Welcome to Class 2!

Ms Davis, Miss Lewis and Miss Cawthorne

We hope that you are excited for our final term in class 2!

This term, our topic is called ‘Magnificent Monarchs’.

This project teaches children about the English and British monarchy from AD 871 to the present day. Using timelines, information about royal palaces, portraits and other historical sources, they build up an understanding of the monarchs and then research six of the most significant sovereigns.

Magnificent Monarchs Workbook

Magnificent Monarchs Activities

Useful Vocabulary

absolute monarchy	absolute power	AD (anno Domini)	Alfred the Great	Anglo-Saxon
Bayeux Tapestry	castle	century	chronology	constitutional monarchy
decade	divorce	Elizabeth I	Elizabeth II	empire
feudal system	hierarchy	future	heir	Henry VIII
House of Lancaster	House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha	House of Windsor	House of York	invasion
kingdom	knight	law	marriage	monarch
monarchy	monastery	Norman	palace	parliament
past	period	Plantagenet	portrait	power
present	prince	princess	Queen Victoria	reign
religion	residence	Restoration	royal	rule
ruler	serf	sovereign	stately home	Stuart
timeline	Tudor	William the Conqueror	year

Companion Projects 

There are 4 companion projects that we will study alongside our Magnificent Monarchs work this term. These include:

Portraits and Poses: This project teaches children about portraiture. They analyse the portraits of Tudor monarchs and compare Tudor portraits and selfies today. They use photo editing software to create royal portraits.

Animal Survival: This project teaches children about growth in animals by exploring the life cycles of some familiar animals. They build on learning about the survival of humans by identifying the basic needs of animals for survival, including food, water, air and shelter.

Cut, Stitch and Join: This project teaches children about fabric home products and the significant British brand Cath Kidston. They learn about sewing patterns and using a running stitch and embellishments before making a sewn bag tag.

Push and Pull: This project teaches children about three types of mechanism: sliders, levers and linkages. They make models of each mechanism before designing and making a greetings card with a moving part.

Homework

Reading

We ask that all children read three times per week for around 10 minutes to an adult. Please sign and date in your child’s diary when they have read at home.

Spelling

Children will learn a new spelling rule in class each week. Then, they will have a list of these spellings sent home to practise. There will be a quiz each Friday.

There will also be a table of ‘Year 2 Common Exception Words’ that children should be confident reading and writing at the end of year 2. These words will stay the same each week for a full half term. During the spelling quiz, we will pick two or three words at random from this list.

Activity

Each Friday, there will also be a grammar or maths activity set. Children can hand this in at anytime during the following week but it should be handed in by Friday. If your child finds the homework tricky, you can of course help them and work together, or they can bring it to us and we will help in school. If anybody misplaces their homework or spellings, spares are always kept in the cloakroom.

We will host reading and homework breaktimes for anybody who doesn’t get the chance to complete these activities at home so that everybody has the chance to build on their skills.

Children can also complete the Topic activities sent home at the start of the term.

PE

Our PE days this term are Tuesday and Thursday. Children may come to school in their PE kits on these days: black bottoms/shorts and a white top. Children without the correct PE kit will be given spare kit to wear. Please also ensure that children are not wearing earrings on these days and that long hair is tied back.  

Home Learning Links

If you are looking for some extra activities to do at home, these websites have some great challenges and ideas!