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Second Grade |
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A typical day in second grade begins as students delve into our “hands-on” math program. Each week, a unit depicting a real-life math situation is covered requiring students to record their responses to it in their math books. Students then respond to certain thematic topics from the Open Court reading program. In addition, students read from a basal text or chapter book and complete an analysis. Throughout the week, students are engaged in word study, expository and narrative writing experiences, and literature circles. Language Arts As the second graders continue to gain confidence and independence, the language arts program extends to reading, writing, spelling, and listening. The reading curriculum includes Open Court basal readers, library books, decodables, reader’s theater, and guided reading books. Students develop their writing skills using methods such as story starters, poetry, letter writing, comprehension questions, and other activities. Additionally, spelling and handwriting are integral parts of the language arts program. Grammar, capitalization, and punctuation skills are also evaluated. Manuscript writing is reviewed prior to the introduction of cursive writing. Students are encouraged to:
This program will be used to enhance and enrich the students reading experience. Language arts objectives:
In addition, we are using the Jr. Great Books interpretive activities. Jr. Great Books is a shared inquiry discussion of literature. The Scholastic Reading Counts program is available and encouraged. Reading Counts is a supplement to setting individual goals and choosing literature in which computer generated quizzes are taken for comprehension. Time allocation: 1 hour each day Core Material: SRA/Open Court Reading Program, Level 2 Other Resources: Scholastic Reading Counts Jr. Great Books Independent reading books, guided reading books Spelling Words To Use When I Write. Focusing on a word bank of high frequency writing words, second grade students become better spellers by learning “chunks” of words and high frequency words and words misspelled in daily writing. Time allocation: 30 minutes, twice weekly Core Material: Spelling Sourcebook by Rebecca Sitton Other Resources: Spelling Sourcebook Reviews Evan-Moor Spelling Individualized lists Social Studies The second grade social studies program is integrated with our language arts Open Court Anthology, and aims to broaden the student’s knowledge of communities: past and present, in our country and abroad. Geography studies are incorporated through map and globe activities. Second graders participate in an assortment of activities including Internet search, current events, interactive centers, and class discussions. Our objective is to instill a curiosity and appreciation for world cultures and diversity. Social studies may also include topics such as personal, social and civic responsibility, economic systems, historical data, geography, communities, and map and globe skills. Current events and the world around us are discussed. Time allocation: 45 minutes, twice weekly Core Material: Harcourt Brace, Social Studies Level 2 Copyright 2002 Other Resources: Student Texts, www.hbschool.com Weekly Readers Science The science program in second grade focuses on physical science, life science, earth science, and the human body. Our objective is to teach basic scientific inquiry through observing, evaluating, comparing and recording. Simple reports are written at the conclusion of some activities to develop critical thinking. Terrarium Investigations – include selected activities that contain many aspects of literary, especially non-fiction, reading and writing within the context of science investigations. Inquiry-based and hands-on activities Students participate in nature walks, experiments, computer activities, interactive centers, literature, and field trips. Following are the main subjects:
Time allocation: 45 minutes, twice weekly Core Material: McGraw-Hill SCIENCE, Level 2 Copyright 2000 Other Resources: Teacher Resources for Practice and Support books Science Center Materials CDSA Campus as a “Living Laboratory”, www.mhschool.com, Wilkie Science Center Mathematics Second grade math reinforces basic addition and subtraction facts and extends them up to 18 with use of fact strategies to capitalize on students’ counting skills. Introduction of computation and number sense includes place value, word problems, simple fractions, beginning multiplication and division, patterning, probability, and geometric shapes. Practice of measurement (units of time, money, length, weight, and volume) is provided. Students enjoy mathematics games on a classroom computer and concrete aids are used to support all instruction and activities. The math program is a “hands-on” approach that facilitates a variety of ways to solve problems. Concepts are first presented to the entire class, then further explored in small groups, partners or individually. Math principles are dynamically presented in a spiral, introduced and reintroduced throughout the year.
Mathematics objectives:
The Everyday Mathematics program objective is to develop the view that mathematics is not just learning numbers and amounts. Instead, this is a research-based program that involves a way of thinking, exploring, discovering, explaining and justifying every day life. This program is a “hands-on” approach that facilitates a variety of ways to solve math problems. The program’s dynamics work in a spiral and skills are introduced and re-introduced throughout the year. Our goal is to make math enjoyable as well as challenging.
