2024-2025

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Year 2. We are excited to be working with your family to support your child through their next year of education. Your children will be learning about new, exciting topics this year that will build on their existing knowledge of topics covered from Nursery to Year 1. Visit this page each week for pictures and updates about what is happening in Year 2 in our blogs!

Classes and Teachers

Tanzania Class - Miss Chatters

Senegal Class - Miss Casanova

South Africa Class - Mrs Jivraj

Cameroon Class - Miss Adams

PE

Please make sure your child is wearing the correct PE uniform on their PE day.

Year 2 Curriculum Overview 2024-2025

Half Termly Topic Webs

A-Z Challenges

These challenges are part of the homework for your child. Choose one challenge per week to do at home to build on skills, experiences and memories with your child. Can you tick them all off?

Year 2 Blog

This week in DT, the children have been using the cutting and grating skills they have learnt to make their own healthy sandwiches. They practised using the bridge hold and claw grip when cutting, and they really enjoyed making their sandwiches.

Today the Year 2s had a fantastic time taking part in Sports Day. They showed great energy and enthusiasm as they tried lots of fun activities, including the long jump, hoop race, egg and spoon race, target throw, javelin, and exciting obstacle courses. Everyone joined in with big smiles, cheering each other on and enjoying the sunshine. It was lovely to see them having so much fun and showing great teamwork and determination!

Throughout the month of June it has been National Fieldwork Month for The UK. All schools across England have been taking part and this week, Year 2 carried out some fieldwork. They investigated the question 'Do the school grounds have enough plants to encourage wildlife?'. We went on a walk around school to collect some data about wildlife and plants and then discussed our findings. The children were able to draw their own conclusions from the data and we discussed how we could encourage more wildlife within our school, homes and the local environment.

Year 2 children had a workshop all about inspirational women as we begin our topic of 'Women Who Changed The World'. It was very interactive and the children loved acting out scenes and learning about females who have made big changes in history. We will be learning about some in detail this half term and the children can't wait!

The Year 2s had a fantastic time on their trip to the Matilda theatre! They were captivated by the amazing singing and dancing, and it really brought the story to life for them. The performance has sparked their enthusiasm and will be a great inspiration when they begin their writing back in class.

The Year 2 children enjoyed an art workshop where they created a huge group piece of art. The art is based on African Printing, and the artist Esther Mahlangu, tying in with their learning. They sketched prints based on nature, then carved into polystyrene so they could use ink and print their designs to create a whole year group project. It looks fabulous! See if you can spot it when you visit our school next.

Year Two had an amazing time celebrating World Culture Day! The children explored different cultures through music, language, and dance. They took part in a lively dance workshop inspired by the African continent and learnt how to say 'hello' and 'good afternoon' in another language during an assembly this afternoon.

Everyone looked fantastic in their cultural clothing, proudly sharing their traditions and learning about others.

It was a fun and meaningful day full of colour, creativity, and celebration!

This week, Year 2 had an exciting and active time taking part in the London Mini Marathon for Schools! The children showed great enthusiasm and team spirit as they completed the 2.6-mile challenge by walking, running, or jogging. It was wonderful to see them cheering each other on and celebrating everyone's efforts.

In science, the children have been busy planting cress seeds as part of an investigation into plant growth. They are conducting a comparative test to explore whether plants grow better in light or dark environments and with or without water. Through this experiment, the children are learning about germination and the key factors that affect how plants grow. They’ve been making careful observations and predictions, showing fantastic curiosity and scientific thinking!

Year 2 had the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Festival at Grange Park School this week. 

They took part in activities such as taekwondo, parachute games, golf and dodgeball. 

The children worked really well as a team and scored lots of point. 

They thoroughly enjoyed trying out all the different sports and did such a good job representing Minet Infant School. 

Well done year 2!

