Soaring to New Heights in Room 13!

Reading: Studying Characters and Their Stories

This unit is divided into three bends. Bend 1 focuses on the things students can do before, during, and after reading a book to be a thoughtful reader of characters and stories.  Bend 2 explores strategies the students can use to check in to make sure they are learning about their characters.  The students will continue to get to know characters even when it’s hard to do so.  In Bend 3 the students will study how the characters change and grow—considering how characters change from the beginning to the end of the book and thinking about the lessons that the author may have intended.

Writing: Realistic Fiction

This unit is divided into three bends or three sections. The 1st Bend introduces students to generating short story ideas by thinking about a character and of small moment stories for that character.  Students use what they know about narrative writing to write as many short stories as possible. In Bend 2, students revise their stories for greater meaning and tension in a way that stretches out the “heart” of their story. In the Bend 3, they repeat the process and focus on making their stories even better by using the narrative checklist.  

Math: Unit 4 - Place Value and Measurement

In this unit, students extend their understanding of place value.   This will provide a foundation for the development of strategies for fluently adding and subtracting multi-digit numbers later in second grade.  They also explore measuring tools, and standard units (inch, centimeter, and foot) for measuring length. Students will learn the difference between A.M. and P.M.  They will represent numbers with base-10 blocks, and in expanded notation.

Unit 5 - Addition and Subtraction

In this unit children review addition and subtraction problems in the context of money and number stories.  They learn strategies for mentally adding and subtracting 10 and 100.  You will see the different diagrams such as Part-Part-Total and Start-Change-End to help them solve the number stories.  Students are expected to use the question mark in the number model, and the diagram to show their thinking while solving the problem.  In addition, they must use an open number line.

Social Studies: Unit 3 – Our Past

In this unit, we will be learning all about our country’s history.  We will begin with Native Americans and continue through the westward expansion and Civil War to learn how the United States slowly grew and changed.  We will explore how new people came to America and continue to do so today.

Science – Solids & Liquids

In this unit, students will be exploring different solids, liquids, and small solids in various settings.  Students will be using properties to describe, identify, sort, and compare and contrast the materials.   By the end of this unit, students will be able to differentiate between solids and liquids.   

Health: Second Step – Unit 2

By second grade, students have gained a sense of independence and self-awareness and are ready to start solving problems on their own.  The research based Second Step program helps them acquire skills that can lead to gains in confidence and school success. The second unit focuses on empathy.   Students will participate in activities to help them identify feelings, be more confident, respect different preferences, show compassion and predict feelings.  Our second graders will also participate in Superflex lessons and class meetings.