Monday

Reading

Read a book of your choice for 20 minutes.

Does this book remind you of a book you have

read before?

10 mins phonics https://

new.phonicsplay.co.uk/resources/phase/6 or

phase 3 if in phase 3 phonics group.

Recap phase 5.

https://www.onceuponapicture.co.uk/

portfolio_page/pegged/ - Answer the questions that

go with the picture.

Be sure to write the date and record your answers

neatly in your book.

Writing

How many different ways can you practise

your weekly spellings? You can do this with

paint, chalk, sand, craft things, lego. Make it

as fun as you like! Feel free to research some

commonly misspelled words on safe search to

practise as a challenge such as accidentally,

believe or February.

Put your spellings into sentences using con-

junctions like because, when, if, so, that etc.

Remember letters need to be of the correct size and

formation. If ready, practise joining the odd horizon-

tal/diagonal join like the word boat below.

Maths

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/daily10

Have a go at level 2 or 3 of doubles and halves. You can do it

with or without the timer. Feel free to go through the differ-

ent levels at your pace.

https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/

resource/116/telling-the-time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe9bnYRzFvk -

months of the year

https://www.themathsfactor.com/ - maths with

Carole Vorderman

https://whiterosemaths.com/resources/classroom-resources/problems/ - have a go at a problem a day. If you have a watch or clock, tell your parents/carers the time and ask them to check. What would that be in digital time? Maybe you could draw a clock outside with chalk. Play what’s the time Mr Wolf and draw the times.

Tuesday

Reading

Read a book of your choice for 20 minutes.

10 mins phonics https://

new.phonicsplay.co.uk/resources/phase/6 or

phase 3 if in phase 3 phonics group.

Recap phase 5.

https://www.onceuponapicture.co.uk/portfolio_page/girl-

and-dragon/ Answer the questions that go with the

picture.

Writing

A lot of you have been baking and cooking

scrumptious things. It has been making us

hungry!

Write a set of instructions for this alien to

show him how to make a sandwich, pizza,

cake or something else yummy you can think

of. Remember to include what he needs, time

conjunctions like first, next, after that, finally.

Number your instructions in order and draw a

picture of your masterpiece.

.

Maths

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/daily10

Have a go at level 2 or 3 of doubles and halves. You can do it

with or without the timer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKqAblcwFOA - days of

the week song

https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/

resource/116/telling-the-time

https://whiterosemaths.com/resources/classroom-resources/problems/ - have a go at a problem a day.

Wednesday

Reading

Read a book of your choice for 20 minutes.

10 mins phonics https://

new.phonicsplay.co.uk/resources/phase/6 or

phase 3 if in phase 3 phonics group.

Recap phase 5.

https://www.onceuponapicture.co.uk/portfolio_page/

sinking/ - Answer the questions that go with the pic-

ture.

Writing You have zoomed into the future and you need to

send a letter to your past self! Can you practise writing your full name and address? How many different ways can you do it? Cursive, bubble writing, swirly. What is it like in the future? Write a letter describing the amazing things you can see! Edit and improve your writing after.

Maths

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/daily10

Have a go at level 2 or 3 of doubles and halves. You can do

it with or without the timer.

https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/

resource/116/telling-the-time

https://whiterosemaths.com/resources/classroom-resources/problems/ - problem a day

Answer these questions in your book.

1. How many months are in a year?

2. How many days are in a week?

3. How many days are in 2 weeks? Is there an-

other name for two weeks?

4. How many seconds are in 1 minute?

5. How many minutes are in 1 hour?

Get an adult to check the answers.

Thursday

Reading

Read a book of your choice for 20 minutes

10 mins phonics https://

new.phonicsplay.co.uk/resources/phase/6 or

phase 3 if in phase 3 phonics group.

Recap phase 5. https://www.onceuponapicture.co.uk/portfolio_page/something-bigger/ Answer the questions that go with

the picture.