Year 2 had a fantastic time celebrating Kenya Day by taking part in an exciting drumming workshop. They learned how to create different beats on the drum, exploring a range of rhythms used in traditional Kenyan music. Throughout the day, the children also discovered lots about life in Kenya, including the differences between schools in Kenya and those in London, such as school uniforms, class sizes, and daily routines. They enjoyed lively discussions about Kenya’s human and physical features, identifying landmarks, landscapes, and ways people live and work across the country.

Today, the Year 2 students had a great time taking part in an Easter egg hunt! 

Eid breakfast

Thank you all for joining us this morning to celebrate Eid. 

We really enjoyed having parents in to share breakfast and make Eid cards with the children. 

Have a lovely Easter and we look forward to seeing you after the break. 

This week in Year 2, the children have been developing their sewing skills by designing and making their own pouches as part of our textiles topic in DT. Inspired by the Great Fire of London, they carefully stitched their pouches using running and overcast stitches, focusing on accuracy and technique. The children showed great perseverance and creativity, carefully selecting materials and decorating their pouches to reflect the historical theme. They were proud of their finished pieces and thoroughly enjoyed the process of bringing their designs to life!

The children also enjoyed visiting their local library. They were read a story and found out about how to access the library for a variety of books. 

We hope you have a wonderful and restful Easter holiday and we look forward to welcoming the children back on Tuesday 22nd April. 

To mark the start of Sustrans big walk and wheel we had a visit from Wizard Theater who talked about ways we could travel to school. We also looked at how to travel safely. 

We talked about why it was so important to travel in a healthy way and talked about how we can do this. We discussed what the traffic signals mean and why it is always important to cross at a zebra crossing with a lollypop person. 

We had such a fun session with lots of laughs. We even enjoyed meeting the 2 lovely puppets you see in the photos. 

The Year Two children enjoyed their OPAL play afternoon in celebration of OPAL play day. The children enjoyed interacting with teachers and different children in the playground. Thank you to all the children who brought a donation or item for OPAL. 

This week, Year 2 focused on developing their stitching skills using a needle, thread, and fabric. They practiced both the running stitch and the overcast stitch, carefully following step-by-step instructions. Throughout the activity, they made sure to follow all safety rules, handling the needle with care.

This week, the Year 2 students had an exciting trip to The Monument and St. Paul’s Cathedral, bringing their learning about the Great Fire of London to life. They got to see The Monument up close and stood near Pudding Lane, where the fire actually started in 1666. At St. Paul’s Cathedral, they explored its grand design and learned how it was rebuilt after the disaster. Through stories, discussions, and hands-on activities, the children deepened their understanding of this historic event and its impact on London.

Year 2 had a fantastic time celebrating World Book Day today! The children enjoyed dressing up as their favorite book characters and taking part in exciting activities led by all the Year 2 teachers. They were also thrilled to meet author Ruth Quayle, who shared her journey to becoming a writer and introduced them to her Magnificent Mabel book series.

Last term, as part of our online safety topic, we had a special visit from ChildNet, who taught us all about staying safe online. They shared important tips on how to use the internet safely, such as keeping personal information private and asking an adult for help if something doesn’t feel right. Year 2 had a fantastic time learning through fun activities and engaging discussions. The session helped everyone feel more confident about making smart choices online.

Year 2 children explored the art of Claude Monet, focusing on his famous water lily paintings. They learned about Impressionism, how Monet used light, colour, and brushstrokes to create movement, and how he captured nature’s beauty. Thank you to parents and carers for coming to our Art Exhibition the children were very proud of their hard work. Have a lovely half term, see you back on Monday February 24th.

This week, Year 2 had an exciting Taekwondo taster session, and they absolutely loved it! The children learned basic stances, simple kicks, and how to control their movements with focus and discipline. They practiced balancing, throwing gentle punches, and kicks. They had lots of fun!

The Year 2 children had a fantastic time showing their parents and carers what they have been learning in English, sharing their hot task writing based on our text map, 'My Visit to the Zoo'. A big thank you to all the parents and carers who came to see our English lessons and enjoyed the OPAL play with us.

