Year 2 Term 1

In Term 1, Year 2 students at ISB explore the theme of Survival through a vibrant, cross-curricular learning journey. In maths, they deepen their understanding of place value to 100, addition and subtraction with two-digit numbers, and explore 2D and 3D shapes. Their skills are further stretched through engaging challenges like Barvember. Science explores the needs of animals and humans, from diet and hygiene to survival and habitats, alongside hands-on investigations into the properties of materials. In English, students read a rich selection of texts including Lost and Found, Meerkat Mail, and Into the Mangroves, while developing their writing skills through narratives, biographies, letters, and acrostic poems—focusing on sequencing, punctuation, adverbs, and descriptive language.

The wider curriculum introduces students to global geography, including continents, oceans, weather, and key features of Brunei and its neighbours, using maps and observational skills. In Art and DT, children learn about architecture and sustainability through projects inspired by Zaha Hadid and design their own shelters and dream buildings using recycled materials. PE lessons focus on fundamental movement, teamwork, and game-play across various sports, while music incorporates rhythm, percussion, and call-and-response compositions inspired by animals and environments. PSHE lessons develop friendship skills, online safety awareness, and respectful relationships. Language learning continues in Malay, Mandarin, French, or EAL, supporting communication, vocabulary, and cultural appreciation.

Maths 🧮

Place value

• Numbers to 20

• Count objects to 100 by making 10s

• Recognise tens and ones

• Use a place value chart

• Partition numbers to 100

• Write numbers to 100 in words

• Flexibly partition numbers to 100

• Write numbers to 100 in expanded form

• 10s on the number line to 100

• 10s and 1s on the number line to 100

• Estimate numbers on a number line

• Compare objects

• Compare numbers

• Order objects and numbers

• Count in 2s, 5s and 10s

• Count in 3s

Addition and subtraction

• Bonds to 10

• Fact families - addition and subtraction bonds within 20

• Related facts

• Bonds to 100 (tens)

• Add and subtract 1s

• Add by making 10

• Add three 1-digit numbers

• Add to the next 10

• Add across a 10

• Subtract across 10

• Subtract from a 10

• Subtract a 1-digit number from a 2-digit number (across a 10)

• 10 more, 10 less

• Add and subtract 10s

• Add two 2-digit numbers (not across a 10)

• Add two 2-digit numbers (across a 10)

• Subtract two 2-digit numbers (not across a 10)

• Subtract two 2-digit numbers (across a 10)

• Mixed addition and subtraction

• Compare number sentences

• Missing number problems

Shape

• Recognise 2-D and 3-D shapes

• Count sides on 2-D shapes

• Count vertices on 2-D shapes

• Draw 2-D shapes

• Lines of symmetry on shapes

• Use lines of symmetry to complete shapes

• Sort 2-D shapes

• Count faces on 3-D shapes

• Count edges on 3-D shapes

• Count vertices on 3-D shapes

• Sort 3-D shapes

• Make patterns with 2-D and 3-D shapes

Barvember

Towards the end of Term 1, all students are invited to take part in Barvember Maths challenges. Find out more here.

Science 🧬

Animals' needs for survival (Biology) ♻️

• Mammals

• Birds

• Fish

• Amphibians

• Reptiles

• Humans

Humans (Biology)

• Exercise

• Food

• Hygiene

• Teeth

Materials (Chemistry)

• Explore materials

• Wood, paper and cardboard

• Brick and rock

• Glass and plastic

• Metal

• Fabrics

• Same object, different material

• Test materials - bend, squash, twist and stretch

• Plan - waterproof experiment

• Investigate - waterproof experiment

Reading 📖

In Year 2, all students have access to a comprehensive and systematic Phonics programme tailored to their individual needs: 👉 read more.

Traditional Tales

• Story telling and re-telling

Author: Oliver Jeffers

Once there was a sad, lonely penguin who appeared at the door of a young boy. The boy decided he must be lost, so he set off to find his home. The boy asked the Lost and Found Office, some birds, and even his rubber duck, but no one knew where he belonged. Then he read that penguins were from the South Pole, and decided to help him get back there. Together they set out across the sea, rowing through bad weather and good, but when they reached the South Pole, the boy discovered that sometimes what you're looking for is right in front of you all along...

