Mrs Murfitt is the class teacher in Penguins. Mrs Murfitt enjoys teaching art and science. For the Summer Term, Mrs Murfitt is really looking forward to learning about the artwork of Henri Rousseau and making a moving monster in DT. In Penguins, PE days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays this term. Spellings are given out on Fridays and tested on Thursdays. Homework is put on Seesaw on Fridays. Star stamps are given for every time your child reads at home and this is checked on Fridays too.

Penguins' Teaching Assistant is Mrs Revill. Mrs Revill is looking forward to all our learning this summer! We have some fun games planned to help improve your timetable knowledge.  She is really looking forward to cracking on with Phonics sessions and don't forget to keep reading at home, to earn all those extra star stamps!  

Mrs Hawkins is a Teaching Assistant who supports in Penguins one morning a week. Mrs Hawkins loves spending time with her family and going on long walks.

History

In this unit, pupils will learn how we find out about the past using different sources and explore the lives of Florence Nightingale, Mary Seacole and Edith Cavell. They will understand why these individuals were important, when they lived, and what motivated their actions. Pupils will also look at how the past is represented and explore how these nurses helped to improve hospitals, making them cleaner, safer and better for patients.

Writing

Our writing units are inspired by the books The Last Wolf by Mini Grey and Grandpa's Secret Giant by David Litchfield. The Last Wolf re-imagines the classic Little Red Riding Hood fable in an entirely new way will lead us to write a letter in role persuading the characters to save the trees.  Our second book is a beautifully written story about belonging and friendship. The children will build their spelling, punctuation and grammar skills and understanding by writing their own version of the story with a focus on morals and acceptance of others.

Reading

During the Summer Term, the children will be accessing a range of different text types. We will be 'Creating Connections' with reading texts linked to our prior history topic of Kings and Queens and our current topic relating to Florence Nightingale. Additionally, the children will read and gain a greater understanding of poetry through a poem called ‘Weather’. In each reading unit, word reading and fluency are enhanced through activities like echo reads, timed reads, and fluency grids. Texts feature high-frequency and common exception words, helping children read them quickly and accurately. With repeated encounters, they can sound out unfamiliar words effectively, boosting their fluency and confidence. Our children are encouraged to utilise their vocabulary to grasp texts, discussing meanings and connecting new words to what they already know. Through various retrieval questions, children are taught to identify and explain key aspects of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry texts, such as characters, events, titles, and information.

Maths

In the Summer term, Year 2 children will build on their maths skills by learning about fractions, time, statistics and position and direction. They will practise finding simple fractions like halves and quarters, telling the time on a clock, reading and creating simple charts, and using language to describe movement and position. Throughout, children will develop confidence in solving problems and explaining their thinking.

Art

In art, we will learn about the life of the artist Henri Rousseau and explore his unique, self-taught style of painting, often known as naïve art. They will investigate the techniques he used, including bold colours and detailed jungle scenes filled with plants and animals such as lions, monkeys and birds. Pupils will also develop an understanding of Rousseau’s ‘portrait-landscape’ genre, where a person is shown within a detailed setting. Finally, children will use their imagination and new skills to create their own artwork inspired by Rousseau’s vibrant and imaginative paintings.

Design and Technology

Our DT this term will see the children explore mechanisms by learning how pivots, levers and linkages work, before designing and making their own moving monster using these components. They will also develop their textiles skills by learning a running stitch, using templates to cut fabric, and creating and decorating a simple pouch. Through these projects, children will design, make and evaluate their products while developing practical skills, creativity and an understanding of how different materials and mechanisms can be used to create purposeful items. 

Science

Changing Materials - Children will explore different everyday materials and how their shape can be changed by bending, twisting, stretching or squashing. They will learn that materials have different properties (such as hard, soft or waterproof) and that these help us decide which material is best for a job. They will also investigate how pushes and pulls can move or change objects.

Growing Healthy Plants - Children will learn how to care for plants and understand that plants are living things that need water, light and the right temperature to grow and stay healthy. They will explore what happens if plants do not get what they need and reflect on what helps plants grow successfully.

Computing

In Computing this term, children will explore creating media through digital music and programming. They will learn how music can express feelings, recognise patterns in sound, and use a computer to experiment, create and improve their own pieces of music for a purpose. In programming, children will begin to understand how simple programs work, learning that instructions follow a sequence with a clear start and outcome. They will create and adapt their own quiz programs, developing confidence in designing, testing and improving their ideas.