Year 2 Summer Term

Our topic in Year 2 class is ‘Summer’. The children have loved finding out about the seasonal changes throughout the KS1. There is a wealth of learning to be had with this topic and much of it can be done outdoors in the sunshine. We have put together lots of ideas to keep you going. The order you do them may depend on the weather. Enjoy!

Week one – June 1st- 5th

Discuss the changes that are happening as we enter Summertime – flowers growing, minibeasts, lighter nights, warmer days, trees full of leaves etc.

See BBC Bitesize PowerPoint on explanations about seasonal changes.

What different types of weather do we get in Summer? Watch the weather forecast on TV. Talk about the maps you see. What symbols do they use? Are they correct in their predictions? Keep a chart to record each day’s weather. How many sunny days did we have? How many days did it rain? How much rain did we get? [Make a rain gauge – a bottle to measure how much rain]

Discuss the sun [don’t look directly at it] and what else is in the sky. What else can you see in the sky? Lay back and relax- look up at the sky, what can you see? What shapes do the clouds make? Can you see the moon or stars? Why not? Birds? Aeroplanes?

Talk about sun safety and design a poster to tell everyone how to keep safe in the sun eg wear a hat, wear suncream, sun glasses, drink plenty of water, stay in the shade.

Explain that shadows are formed when the sunlight is blocked. Go on a shadow hut, what shapes do you see?

Shadows are brilliant for drawing around. Why not turn your child’s shadow into a funny monster?

Investigate where does the sun go at night? The children are fascinated by the world and that when it is daytime here it is night time in other countries. Try this link for an explanation [the simplest I could find]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr-CRKsTYGs

Set up a shadow clock or sundial. Click here for simple instructions https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/roi2-m-270-make-a-sundial-activity

Write about what you love most about Summertime. You could turn it into a poem! In Summer I love……Ask the children to practise their sentences first so they are clear what they are going to write. They should write one word at a time [ask them to sound it out or you can help spell the words out]

Make a den to create shade – use fabric, pegs, umbrellas – whatever you have at home. You could turn it into a reading den and read to your teddies out there!

Make ice lollies to keep you cool- talk about freezing and melting.

Make a rainbow wind chime

Week Two –June 8 th -12th Nature in Summer

Go on a walk around your garden or local area – what signs of Summer are there? Look for creepy crawlies that are hiding under logs, wild flowers growing naturally, birds nesting etc. Take photos.

Read lots of nature stories eg ‘the very hungry caterpillar’, ‘the seed’, ‘the very lazy ladybird’ or find them on YouTube

Design a home for a minibeast or a bug hotel. Make a leaf necklace.

Week three June 15th- 19th

Find out about the lifecycle of a ladybird, butterfly, bee or flower. How does it begin? Draw a picture to show the different stages and write a sentence/ label.

Try to keep a plant alive – what does it need? Write and draw instructions for someone else.

Make beautiful pictures or collages of nature in Summer either from observation or just using your imagination.

Write a senses poem ‘In Summer I see …I feel…I hear…I taste… I smell…’

Go on a scavenger hunt, there are plenty online https://www.cbc.ca/parents/play/view/printable-summer-scavenger-hunt-for-the-senses

or use this one:Summer flower and plant hunt.What is the role of the bee in Summer?Why are bees busy in the gardens?

Week Four June 22 nd -26th

Noah’s ark

If you have already read the story of Creation and Adam and Eve then you should be ready for Noah’s

ark [if you haven’t read the other 2 stories, it would be great if you could] Find all the stories

online or in a children’s bible. Why do you think the story is important for Christians today? What do

you think it teaches them?

Practise counting in two’s – use songs, pictures, pairs of socks anything to get the children understanding that counting in twos is useful. It’s a good chance to reinforce pairs. What things around the house come in pairs?

Reinforce all doubles to 10 and identify related facts.

Continue the current rainbow theme as a symbol of hope. Be as creative as you can! I have seen some lovely rainbow pictures made with pencil

sharpenings, paint made with skittle sweets, petals, fabric etc

Use this time to find more out about an animal of your choice. Where does it live? What does it eat? How does it move? Make a factfile including picture and fun facts.

How many words can you make from the letters in caterpillar?

Think about what messages the stories from the Bible give us. How should we treat each other? How does God want us to behave?

Week 5 June 29 th -3 rd July

Holidays

I know that visiting new places seems a long way off but there are plenty of things you can do to excite their

imagination.There are lots of exciting story books about summer .

Try reading Story book ; Mr Gumpy’s Outing. This can be found on

You Tube. Get out [or print off] holiday photos from the past

and talk about events that happened, places you’ve been. Dig out any souvenirs and look at maps, travel brochures or online to find your favourite places.

Talk about why your local area would be a good holiday place for someone to visit. What do you like about your local area? Is there anything you dislike? Make a leaflet or poster telling people about your area.

Practise spelling words associated with holidays eg flag, hot, sun, crab, shell, sand etc

Set an ice cream stall at home [use cones and lollies made out of paper]. Put simple prices on them and play shops [eg 1p 2p 3p 4p 5p, 6p, 10p, 20p] How will you pay for a lolly that costs 3p? Use real coins if possible.

Find out about places around the world. Where would you like to go? What would you take in your suitcase? Write a list.

Create postcards [you may have to explain what they are!!!]

Make sandcastles and homemade flags, practise floating and sinking in the paddling pool.

Week 6 - Week – July 6th- 10th Features of the UK Environment

Look at the UK coastline. Use seaside vocabulary and terminology, ie cliff, beach, harbour, lighthouse.Read The lighthouse keepers Lunch. It can be found on You Tube. Sequence this story. Write an alternative ending to the story.Draw pictures and put these seaside words in the picture.Write sentences with these words in.Think about other places to visit in the UK; i.e. castles. Why were they built? How were they built?