Year 2

In Year 2 the children have the opportunity to explore some fantastic topics and go on some wonderful visits.

We begin the autumn term with a 'visit' to the Rainforest, with our theme 'Amazonian Adventures'. This exciting theme involves finding out about plant and animal life in the Rainforest. In art children study the different types of plants and trees that are in the rainforest. Children will then complete sketches of the different types of leaves and create their own prints based on the work by Henry Rousseau. In Design Technology, children will have the chances to develop their sewing skills by making a rainforest animal puppet! Children also get the chance to listen to a talk from adults who have visited the Amazon Rainforest.

In the spring term we change climate completely with our 'Fire and Ice' theme. We begin by looking at Antarctica and the penguins that live there. Children get to make an emperor penguin using clay. Later in the term, children move onto fire and explore the Great Fire of London. Children particularly enjoy comparing the fire equipment that was used then compared to now!

Finally, during the summer term, we look at castles in our 'Medieval Mayhem' theme. We find out about how and why castles were built, life in a castle, medieval food, and of course, knights and their weapons! Children go on a visit to Warwick Castle to investigate how the structure of the castle allowed people living there to defend themselves against attackers.

As well as the main topics, children also find out about British Birds. Children become birdwatchers and keep a tally of the different birds they have spotted. They also get a visit from the RSPB; the visit supports children to identify the different species of birds and consider how to encourage birds to visit our school grounds. In Design Technology, children borrow equipment from Ridgewood to make bird boxes which are placed in the school grounds to encourage visitors!