Prep 2 Curriculum Brief

We move onto the Grey Book of the Read, Write, Inc scheme to support phonic knowledge and children will continue to be in groups appropriate to ability. We will focus more on grammar, spelling and punctuation of the text and hone our editing skills when correcting mistakes in the text.

Our weekly spelling tests will continue on a Thursday, which will be based on the grapheme they have been learning that week.

We will practise answering questions in full sentences and ordering given sentences from a text. We will also explore non-fiction and fiction for effective story writing. Prep 2 will begin to explore poetry and will try writing their own poems.

We will be continuing to learn cursive handwriting (joined up) starting with the lead in and exit formation which will later become joined. In their reading, the children will continue to follow the Oxford Reading Tree at an appropriate level to them.

Children will be introduced to a variety of examples showing parts and wholes. They will recognise, find, name and write fractions 1/3 , 1/4 , 2/4 and 3/4 of a length, shape, set of objects or quantity. They will also consider how many ways they can identify parts and wholes from pictures. This learning will be built upon over the block, as children identify equal parts and begin to formally recognise and find fractions.

Children will then move on to Time.  They will be able to tell and write the time to five minutes, including quarter past/to the hour and draw the hands on a clockface to show these times.

We will then move onto the Year 2 topic of Statistics.  Children will interpret and construct simple pictograms, tally charts, block diagrams and simple tables.

Our final topic for the academic year will be Position and Direction.

Children will learn to use mathematical vocabulary to describe position, direction and movement, including movement in a straight line and distinguishing between rotation as a turn and in terms of right angles for quarter, half and three-quarter turns (clockwise  and anticlockwise).

Why do Scientists ask questions?

This term Prep 2 are going to investigate ‘What makes a good scientist?’ They will learn about the questions we need to ask as a scientist and what really important scientific vocabulary we need to know.  We will also research famous scientists throughout history and understand why their work was so important and how it affects us today.  At the end of the term the pupils will become scientists and design and carry out experiments of their own!

Our Geography lessons this term will focus on Africa. We will explore climate, landscape, people, animals and tourist attractions. The challenges of living there will be contrasted to the challenges of last term’s polar lands environment. We shall also compare life in Africa with life in England, specifically looking at people’s lives in Kenya and explore the savannah and its animals, including the big 5.

This term our topic is the Celts. The children will be introduced to the lives, culture and impact of the Celts. They will explore who the Celts were, where and how they lived, what they believed and how we know about them today. We will look into their way of life including; warriors, hillforts, clothing, food, transport and hierarchy. 

This term, we will continue to build confidence in speaking and writing French through engaging activities such as games, role-play, and singing. Our topics will include classroom objects, my family, food and drink, and items found in a pencil case. Students will learn to respond to questions about themselves in French and follow simple teacher instructions. We will also enjoy learning some new songs, including ‘Sur le pont d’Avignon’ and ‘Joyeux anniversaire.’

This term we will continue to build on our knowledge of Jesus and how we can follow his teachings. The children will look at the leadership of Jesus and the importance of prayer to Christians.

This term our topic will be minibeasts, patterns and nature. We will explore and experiment with a variety of materials, tools and techniques. We will observe natural forms (insects, trees, flowers) and respond creatively. We will explore shape, colour, texture and symmetry while creating our art pieces using both 2D and 3D designs.

In Prep 2 we are going to learn about the orchestra and listen to music and identify different instruments. Children will learn about the instruments in the string, woodwind, brass and percussion family and the role they play when listening to orchestral music.

This term our core topic is Health and Wellbeing, the children will learn about habits that support  both physical and mental wellbeing and build awareness of healthy routines.  They will identify what contributes to a healthy lifestyle. The children will also begin to understand how to keep themselves safe in different environments such home, school and near roads. 

This term we will continue to focus on developing children’s creativity and problem-solving skills through hands-on projects. Children will explore the design process by planning and creating their own designs, using the equipment safely and confidently. Through these engaging, practical activities, the children will build confidence and develop a good understanding of how things are made.

This term pupils will be able to understand about algorithms in computing and how to de-bug any mistakes using a variety of coding activities. They will be able to search the internet appropriately to research for a project.

During the summer term, Prep 2 will continue to develop their drama skills

through games and exercises. We shall have particular focus on empathy and
emotions within our story based work. The children shall also prepare for and
perform in our poetry assembly.

Developing athletic skills, through a collection of track events – which will include sprints, hurdles and relays.

Swimming: Based on guidelines laid down in the ASA ‘National Plan for Teaching Swimming’. Activities designed to develop watermanship, confidence and stroke technique will be used.