Writing It was poetry day on 21/04/20. Listen to this poem and have a go at performing it. https://clpe.org.uk/poetryline/poems/please-mrs-

butler

Write a verse or two to add to this poem

e.g. Please Mrs Butler

This boy Derek Drew,

Keeps taking my ball Miss

What shall I do?

Throw it on the roof dear Hide it in my tea,

Roll it under the sandpit dear But don’t ask me!

Maths

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/daily10

Have a go at level 2 or 3 of doubles and halves. You can do

it with or without the timer.

https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/

resource/116/telling-the-time

Can you draw a clock? Practise drawing these times: 12

O’clock, half-past 3, quarter-past 6, quarter-to 4. Chal-

lenge: Try drawing 5 past 7, 20 past 8.

Try some maths with Carol Vorderman. https://www.themathsfactor.com/

Friday

Reading

Read a book of your choice for 20 minutes

10 mins phonics https://

new.phonicsplay.co.uk/resources/phase/6 or

phase 3 if in phase 3 phonics group.

Recap phase 5.

https://www.onceuponapicture.co.uk/portfolio_page/

bear-and-cub/ Answer the questions that go with

the picture.

Writing

Weekly spelling test.

Any spellings that were incorrect, practise

them using the different strategies you know.

Pyramid, segmentation, rainbow writing.

Maths

https://ttrockstars.com/ - times table rock

stars practise

https://www.themathsfactor.com/times-tables-check/#/menu

Times table check—you can take the timer off. There are extra resources on https://www.twinkl.co.uk/search for telling the time if you are interested. https://whiterosemaths.com/resources/classroom-resources/problems/ - problem a day https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t2-m-1619-telling-the-time-board-game - telling the time game

Curriculum/extra resources

Music

https://solihullmusicservice.com/on-line-revision/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4I46eF0OhZ-QD2TLAhzNqQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEWcBIvqjDk – PE with Joe Wicks

https://www.gonoodle.com/good-energy-at-home-kids-games-and-videos/ - PE go noodle free resources!

Science: Grow your own rainbow science experiment https://content.twinkl.co.uk/resource/e8/24/t-sc-2549961-how-to-grow-a-rainbow-experiment-science-

activity_ver_7.pdf?__token__=exp=1587985580~acl=%2Fresource%2Fe8%2F24%2Ft-sc-2549961-how-to-grow-a-rainbow-experiment-science-activity_ver_7.pdf%

2A~hmac=3013c5c1e6e07711062c3e00a6a62833961f8df3336491252d54d6d4b57ffb8d

We have included a talk 4 writing booklet for the children to work through at their pace.

We hope you enjoyed the video messages. Please feel free to upload any pictures/videos of what you get up to on the Langley Primary facebook page or send

them to our Year 2 email address if you have any issues or if you just want to say hello. These tasks can be done in any order and please don’t worry if you

can’t get them all completed or if you have found other tasks to do on the websites we have sent out. These packs are just here to help. Remember to use safe

search when you can children! We miss you and can’t wait for things to return to normal. Keep calm, happy and safe. The Year 2 Team.

© Talk for Writing

1

© Talk for Writing

2

The Magical Box Year 2 Workbook

By Emma Caulfield

Hello!

I’m a magical

teaching box and I’m

going to tell you a

story.

© Talk for Writing

3

Dear Parent/Carer,

This booklet is designed for a child in Year 2 to work both independently and with a

bit of support. All activities can be done alone, however there are some that will be

more enjoyable for your child if you or someone else at home can join in.

The activities in this booklet are based on a myth from Ancient Greece called

Pandora’s Box. As well as reading the story, there are opportunities to draw, create,

play with words and read and write poetry.

At the end of the booklet, please support your child to rate and comment on how

they got on with learning through this booklet.

