Dahl

Autumn 2020

Welcome back to the autumn term. We hope you have had a lovely restful break over the summer and have had lots of fun. We are looking forward to welcoming you back in to school.

For the first week of term, we are going to be exploring a book called ‘Here we are’ by Oliver Jeffers. The reason for this is to encourage a sense of community across the entire school, to reflect on the last few months, and also help the class look at school look forward to the future in a positive way. This will incorporate a range of subjects and will include learning inside and outside of the classroom.

Our main topic over the first half term in Year 2 we will be focussing on a topic all about toys called 'The Magic Toymaker'.

This unit of work is part of the International Primary Curriculum. This new curriculum sets out very clearly what children will learn – the learning goals – in three different areas:

1. The subjects of the curriculum. The learning goals for each of these subjects are at least as challenging as anything taught in the curriculum in the UK curriculum. In many cases, the learning goals are more challenging.

2. Personal development – the characteristics which will help children become more responsible, independent learners.

3. International understanding – which will help children develop both a sense of the independence of their own country and culture and the interdependence between countries and cultures.

Each unit of work is based around specific targets derived from the learning goals for one or more of the subjects. During this unit we will be focusing on History, Science, Technology, Physical Education and International.

In History, we’ll be finding out:

About toys and games from the past
How to decide if a toy is new or old
How to create our own toy museum
How we can learn about the past in different ways

In Science, we’ll be finding out:

How to sort toys based on what they are made out of
Which materials can be bent, squashed, twisted or stretched

In Technology, we’ll be finding out:

About ‘magic’ toys that fool our eyes
How to design and make our own board game
How to design and make our own puppets

In Physical Education, we’ll be finding out:

About how different toys move

In ICT, we’ll be finding out:

How to make our own space-themed computer game

In International, we’ll be finding out:

About a popular game from another country and teaching others to play it

All of the work we are going to do has been specially written to help your child reach the learning goals. Children will be reading, researching, writing, illustrating, working on their own and working in groups. We will be checking to see how well your child has learned through particular activities and asking children to explain their work, perhaps to you.

We already know the interest you take in your child’s work. If you can, please discuss with your child the work they have done as the term progresses and let them teach you. Talk with your child about the toys and games that you used to play with when you were growing up. If you still have examples of these toys, then show them to your child and talk about how you played with them. Collect and look at old photographs that feature family members playing with toys. Help your child to understand how toys have changed over time.

If your child has some work to research, please help them, but without actually doing the work. If you have the chance to further their interest in the ideas of this theme please take it, but your enthusiasm and interest is most important.

By the end of the unit, we hope your child has achieved all of the learning targets. We hope they have had an enjoyable time in the classroom. And we hope you have enjoyed seeing your child work with enthusiasm.

Teaching in a thematic way, the national curriculum requirements of English, Maths, Science, RHSE and R.E will be interwoven with our topic learning. In English we will be looking at a range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry texts and developing our understanding of spellings, punctuation and grammar. In Maths, we will be developing and applying the number system, securing numerical fluency and calculating. We will also be exploring fractions, measure, statistics and understanding geometry (properties of shape). In Science, we will be thinking about different materials, linked to our Toymaker topic and our R.E learning will be focussing on different celebrations and festivals as well as considering different beliefs, practices and ways of life. In RHSE we will be looking at the unit me and my relationship where we are going to look how we feel about ourselves. We will explore what is meant by bullying and teasing and also that a friendship is a special kind of relationship.

This year, P.E will take place on a Monday afternoon. The children need to arrive at school in their P.E kits and they will wear it all day. They will be required to wear outdoor trainers, sky blue polo top with a school badge, plain royal blue shorts or royal blue track suit. For health and safety reasons earrings and watches should be removed for all P.E lessons and long hair must be tied up.

Homework

Reading: Every night (15 minutes – please comment on your child’s reading record). Reading books

will be changed on a Monday and each pupil will take two books home depending on their

level of reading ability. Pupils will also have the opportunity to bring a book home from the

school library. Please make sure children have their books available to read every day.

Spellings and work from This will be set using Google classroom on a Friday and must be completed by the following

an area of the curriculum: Thursday. Spellings will tested on a Friday.

Doodle Maths: Daily Maths practice to ensure that gaps are continually being filled and there is continual

progression

In addition to me the class will be taught by Mrs Fuller on a Friday. If you have any concerns, or questions regarding your child, please contact the school office. (admin@oaklands.herts.sch.uk)

Kind regards,

Mr Hudson

Dahl Class Teacher / Deputy Headteacher