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Year 2

Knowledge and Content

Living Things and their Habitats

Explore and compare the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive

Identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other

Identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including micro-habitats

Describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain, and identify and name different sources of food

Animals, including humans

Understand that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults

Describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival (water, food and air)

Describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food, and hygiene

Everyday Materials

Identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses 

Describe how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching

Plants

Observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants

Describe how plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy, and describe the impact of changing these 

Working Scientifically

Ask simple questions and recognise that they can be answered in different ways  including use of scientific language from the national curriculum (Year 2 focus)

Use simple equipment to observe closely including changes over time (Year 2 focus)

Communicate his/her ideas, what he/she does and what he/she finds out in a variety of ways

Perform simple comparative tests (Year 2 focus)

Identify, group and classify (Year 2 focus)

Use his/her observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions noticing similarities, differences and patterns (Year 2 focus)

Gather and record data to help in answering questions including from secondary sources of information (Year 2 focus)