Year 2 News
English
Reading
During Term 2, students will be learning how good readers ask questions before, during and after reading to help them make meaning from a text. They will have the opportunity to write or say any questions they have about texts, to strengthen their understanding of the text and to help them look for answers in their reading. They will be learning about new vocabulary and strategies they can use to help clarify unfamiliar words in a text, such as technical words e.g. hatch, scales, diet, mammal.
Students will continue to focus on retelling fiction and non-fiction texts to strengthen their understanding of this comprehension skill. They will also work on making meaningful connections. These connections include text to self connections, where they connect the story to their own personal experiences, and text to text connections where they connect a text to another text they have read before. When reading non-fiction texts, students will be exploring the different structures and features eg. headings & subheadings, contents page, glossary, pictures/diagrams and captions.
Students will continue to work on fluency, word solving strategies and the phonological awareness skills of blending, segmenting and manipulating the sounds in words to read and process texts.
Writing
This term the Grade 2 students will start Term 2 looking at Information Reports. Students will learn that information reports contain facts about a specific topic. They will also be introduced to the structure of an information report that includes a title, classification, facts and diagrams. Students will be given multiple opportunities to learn new information about different topics and be supported through the writing process. The writing process will include planning, drafting, editing, revising and publishing an information report. They will make a number of booklets where students will record facts about different topics and add diagrams to match. Students will also have the opportunity to use technology to publish information reports.
Towards the end of Term 2, students will spend a few weeks looking at Procedural Texts. Students will participate in a range of procedures and then work together to write them up. They will learn to understand that procedural texts include a title, goal, materials and steps.
Mathematics
This term in Mathematics, the Grade 2 students will be learning about money where students will count and order Australian coins and notes according to their value. Students will count collections of coins to make particular values and identify the equivalent values in collections of coins e.g 2 x 5c = 10c. Students will learn about Length, where they will use informal units of measurement to measure and compare different objects whilst using the golden rules of measurement e.g no gaps/start at zero.
Our major number unit for the term is Addition and Subtraction. Students will be learning a range of strategies to help them solve addition and subtraction problems. Some of the strategies include counting down to/up from for subtraction, doubles, adding ten and fact families. They will also be learning about 2D shapes and their transformations, including how the shape transforms when flipped, turned or when it slides.
Counting will continue to be an ongoing focus throughout the term, with students working on individual counting goals which they are practising with a ‘maths mate’, using materials.
Inquiry
During Term 2, students will be exploring the unit ‘Lean on Me’. Students will focus on understanding how to develop and keep positive relationships, different types of relationships and how we resolve conflict in a positive and respectful way. By completing a range of tasks throughout Term 2, students will have a better understanding of how positive relationships enrich our lives and foster positive communities.
Science
This term in Science, students are focusing on the Earth and Space Science strand where they will be learning about the features in our environment, both land and sky, and observing the constant changes that occur.
Students will look closely at our school and local surroundings. Students will learn the difference between man-made features and natural features that occur in our environment. Students will identify the natural changes that take place in the sky, focusing on the sun's changing position and the phases of the moon. Students will finish the unit by exploring how animals are affected by changes in the weather and investigating why some animals hibernate. Students will participate in various activities, including whole-class activities, individual hands-on and through information technology.
LOTE-Chinese
I would like to welcome back the Grade 2 students to Chinese for term 2. In term 2, students will start with revision of what we have learnt last term. For example: greeting; numbers and names. In term 2, students will learn some martial arts based on the Chinese Family structure; age and practise it through the whole term. There are two important topics that need to be covered in this term for Grade 2 which are; how to pronounce the names of family members and how to address the person’s age. I will let students practice speaking language and role play activities.
Art
Welcome to Term 2, Art, 2023! In Art, Grade 2’s will continue to explore colour theory before moving on to our next element of line and shape. Students will continue their learning of warm and cool colours and tints and shades. Grade 2’s will learn how to create different types of lines including the technique of cross hatching to give their artwork depth and dimension. Students will look at how to use perspective when drawing objects close or far away. Grade 2’s exploring this skill will provide opportunities for students to create illustrations, make connections, analyse artworks and apply their knowledge of what lines and shapes were used to create art works from professional artists. They will also explain the type of lines, shapes and perspective they used to create their own artworks. Students will use different mediums to create their art piece which will demonstrate their expression and creativity. Looking forward to working with Grade 2’s and exploring this wonderful element of art!
P.E.
In this term the grade 2 students will be focussing on a range of different sporting activities to help continue the development of the fundamental motor skills. Our two main topics of work will be basketball and athletics. Students in first term were introduced to correct throwing and catching form and technique, for this term the students will be asked to transfer that skill knowledge to the game of basketball and apply these skills for this sport. We are aiming to have students be able to pass, dribble, and shoot the basketball and begin to apply these skills to game situations. In addition to this specific sport skills the students will continue to work on their running, leaping, dodging, and change of direction skill sets. For the second half of the term, students will participate in different athletic events to showcase their running, catching, and throwing. Some of the events that the students will partake in are short distance running, relay running, discuss, shotput, and hurdles. Students will learn correct running form and be introduced to the different formats in track and field events. I can’t wait for a great term with the grade 2 students! We have plenty of exciting learning ahead and looking forward to all of it.