Grade 2 News
It’s hard to believe that the school year is nearly over! The fun-filled weeks ahead promise to be very busy as we finish up our lessons, projects, and special activities. So much to do and so little time left! Here are some important dates to remember:
May 15 - “Dinosaur Diorama” (project information goes home today)
May 17 - In-service (1:00 P.M. dismissal)
May 20 - P.T.A. “Me and My Gal” Event (boys)
May 29 - Memorial Day (No School)
May 30 to June 2 - Book Fair (TBD)
June 2 - P.T.A. “Ice Cream Social”
June 5 - Grade 2 Event (more details soon)
June 6 - Grade 2 Field Trip/Plimoth Plantation
June 7 - “Dinosaur Diorama” projects due
June 9 - “Dinosaur Dioramas” (Pod 4/Rm.16, 9:30-10:30 AM and 2:15 - 3:00 PM)
June 12 - “Field Day” (Rain Date - June 14)
June 19 - Last Day of School (half-day)
READING/LANGUAGE ARTS
We have recently focused on the topic of “Series Book Clubs” with our guided groups. We have explored, read, and talked about different fictional characters and their many challenges, problems, antics, and adventures. We also have compared and noted similarities and differences in series books we read. These have included Arthur, Henry and Mudge, Nate the Great, Frog and Toad, Magic Tree House, The Chalk Box Kid, and Cat Wings to name just a few.
We will now focus on fairy tales, legends, and folk tales from around the world. We will begin by reading The Great Ball Game, a Muskogee legend that attempts to explain why birds fly south for the winter, and why bats come out at dusk! We will create stick puppets for re-telling the African tale Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears, and we will also explore other tales that attempt to explain “how things came to be in the world.” In addition, we will participate in “Readers’ Theater” activities to tales with peers.
Books, stories, magazines, and online resources have provided us with many opportunities to examine, identify, compare, contrast, and discuss a variety of literary genres, including short biographies, poetry, fantasy fiction, non-fiction, realistic fiction, folk tales, and series books. We have focused on story and character development, making inferences, determining cause and effect, sequencing events, summarizing, comparing various texts, and “digging deeper” to gain insight and understanding about our reading.
Throughout the month of May, we will continue to focus on reading, writing, and appreciating the genre of poetry. We have looked at strategies, techniques, and tools that poets use, and have experimented with and blended them into our own writing. Using artifacts and objects from nature to inspires us to “view the world through poets’ eyes.”
In June, students will focus attention on researching and writing about different types of dinosaurs. “Living Things of Long Ago: Dinosaurs” is an exciting Grade 2 topic!
SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES
Last week (after two cancellations due to snowy weather in February and March), second graders finally enjoyed an informative visit from Jim Parks of Wingmasters as he presented his "Birds of Prey" program. Mr. Parks is a licensed raptor rehabilitator who visits Federal Furnace each year to show and tell students about birds of prey commonly found in the Plymouth area. He showed us an American Kestrel, a Red-tailed Hawk, an Eastern Screech Owl, a Barred Owl, and a Great Horned Owl. Students were excited to see some birds they had previously researched and learned about in class!
In Science we are completing a plant unit. This has included identifying some characteristics of plants, exploring plant life cycles, investigating various plant habitats, and learning about how plants help the environment. We explored plants and seeds outside on a recent nature walk, dissected lima bean seeds to examine parts, and planted some seeds in re-used milk cartons to observe changes on a daily basis. We have also made many literature connections to this topic.
Throughout May and into June we will also participate in several exciting small group STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) challenges in our classroom. These collaborative problem-solving activities will be related to some of the folk tales, fairy tales, and legends we will read in our new literacy unit and may include such challenges as: “Three Little Pigs House Challenge” (designing and building houses to withstand three wind speeds), “The Billy Goats Gruff Bridge Challenge” (constructing bridges to hold various weights), and “The Jack and the Beanstalk Challenge” (building free-standing towers able to bear weight).
Late in May and into June, we will integrate topics in Science and Social Studies as we focus on landforms, earth science, and “Living Things of Long Ago” (dinosaurs). Detailed information about a “Dinosaur Diorama” project will be sent home next week (research and writing will be done in school) and a related project display day is scheduled for Friday, June 9, in Pod 4/Room 17 at 9:30-10:30 AM and 2:15-3:00 PM. Please join us!
