Our Curriculum

Spellings 

We begin each morning by learning our weekly spellings, using a range of methods. We are currently following the Babcock spelling scheme, which includes the Year 2 & 3 National Curriculum spelling list but also provides opportunities for looking at a range of spelling skills such as the use of the apostrophe, suffixes and prefixes.

Guided Reading

Following our daily spellings we have a 20 minute Guided Reading session. This year we will read the following texts:

• The firework maker's daughter
• The wild way home
• Charlie and the chocolate factory

 Our weekly lessons involve questioning of the text, word and meaning tasks and an activity based around the chapter of the week, for example writing as one of the characters or predicting what might happen next within the story.

Numeracy

Pupils are taught Numeracy every morning and each lesson begins with a 'Flashback' 5-a-day set of questions. This is an opportunity for the children to look back at previously taught aspects of their numeracy as the curriculum covers many areas. 

Literacy

We read the following texts in our Literacy lessons:

• The Twits 
• The worst witch
• Stone age boy
• How to wash a woolly mammoth 
• The miraculous journey of Edward Tulane
• The great kapok tree

Science

The main focus of Year 2 and 3 Science is to develop the children’s scientific understanding of the world around them. Our Science lessons encourage the children to ask questions about scientific concepts, and answer those questions through scientific enquiries such as investigations and experiments.

Our Topics this year include:

Autumn 1 - Use of every day materials (Y2)

                - Rocks and soils (Y3)

Autumn 2 - Animals including humans (Y2)

                - Animals including humans (Y3)
Spring 1 - Animals including humans (Y2)

                - Animals including humans (Y3)

Spring 2 - Plants (Y2)

              - Plants (Y3)

Summer 1 -Living things and their habitats (Y2)

                 - Light  and shadows (Y3)

Summer 2 - Living things and their habitats (Y2)

                  - Forces and magnets (Y3)

Religious Education

In our RE lessons, we embrace the opportunity to explore and look in depth at different world religions, whilst also exploring the Christian faith and its teachings. Our lessons include research, recording of ideas, and also discussion and the sharing of views and opinions, as we explore together.

Our Topics this year include:

Autumn 1 – Buddhism

The Buddha’s Teachings – Is it possible for everyone to be happy?

Autumn 2 – Christianity

Kingdom of God - What does the Kingdom of God mean to Christians?

Spring 1 – Islam

Prophethood - Why do Muslim's call Muhammed the 'seal of the prophets'?

Spring 2 – Christianity

Salvation – How does believing Jesus is their Saviour, inspire Christians to serve others? 

Summer 1 – Hinduism

Karma – Why do Hindu's want to collect good Karma?

Summer 2 – Sikhism 

Equality - How do Sikhs put their beliefs about equality into practice?

Topic

Our weekly topic lessons cover the following areas:

Autumn: UK counties and cities & British transport and rail

Spring: Iron age to Stone age & Continents and Oceans

Summer: Mayans & The Amazon Rainforest

Wherever possible, we include 'hands on' experiences for the pupils to bring these topics to life, we also 

attend trips throughout the year.

Art & Design Technology

Areas taught in Art over the year include, Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Appreciation and Evaluation, and also How art is influenced by the time, place and the culture in which it was made.

In DT, the children learn skills in product research, disassembling and building products, making prototypes, testing, designing and evaluating. Food technology is a major focus of our DT curriculum and we have a mobile kitchen unit with oven and hob that can be transported to be used wherever it is required.

French

We are revising how to introduce ourselves; to count; name the days of the week and months of the years and how to say colours in French. 

Physical Education

In Year 2/3 we have two lessons of PE every week and also take part in a daily run. Our curriculum for each term is outlined below:

Autumn 1: Health Related Exercise & Football

Autumn 2: Dance & Ball skills (Hands)

Spring 1: Gymnastics & Ball skills (feet)

Spring 2: Dance & Ball skills (Hands)

Summer 1: Jumping & Ball skills

Summer 2: Team building & Games for understanding

The children also have access to a wide range of clubs and take part in a number of sporting competitions and festivals. See our PE page for more details.

PSHE

PSHE is taught using a scheme called Scarf. This scheme supports our pupils social, emotional and physical well-being. There are many opportunities for discussion & role play within these lessons. We also include PSHE afternoons when National School Topics arise so far this year these have been Anti Bullying & Mental Health & Well-Being for Children.

Homework

The children will be given a personalised set of spellings to practise each week and there will be a spelling test every Friday to check the progress of the children.

 Children can use TT Rockstars or Hit the Button to practice their times tables. Each child will be given personal login and password for TT Rockstars.

https://ttrockstars.com/

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button

English Homework will be set on a Thursday, and this should be completed by the following Wednesday. English or TT Rockstars will be set on alternate weeks.

The children will also be expected to complete one piece of homework each half term based our class Topic. This usually involves a piece of research, Art or DT, and we are constantly amazed at the ideas the children have, and the work produced, often involving the whole family!

Reading is given high priority at St Mark's and all children are expected to read at home regularly. Each child is given books linked to our Reading Scheme and suited to their phonic reading level. Each week there is the opportunity to win a book of their choice by being awarded with a Golden Ticket. In order to win a Golden Ticket, your child should read at home at least 4 times during the week, and their Reading Log should be signed by an adult. They will then be entered into the draw which takes place every Friday during Praise Assembly. Good luck!