Fun with Scientific Investigations

This month the Second Grade is looking at the Scientific Method by doing several scientific investigations.  We will be learning to describe and categorize in a Piles of Shoes lesson.  We will record visual data during the Walking Water lesson.  Next, we will make a hypothesis when completing the Milky Art lesson.  After that, we will draw conclusions using data in the Spinning Balloons lesson.  Finally, we will observe a chemical reaction in the Pumpkin Surprise lesson.
Please check out the scientific investigation videos under the science tab and watch them with your child.  Ask your child about what he or she sees and that was learned.  We encourage you to view additional experiments online and to do them with your child.  I your child understands the experiment and would like to share it with the class please send in the materials needed and we would love to set up a time for your child to demonstrate their experiment to the class.  If you are needed to complete the experiment we would love to have you but you will need to contact the homeroom teacher to set up a time to share with the class.

Communities - - A Trip Worth Taking

In Second Grade we are studying communities.  We are learning about what makes an urban, suburban and rural community different from each other.  We will also be looking at how and why communities change over time.
This is an excellent time to take at trip.  The leaves are changing, the weather is beautiful AND you can educate your child about the communities that surround them.  
While you are traveling take the time to get pictures of your child with specific items or features that are found from one of the three types of communities that we are studying.  Then download and print the file that is found under the Social Studies tab of this Blog.  Next, attach the picture or pictures to the sheet and have your child list four things that they saw while in the community they visited.  Finally, send the picture(s) and sheet into school for your child to share with his or her peers.  
While there is no grade given for this project you will have added to your child's understanding of the topics being taught in class while having a great outing:).

Kakooma - - A Math Challenge

Recently I visited with Mrs. Sara Reeps, the Belmont Station SEARCH teacher, to discuss how to provide additional learning opportunities for our second graders.  Our students are currently working hard to learn learn their addition and subtraction facts using Reflex, flash cards and math games.  Mrs. Reeps introduced me to an additional resource to challenge our students while reinforcing the memorization of facts.  Check out the math tab to learn more about this fun and challenging game.

Welcome Back!

On behalf of the Second Grade Team I would like to welcome you to our grade's blog.  

We have recently added addition games under that Math tab to aid in practicing addition facts at home.  If you choose to play one of the games listed please make note of it in your child's Homework Notebook so that his or her teacher knows.  It is important to practice math facts each night, whether it is through card games (like those provided here), online games (like Reflex or Fun 4 the Brain) or flash cards.  It is not important how you choose for your child to practice only that he or she does.

The Social Studies tab contains supplemental videos about some of the famous Americans we will be covering in class.  These videos have been added to help build our students background knowledge so that they will be more familiar with these various people when they are covered in class.  If your child does watch any of the videos please make note of it in the Homework Notebook.