The Year 2 children had an unforgettable adventure on their trip to the amazing rainforest! From the moment they stepped into the lush, green environment, they were captivated by the incredible sights and sounds. The children were thrilled to explore and learn about the diverse animals that call the rainforest home. They saw a sleepy sloth hanging from a tree, tiny tortoises basking near a pond, and fascinating stick insects camouflaged among the leaves. The vibrant birds on branches and the baby crocodile resting in a shady spot were particular highlights. This exciting experience served as the perfect hook for their English lesson, introducing them to the book The Amazing Rainforest. Back in class, they will use their vivid memories to practice retelling the story with their text map, building confidence and excitement before innovating it with their own rainforest adventures.

As we approach the end of the term, the children have enjoyed a wonderful mix of festive fun and learning. In English, they wrote their letters to Father Christmas, based on our text map 'Letter to Father Christmas.' In maths, they’ve started exploring multiplication and division, focusing on sharing and grouping.

This week brought a special treat—an exciting pantomime performance of Dick Whittington, which the children thoroughly enjoyed. To end the week, the children had Christmas parties, playing games and spending time with their friends.

The Year 2 team would like to wish you all a wonderful and restful break, filled with happiness and joy! Merry and Christmas and a happy new year to all those that are celebrating. We are excited to welcome the children back on Monday 6th January 2025.

This week, year 2 children got to embrace the festive spirit by dressing up in their favourite Christmas jumpers.  Alongside this fun dress-up event, they also enjoyed a special Christmas-themed lunch. The dining hall was decorated to reflect the festive atmosphere, with delicious seasonal food on offer. This was a wonderful opportunity for the children to celebrate together and share the excitement of the season with their friends and teachers!

Also, this week in DT the children have been making the vehicles that they designed. The children used a hacksaw to cut dowels to make axles for their vehicles. The children enjoyed this experience and worked very hard to start making their vehicles. 

In science this week we were testing different materials to see which material would be suitable for dungarees. We put the materials in water, we rubbed them on rocks and we stretched them to see how durable, flexible and waterproof they would be. 

In English this week year 2 enjoyed taking part in the hook for their new book called The Invisible. 

We spent time writing kind messages with invisible ink and making a kindness web with the children in our class. We talked about things that we liked about others and ourselves.

For mathematics we have been learning about length. We learnt how to use a measuring tape to correctly measure parts of our body like our arms, finger and legs. We recorded our results into a table. 

All the Year 2 children really enjoyed our inspiring trip to the mosque this week, where they explored its beautiful features, learned about the importance of prayer, and gained a deeper understanding of Islamic traditions. The children asked thoughtful questions and were amazed by the mosque and all its features. 

Year 2 celebrated Children in Need Day with enthusiasm, dressing up in vibrant yellow and fun polka dots to show their support. The day was filled with exciting activities, where the children learned about the importance of helping others and how their contributions could make a difference in the lives of children in need. Through stories, games, and discussions, they explored ways to show kindness and care for those facing challenges. Children in Need Day is a powerful reminder of the importance of generosity and community, inspiring the Year 2s to think about how they can help make the world a better place for everyone.

The Year 2 children really enjoyed presenting their Diwali assembly to their parents, sharing the story and traditions of the Festival of Lights. They were especially enthusiastic about learning and singing their Diwali songs. The children performed wonderfully for their parents and carers, working very hard on their presentation. They sang beautifully, spoke clearly, and included fantastic actions. Well done, Year 2!

This week, our Year 2 classes began exploring our new topic for this half term, "Now and Then." The children will be writing their own explanation text so we introduced the theme with a creative hook lesson in English, which they thoroughly enjoyed. The children created their own life cycle plate.

This week in year 2 we have been continuing on with our sculptures. In South Africa class we have begun to create our sea creatures ready for painting next week. We used all of the clay techniques that we had learnt from last lesson to help us. 

This week in Year 2, children explored the use of different paint colours to bring their clay sea animal sculptures to life. Over the past five weeks, they have learned about sculptures and practiced working with clay to create their own sea creatures.