With beautiful illustrations and a charming storyline, this poignant and richly enjoyable picture book won both a gold medal in the Nestle Children's Book Prize and a Blue Peter Book Award and has been turned into a BAFTA-winning animation. Illustrated in Jeffers' inimitable style, it is a visual delight, and its themes of loneliness and friendship will resonate with children.

Reading age: 5+

Author: Emily Gravett

Sunny lives on an arid plain with his extensive and loving meerkat family; they work together, play together and together do their best to stay away from jackals!

But Sunny is starting to feel claustrophobic and decides to set off to stay with his mongoose cousins and explore the outside world. He journeys through rain and shine and light and dark, reporting back to his family via a series of postcards. Sunny ultimately realises that the place he loves best is his very own home in the desert.

This is the third book from Kate Greenaway medal winner Emily Gravett. Distinctive illustrations and lift-the-flap postcards make it a joy to share with children, who will also enjoy spotting the shadowy jackal lurking in the background of each picture.

Reading age: 5+

Author: Jessie Haliluddin

Mr Boatman takes a mum and her kids on a tour of the Brunei mangroves.

On their journey, they encounter some of the wildlife and local legends are revealed to them. 

Reading age: 5+

Writing ✍️

Biographies: Zaha Hadid

• Opening sentence- who, what

• Brief conclusion

• Main ideas grouped together in time sequence.

• Past tense

• First person (third for biography)

• Focus on individual

• Simple adverbs (quickly, slowly etc.)

• Adverbials of time (then, next, after, finally)

• Use of present and past tense including progressive

• Conjunctions (and, so, but, because).

Narrative

• Simple narrative and description

• Past tense and introduction to progressive past tense

• Simple adverbs of time to sequence events

• Adverbs for additional detail (slowly etc.)

• Basic noun phrases (the big bad wolf)

• Simple conjunctions to join ideas (and, if, with, but, so)

• Exclamation sentences

• Verbs chosen for effect

• Exclamation marks for exclamations

• Use speech without speech marks

• Coordinating conjunctions -with, and, or, but, so

• Use present and past tense including progressive

• Use past, present and future tense

Letters

• Write a simple letter using the formal letter format

• Commas in lists

• Coordinating conjunctions -with, and, or, but, so

• Use present and past tense including progressive

• Use past, present and future tense

• Adjectives to describe a noun

• Adverbs for description and information

Acrostic Poems

Across the curriculum 🌏

The World Around Me (Geography) ♻️

• Brunei, Borneo and beyond....

Curriculum Objectives & Expectations

• Name and locate the world's continents and oceans

•  Locating and looking at features and characteristics of all 7 continents as well as having case studies of Brazil, Kenya and China

• Name, locate and identify characteristics of Brunei and it's neighbouring countries in Borneo

• Identify key features of a location

• Use world maps, atlases and globes to identify Brunei and the continents and oceans studied

• Identify seasonal and weather patterns and the location of hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator, North and South Poles

• Investigate Antarctica

• Use compass directions and locational language

• Devise simple maps and use simple grid references

• Mapping

• Use of maps, atlases and globes

• Basic observational skills

• Draw simple features

• Add labels onto a sketch map or photograph

• Use compass directions and locational language

• Devise simple maps and use simple grid references

Key Vocabulary

Jungle, mangrove, town. village, city, country, continent, capital, beach, coast, hill, mountain, ocean, river, city, town, village, snow, ice, iceberg, penguin, glacier, equator.

Art, Design & Technology 🎨 👷

• Art & Design

• About Me: Self Portraits

• I can identify the features of portraits and profile portraits

• I can create a print profile portrait

• Relief sculpture profile portrait

• I can create a profile portrait relief sculpture

• Drawing buildings using charcoal

• I can create a charcoal drawing of a building

• Make a mono print of a building

• I can create a mono print of a building using different shapes and patterns

Design Technology ♻️

• Architect Zaha Hadid

• Architecture in Brunei

• Designing, making and evaluating a shelter

• Take and edit a portrait photograph

• I can take and edit a profile portrait

• Drawing and painting my dream building

• I can use my imagination to draw and paint a dream building

• Drawing like an architect

• I can use different lines and shapes to draw key features of buildings

• Sustainable architecture

• I can identify key features of sustainable buildings

• Design and build a home using recycled materials

• I can design and build a home using recycled materials

Computing

• Creating a learning journal: Seesaw

• Logging in and keeping secure

• Photos and Videos

  
  

• Logging onto personal accounts - Numbots

• Accessing search engines

PSHE 😀 🫶

Personal, Social, Health and Economic education

Families and Friendships

• How to be a good friend, e.g. kindness, listening, honesty

• About different ways that people meet and make friends

• Strategies for positive play with friends, e.g. joining in, including others, etc.

