Welcome to Butterfly Class

Butterfly class is a year two class.

Welcome to our class page!

Our Butterfly Class teacher is Mrs Willmore, and we also have Mrs Barker supporting our class every morning.

Our topics for the year are:

     Autumn term: Fire Fire 

In our topic this term, we will be learning all about The Great Fire of London in 1666. The children will explore what happened during the fire, why it spread so quickly, and how London changed afterwards. We will learn about important people from the past, including Samuel Pepys, and think about how we know about events that happened a long time ago.

The children will also learn about the history of the fire service and how firefighters help to keep us safe today, linking our learning to important fire safety messages.

Through this topic, pupils will develop their understanding of the past by sequencing events, learning about significant historical events beyond living memory, and comparing London in 1666 with London today. We will also explore where London is in the United Kingdom, helping children develop their geographical knowledge of the country and the capital city.

     Spring term: China

In this topic, we will be learning about China, exploring its culture, traditions, and its place in the world. Children will locate China on a world map and learn about how it is different from the United Kingdom, helping to develop their geographical understanding of countries beyond Europe.

We will also discover some of China’s fascinating history, including learning about the Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall of China, and why these are important historical landmarks.

As part of our learning, we will explore the celebrations and traditions of Chinese New Year, including the foods, decorations, and festivities that mark the beginning of the Lunar New Year. Through this topic, pupils will develop their understanding of different cultures around the world while learning about significant historical places and events.

 Summer term: Heroes and Heroines 

In our Summer Term topic, Heroes and Heroines, the children will learn about people who have made a difference to the lives of others. We will explore the lives of significant individuals from the past and present, such as Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole, and learn about the important work they did to help others.

Through this topic, pupils will develop their understanding of significant people in history and why they are remembered today. The children will compare how healthcare and helping professions have changed over time and think about how people can make a positive impact in their communities.

We will also learn about modern-day heroes, including people who help us in our local community such as doctors, nurses, firefighters, and police officers. This will help children understand the important roles people play in keeping others safe and healthy today.

Useful Information 

Class Communication – ClassDojo

In our class we use ClassDojo to communicate with parents and carers. This allows us to share photos of the learning taking place in class, celebrate work that the children are proud of, and keep you updated with important information.

Children can also earn Dojo points for positive behaviour, effort, and fantastic work. We love trying to collect as many points as we can each week! Parents are also welcome to upload photos of homework or activities completed at home so that we can celebrate what the children are enjoying outside of school too.

PE

Our PE days are Thursday and Friday.

Children should come to school wearing their PE kit on these days. Our PE uniform should include:

• A plain light blue T-shirt

• Navy or black shorts

• Trainers

• On colder days, a plain navy or black tracksuit (no hoodies)

For safety, long hair must be tied back and earrings removed.

Homework

Homework is a valuable way to support learning at school.

We ask that children:

• Read at home at least three times a week with an adult. Discussing the story, asking comprehension questions, and exploring new vocabulary really helps to build understanding.

• Practise weekly spellings and learn new spelling patterns.

• Practise maths facts, including number bonds to 10, 20 and 100. Once confident, children should practise the 2, 5 and 10 times tables using their times table practice books.

Children will receive Dojo points for reading and completing homework at home, so please make sure this is recorded in their reading diary and times table book so that we can check and reward their efforts.

Instead of half-termly homework projects, we will be focusing on our “50 Things to Do Before You’re 11 3/4” challenge. These activities encourage children to explore, be active, and enjoy new experiences outside of school.

You can find the list of activities here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/50-things. We would love to see what you and your family get up to, so please feel free to share photos on Class Dojo!