The activities in this booklet are:

★ Read Pandora’s Box

★ Do some activities during the story*

★ Sketch and label Zeus

★ Answer questions about the story

★ Explore alphabetical order with Apollo

★ Match words to their meanings and write sentences

★ Explore apostrophes

★ Read The Magic Box poem

★ Make a magic box

★ Write a magic box poem

The uninterrupted Pandora’s Box myth can be found at the end of this booklet. You can listen to a recording of the Pandora’s Box myth here: https://soundcloud.com/talkforwriting/pandora Best wishes, Emma Caulfield & the Talk for Writing team

© Talk for Writing

4

The Myth of Pandora’s Box

Are you nosy? Do you like secrets? Have you ever done something

that you’ve been warned not to, just to find out a secret? All

through time there have been stories about people being told not to

open doors, cupboards, gates and all sorts of other things, and in

many of the stories the people just didn’t listen. One person who

did not listen is Pandora. Her story is from Ancient Greece, where

her nosiness changed the world forever!

Hello!

Let’s start by

reading a story

together

© Talk for Writing

5

Not hundreds but thousands of years ago, in ancient Greece, there

lived two brothers called Epimetheus and Prometheus. Although

they lived in a world where the gods were in charge, they liked

nothing more than to annoy the gods. One day, Zeus, a particularly

powerful god, decided to teach them a lesson.

Zeus ordered the gods to create a beautiful woman. Her name was

Pandora and she was to marry Epimetheus. As a wedding present,

Zeus gave Pandora a beautiful box but there was one special

condition, she was never to open it!

All day Pandora’s husband Epimetheus was out working. All day all

she could think about was what was in the box. Pandora could not

understand why Zeus would give her a box that she could not open.

It made no sense to her. Pandora was bored and lonely and her

curiosity became unbearable.

★ Let’s stop here and do an activity

…

★ What do you think the box

looked like? Draw it here:

© Talk for Writing

6

Continue reading the story here

One day, when she was sure that Epimetheus was out annoying the

gods, Pandora searched for the key to open the box.

“I know it’s here somewhere,” she muttered to herself as she

opened cupboards and drawers. There it was, high on a shelf in their

bedroom! With shaking hands, Pandora slid the key into the lock and

turned it.

The story continues here … She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and slowly, with trembling

hands, opened the lid of the box, imagining what could be inside:

rubies as red as the blazing sunset, jewel encrusted gowns, piles of

gold coins. But there were no coins or jewellery, no gowns or gems,

for all at once every evil and spite, every sadness and misery flew

out. Like a swarm of insects, they fled the house and infested the

earth with heartache and sorrow.

Pandora slammed the lid shut and turned the key. “What have I

done?” she sobbed, holding her head in her hands. Sometime later,

Pandora noticed a fluttering sound coming from the box, as if

Let’s stop reading for a moment and think about what

could be in the box. Draw or write your ideas below.

© Talk for Writing

7

something was trapped inside. Terrified, she pressed her ear to the

box. “Let me out,” a small voice pleaded gently, “I mean you no harm.”

Once again, with shaking hands, Pandora unlocked the box and

opened the lid. A beautiful butterfly of hope fluttered out of the

box, for although Pandora had released pain and suffering into the

world, she had also allowed hope to follow them.

Now draw the evil that came out of the box. Your magical

teaching box has already drawn one idea for you:

Finally, share the story with someone at home. Talk and

then write:

© Talk for Writing

8

Zeus was a sky god who controlled thunder and

lightning. He was a strong, striking man with a

muscular body and long, curly hair. He had a short

beard and carried his trusty thunderbolt at all times.

He was also king of the gods and would sit on his

golden throne at the top of Mount Olympus.

Did you like this story? Why?

Read this first, then sketch Zeus and label the

features listed – a stick drawing will be fine!

© Talk for Writing

9

▪ How did Pandora change the world forever?

▪ When is the story set?

▪ Who was in charge of the Ancient Greeks?

▪ What kind of character was Pandora?

▪ Who was Prometheus?

▪ What is the evil that comes out of the box compared to?

▪ Why do you think hope is a butterfly in the story?

▪ Do you like the ending of the story? Explain your answer.

Can you answer these questions about the story in

complete sentences? (Don’t forget to read the

story again to help you.)

