ST.MARY’S C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL
NORTHCHURCH
BERKHAMSTED
HERTS
HP4 3QZ
Headteacher: Miss V.M. Hunt
Tel: 01442 389040 Fax: 01442 390589
Email: admin@stmarys916.herts.sch.uk
Friday 8th January
Dear Families of Year 2,
Welcome back! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas break. Last term was a busy one yet I’m sure you will
agree the children did a fantastic job in their Christmas Play. I hope they have managed to rest, ready for
another exciting term!
Our whole school theme for this half term is ‘Famous Faces’, focussing on significant people from History. We
will begin by learning about the Great Fire of London, which offers lots of exciting and engaging learning
experiences, including exploring the diary of Samuel Pepys. We will then move on to learn about the artist
Andy Warhol. In Science, we will be learning about Animals and Humans, including life cycles, basic needs
and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, along with looking at the work of famous Scientist, Jane Goodall.
STAFFING
Mrs Archbold will teach the children on a Wednesday afternoon, focussing on RE and Music, the rest of the
time the children will be taught by myself. Mr Macey will teach the children PE on a Monday afternoon.
PE KITS
The children will need both indoor and outdoor PE kits in school at all times. Mr Macey will be taking the
children outdoors for PE on Mondays even if the weather is cold, therefore we ask that you ensure your child
has an appropriate outdoor PE kit, including joggers, a jacket and trainers.
HOMEWORK
Reading
Children will continue to bring home 2 ‘choice books’ every week, one of which is appropriate for their reading
ability, and the other which they have chosen from our Reading corner. Please share these with your child and
sign the Reading Record card. Children who read at home four times a week are rewarded with a certificate.
Reading books are changed on a Friday, please ensure children have both books in school with them every
day.
Spellings
Spellings will continue to be given out along with Homework on a Friday and tested the following Friday.
Children will be praised for their achievements, and practise at home will make a big difference. Asking your
child to put their spellings into a sentence will also ensure that they fully understand what the words mean, and
will help them to remember their spellings when writing in class.
If your child is doing ‘Write Words’, this will continue instead of weekly spellings.
Literacy and Numeracy
One piece of Numeracy and one piece of Literacy homework will continue to be sent home every Friday as
normal. These pieces of work will consolidate what we have been learning in school that week. Homework
books will be handed in, checked and acknowledged every Thursday.
Do unto others as you would have them do to you (Luke 6:31)
CLASS NOTICE
As part of our Science topic this term I have planned two very exciting learning opportunities to support the
children in their learning about Animals and Humans. Firstly, a Paramedic will be visiting the children to talk to
them about medicines, how to stay healthy and what happens when someone needs to call an Ambulance.
This may include getting to go in a real Ambulance, with the sirens on!
Secondly we will be going on a class trip to Tring Tesco, where we will take part in their ‘Farm to Fork’ trail.
This will include teaching the children about different food groups, a balanced diet and how their food gets to
their plate. A letter will be sent out with further details shortly.
A REMINDER THAT YOU CAN COME AND SEE US ANY TIME…
If there is something worrying you about your child’s education then I am keen to help. Please do come and
see me if you have any questions or worries, or alternatively please write in your child’s link book.
Many thanks
Miss A Waterhouse
Do unto others as you would have them do to you (Luke 6:31)
An overview of learning for this half term in Year 2
Understanding English,
Communication and languages
Mathematical Understanding
Religious Education
(Speaking & Listening, Reading, Writing, MfL)
- understanding and identifying the
features of a non-fiction text
- understanding how to use a dictionary
properly and how to write our own
definitions
- exploring the features of a nonchronological report
- planning and writing our own nonchronological report
Grammatical skills, handwriting, phonics,
spellings and reading will be taught daily
within whole class sessions
Scientific and Technological
Understanding
(Taught by Mrs Archbold)
- understanding how to measure length,
weight and capacity, including estimating,
comparing and measuring accurately correct
the correct units.
- exploring money, including the values of
different coins and problem solving involving
addition and subtraction.
- naming and describing 2D and 3D shape
- exploring the concept of symmetry
- using both an analogue and digital clock to
tell the time to the nearest 5 minutes
- solving problems involving time
- describing position and direction using
correct vocabulary
- understanding how to collect, show and
interpret data.
-
Thinking about people in
authority and religious leaders
Understand the role of
different religious leaders, e.g.
the Rabbi
Interviewing local religious
people about their roles
Exploring why it is necessary to have a
leader in a religious community
Historical, Geographical and Social
Understanding
(Science, Design & Technology)
Animals and Humans:
Understanding the life cycle of a
human and animals such as a
frog.
Identifying the basic needs of an
animal and human
Identifying the different food
groups and understanding what
makes a balanced diet
Exploring how to maintain a
healthy lifestyle
RE is taught by Mrs S Archbold and the
theme for this half term will be
Religious People:
ICT
(PSHE, History, Geography)
History:
Learning about the Great Fire of
London, including what happened,
why it happened and reading the
diary of Samuel Pepys.
PSHE:
‘Going for Goals’
Discussing what we are good at and
what we find difficult
Exploring what we would like to achieve and
how we could achieve it
Understanding physical Development,
health and wellbeing.
‘Getting Creative’
-exploring how to type up our word,
formatting font style, size and colour.
-using ICT to edit and improve our work
-understand where to find and use
digital images suitable for our work
-use cameras and other ICT devices to
capture still images, and then turn
these into an animation
Understanding the Arts
(Art and Design, Music, Drama, Dance)
(Physical Education, Personal and Economic
Wellbeing)
Gym will take place on Thursday mornings.
This term will focus on travelling, balancing
and movement, as well as using apparatus
safely.
Art and Design
- to explore the artist Andy Warhol, including
looking at his work and creating our own
Warhol inspired pieces.
Games will be taught by Mr Macey on a
Monday afternoon.
Music
-
-
-
To know how to control the pitch of
the voice, respond to changes in
pitch and know how simple tunes are
made up of different pitches.
To perform different pitches on
percussion instruments
To create and choose sounds in
response to a given stimulus
Do unto others as you would have them do to you (Luke 6:31)