This week in Year 2 we began a new unit of work in our English lessons. The children will be writing a description so we have been thinking about our senses that link to our key text 'The Snail and The Whale'. The whale is beached on the bay so we thought about what we would do on a beach. Obviously, eating ice lollies and building sandcastles were the two favourite things so we did those. The children loved it!

Year 2 have been developing key Atlas skills like using the index to find information and learning about the continents. The children are now able to label the five oceans and seven continents of the World. In Art, the children have practised how to manipulate clay so they can make their sculpture next week.

Year 2 have been busy this week. We received a post card from some concerned friends of the Snail, the main character in our key text, so we had to reply! In English, the children innovated their story by changing the main characters and began to write their own version of our key text The Snail and The Whale. Their ideas were creative and the children could retell their own story. In mathematics, the children have been partitioning numbers into different combinations of tens and ones and comparing numbers using their knowledge of place value and greater than, less than and equal to.

We had Geography Day in Year 2 this week. The children learnt all the continents and oceans of the World in a fun, exciting workshop. They went to each continent by travelling over the oceans in different ways and even talked about some of the physical and human features in each continent. They used beebots to describe directions like north, east, south and west and drew a map of the school. 

Our first week in Year 2 has been so fun! We have recapped the rules of the school and classroom, got to know our new teachers and done a lot of team building activities. The children have settled well and have been just like our school value characters; Robo Respect, Rizzo Resilience and Roada Responsibility.

2023-2024

19.7.24

A farewell message from your Teacher...

 Dear Tanzania Class,

It has been a pleasure to teach you this year. What a fun year we've had! You have all showed a love for learning and we have learnt so much together. You have all worked hard, pushed yourself, achieved so much in every subject and faced fears. I am so proud of you all and I'll miss you. I know you will continue to work hard in Year 3 and beyond, so good luck and enjoy your summer break!

Miss Chatters

Dear Senegal Class,

It has been an absolute joy to witness your growth and learning this year. Your hard work and dedication have truly paid off, and I am incredibly proud of each one of you. As you move on to Year 3, I wish you the best of luck and continued success. Keep believing in yourselves! Enjoy your well-deserved break!

Ms Casanova.

Dear South Africa Class,

Thank you for making this year at school fun and memorable. We have made a lot of memories and I won't forget you all. I hope you have a lovely summer and continue to work hard in Year 3.

Mrs Anjum

Dear Cameroon Class,

I wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for making this year such a memorable experience. Your hard work, enthusiasm, and collaboration have truly made a difference. It has been wonderful watching you grow and develop until the amazing individuals you are. As you go into Year 3 let's remember the lessons you've learnt and the friendships you've made. Enjoy your well-deserved break, and I wish you all the best in the future!
Miss Adams.

We have been very busy in Year 2 preparing for our end of year production, A Lion's Tale. The children performed amazingly twice, for parents and carers and your teachers are so proud of you! You sang beautifully, spoke clearly and acted so well. Well done Year 2!

Thank you to all of the parents who came to our Family Friday session to watch our mathematics lesson. The children have been learning about shapes, describing patterns and drawing patterns. The children can all describe a pattern and think about what shape is missing, comes before, or next in the pattern.

In Year 2, the children began our new text for English. We will be focusing on Matilda, so we watched the film while eating chocolate cake! They loved the story line and can't wait to create their own versions of Matilda with their own characters, problems and resolutions.

24.5.24

Year 2 children enjoyed some squash tasters. They learnt how to play together, do tap ups, tap downs and how to balance the ball on the racket. Thank you Trevor from Hillingdon squash team!

17.5.24

The children have made some fantastic African prints based on Ester Malange's work this half term. They carved their pattern into polystyrene, painted it and printed it to create a repeating pattern.

10.5.23

Year 2 have planted seeds as part of an experiment in science. We are learning which environment a plant grows best in. We've made our predictions and can't wait to see the results.

3.5.23

Year 2 enjoyed Geography Day this week. We learnt all about Kenya beginning with a very important assembly from Mrs Rehmanji and Mrs Valijee. Mrs Rehmanji used to lived in Kenya! We learnt about the food that grows in Kenya, what schools are like and the native Maasai Tribe.

