Building on Foundation and Year 1 learning, students develop stronger literacy and numeracy skills while exploring the world around them with increasing confidence. This year focuses on fostering independence, strengthening reading abilities, developing mathematical thinking, and collaborative learning. Students engage with diverse texts, solve real-world problems, and express their ideas creatively across all learning areas, preparing them for the challenges ahead.
English – Students become confident independent readers, learning to understand and enjoy different types of texts including stories, information books, poetry, and digital media from diverse Australian and world authors. They learn to adjust their language for different situations and audiences, tackling texts with new vocabulary and complex sentences using their knowledge of sounds and words. Through speaking, listening, reading, viewing, and writing activities, students create their own work, including personal recounts, information reports, stories, explanations, opinion pieces, and poetry, sharing their ideas with growing confidence and creativity for different purposes and audiences.
Mathematics – Students discover how mathematics helps answer interesting questions, solve everyday problems, and understand the world around them. They work flexibly with numbers, learning how addition and subtraction connect, and explore early multiplication concepts through grouping objects and creating arrays. Year 2 students solve real problems using hands-on materials, drawings, and different calculation methods while recognising patterns, measuring objects using standard units, and investigating shapes and spatial relationships. They develop early understanding of fractions, time, and geometry, collect and display information about topics they’re interested in, and explore ideas about fairness, chance, and variability through engaging, play-based learning experiences.
Humanities – In History, students explore personal and family histories, examining changes over time and sequencing events. They investigate how individuals and families have changed, and the significance of special days and commemorations. In Geography, students define places and describe natural and constructed features at a local scale, including weather and seasons. They identify how people are connected to different places, explain the value of places, and describe ways places can be cared for. Students collect and record geographical data, represent information in tables and labelled maps, and describe location using geographical terms.
Health and Physical Education – Students continue to develop their fundamental movement skills, refining actions, including rolling, leaping, skipping, galloping and dodging, and object control skills, such as striking and kicking objects from the ground or that are moving towards them. They learn simple ways to make healthy choices, understand how their bodies move and stay safe, and participate in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. Through games and active play, students build confidence, coordination and enjoyment of physical activity.
Science – Through structured investigations, students explore how living things grow and change, everyday materials and their properties, and how light and sound are produced. Year 2 scientists ask questions, make predictions, conduct simple experiments, and record observations. They develop scientific vocabulary and understanding of cause and effect.
Social and Emotional Learning – Students learn to identify and manage their emotions, practice active listening, and use strategies for calming down when upset. They explore what makes a good friend, learn to work cooperatively in groups, and develop problem-solving skills for resolving conflicts peacefully. Students practice showing empathy, understanding different perspectives, and making responsible choices that consider others’ feelings.
Technologies – Students use digital tools with greater independence for creating, communicating, and accessing information. They learn about algorithms, following and creating simple sequences of instructions. In Design Technologies, students plan, create, and evaluate solutions to design challenges, selecting appropriate materials and techniques while developing problem-solving capabilities.
The Arts – Students develop artistic skills in Visual Arts through drawing, painting, printmaking, and construction, exploring color, line, shape, and texture. In Performing Arts, they create and perform drama pieces using voice, movement, and props; participate in music-making through singing, playing instruments, and responding to music; and explore dance through movement sequences and creative expression. Students learn to respond to and appreciate their own and others’ artworks.
Our core learning areas are taught using structured, evidence-based practices aligned with the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 and the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0). Lessons follow the Mindalk Instructional Model with a clear learning pathway, with explicit teaching, guided practice, feedback, and opportunities to apply knowledge. Teachers differentiate instruction and adjust supports so every student can access and extend their learning. As students move through year levels, their knowledge and skills build in complexity, ensuring strong progression and deep understanding across all core subjects.
Year 2 marks an exciting milestone as students embark on their first overnight offsite camp. This adventure builds independence and confidence as children sleep away from home, participate in activities, and strengthen friendships with classmates. Through team challenges, exploration activities, students develop resilience and cooperation skills. This memorable experience creates lasting bonds within the year level while fostering personal growth in a supportive, supervised environment.
