Year 2 Curriculum Newsletter
Welcome to our first grade 2 curriculum newsletter. Term One will be filled with exploration, growth and exciting learning opportunities for our Grade 2 students! We are eager to share an overview of the curriculum they will be engaging in over the next few months.
Reading
In reading, part of our focus will be on decoding and word recognition. Students will continue to develop the ability to solve words by utilising letters and sounds, including graphs, digraphs, trigraphs, and blends. Students will continue to enhance their vocabulary with a particular emphasis on Tier 2 and Tier 3 words, which will be introduced through mentor texts. We will have a big emphasis on building upon and continuing to develop fluency, as fluent readers are better able to understand and comprehend the text.
When the act of reading becomes automatic, readers can focus more on extracting meaning from the words rather than struggling to decode them. This leads to a deeper understanding of the content. Comprehension strategies will include making connections (text to self) and visualising, deepening their understanding of the content.
Writing
In the writing domain, students will engage in the recount genre, retelling ideas and events through diary entries and language experiences. They will also delve into the instructive/procedural genre, creating lists, giving directions for games, and participating in more language experiences. We'll focus on using the right punctuation at the end of sentences to make our writing structure even better. Students will continue refining their handwriting skills with 18mm dotted thirds, ensuring correct sitting posture, paper position, pencil grip, and appropriate use of uppercase and lowercase letters. Increased writing fluency, legible writing with consistent sizing, will also be emphasized.
Maths
In our mathematics curriculum, we will focus on two key areas during this term: measurement and place value. This means students will dive into understanding how to measure different quantities and explore the foundational principles of place value, which is essential for building a strong mathematical foundation. They'll engage in hands-on activities and exercises that promote a deeper comprehension of these mathematical concepts, laying the groundwork for more advanced math skills in the future.
Inquiry
In the first half of the term, students will become time travellers - exploring the past and celebrating cultural connections. Students will delve into historical exploration, understanding how things have changed over time. In the second half of the term, students will focus on embracing emotions and building a strong sense of self through the topic "Inside Out!"
We are thrilled about the upcoming term and look forward to partnering with you to ensure a successful and rewarding learning journey for our Grade 2 students!
Visual Arts
This term students investigate the tools of drawing, creating artworks using pencils, markers, crayons and oil pastels. Students will continue to discover the elements of art – line, shape, and colour. Students will use lines to create drawings and they will identify and name shapes as geometric and organic. When exploring colour, students identify primary colours as red, yellow and blue. These colours can be combined to make secondary colours: orange, green and purple. Students will create works of art that will be displayed for others to enjoy and appreciate.
Japanese
This term in Japanese, the Grade 2 students are learning about the importance of the Japanese New Year. They will learn that this year’s Japanese Zodiac animal is the dragon by making their own ‘Ema’ (a wooden plaque used in Japan to write goals or wishes on).
They are beginning a unit about body parts where they will learn to read and say a variety of body parts in Japanese. They will learn to write some of the body parts in Hiragana and Kanji (Japanese alphabets). Students will have the opportunity to apply the body part vocabulary into sentences and a doctor/patient role play. Students will also continue to develop their vocabulary through various games, crafts and small group activities.
Performing Arts
During Term One in Performing Arts, Grade One and Two students will be using masks to explore character development and how voice and body language can be used to convey emotions. They will practise their conversational skills when introducing their masks to their peers and develop confidence when performing to a small audience. Through a variety of improvisations and role-plays, students will experiment with the impact of changing their body language and voice to demonstrate character intention and motivation.
Physical Education
In grade 2 PE classes, students continue to build on their fundamental movement skills through fun and interactive activities. They engage in more structured games and sports, learning basic rules and teamwork. Students also explore concepts like spatial awareness and develop social skills through cooperative play.
