths the focus will be on shape, fractions, measurements and time. The objectives covered will be: 

• name 2d and 3d shape
• describe the properties of 2d and 3d shapes
• recognise and draw lines of symmetry
• create repeating patterns using shapes
• find fractions of quantities with resources
• Know to calculate a fraction you divide the object/quantity by the denominator and multiply by the numerator
• Understand a fraction is an operator
• Know 1/2 is equivalent to 2/4
• Find 1/2 and 2/4 of lengths and objects
• Can make sensible estimations in relation to all areas of measure
• Can measure accurately in centimetres and metres using rulers and metre sticks
• Can record measures using correct abbreviations cm and m
• Can describe intervals of time in days
• Can state the difference between time in days
• Can tell the time to quarter past the hour
• Can tell the time to quarter to the hour
• Can tell the time to the 5 minutes
• Know that there are 60 minutes in an hour
• Know that there are 24 hours in a day

Science

We will be learning about being Living Things and their Habitats; exploring and comparing the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive.
Exploration: identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other.
Collaborative Work: identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitat, including micro-habitats.
Discussion: describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain.
Observation: identify and name different sources of food.

History

We will be learning about famous explorers from the past. Objectives covered will be: 

• Compare the lives of famous explorers through time
• Use a variety of sources to find information
• Sequence events on a timeline
• Talk about significant events and people from the past by asking and answering questions
• Use historical vocabulary to talk about the past
• Learn about the achievements of these explorers and explain how these affect us today

Art: The children will be looking at developing their use of collaging through designing and creating layers on pictures. 

Religion and Worldviews: The focus will be on The Easter Story.

Computing

We will use computing to enhance learning in other subject areas through use of multimedia apps on the iPads. We will also be using the Kodable app to practise and develop our Coding skills.

Music: The children will learn to sing and play a song through the topic Musical Me. By the end of the unit they will be able to 

• sing/ clap a pulse increasing or decreasing in tempo 
• sing and play untuned instruments at the same time 
• sing and follow a melody by ear 
• play a melody from letter notation 
• choose an appropriate dynamics and timbre for a piece of music
• listen out for particular things when listening to music
• perform with others

PE will take place on Monday and Friday

Dance

• Perform body actions with control and co-ordination
• Choose movements with different dynamic qualities to make a dance phrase that expresses an idea, mood or feeling

• Link movements 
• Talk about musical stimuli as starting points
• Perform short dances, showing an understanding of expressive qualities
• Describe the mood, feelings and expressive qualities of dance
• Describe how dancing affects their body
• Know why it is important to be active
• Suggest ways they could improve their work

Gymnastics using apparatus

• Plan and show a sequence of movements
• Use contrast in sequences
• Control movement
• Think of more than one way to create a sequence which follows a set of ‘rules’
• Work on their own and with a partner to create a sequence
• Climb safely

Homework

Homework will be set on Google Classroom on a Friday and should be submitted by the following Tuesday.

Reading

Reading books will be changed once a week on a Thursday. Now that the children are becoming more fluent in their reading please re-read and discuss events, make predictions, encourage the use of expressions and character voices and check for understanding of inferred meaning as this is very important to aid children's comprehension and understanding from Year 2. 

Please let me know if you have any comments, questions or queries. I am also available at the class email address penguins@parkgate.cheshire.sch.uk

Mr Simon