Memorial Day and Flag Day are also observed this time of year, and in Social Studies we will continue to discuss, read about, and learn why and how Americans honor and show respect for these special observances and important events.
MATH
In late April and early May, we explored a math unit involving measurement and the use of standard or metric units such as inches, feet, yards, centimeters, decimeters, and meters. Our daily lessons included measuring the lengths of many things in and around the classroom, as well as collecting, recording, and comparing data.
In May and June, we will explore geometry concepts, identify characteristics of 2-D shapes, and create some triangles, quadrilaterals, and other polygons. We will also investigate, name, and build some 3-D shapes. In addition to this, we will be working with arrays and fractions, and we will explore the concept of measuring perimeters and areas of certain shapes or objects, and when, why, and how people might need to do this in daily life. Throughout the year, several students have remarked that measuring was an important part of their parents’ jobs and work. It’s always great to see children making meaningful connections between math and everyday life! Please continue to practice math facts for speed, accuracy, and automaticity!
ODDS AND ENDS
It’s hard to believe that this is the last newsletter that I will ever write and send home! I want to thank all of you for your generosity, kindness, interest, and involvement throughout the year, and for all that you do to support your children’s growth and learning!
As I finish this final newsletter, sunny spring weather tempts me to come outside to do some yardwork! The lilac bushes behind my house are now bursting with fragrant blooms. This time of year always reminds me of part of a Walt Whitman poem I had to memorize for school many years ago as a young girl growing up in Maine! As we continue to read, write, share, and experience the genre of poetry in class, I hope that my second graders will grow to love it as much as I do!
Fondly,
Mrs. Chalas
(The lilac - my favorite flower!)
In the doorway fronting an old farm-house near the white-wash’d palings,
Stands the lilac-bush tall-growing with heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
With many a pointed blossom rising delicate, with the perfume strong that I love,
With every leaf a miracle – and from this bush in the dooryard,
With delicate-color’d blossoms and heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
A sprig with its flower I break.
~ Walt Whitman
It’s hard to believe that the school year is nearly over! The fun-filled weeks ahead promise to be very busy as we finish up our lessons, projects, and special activities. So much to do and so little time left! Here are some important dates to remember:
May 15 - “Dinosaur Diorama” (project information goes home today)
May 17 - In-service (1:00 P.M. dismissal)
May 20 - P.T.A. “Me and My Gal” Event (boys)
May 29 - Memorial Day (No School)
May 30 to June 2 - Book Fair (TBD)
June 2 - P.T.A. “Ice Cream Social”
June 5 - Grade 2 Event (more details soon)
June 6 - Grade 2 Field Trip/Plimoth Plantation
June 7 - “Dinosaur Diorama” projects due
June 9 - “Dinosaur Dioramas” (Pod 4/Rm.16, 9:30-10:30 AM and 2:15 - 3:00 PM)
June 12 - “Field Day” (Rain Date - June 14)
June 19 - Last Day of School (half-day)
READING/LANGUAGE ARTS
We have recently focused on the topic of “Series Book Clubs” with our guided groups. We have explored, read, and talked about different fictional characters and their many challenges, problems, antics, and adventures. We also have compared and noted similarities and differences in series books we read. These have included Arthur, Henry and Mudge, Nate the Great, Frog and Toad, Magic Tree House, The Chalk Box Kid, and Cat Wings to name just a few.
We will now focus on fairy tales, legends, and folk tales from around the world. We will begin by reading The Great Ball Game, a Muskogee legend that attempts to explain why birds fly south for the winter, and why bats come out at dusk! We will create stick puppets for re-telling the African tale Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears, and we will also explore other tales that attempt to explain “how things came to be in the world.” In addition, we will participate in “Readers’ Theater” activities to tales with peers.
Books, stories, magazines, and online resources have provided us with many opportunities to examine, identify, compare, contrast, and discuss a variety of literary genres, including short biographies, poetry, fantasy fiction, non-fiction, realistic fiction, folk tales, and series books. We have focused on story and character development, making inferences, determining cause and effect, sequencing events, summarizing, comparing various texts, and “digging deeper” to gain insight and understanding about our reading.
