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Willows (Y2 Mrs Wilcox)

Welcome to Y2 Willows!

Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful Christmas

 

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Spring  1

 

What will we be learning this half-term?

 

Homework Menu

Weekly Activities
Reading – Your child should be reading 4 or more times a week using their phonics books or a reading for pleasure book. Parents will need to sign or comment in their child’s planner.
Spellings – Spelling lists will provided every Friday for your child to learn, with a spelling test to commence the following 

 

Homework Menu
Homework can be presented in a variety of ways. Please ask your child’s class teacher if you are unsure. The homework task menu is below.

You may complete tasks in any order. One piece is expected each week but feel free to do all of them 😊

Science

 

What materials can you find around your home?

 

What materials can you find outside?

 

 

 


English

 

Watch our class text https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4EbrBjKqPo

Write a description of Wolf.

Include what he looks like and how he feel/acts.

 

Challenge- include an illustration 

Remember – these are just ideas – any homework of your own interest is just as important 😊

Maths

Practice your times tables on TTRockstars or Hit the Button

This is the order: 10x   2x   5x   3x    

(If you are already confident try 4x or 11x or even 9s!))

Geography

 

Make a map of your journey to school.

How do you travel to school?

 

Challenge- What longer journeys do you make regularly?

Where do you go?

How do you get there?

 

 

Music

 

Can you create instruments played in an orchestra?

Art

 

Can you make a collage using different materials?

English

 

Write a fact file about wolves.

Where do they live?

What do they eat?

How many types of wolf are there?

 

 

DT

 

Can you make a bag from different materials?

 

Our PE day will be Wednesday this half-term - please ensure your child brings their PE kits daily or leaves them at school for the half-term as PE days can be subject to change or for additional PE days.

Children will receive new spellings each Friday which will be stuck in their planners - spelling tests will be on a Friday.

It is expected that children will read 4 times a week, practice spellings and times tables and bring a piece of homework on a Friday - either relating to the topic or of their own interests. 

 

English

This half term, our Year 2 English focus will be on the story The Way Home For Wolf - a sparkling story of friendship.

📚 What will we be learning?

English Learning Focus

While working with this text, children will be developing:

  • Reading comprehension – understanding characters, settings, and events

  • Inference skills – discussing how characters feel and why they act as they do

  • Vocabulary development – exploring new words and their meanings

  • Speaking and listening – sharing ideas, opinions, and predictions

  • Writing skills, including:

    • Sentence structure and punctuation

    • Descriptive writing

    • Retelling and sequencing events

    • Writing from a character’s point of view

Key Themes to Talk About at Home

You may wish to discuss:

  • Friendship and helping others

  • What “home” means

  • How characters show kindness

  • How problems are solved in the story

  • How Wolf changes throughout the book

How You Can Support at Home

Here are some simple ways to help your child:

  • Read the story together and talk about your favourite parts

  • Ask questions such as:

    • How do you think Wolf is feeling here?

    • What would you do in this situation?

    • Why do you think this is called The Way Home for Wolf*?*

  • Encourage your child to retell the story in their own words

  • Help your child write:

    • A short summary of the story

    • A letter to Wolf

    • An alternative ending

  • Practise spelling and using new vocabulary from the text

Useful Vocabulary

You can help by talking about and practising words such as:

  • Journey

  • Belong

  • Kindness

  • Courage

  • Lonely

  • Home

 

 

Maths

In maths, we will be focusing on Multiplication and Division

 

What is Multiplication and Division?

What are children learning in Year 2?

By the end of Year 2, children should be able to:

  • Understand multiplication as repeated addition

  • Understand division as sharing and grouping

  • Recall and use the 2, 5 and 10 times tables

  • Use practical equipment, drawings, and number sentences

  • Solve simple word problems involving multiplication and division

The focus is on understanding, not speed or formal written methods.

Multiplication in Year 2

What multiplication means

Children learn that multiplication is:

  • Equal groups (e.g. 3 groups of 4)

  • Repeated addition (4 + 4 + 4)

How it is taught

Children may use:

  • Objects (counters, cubes, toys)

  • Arrays (rows and columns)

  • Number lines (counting in steps of 2, 5, or 10)

Example:

  • 3 × 5 means 3 groups of 5

  • 5 + 5 + 5 = 15

Children are encouraged to say multiplication sentences aloud, e.g.

"3 groups of 5 equals 15"

Division in Year 2

What division means

Division is taught as:

  • Sharing (sharing equally)

  • Grouping (how many groups?)

How it is taught

Children may:

  • Share objects between people

  • Make equal groups

  • Count how many groups can be made

Examples:

  • 10 ÷ 2 = 5 (sharing 10 sweets between 2 people)

  • 10 ÷ 5 = 2 (how many groups of 5 are in 10?)

Children are taught that division is the inverse of multiplication.

