2H Class Blog!: Our first FULL week of 2nd grade!

We completed our first FULL week of the 2018-2019 school year! We had such a busy, exciting week full of learning, I'd be surprised if they weren't awfully tired Friday evening!

The 2018-2019 Second Grade Class!

Highlights from our week:

*Science: Our science curriculum is based on inquiry and gives each child a chance to explore, observe, wonder, predict, investigate and record findings. Our week began as our scientists engaged in their very first inquiry science exploration: dissecting owl pellets (a HUGE hit among our owl class!) Each student received their very owl pellet to dissect and they quickly got to work digging out the bones!

After they finished their dissection, the real work began! They were challenged to identify the type of animal, or animals, the owl had eaten based on the bones they uncovered. It was hard work, but these scientists drew some excellent conclusions! Check out this AMAZING website, Kidwings-Virtual Pellet, to learn all about owl pellets and to complete a virtual dissection experience with your child!

Later in the week, we began an exploration of magnets! After posing the question, "What is magnetic in our classroom?" the scientists worked together to figure how they could test and discover. They received their official science notebooks and began recording their data. As a class, we decided that each notebook entry should include the date, the question, as well as an organized format for recording. One Owl volunteered the idea of creating a "T" chart, so each of us tried recording our findings in that way. I am SO impressed with the neat, detailed information they collected! We're going to have a great year of discovery :)

We extended our learning (and took advantage of the gorgeous weather!) by exploring magnetic objects on the playground!

One thing's clear: we have a group of scientists on our hands! We're destined for a great year filled with inquiry, discovery, and experimenting!

*Reading: With our reader's workshop up and running, the Owls dug right into their first unit of study: The Second Grade Reading Growth Spurt! It was an exciting week as we looked at how books want to be read (with fluency and expression), setting reading goals, scooping up snap words, and being a reading coach to your partner! This is mature work for little minds, but they were sure up to the challenge!

*Math: In math, we've launched our very first unit which focuses on number sense and fact fluency. We spent the week working on number patterns and carefully looking at the special properties of a number grid.

To help reinforce these skills at home, have your child:

-count by 2s, 5s, and 10s

-tell you what number is 1 more than a given number; 1 less; 10 more; 10 less

-describe the patterns they found in a number grid; explain what happens when they move up one, down one, over one, or back one; explain how to use a number grid to add or subtract

-play Give the Dog a Bone!

IXL log-in information was sent home this week. Have your child log in at home and show you the math skills we've practiced in class!

*Science Buddies: Joining 2D and KMM again for some collaborative fun, we began the week by creating a bulletin board to share with others all the great work we're doing!

Later in the week, students were presented with another creating challenge. Working in a small group, students had to discuss and decide what they were going to build, what materials they would need, and who would be responsible for what. While we JUST got started with these fabulous projects, we look forward to finishing, sharing, and debriefing next week!