Maple Tree- Year 2 2024 - 2025

Welcome to Maple Tree Class!     

Welcome back! We hope you all had wonderful Christmas with your friends and family, and are looking forward to the new academic year ahead! Below you will find some reminders and useful information to support your child throughout this term. We do try to stick to these weekly routines whenever possible and will always notify you if there are any changes to the schedule.

Please also use your log in to Google Classrooms and use the links to some of the games the children can play.

We also try hard to update our class Twitter feed regularly with photos and tweets of things we have been getting up to in class! Please follow us :  @MapleTree_GSP

If for whatever reason you have any questions or queries about the term ahead, then please do not hesitate to contact any of us through the school office or speak to us on the gate.

Mrs Williams, Mrs Franklin, Miss Ellis & Mrs Pearson

Curriculum Information                

Maths

• During our Maths lessons we will begin by finishing our Addition and Subtraction topic before moving onto Shape. Later in the term we will begin to focus on Multiplication and Division.
  • We will be introducing Times Tables Rockstars (an online game) to the children later this term to support their learning of multiplication facts. The children will all have their own individual logins - a copy of which will be placed in the front of their school planners. The children will also have access to a few songs that we will be learning in class to support our times table knowledge. Please access these videos that will be uploaded onto Google Classrooms, as they are an excellent way for the children to learn.

   

  • As you will know our school has also invested in Numbots, an app produced by the makers of Time Tables Rockstars. This app supports children’s quick recall of addition and subtraction facts and we are encouraging children to play this alongside Times Tables Rockstars.

English

In English, the children will use a variety of different stimulus throughout the term to engage and inspire the children’s writing. The children will begin the year looking at our new book ‘The Dragon Machine’ and writing a narrative by the end of this.

In our grammar sessions, the children will look at the different types of sentences (command, statement, question and exclamation) and we will have a huge focus on writing sentences that make sense using full stops and capital letters and including some expanded noun phrases using thoughtful adjectives. Developing reading is a top priority in Year 2 and we aim to hear your child read individually and as a group. We also provide many other opportunities to read in school too. However, we also need your help! Please aim to listen to your child read at least three times a week and sign their journal every time they read. Please record comments on how well they have done or any questions you may have.  If your child reads at least three times a week, they will receive a raffle ticket and be entered into a prize draw to be our reading champion at the end of each term. Once the children have completed their reading book and the journal has been signed, the children can choose a new book to bring home. Children can therefore change their book regularly but it is up to them to go and get a new one!

Science

• Our Science lessons will look at ‘Materials’. This topic investigates objects and materials to identify and name them and understand their simple physical properties and uses.

History

In our History topic, the children will explore the question ‘Why were canals so important?’. This unit will focus on the history of the Sankey Canal and its use in the past. Children will learn about the life of canal boat people & their jobs and have chance to visit a canal.

Geography

In our Geography topic, the children will explore the question ‘Where do I live?’ which will develop the children’s understanding of our local area and the UK. Learning will include looking at local landmarks, maps of the UK and the four countries that make up the UK including their capital cities.

Useful Information

Homework - This term, homework will be sent home on a Friday at the end of each week and is to be returned to school the following Wednesday. If you require any help or support with this, please just ask. Thanks for your support. 

PE - This term, our PE is on a Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday is our indoor session and Thursday is our outdoor session. As in previous years, children can come to school in their PE kits. Please ensure children are in their correct kit : a dark hoodie, their coloured t-shirt and dark leggings/joggers. 

Useful Links

Please find some useful links below.