The mathematical strands include:
Time allocation: 1 hour each day Core Material: University of Chicago’s Every Day Mathematics 2nd Grade
Foreign Language The importance of learning a foreign language is not overlooked at CDSA, and our students take either Spanish or French. Our program for second graders consists of five focus areas: listening, speaking, reading, writing, culture. Listening:
Speaking:
Reading:
Writing:
Culture:
Time Allocation: 45 minutes twice weekly Art Second grade students are exposed to life drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, crafts, color theory, and art history. Noted artists, artwork and art books are explored, while hands-on projects develop an understanding of space, texture, shape and other important elements. Working with two- and three-dimensional materials, students learn to share their feelings and tell a story through artistic expression. A variety of the art projects assigned are in collaboration with classroom studies and other disciplines. Many second grade art assignments focus on science and nature-related subject matter. Major goals:
Time allocation: 45 minutes each week, with an additional 45 minute class every 3 week (also an elective opportunity) Physical Education In grades K-2, children learn fundamental movement skills and begin to understand how the muscles, bones, heart, and lungs function in relation to physical activity. Students develop a vocabulary for movement and apply concepts dealing with space and body awareness. Students are engaged in activities that develop basic levels of strength, endurance, and flexibility. In addition, students learn to participate safely in group- and individual-movement settings. A major objective is to present activities that complement their natural inclination to view physical activity as challenging and enjoyable. Second grade students demonstrate key elements of fundamental movement skills and mature locomotive skills. They learn to describe the functions of the heart, lungs, and bones as they relate to movement. Basic concepts of good health, such as the relationship between a physically active lifestyle and a healthy heart, and socially responsible group conflict resolution are introduced. Time allocation: 45 minutes, three times a week Music CDSA offers students a very comprehensive and appealing music program. Music provides a vehicle for students to become confident, creative and expressive individuals. Their discipline, practice and hard work are rewarded by recognition, growth in self-esteem, character development and enhanced intellectual functioning. The curriculum provides musical growth through a variety of programs. Second grade students study the basic elements of music through several approaches. Movement, rhythm instruments, dance, and body percussion activities teach rhythm. Melody is explored in song. Singing fun songs, informative songs that link with academic curriculum, songs from here, and songs from far away lead to positive musical experiences. Listening experiences, utilizing multi-media, add to age-appropriate participation in music history/appreciation activities. Second grade students are offered activities involving introduction to recorder, instrument making, music theory, music appreciation, music history, composers past and present, instruments of the orchestra, the basic elements of music, composition, dance, music vocabulary, and learning opportunities in creative performance and movement through the Orff-Schulwerk method. Second grade students are offered electives which involve, music theory, music appreciation, composers past and present, instruments of the orchestra, music history, composition, form, dances, making instruments, performing, and learning to play basic instruments. Time Allocation: 45 minutes weekly, with an additional 45 minute class every 3 weeks. (also an elective opportunity) Computers The technology program is conducted through hands-on projects that integrate computer instruction with language arts, math, science, and social studies, health, music, and art. Categories covered include:
Time Allocation: 45 minutes weekly, with an additional 45 minute class every 3 weeks (also an elective opportunity) Special offerings for second grade students: Electives: Each week students also attend a self-selected elective class of their choice. Options include courses such as Drawing, General Art, Painting, Creative Dramatics, Story Writing and Performance, Puppetmaking, Learning about my Body, Music Explorers, Percussion on the Move, Insects of CDSA, Birds of CDSA, Nature Journaling, Keyboarding, Desktop Publishing, and Exploring the Internet. Families Program: All K-8th grade students form small groups of mixed ages to work on special events and community service projects. Each group is led by an eighth grade family head and consists of about nine other members. Library: Students have a 45-minute library class weekly with the school librarian. Enrichment: Second grade students are enriched through two partnership initiatives with first grade students in the second semester: o Reading Buddy: Under the guidance of our teachers and following thematic units such as family, animals, friends, feelings, self and the earth, second graders share age-appropriate books with first grade students. Students engage in activities related to these stories. o Pen Pals/Writer’s Workshop: First and second grade students meet for guided creative writing and journal activities. |
