Exploring our world : )

In second grade, the main focus in social studies is Japan. However, we decided there is so much more we can teach the kids, and we decided to study all of the continents.  We finished our study of North America last month, and are currently exploring South America! Each time we move to a new continent, we take a "plane ride" to our next destination.  We move the chairs into rows on the rug, print our boarding passes for the students, and play videos of animals and cultures the students will learn about during our time there.  The kids REALLY enjoy this (and so do the teachers!).  We've been doing a lot of activities on the IPads during class, as well as center time.  They've had a wonderful time learning about the animals found in the rain forest and now have a deep appreciation for where we live after seeing that there aren't many "luxuries" in other parts of the world! We are finishing up our visit to South America this week, and then will be flying off to Antarctica on Friday!

Crazy about the moon!

Hello Families!

This is officially our first post to the webpage this year, and I promise they will be coming more frequently now! We have just finished up our study of the moon, and the kids had a blast! Aside from working hard and learning some very tough material, the kids were able to do a lot of fun experiments and projects. They all did incredibly well with this unit, and Kelsey and I were so proud of them.  Here are some pictures of the fun things we did!

We made phases of the moon crowns (surprisingly, the boys were even excited to wear them!). . .

 

 

We made "Moon Goons!"

 



And we wrote haiku poems about the moon (and sponge painted!), which went along with our literacy unit : )

 

 

PLACE VALUE

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to update you on what the students are learning about currently in math. We started slowly bridging the topic of "place value" over the last few weeks. We worked on "expanded notation" which is breaking a number apart based on its place value (369 = 300 + 60 + 9). On Thursday, I began teaching the students the standard algorithm.  This is usually a very complex and confusing concept for children of their age, but I am happy to report they are doing exceptionally well! Each student seems to have a solid understanding of regrouping within addition, and can accurately apply the algoithm into the hundreds! Tomorrow I will begin teaching them how to "borrow" (subtraction), which I am predicting will be a bit more difficult.  If you have any questions, or notice your child is having a hard time with homework, please do not hesitate to contact me! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend : )

OuR StUdY oF ThE MoOn!

The students created "Phases of the Moon" crowns which came out fabulous!!

Some old Halloween pictures!

So MuCh FuN iN RoOm 212 : )

Valentine's Day Party Pics!

Last Day Before Vacation

We are very excited that tomorrow will be the last day before vacation! However, the kids might not be as excited, since we will be having two tests tomorrow.

One will be on what they have learned about the moon, and the other will be the middle of the year (town wide) math assesment. We have been studying and reviewing for both in class, so we believe the students will be fully prepared.  Also, the children should have a "Phases of the Moon" worksheet that they were told to keep at home to review from time to time.  If you still have that laying around, feel free to have your children look at that tonight.

The town wide assesment will cover everything our students have learned since Decemeber.  We have been doing practice problems & sample tests this week, and they are doing very well!

If we don't see you today or tomorrow on the playgrounds, we want to wish you all a wonderful and safe February vacation : )