2H Class Blog!: Nov. 20th News

This time of year is always such a nice time to slow down and reflect on all that we have in our lives to be thankful for. I am thankful each and everyday to work with the amazing children and families of SMS!

Highlights from our week:

*Math: 2H continues to build a solid understanding of the relationship between addition and subtraction. We've done continued work with fact families, number stories, and finding missing addends, while also building addition and subtraction strategies. We took our Unit #3 test last week and will begin Unit 4 after the holiday break. Unit #4 focuses on money, time, and measurement. To review some of the skills they've previously learned in these areas, have your student practice these IXL skills under the first grade tab:

P.4: Measure using an inch ruler
Q.1: Names and values of common coins
Q.4: Count pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters
U.4: Read clocks and write times

Having some Thanksgiving math fun with pattern blocks!

*Science: As we dive deeper into our earth science unit, 2H is beginning to explore processes that shape the earth! This week, we had a BLAST creating mountain models. Using Mystery Science as our guide, students set out to discover "If you floated down a river, where would you end up?" We studied maps to see where all major rivers start and end, looking for patterns, and our brainy scientists uncovered that all rivers start up in the mountains, and, eventually, end in oceans. While building the mountains was fun, the real excitement came when we simulated rainfall and got to watch our rivers flow down the mountain!

Building their model mountains.

Highlighting the mountain's ridge.

Bring on the rain!

*Reading: On Friday, the amazing readers of 2H celebrated all the hard work of their nonfiction unit by hosting a "soft-opening" of their "Expert Museum"! Our fifth grade reading buddies were our first visitors and they we SO impressed (as was I!) by the amount of knowledge these second graders knew. They were able to share three main ideas, use picture examples across multiple sources to bring their information to life, and answer many questions at the end! They were, as one Owl put it, just like "real-life museum talkers"! We had so much fun bringing our information to life, we'll be reopening our museum for some kindergarten friends on Tuesday. Some Owls have expressed interest in dressing as "real experts" for the occasion. They are welcomed, but not required, to do so!

When we return from break, students will have the choice to read fiction or nonfiction during reader's workshop as we revisit and add to our list of good reading habits!

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Wishing all of the 2H families a very Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the extended break :)