Times Tables Expectations

In Year 2, children should:

  • Count in 2s, 5s and 10s

  • Begin to recall multiplication and division facts for these tables

This includes facts such as:

  • 2 × 5 = 10 and 10 ÷ 5 = 2

How you can help at home

You don’t need worksheets to help! Everyday activities are very effective.

Practical ideas

  • Count pairs of socks (2s)

  • Count fingers (5s)

  • Count coins or groups of 10

  • Share snacks equally and talk about how many each person gets

Questions to ask

  • “How many groups are there?”

  • “How many in each group?”

  • “What happens if we add one more group?”

Games and activities

  • Times table songs and rhymes

  • Board games involving counting in steps

  • Making arrays with toys or Lego

Key things to remember

  • Understanding is more important than speed

  • Children should explain their thinking

  • Mistakes help learning

  • Using real objects makes maths meaningful

If you have any questions or would like further support ideas, please speak to your child’s teacher.

 

 Geography - Our Local Area

What is this topic about?

In this unit, children will learn about the history of their local area. They will explore how the area has changed over time, learn about important buildings and places, and find out about people who lived or worked locally in the past. Children will begin to understand the difference between past and present and use simple historical sources.

What will children learn?

By the end of this topic, children should be able to:

  • Talk about what their local area is like now and how it was in the past

  • Use words such as past, present, old, new, before, after

  • Identify changes in buildings, transport, shops, or parks

  • Ask and answer simple questions about the past

  • Use sources such as photographs, maps, objects, and stories

Key Vocabulary

Children will be encouraged to use and understand these words:

  • Past

  • Present

  • Local area

  • Old / New

  • Change

  • Same / Different

  • Building

  • Photograph

  • Map

How will children learn?

Children will learn through:

  • Looking at old and new photographs of the local area

  • Comparing maps from different times

  • Listening to stories or memories from adults

  • Drawing and writing about changes they notice

  • Going on a local walk (if possible)

  • Discussing how life was different in the past

How can you help at home?

You can support your child by:

  • Talking about what the local area was like when you were younger

  • Looking at old family photographs together

  • Pointing out old and new buildings when out walking

  • Asking questions such as:

    • What is the same?

    • What is different?

    • Which is older?

  • Sharing stories about shops, schools, or parks from the past

Possible Home Learning Activities

  • Draw a picture of the local area now and in the past

  • Ask a family member about their memories of the area

  • Create a simple timeline showing changes

  • Take photos of old and new features around the neighbourhood

Why is this topic important?

Learning about local history helps children:

  • Understand their place in the world

  • Develop curiosity about the past

  • Build speaking, listening, and observation skills

  • Make connections between history and everyday life

 

Science - Materials

.What are children learning?

In Year 2, children learn about materials and how different materials are used in everyday life. They explore what objects are made from, why certain materials are chosen, and how materials can change.

Key learning objectives

By the end of this unit, children should be able to:

  • Identify and name everyday materials

  • Describe the properties of materials

  • Explain why a material is suitable for a particular job

  • Compare the uses of different materials

Materials children will learn about

Children will explore common materials, including:

  • Wood

  • Plastic

  • Metal

  • Glass

  • Rubber

  • Paper and cardboard

  • Fabric

Properties of materials

Children will use simple words to describe materials, such as:

  • Hard / soft

  • Strong / weak

  • Rough / smooth

  • Shiny / dull

  • Flexible / stiff

  • Waterproof / not waterproof

They will learn that materials are chosen because of these properties.

Changing materials

Children will investigate how materials can change by:

  • Bending

  • Squashing

  • Stretching

  • Twisting

They will also learn that some changes cannot be reversed.

Vocabulary your child will use

  • Material

  • Object

  • Property

  • Waterproof

  • Flexible

  • Strong

  • Weak

  • Smooth

  • Rough

How learning happens in school

Children learn through:

  • Hands-on investigations

  • Sorting and classifying objects

  • Discussing ideas and making predictions

  • Simple experiments and observations

How you can help at home

You can support your child by:

  • Talking about what objects at home are made from

  • Asking why a material is a good choice (e.g. “Why is a saucepan made of metal?”)

  • Letting your child explore safe materials through play and craft activities

  • Encouraging the use of science vocabulary

Useful questions to ask your child

  • What is this object made from?

  • Why do you think that material was used?

  • What properties does it have?

  • Could another material work as well?

Topic: Who Is a Muslim?

This half term in Religious Education (RE), Year 2 children will be learning about Islam and exploring the question:

“Who is a Muslim?”

This page explains what your child will be learning and how the topic is approached in an age‑appropriate and respectful way.

What is a Muslim?

A Muslim is a person who follows the religion of Islam.

Muslims believe in one God, called Allah in Arabic (this simply means God). Muslims try to live their lives in ways that please God by being kind, honest and caring towards others.

What Do Muslims Believe?

