New Science Theme - Insects!
We were excited to welcome insects to our class this week! We aren't sure what they are yet, but we designed and conducted fair tests, also known as scientific investigations, to decide what type of habitat our insects will need when they are staying with us. We tested whether they like to eat apples or potatoes, whether they like light or dark, whether they like to live in oats or wheat, whether they liked dry or wet, and whether they like their bedding shallow or deep. Our tests provided evidence that allowed us to make the following claim: Our visitors like to eat apples, they like the dark, and they like dry wheat piled high so they can burrow in it and be in the dark. Next, we built habitats for the insects based on the claims we made from our fair tests. Finally, we carefully observed our insects using loupes, a magnifying lens we hold right up to our eye. Being like scientists, we made detailed scientific drawings and labeled our drawings using science words. We will continue to watch them grow and develop throughout the year.
Reading Workshop
The children have been working hard to read non-fiction informational text to grow knowledge. Specifically, the children have focused on growing knowledge by learning key words, or the "lingo" of a topic. One strategy we discussed was to anticipate the vocabulary they expect to see in a book. Then the students read to confirm the words they thought they'd see and add new vocabulary to their schema. Other strategies we discussed were using text and graphic features and use the whole page to learn key language. Ask your child to tell you the strategies s/he is using to learn the lingo of a topic!
Writing Workshop
The students are also writing non-fiction during writing workshop. They have chosen topics about which they are experts and are looking at mentor texts to see how published authors teach someone about a topic. They are striving to include different subtopics on different pages of their books as well as different types of information to support their work, such as tips, facts, definitions, etc. They learned to identify their audience before they write and anticipate questions their audience might have about their topic. The children LOVE writing and sharing their expertise. They can't wait to write every day!
Math
This week, the students have been learning about fractions of geometric shapes in math. Our work has centered on halves, thirds, and fourths. The children discovered that fractions are equal parts of a whole, and they identified fractional amounts of 2-D and 3-D shapes. They learned that fractions of the same whole can look different. They also discovered that half of one shape may be very different than half of another shape. The children have been introduced to fraction notation (1/2,1/3,3/4, etc.), however using words (one fourth, two thirds) to represent fractions at this age seems to be clearer to most students. We also talked about other fractions such as 2/3 and 3/4. Fractions can be very challenging to second grade students. Please help your child notice fractions in their world as you cook, read, and share things as a family.
Word Work
This week, we began a study of r-controlled vowels, or “bossy r” words. The children discovered that words spelled /ar/ say "R!" such as in shark, remark, etc. We compared the /ar/ spelling and its sound with words that have the long a sound followed by r and are spelled /-air/ or /-are/, such as chair, repair, and stare, compare. This sort has been challenging for many students. Please help your child explain the spelling patterns and the sounds they make as they practice their words each day.
Please make sure your child has a sweater to wear every day at school. Our room tends to be chilly!
We enjoyed visits from special veterans who stopped by our class after the Veteran's Day celebration!
We were excited to welcome insects to our class this week! We aren't sure what they are yet, but we designed and conducted fair tests, also known as scientific investigations, to decide what type of habitat our insects will need when they are staying with us. We tested whether they like to eat apples or potatoes, whether they like light or dark, whether they like to live in oats or wheat, whether they liked dry or wet, and whether they like their bedding shallow or deep. Our tests provided evidence that allowed us to make the following claim: Our visitors like to eat apples, they like the dark, and they like dry wheat piled high so they can burrow in it and be in the dark. Next, we built habitats for the insects based on the claims we made from our fair tests. Finally, we carefully observed our insects using loupes, a magnifying lens we hold right up to our eye. Being like scientists, we made detailed scientific drawings and labeled our drawings using science words. We will continue to watch them grow and develop throughout the year.
Reading Workshop
The children have been working hard to read non-fiction informational text to grow knowledge. Specifically, the children have focused on growing knowledge by learning key words, or the "lingo" of a topic. One strategy we discussed was to anticipate the vocabulary they expect to see in a book. Then the students read to confirm the words they thought they'd see and add new vocabulary to their schema. Other strategies we discussed were using text and graphic features and use the whole page to learn key language. Ask your child to tell you the strategies s/he is using to learn the lingo of a topic!
Writing Workshop
The students are also writing non-fiction during writing workshop. They have chosen topics about which they are experts and are looking at mentor texts to see how published authors teach someone about a topic. They are striving to include different subtopics on different pages of their books as well as different types of information to support their work, such as tips, facts, definitions, etc. They learned to identify their audience before they write and anticipate questions their audience might have about their topic. The children LOVE writing and sharing their expertise. They can't wait to write every day!
Math
This week, the students have been learning about fractions of geometric shapes in math. Our work has centered on halves, thirds, and fourths. The children discovered that fractions are equal parts of a whole, and they identified fractional amounts of 2-D and 3-D shapes. They learned that fractions of the same whole can look different. They also discovered that half of one shape may be very different than half of another shape. The children have been introduced to fraction notation (1/2,1/3,3/4, etc.), however using words (one fourth, two thirds) to represent fractions at this age seems to be clearer to most students. We also talked about other fractions such as 2/3 and 3/4. Fractions can be very challenging to second grade students. Please help your child notice fractions in their world as you cook, read, and share things as a family.
Word Work
This week, we began a study of r-controlled vowels, or “bossy r” words. The children discovered that words spelled /ar/ say "R!" such as in shark, remark, etc. We compared the /ar/ spelling and its sound with words that have the long a sound followed by r and are spelled /-air/ or /-are/, such as chair, repair, and stare, compare. This sort has been challenging for many students. Please help your child explain the spelling patterns and the sounds they make as they practice their words each day.
Please make sure your child has a sweater to wear every day at school. Our room tends to be chilly!
We enjoyed visits from special veterans who stopped by our class after the Veteran's Day celebration!