23 Nov 2018

Yr2 Curriculum Update – 23/11/18

Working together to achieve success for every child

 

 

Welcome to the 7th edition!

We write a regular newsletter keeping you up-to-date and informed about your child’s learning. This will provide you with a good understanding of happenings in Year 2 and how you can support these learning experiences.

Let’s Inquire – How We Express Ourselves

We are excited to be inquiring into a new central idea, “People express themselves through celebrations.”

 

Transdisciplinary Learning – It’s all connected!

Year 2 students partied their way into the new unit of inquiry by celebrating birthdays. As a whole-grade provocation, they visited each classroom and experienced different styles of birthday celebrations.  Throughout their exploration, they were challenged to think about what they saw, what they heard and how they felt. Let’s hear what they had to say.

“We saw people doing homework because they don’t celebrate.  We thought it was unusual and we kept thinking about it so we could figure out why.’

“We heard sounds of excitement at the Avenger’s party, and in Mrs. Holmes’ room, we heard birthday songs in different languages.”

“At the traditional party, we felt happy because we got to play with balloons and make birthday hats.  At the family party, we felt relaxed because we got to sit on cushions and watch a movie.”

 

Literacy

Students are learning the importance of word choice for writing ideas clearly and creatively.  They are becoming word collectors by examining and brainstorming different kinds of words (nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, etc), which they can then use for their own writing. In reading, students have focused on how to locate important and interesting information in non-fiction texts.  As they have prepared for their Year 2 assembly presentation, they have also practised how to read and speak using clear voices and interesting expression.

Students use their speaking and listening skills while rehearsing for the assembly.

 

Maths

How have our Year 2 students measured up in Maths over the past few weeks?  They extended their understanding of measurement by estimating and measuring with centimetres and by exploring how centimeters and meters are connected. Some students even began finding connections between the metric system and the place value system.  For example, both systems involve groups of tens (10 mm in a cm;  10 tens in a hundred).

Examining rulers and tape measures to think about centimetres and metres

 

Sports

For the last few Mondays, Year 4 students have been leading the Year 2 students in safe, respectful and cooperative play during their Sports sessions.  They are forming positive relationships that help build well-being across the school.

Year 4 models leadership, friendship and cooperation to the Year 2s

 

Chinese

In the Chinese classrooms, Year 2 children are inquiring into who they are, including their families. They continue to learn about how their actions can affect others and how to work together as a successful learning community. Connections to learning are made using Chinese songs, rhymes, games and stories.

Here’s a glimpse of some of our classrooms:

 

Suggestions for Supporting Learning at Home

*Read out loud together.  As you read, collect words that your child finds interesting.  Write them down and send them to school to share.

*Look through photos of your family’s past celebrations.  Discuss why they are important to your family.

*Visit some of the holiday displays around Hong Kong and chat about the symbols and characters you notice.

 

Dates for your Diary

Thursday 29 November                      Y1-3 Author Visit

Please remember if you have questions or concerns, contact your child’s teacher. We welcome feedback and look forward to working with you all to achieve success for every child.

 

Kindest regards,

The Year 2 Team