In Year 2, children learn that:

  • Muslims believe in Allah (God)

  • Muslims believe that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a messenger of God

  • Muslims believe the Qur’an is a special holy book

These ideas are introduced through stories, discussion and simple explanations suitable for young children.

How Do Muslims Live Their Lives?

Children will learn that Muslims:

  • Try to be kind, helpful and fair

  • Pray to God

  • Follow rules that help them live good lives

  • Belong to a community called the Ummah (the Muslim family worldwide)

We focus on shared values such as kindness, respect and caring for others.

Important Words Children May Learn

  • Muslim – a person who follows Islam

  • Islam – the religion

  • Allah – the Arabic word for God

  • Qur’an – the holy book of Islam

  • Mosque – a place where Muslims pray

How This Topic Is Taught

Lessons may include:

  • Storytelling

  • Pictures and videos

  • Class discussions

  • Comparing similarities and differences between religions

  • Talking about feelings, values and respect

Children are encouraged to ask questions and share their own experiences in a safe and respectful way.

How You Can Support at Home

You could:

  • Talk with your child about what they have learned

  • Encourage respect for people of all religions

  • Read age‑appropriate books about different faiths

  • Discuss shared values such as kindness and honesty

 

PE -

In Year 2 PE this half-term, pupils will be developing fundamental movement and ball-handling skills through engaging activities in netball and football. These lessons aim to build teamwork, coordination, and confidence while introducing the basic rules and strategies of both sports.

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Develop agility, balance, and coordination through warm-up games and drills

  • Improve passing, catching, and dribbling using netballs and footballs

  • Learn the basics of attacking and defending in small-sided games

  • Understand teamwork and communication through partner and group activities

  • Practice fair play and sportsmanship in competitive and cooperative settings

What We're Focusing On:

  • Netball: Chest passes, pivoting, footwork, and shooting

  • Football: Dribbling with control, passing with accuracy, and basic goal scoring

  • Understanding simple rules like footwork (netball) and no handball (football)

  • Encouraging spatial awareness and decision-making during play

How Parents Can Support at Home:

  • Encourage active play outdoors (e.g., ball games in the garden or park)

  • Practice throwing and catching with a soft ball

  • Watch short clips of children’s netball or football matches together

  • Talk about the importance of being a good teammate and following rules

Music - Orchestra Families

🎻 What Are Orchestra Families?

An orchestra is a group of musicians who play different instruments together. These instruments are grouped into families based on how they make sound. Learning about these families helps children understand music and recognize different sounds.

The four main families are:

  1. Strings 🎻

    • Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp

    • How they make sound: Played by bowing or plucking the strings

    • Fun fact: The violin is the smallest but the highest-pitched string instrument!

  2. Woodwinds 🎷

    • Instruments: Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon

    • How they make sound: Sound is made by blowing air through a reed or across a hole

    • Fun fact: The flute has no reed at all—it uses just air and keys!

  3. Brass 🎺

    • Instruments: Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Tuba

    • How they make sound: Played by buzzing the lips into a mouthpiece

    • Fun fact: Brass instruments can be very loud, but the French horn is known for its mellow sound.

  4. Percussion 🥁

    • Instruments: Drums, Xylophone, Cymbals, Triangle

    • How they make sound: Sound is made by hitting, shaking, or scraping the instrument

    • Fun fact: Percussion instruments can be pitched (like a xylophone) or unpitched (like a drum).

🎶 How You Can Support Learning at Home

  • Listen together: Play orchestral music and ask your child to spot the different families.

  • Instrument hunt: Identify instruments in your house or online videos and match them to their families.

  • Draw and label: Encourage your child to draw an orchestra and label the families.

  • Fun quizzes: Ask simple questions like “Which family does the trumpet belong to?”

📚 Extra Resources

  • BBC Ten Pieces: Explore the Orchestra

  • Classic FM Orchestra Guide

  • Local music schools or orchestras often have family concerts which are a great way for children to experience instruments live.

💡 Key Takeaways

  • There are four main orchestra families: Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion

  • Each family has a unique way of making sound

  • Learning about instruments is a fun way to develop listening skills and creativity

 

In RSE we will be focusing on:

 

Do families always stay the same?

 

How should families treat each other?

 

How do we stop getting ill

Computing: 💻

Topic: Robot algorithms

Pupils will use given commands in different orders to investigate how the order affects the outcome. Pupils will also learn about design in programming. They will develop artwork and test it for use in a program. They will design algorithms and then test those algorithms as programs and debug them

 

 

Art: 📌

Medium: Collage

 

In art we will be exploring materials and creating collages based on our text The Way Home For Wolf.

 

 

Useful websites

•Daily 10 - https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/daily10

•Top marks clock - https://www.topmarks.co.uk/time/teaching-clock

•Spelling shed - https://www.spellingshed.com/en-gb/

•Google Earth - https://earth.google.com/web/

•Reach out reporter (science news) - https://www.twigsciencereporter.com/

 

 

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