Our key text this half term is ‘The Tear Thief’.

The Tear Thief is a dreamy, fairy like character, almost a shadow. With waxen but childish features and clothes, she isn’t at all frightening but mystical and gentle. She climbs into homes collecting the tears of all children who are crying.

Coming soon!

This term we are going on an exciting walk around the local area to look and different signs and learn about the local history of the area. We will be going on the walk on the Tuesday 21st January.

TBC: Parental engagement

Policeman will be visiting us to tell us all about their job.

In this topic, we will be exploring the fascinating world of African art, focusing on the traditional art forms of weaving and pattern-making. We will learn about a specific place in Africa, examining how art and culture are intertwined in daily life. The beautiful, symbolic designs found in African textiles, such as woven fabrics and intricate patterns, tell powerful stories about identity, history, and community.

We will then compare and contrast this African culture with that of Derby, exploring the differences in geography and how they influence art and traditions in both places. By studying the similarities and contrasts in their art forms, we will deepen our understanding of cultural expression, creativity, and craftsmanship.

Throughout this topic, you will have the opportunity to create your own designs inspired by African patterns, while reflecting on how art connects people to their past, present, and future.

The key text for this half term is ‘Meerkat Mail’.

Meerkat mail is a fun and adventurous picture book about a curious meerkat named Sunny who leaves his home in the Kalahari Desert to visit his relatives in different parts of the world. Sunny writes letters to his family about his travels, sharing his experiences and the interesting places he visits, like the beach, the jungle, and even a busy city!

Sunny from Meerkat Mail wrote a delightful postcard to Year 2, sharing his exciting adventures and experiences from his travels. In his message, he described the stunning places he had visited and the interesting animals he had met along the way. Sunny’s postcard was full of enthusiasm, and he even included some fun facts about the different countries he had explored. He encouraged the students to keep being curious and adventurous, just like him, and to always be eager to learn about the world around them. The postcard made Year 2 feel connected to Sunny’s journey and sparked their own imaginations about far-off places.

We will be going to the church to attend a special Easter service. During the service, we’ll learn about the meaning of Easter and the stories that make this time of year so important. It will be a wonderful experience to come together as a group and celebrate this special occasion. We will also get the chance to perform our very own Easter song, which we’ve been practicing

We will be going to the church to attend a special Easter service. During the service, we’ll learn about the meaning of Easter and the stories that make this time of year so important. It will be a wonderful experience to come together as a group and celebrate this special occasion. We will also get the chance to perform our very own Easter song, which we’ve been practicing.

A Rolls Royce engineer is coming to visit and tell us all about his job! He works with amazing machines, like engines for planes and cars, and he’s going to explain how these powerful engines are made. The engineer will share some cool facts about the science and technology behind these engines, and how he solves tricky problems to make sure everything works perfectly. This is a great chance for us to learn about engineering, ask lots of questions, and maybe even get inspired to think about becoming engineers ourselves one day!

The Enchanted Woodland is an engaging topic where children explore both geography and art through the lens of nature. In geography, they learn about maps and compasses, developing essential navigation skills while studying the natural environment. In art, they draw inspiration from the works of Andy Goldsworthy, creating their own art using natural materials like leaves, stones, and twigs. This topic encourages creativity, outdoor learning, and a deeper connection to the world around them, combining practical geography skills with artistic expression inspired by the natural world.

The Night Gardener is a magical story about a mysterious gardener who secretly visits a town at night. Every morning, the people wake up to find the trees have been turned into beautiful, strange sculptures. A young boy named William wonders who the Night Gardener is and discovers that the gardener’s work makes the whole town happier and more colorful. The story shows how one person’s creativity can inspire everyone around them to make the world a more wonderful place. It’s a story full of imagination, surprise, and the power of art!

This term, we’re going to have so much fun growing our very own beans! Each of you will plant a bean and watch it grow right before your eyes. We’ll be learning all about how plants grow, what they need to stay healthy, and what makes them strong. Every day, we’ll check on our beans and see how they change as they grow taller, develop leaves, and even sprout flowers! By the end of the term, you’ll have your very own little plant to take home, and you’ll know all about the amazing journey your bean has taken to grow!

Coming soon!

In this topic, we will be learning all about the world and the maps that help us understand it. We will explore the names and locations of the different oceans and continents, gaining a better understanding of how our planet is divided and organized. As part of our geography work, we will also be learning about the differences between human and physical features—such as mountains, rivers, cities, and buildings—and how these features shape the world around us.

In addition, we will be looking closely at the important issue of sea pollution. We’ll learn about the causes of pollution in our oceans, the effects it has on marine life and the environment, and what we can do to help protect our planet.

As part of our design and technology lessons, we will be using our creativity and practical skills to make sliders and moving parts to create an interactive page for a class book. This will give us the chance to combine our learning about the world with hands-on design work, making our geography topic fun and engaging!

In English, we will be exploring the model text The Great Explorer by Chris Judge. This exciting story will help us understand how authors create adventure and bring their characters to life. We will be using this text as inspiration to write our own detailed character descriptions, focusing on appearance, personality, and actions. Through this work, the children will develop their vocabulary, sentence structure, and descriptive writing skills, while letting their imaginations take them on their own great adventures.

To hook the children into the topic and spark their excitement, we will begin with a pirate-themed PE lesson. This fun and active session will get the children moving as they take part in pirate challenges such as treasure hunts, walking the plank, and ship races. Dressed as pirates, they will work in teams to complete physical tasks that introduce key vocabulary like “ocean,” “island,” and “continent” in an engaging and memorable way. This exciting start will help capture their imagination and set the scene for the rest of the topic, making learning about the world and maps even more meaningful.

A memorable experience this term will be Sports Day, where children will take part in fun races, games, and team challenges.

This term, we are excited to invite parents and carers into school to celebrate the children’s learning through a special music performance. The children have been working hard in their music lessons, learning new songs, rhythms, and instruments, and they are looking forward to showcasing their talents. This event will be a wonderful opportunity for parental engagement, giving families a chance to see the progress their children have made and to share in their achievements. We hope it will be a joyful and memorable experience for everyone involved.

As part of our learning this term, we will have a special visitor from Derby City who runs The Electric Daisy, a unique and creative business in the local area. He will be coming in to speak to the children about his job, what it involves, and how he turned his passion into a successful career. The visit will give the children an exciting insight into the world of work, creativity, and entrepreneurship.