Maths – Place Value

This week in maths, Year 2 have been deepening their understanding of place value. Children explored how numbers can look different but still represent the same value.

We learned to:

• Identify place value using base‑10 equipment and money models. Children built 2‑digit numbers using tens rods and ones, then organised 1p and 10p coins into a place value chart. They discussed what’s the same and what’s different, recognising that 49 = 40 + 9 and 49p = 40p + 9p have the same structure but represent number vs money.
• Compare different representations of the same number. Using bead strings, arrow cards, base‑10, and coins, pupils practised identifying the number shown and explaining their thinking using the speaking frame from the learning sequence.
• Regroup numbers in different ways. For example, with 53, children explored how one tens rod can be regrouped into ten ones, discovering that 53 = 4 tens + 13 ones still equals 53.
• Spot missing parts in regrouped models. Children solved riddles and puzzles such as: “I have 17 ones and I am between 40 and 50. Who am I?” They used clues to identify the missing tens.

This hands‑on work is building strong foundations for confident number reasoning.

English

Nouns & Proper Nouns

Children were introduced to nouns and learned that nouns name a person, place, animal or thing. They practised spotting nouns in sentences and identifying proper nouns, remembering that they always begin with capital letters.

They used the Little Red text to find nouns and proper nouns, recording them accurately on their SPaG sheet.

Our English group began reading Little Red – Bethan Woolvin, pausing at key moments to make predictions:

• Prediction 1: What might happen as Little Red walks through the forest?
• Prediction 2: What could the wolf’s plan be?
• Prediction 3: What might Little Red’s plan be?
• Prediction 4: Why wasn’t Little Red scared? What did she do?

Children used stem sentences such as: “I can see a… in the picture, so…” to justify their ideas. These predictions were collected on the working wall.

Children then explored the book with a partner, using the stem: “I can see… which means…”

Clarifying Vocabulary

We explored new vocabulary from the story. Children matched words to meanings and wrote their own sentences. Challenge: Identify which of the words are nouns.

Questions – Asking and Answering

Children learned how to ask questions using who, what, why, when and where. We modelled how to write a question about a page and discussed what makes a question meaningful. Children then wrote four questions of their own.

Children compared Rapunzel and Little Red, both written by the same author. They discussed similarities and differences, using a mind map to organise ideas.Children recorded their ideas and wrote about their favourite part of each story.

Poetry Day – Poetry Through the Senses

Year 2 celebrated Poetry Day by exploring objects through their senses. Using items such as conkers, feathers, shells or fruit, children described:

• I see…
• I hear…
• I feel…
• I smell…
• It reminds me of…

They then turned their sensory descriptions into poems, learning that poems don’t need to rhyme—they need to help the reader visualise the experience.

SPaG

In SPaG we recapped days of the week, months of the year, and seasons through songs and activities.

Children:

• Sang the Days of the Week (Addams Family version)
• Practised the 12 months with Jack Hartmann
• Explored the four seasons
• Completed word searches and unscramble activities
• Identified tricky parts of words
• Drew each season and wrote the season name five times in different colours
• Linked seasons to the English lesson by identifying something from each season

Harvest Festival

We continued preparing for our Harvest celebrations. Please keep practising your lines and our songs (Harvest Samba and Cauliflowers Fluffy) at home.

 

Wellies

As the weather begins to turn, we ask that all children bring in a named pair of wellies to keep at school. They must wear wellies if they would like to play on the top field at lunchtime.

Spare clothes

We kindly ask that all Year 2 children have a spare set of clothes in school, including underwear and socks, in case of accidents or spills during the day. Having these items available helps us ensure your child stays comfortable and can quickly return to their learning.

If you have any spare underwear or clothing at home that your child has outgrown and you would be happy to donate, we would greatly appreciate it. These donations are very helpful for supporting all children when needed.

Thank you for your continued support.

AR reading

For the children who have completed our Read Write Inc phonics programme of study and are now accessing our English curriculum, you will have received a letter and login for AR reading. Your AR login and password is the same as your Times Table Rock Stars login however we are not yet using TTRS. We will let you know when we would like you to start using TTRS. This will happen later in the academic year after we have taught multiplication.

Snacks

We do provide fruit for children to eat during breaktime. Children are welcome to bring their own fruit or veggie snack if they would prefer. Breadsticks/cereal bars are also permitted, but fruit and veggies are preferable. 

Love 2 Learn

- Practise spelling the days of the week, months of the year and the seasons.  Remember that these are proper nouns and need capital letters!

- Go on an autumn walk. Collect autumn treasures and bring them into school on Monday for our thematic lesson!

Please begin gathering junk modelling materials to bring in between 12th and 16th October. This is our DT week and we will be making bridges and greenhouses. Any clean recycling will be so useful to the children. Thank you in advance.

 

6th October – Harvest Festival for Reception at 9am and year 3 at 2.45pm

7th October - Harvest Festival for Year 2 at 9am and year 1 at 2.45pm

8th October - Harvest Festival for Year 4 at 9am and year 5 and 6 at 2.45pm

12th-16th October - Year 2 parents send in junk modelling materials.

15th October – Kent Test Results out to parents

23rd October – Halloween Disco – All children come to school in fancy dress. Year 1, 2 and 3 Disco from 2pm-3pm and year 4, 5 and 6 disco from 3.15-4.15

23rd October – Final day of term