Throughout the month of May, we will continue to focus on reading, writing, and appreciating the genre of poetry. We have looked at strategies, techniques, and tools that poets use, and have experimented with and blended them into our own writing. Using artifacts and objects from nature to inspires us to “view the world through poets’ eyes.”
In June, students will focus attention on researching and writing about different types of dinosaurs. “Living Things of Long Ago: Dinosaurs” is an exciting Grade 2 topic!
SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES
Last week (after two cancellations due to snowy weather in February and March), second graders finally enjoyed an informative visit from Jim Parks of Wingmasters as he presented his "Birds of Prey" program. Mr. Parks is a licensed raptor rehabilitator who visits Federal Furnace each year to show and tell students about birds of prey commonly found in the Plymouth area. He showed us an American Kestrel, a Red-tailed Hawk, an Eastern Screech Owl, a Barred Owl, and a Great Horned Owl. Students were excited to see some birds they had previously researched and learned about in class!
In Science we are completing a plant unit. This has included identifying some characteristics of plants, exploring plant life cycles, investigating various plant habitats, and learning about how plants help the environment. We explored plants and seeds outside on a recent nature walk, dissected lima bean seeds to examine parts, and planted some seeds in re-used milk cartons to observe changes on a daily basis. We have also made many literature connections to this topic.
Throughout May and into June we will also participate in several exciting small group STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) challenges in our classroom. These collaborative problem-solving activities will be related to some of the folk tales, fairy tales, and legends we will read in our new literacy unit and may include such challenges as: “Three Little Pigs House Challenge” (designing and building houses to withstand three wind speeds), “The Billy Goats Gruff Bridge Challenge” (constructing bridges to hold various weights), and “The Jack and the Beanstalk Challenge” (building free-standing towers able to bear weight).
Late in May and into June, we will integrate topics in Science and Social Studies as we focus on landforms, earth science, and “Living Things of Long Ago” (dinosaurs). Detailed information about a “Dinosaur Diorama” project will be sent home next week (research and writing will be done in school) and a related project display day is scheduled for Friday, June 9, in Pod 4/Room 17 at 9:30-10:30 AM and 2:15-3:00 PM. Please join us!
Memorial Day and Flag Day are also observed this time of year, and in Social Studies we will continue to discuss, read about, and learn why and how Americans honor and show respect for these special observances and important events.
MATH
In late April and early May, we explored a math unit involving measurement and the use of standard or metric units such as inches, feet, yards, centimeters, decimeters, and meters. Our daily lessons included measuring the lengths of many things in and around the classroom, as well as collecting, recording, and comparing data.
In May and June, we will explore geometry concepts, identify characteristics of 2-D shapes, and create some triangles, quadrilaterals, and other polygons. We will also investigate, name, and build some 3-D shapes. In addition to this, we will be working with arrays and fractions, and we will explore the concept of measuring perimeters and areas of certain shapes or objects, and when, why, and how people might need to do this in daily life. Throughout the year, several students have remarked that measuring was an important part of their parents’ jobs and work. It’s always great to see children making meaningful connections between math and everyday life! Please continue to practice math facts for speed, accuracy, and automaticity!
ODDS AND ENDS
It’s hard to believe that this is the last newsletter that I will ever write and send home! I want to thank all of you for your generosity, kindness, interest, and involvement throughout the year, and for all that you do to support your children’s growth and learning!
As I finish this final newsletter, sunny spring weather tempts me to come outside to do some yardwork! The lilac bushes behind my house are now bursting with fragrant blooms. This time of year always reminds me of part of a Walt Whitman poem I had to memorize for school many years ago as a young girl growing up in Maine! As we continue to read, write, share, and experience the genre of poetry in class, I hope that my second graders will grow to love it as much as I do!
Fondly,
Mrs. Chalas
(The lilac - my favorite flower!)
In the doorway fronting an old farm-house near the white-wash’d palings,
Stands the lilac-bush tall-growing with heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
With many a pointed blossom rising delicate, with the perfume strong that I love,
With every leaf a miracle – and from this bush in the dooryard,
With delicate-color’d blossoms and heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
A sprig with its flower I break.
~ Walt Whitman