26.4.24

Year 2 enjoyed a Road Safety workshop this week where they learnt to look out for hazards and how to cross the road safely. Thank you Wizard Theatre!

19.4.24

Year 2 had their RE day this week. The children were learning about Eid. We had a visit from a local Imam who spoke to them about Hajj and shared lots of knowledge about what happens at the Mosque during Ramadan. In class, the children made prayer mats, learnt the story of Ibrahim and Ishmael and had an Eid party.

22.3.24

The children in Year 2 have enjoyed learning about Easter this week. We visited St Mary's Church in Hayes on Monday, and on Thursday had our RE day. They learnt about the Easter story and how Easter is celebrated in different countries. They even tried out some traditions from around The World including egg rolling competitions and hot cross buns.

15.3.24

Year 2 children enjoyed their visit to London. We went to visit Pudding Lane, where The Great Fire of London started and walked up The Monument. We saw amazing views of London. In the afternoon, we went to St Paul's Cathedral, which burnt down in The Great Fire and learnt about how it was rebuilt. The children showed excellent behaviour and a fantastic can do attitude when climbing the 311 steps to the top of The Monument.

8.3.24

The children had a fantastic week beginning their new topic of time and celebrating World Book Day of course! Thank you to all the parents who came in to share a story with their child, they really enjoyed having you in the class. We did a carousel of activities and had a special visit from an author to share stories and ask questions. All the children looked fabulous!

9.2.24

Year 2 enjoyed showing their panting to their family during our Art Exhibition this week. They all worked really hard during the half term to sketch a drawing to scale, inspired by John Malone, the artist we have been studying. Children painted their picture carefully, creating an ombre effect. Thank you to all parents and carers who came into the classroom to see.

Enjoy the half term children, we hope you stay safe and can't wait to see you with your homework projects.

2.2.24

Children in Year 2 enjoyed a Taekwondo taster session delivered by a local coach. They practiced different types of kicks and were able to learn how taekwondo training works.

26.1.24

This week in science, the children have been investigating the outdoor area. We have been looking for animals that live in woody habitats. We found some bird nests, some worms in the soil, woodlice in the decaying tree trunk and snails in the wet crevices of trees. We also saw some holes in the trunks of trees and slime on them so we knew slugs or snails had been slithering up and down them and birds have been pecking. The children were very observant and could talk about why those habitats were good for particular animals.

19.1.24

Year 2 enjoyed having parents in for our Family Friday this half term. Thank you to all parents who came to lesson and helped their children to learn how to use expanded noun phrases.

12.1.24

Happy New Year to all of our children and their families! We hope you had a restful break. We were very excited to welcome the children back and start their learning journey with our new topics. This week, Year 2 enjoyed a visit to The Living Rainforest where they learnt about animals and plants that live there. They learnt about waterproof plants, monkeys, lizards, birds, turtles and much more.

Year 2 have enjoyed many different activities to end the Autumn Term. We have watched a pantomime, created our products in DT using moving mechanisms, been on a walk in science to look at the uses of different materials and celebrated Christmas Jumper Day!

In PE this week, Year 2 enjoyed putting their gymnastics skills together and jumping off apparatus. We have been holding different shapes and practising our jumping. The children's confidence is growing!

Year 2 had a Superhero dress up day this week as the hook for their new key text 'Traction Man is here'. They all looked fantastic and enjoyed going on different missions throughout the day!

20.10.23

The children enjoyed RE day this week. We learnt about the ideas of God in Christianity and Islam. Children explored knowing things are there without being seen by tasting a drink with some sugar in it. We read the parable of The Lost Sheep and thought about who the sheep and shepherd represent.

6.10.23

In English, our hook for our writing lessons was making ice lollies and playing sand. The children had lots of fun! Can you guess what we are going to write about?

29.9.23

In art, the children were practicing different techniques with clay in preparation to make their sculpture. They enjoyed rolling, squeezing, smoothing and carving, so that they can make the right shapes for their sculpture.