• About what causes arguments between friends

• How to positively resolve arguments between friends

• How to recognise, and ask for help, when they are feeling lonely or unhappy or to help someone else

Safe Relationships

• How to recognise hurtful behaviour, including online

• What to do and whom to tell if they see or experience hurtful behaviour, including online

• About what bullying is and different types of bullying

• How someone may feel if they are being bullied

• About the difference between happy surprises and secrets that make them feel uncomfortable or worried, and how to get help

• How to resist pressure to do something that feels uncomfortable or unsafe

• How to ask for help if they feel unsafe or worried and what vocabulary to use

Respecting Ourselves and Others

• About the things they have in common with their friends, classmates, and other people

• How friends can have both similarities and differences

• How to play and work cooperatively in different groups and situations

• How to share their ideas and listen to others, take part in discussions, and give reasons for their views

Languages 💬

All students have access to one of the following languages:

• Malay (local) 🇧🇳

• Malay (for non-native learners) 🇧🇳

• Mandarin 🇨🇳

• French 🇫🇷

• English as and additional language (EAL) 🌏

Language Concepts refers to the application of language concepts.

• Expressing the language in oral and/or written communication

• Creating projects to showcase language learning

• Showing sound grammar understanding through written work

• Applying a range of language skills to perform role play

• Interpreting authentic materials

Language Acquisition refers to assimilating and retention of language learning.

• Understanding the grammatical structure

• Knowing and using correct syntax

• Being able to self-assess and peer check

• Building vocabulary in the target language

• Recognising and/or decoding a wide array of materials

PE & Sport 🏐 🏊 🥅 ⚾️ 👟

All students have a comprehensive PE and Sport programme. Lessons are scheduled on rotation to ensure all students progress in the following areas:

• Physical literacy

• Tee Ball

• Swimming

• Indoor Games

• Outdoor Games

• Athletics

• Striking and Fielding

• Football

• Tag Rugby

• Basketball

• Netball

• Invasion Games

• Health and Wellbeing

• Net Games

• Fundamental movement skills

✋ Hands refers to physical ability and performance.

• Having appropriate fitness levels to complete the lesson

• Showing sound technique when learning skills/actions

• Applying a range of skills

• Performing under pressure i.e. applying skills to the game

👤 Head refers to knowledge and understanding of the topic.

• Understanding the rules and regulations

• Being able to feedback to peers

• Solving problems

• Understanding relevant tactics

♥️ Heart refers to the effort put into each and every PE lesson.

• Taking and active part in the whole lesson

• Always bringing PE/swimming kit

• Showing sportsmanship and respect

• Showing resilience and confidence

Music 🎶

Performing, Composing & Listening: Call and response; Animals

• Pulse & Rhythm revision + Name Song: Hickelty Pickelty  

• Songs & rhymes

• ‘Voices’ Game + Moving & Playing percussion instruments to the beat

• Dynamics: Animal Sounds (identifying and playing f & p)

• Sound Pattern Safari: imitating & echoing animal sound patterns in time to music

• Exploring call and response using instruments

• Performing call and response chants, using musical instruments with varying dynamics

• Singing (Theme: On this Island)

• Learning to sing a traditional folk song from the British Isles

• Miss Mary Mack singing + body percussion

• My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean with instruments

• Learning to sing a traditional folk song (relating to the countryside)

• Singing and creating actions for a song representing a city environment

• Working in groups, choose a setting (seaside, countryside or city) and start composing a piece of music for it

• Performing a composition

♻️ Eco, Environment & Sustainability Curriculum

Our eco, environment and sustainability curriculum weaves seamlessly through all other areas of learning, enriching every subject.

Explore more...

👉 Year 2 Term 2

👉 Year 2 Term 3