© Talk for Writing

10

powerful

condition

curiosity

unbearable

trembling

rubies

gown

spite

fled

infested

sobbed

pleaded

released

hope

condition

curiosity

condition

curiosity

Apollo was the Greek god of knowledge. He has found these words in the story and wants to know if you can sort them out.

First put these words into alphabetical order:

© Talk for Writing

11

powerful shaking slightly

condition dress

curiosity something that must happen

unbearable large numbers causing damage

trembling cruelty, upsetting

rubies strong and confident

gown cried

spite asked in a begging way

fled unpleasant, painful

infested set free

sobbed escaped from, ran away

pleaded a feeling that things will go well

released wanting to know about something

hope red precious stones

Now match the word to its meaning in the story – the

first one has been done for you.

© Talk for Writing

12

Example:

Pandora’s curiosity became unbearable.

✏ Emma’s curiosity got her into trouble.

Pandora’s curiosity became unbearable.

✏

Slowly, with trembling hands, she opened the box.

✏

Like a swarm of insects they fled the house.

✏

“What have I done?” she sobbed.

✏

“Let me out,” a small voice pleaded.

✏

Well done! Now that you have matched the words to

their meanings. Take each word and put it into a new

sentence. (Don’t forget to start with a capital letter and

finish with a full stop.

© Talk for Writing

13

Whose is it?

the dog’s ball The ball belonging to the dog the man’s hat The hat belonging to the man the car’s wheel The wheel belonging to the car

The title of this myth has a special

punctuation mark in it, called an

apostrophe. Can you circle the

apostrophe?

An apostrophe looks like this and it is

used to show that something belongs to

someone. Pandora’s box = the box belonging

to Pandora

Read these examples and then write down your own

examples. Don’t forget the apostrophes!

Circle the apostrophe: Pandora’s box

© Talk for Writing

14

The Magic Box

I will put in the box

the swish of a silk sari on a summer night,

fire from the nostrils of a Chinese dragon,

the tip of a tongue touching a tooth.

I will put in the box

a snowman with a rumbling belly

a sip of the bluest water from Lake Lucerene,

a leaping spark from an electric fish.

I will put in the box

three violet wishes spoken in Gujarati,

the last joke of an ancient uncle,

and the first smile of a baby.

I will put in the box

a fifth season and a black sun,

a cowboy on a broomstick

and a witch on a white horse.

My box is fashioned from ice and gold and steel,

with stars on the lid and secrets in the corners.

Its hinges are the toe joints of dinosaurs.

I shall surf in my box

on the great high-rolling breakers of the wild Atlantic,

then wash ashore on a yellow beach

the colour of the sun.

by Kit Wright

Apollo was also a Greek god of poetry. Let’s do some

poetry activities together! Start by sharing this poem with

someone at home.

© Kit Wright 1987 – originally published in Cat Among the Pigeons - Viking Kestrel. Poem

reprinted with kind permission.

© Talk for Writing

15

If you have a computer, you can listen to Kit reading his poem by putting this address into the internet: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zkpmhyc

What is your favourite item in the magic

box? Why?

Is this a happy or sad poem? What makes you

think that?

Talk about the poem and then write your ideas here:

© Talk for Writing

16

Make a Magic Box

You can:

➢ Find a shoe box or small box and decorate it OR

➢ Draw a box and decorate it

Think about:

• How you can make it magical? Perhaps it has eyes. Maybe it

looks like a dragon or a witch’s cottage.

• What is the theme? Perhaps it is magical creatures or places.

Try to decorate it so that it fits your theme.

• Is the lid attached to the box or does it lift off completely? How

are you going to decorate it?

Write a Magic Box Poem – Part 1

It’s time to get creative! Can you make a magic box?

© Talk for Writing

17

This box is magic, which means you can put anything you like in it.

My eight favourite things, people or places are:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Write a Magic Box Poem – Part 2

Write a Magic Box Poem – Part 3

I will put in the box

I will put in the box

I will put in the box

Start by writing a list of your favourite things, people or

places. (Ask someone to help you with ideas.)