22.9.23

The children have been discussing responsibility in PSHE and thinking about which actions and responsibilities are the most important. In mathematics, the children have been using resources to recognise tens and ones in numbers. Our key text this half term is The Snail and The Whale, by Julia Donaldson.

Continents and Oceans Workshop

Year 2 enjoyed a continents and oceans workshop where they learnt the names of the 7 continents, 5 oceans and some fun facts about each continent. They enjoyed travelling to all 7 continents and crossing the oceans in different ways.

Year 2 - 2022-2023

19.7.23

A farewell message from your teacher...

'Tanzania class, your journey through Year 2 has been incredible and I'm so lucky to have shared it with you. It has been a pleasure watching you learn, grow and blossom in many ways. You've made new friendships, learnt new things and challenged yourselves each day to achieve many new things. Well done to you all, you should be very proud of yourselves. It's now time for your next adventure in Year 3 and I want to wish you all good luck! I will miss you loads, your new teacher is lucky to have you.'

Miss Chatters.

'As the sun sets on our time together South Africa Class, I want to roar with pride at the wonderful students you've become. Like the courageous lions of the Pride Lands, you've shown resilience, respect, and confidence every day. Watching you grow has been an amazing adventure, and though our time together is over, I know you will continue to shine brightly in Year 3. Remember, just like Simba, you have the power to achieve anything you set your mind to. I will miss you all dearly, and your next teacher is in for an extraordinary journey with you'

Miss Sharif.

'Cameroon class, I am so proud of how you have all blossomed and grown into such incredible young people. You have all become so confident and achieved so much! Let your wisdom and resilience stick with you as you embark on a new, joyous journey into Year 3. I will miss you all and will miss all of the laughter and happy memories we shared together.'

Miss Mullins.

'Senegal Class, being your teacher this year has been a true honour. I've cherished witnessing each of you grow in your unique ways. As you step into Year 3, I'm filled with pride and excitement for your future. Embrace challenges, cherish friendships, and never stop learning. Remember, you have the power to achieve anything. Best of luck, and thank you for making this journey so rewarding. Keep shining brightly!'

Ms Casanova.

Year 2 Curriculum Overview 2022-2023

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Year 2. We are excited to be working with your family to support your child through their next year of education.

Classes and Teachers

Tanzania Class - Miss Chatters

Senegal Class - Miss Casanova

South Africa Class - Miss Sharif

Cameroon Class - Mr Ismail and Miss Mullins

P.E days

Half Termly Topic Webs

Weekly Blog

Please visit this page, each Friday to read our weekly blog. You will find useful information, including what we have been learning during the week and important dates. There will also be links to Phonics videos.

Continents and Oceans workshop

The children really enjoyed a workshop where they learnt about the names of the 7 continents and 5 oceans of the World. They got to travel to each of them and find out some really fun facts.

2021-2022

22.07.2022

Year 2 Leaver Assembly

The teachers are so proud of all the children in Year 2 for their amazing performance of their farewell assembly. The children put on their best show and sang their hearts out, well done everyone! Thank you to parents/carers who came to watch.

End of Year 2 message:

“Primrose class, you have all made me proud to be your teacher. You have all grown in many different ways and it has been lovely to watch you achieve so much and overcome so many challenges. I will miss you all and wish you all good luck in Year 3, your new teacher is lucky to have you!” Miss Chatters

“Foxglove class, I was so lucky to teach you this year. Thank you for making my life so much brighter. I have watched you all learn and grow. You have all shown immense resilience, tried hard at all your challenges and shown so much kindness to all your friends and the adults at Minet. I will miss you all and I wish you all good luck on your new journey in year 3. Your new teacher is lucky to have you!" Miss Sharif

“Snapdragon class, I have really enjoyed teaching you. I have watched you learn and grow into such amazing people. You worked so hard and achieved so much. Continue to work hard and stay focused. I will miss you all and I wish you all the very best in Year 3. Your new teacher is very lucky to have you!” Miss Mohamed