Now, using Kit Wright’s starter line, ‘I will put in the box,’

organise your nine ideas into three verses.

© Talk for Writing

18

My box is fashioned from ice and gold and steel,

with stars on the lid and secrets in the corners.

Its hinges are the toe joints of dinosaurs.

Think about:

• What is your box made of? Kit Wright’s is made of ice and gold and steel.

• What is on or in your box? Kit Wright’s has stars on the lid and secrets in the corners.

• What else can you add? Kit Wright has added that its hinges are the toe joints of dinosaurs.

Use your imagination. You can choose anything you like!

★

My box is fashioned from

With

Its

Apollo, god of knowledge, wants to know how you think

you got on with this work.

Draw a circle around one of the faces:

Write the final verse of your magic-box poem here.

© Talk for Writing

19

★

What I liked best

I liked …

because …

I also liked …

Here’s the full story for you to read again:

© Talk for Writing

20

The Myth of Pandora’s Box

Are you nosy? Do you like secrets? Have you ever done something

that you’ve been warned not to, just to find out a secret? All

through time there have been stories about people being told not to

open doors, cupboards, gates and all sorts of other things, and in

many of the stories the people just didn’t listen. One person who

did not listen is Pandora. Her story is from Ancient Greece, where

her nosiness changed the world forever!

Not hundreds but thousands of years ago, in ancient Greece, there

lived two brothers called Epimetheus and Prometheus. Although

they lived in a world where the gods were in charge, they liked

nothing more than to annoy the gods. One day, Zeus, a particularly

powerful god decided to teach them a lesson.

Zeus ordered the gods to create a beautiful woman. Her name was

Pandora and she was to marry Epimetheus. As a wedding present,

Zeus gave Pandora a beautiful box but there was one special

condition; she was never to open it!

All day Pandora’s husband Epimetheus was out working. All day all

she could think about was what was in the box. Pandora could not

understand why Zeus would give her a box that she could not open.

It made no sense to her. Pandora was bored and lonely and her

curiosity became unbearable.

One day, when she was sure that Epimetheus was out annoying the

gods, Pandora searched for the key to open the box.

“I know it’s here somewhere,” she muttered to herself as she

opened cupboards and drawers. There it was, high on a shelf in their

© Talk for Writing

21

bedroom! With shaking hands, Pandora slid the key into the lock and

turned it.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and slowly, with trembling

hands, opened the lid of the box, imagining what could be inside:

rubies as red as the blazing sunset, jewel encrusted gowns, piles of

gold coins. But there were no coins or jewellery, no gowns or gems,

for all at once every evil and spite, every sadness and misery flew

out. Like a swarm of insects, they fled the house and infested the

earth with heartache and sorrow.

Pandora slammed the lid shut and turned the key. “What have I

done?” she sobbed, holding her head in her hands. Sometime later,

Pandora noticed a fluttering sound coming from the box, as if

something was trapped inside. Terrified, she pressed her ear to the

box. “Let me out,” a small voice pleaded gently, “I mean you no harm.”

Once again, with shaking hands, Pandora unlocked the box and

opened the lid. A beautiful butterfly of hope fluttered out of the

box, for although Pandora had released pain and suffering into the

world, she had also allowed hope to follow them.

Happy reading and writing!

© Talk for Writing

22

I would rate my journey through this booklet (tick hot or cold):

I really enjoyed …

© Talk for Writing

23

This workbook has helped me learn …

© Talk for Writing

24

© Emma Caulfield for Talk for Writing

Emma Caulfield, former teacher and National Strategy Literacy Consultant,

now works with Talk for Writing to help schools develop the approach.

To find out more about Talk for Writing, visit www.talk4writing.com.

This resource is copyright. All materials herein, texts and supporting resources

are copyright to Emma Caulfield & Talk for Writing. They are to be used to

support children/staff/parents in home-learning ONLY and not for commercial

gain or for training or sharing widely, in their original form or any variations.

They must also not be shared online or on any social media platforms.

Thanks to Jon Ralphs for the cartoons: jonralphs.com