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Second Grade is Fun: We Get the Job Done!
Language Arts and Social Studies:
We’ve had such an exciting year so far! Students are working on writing successful paragraphs by writing about their favorite memories. The memories will be incorporated into a Second Grade Memory Quilt, displayed in our school later this year. The quilting theme overlaps nicely with our study of Martin Luther King and Civil Rights, for which the children are learning mapping skills and creating their own personal Freedom Quilts. What a powerful way for our students to explore the ways in which families and communities come together to follow a dream to freedom, and to share their stories and values with future generations. We read and studied the book, As Good As Anybody, describing the friendship and similarities between Martin Luther King and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. Our study and celebrations of freedom will continue through Pesach in April, and then Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day), in May.
Throughout our literature studies, students continue to develop vocabulary, compare, contrast and summarize stories, make predictions and retell stories. They practice their skills by writing, writing, writing.
Students are reading independently, in whole class “community” sessions, as well as in small groups. Learning that the movie, Shrek, was actually based on a wonderful little book by
William Steig, a favorite children’s author, they were able to compare and contrast book and film. They are identifying main characters and using adjectives that best describe them. In addition to reading fiction, students are reading non-fiction selections to gain insight and information, and to learn to differentiate between fact and fiction. We are monitoring the progress of each child and developing reading strategies appropriate to his/her specific needs. Additionally, we continue to provide phonetic instruction, as well as teach the use of context clues to understand new words and expand vocabulary.
In addition to the social skills the children practice throughout their day at school, most of our social studies lessons include literature as a means to stimulate discussion and obtain critical information. Through the continued study of civil rights, students are making connections with the history of segregation. Second graders also are learning fundamental mapping skills by mapping on the computer and creating maps of their own. They learn essential map reading techniques such as the use of the compass rose and map key. To aid in the comprehension of map symbols, the children will chart real life objects in areas most familiar to them in their own neighborhoods and communities.
Another important topic we discuss and practice in second grade is the concept of “Derech Eretz,” traveling through life the right way. Children love to know when they are “being good” and when they are “right”. We encourage conversation and example as children in second grade show they have become caring citizens of Cohen Hillel Academy and the world around them.
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Hebrew/Jewish Studies
Hebrew and Holidays
Students will read a few more stories in their Madregot Modern Hebrew storybook before the end of the year. They will read a short story about a boy who lives is in the Israeli and we will write a letter to him it will help them connect to the ideas of Yom HaZikaron - Israeli Memorial Day. They will end the year, around the holiday of Shavuot, with a story about why God gave the Torah on Mount Sinai. As with each of the stories we read, we begin by previewing new vocabulary through oral Hebrew, worksheets, writing, and games. Students strengthen the vocabulary they have learned thus far as well as continue to acquire new vocabulary. They complete each story with a creative project that allows them to demonstrate and expand upon what they learned.
Torah
We continue to follow Adam’s and Hive’s story in the book of Beresheit - Genesis. Students are expected to translate pieces of the Torah text into Modern Hebrew. The Students understand, and discuss sections of Torah text in their original biblical Hebrew.
Tefilot
The Second graders continue to lead each other weekly in both morning and afternoon services. This term students learn Al Broch. Students will be able not only to read and sing all the words of the prayer, but to understand major concepts of the prayer.
Math:
An important part of our second grade math curriculum is the focus on developing a sound understanding of numbers and number composition. Flexible thinking is often reflected in our students’ abilities to develop effective strategies for adding and subtracting numbers. Thus, the emphasis is not only on being able to add and subtract numbers, but also on having an understanding of mathematical constructs.
We recently began working on addition and subtraction of two and three digit numbers with regrouping using standard algorithms. The children will build on their understanding and rapid recall of addition and subtraction facts through discussion and practice of problem solving strategies, game playing, and coin combinations. Also, soon we will begin our unit on fractions. Our math program provides us with many tools with which to search, discover and strengthen our understanding of mathematics.
Science:
Despite the lack of snow this year, winter changes how things grow outdoors. With spring right around the corner, part of our study of plants moves back outside. Will the bulbs that we planted in the fall bloom, or were they eaten by the animals we saw in the bushes? Which plant will grow more quickly, the herbs and beans we plant in soil or seeds grown hydroponically? Through the study of plants and animals in various habitats we will explore the basic needs to sustain life: air, water, food, and shelter. We will also investigate the fascinating work of worms by constructing, observing and reporting on an worms in a classroom habitat.
Our study of simple machines and work continues throughout the spring. We will be drawing simple machines and then build some of our ideas in class using screws, planes, pulleys, wedges, levers, and wheels and axels. Students each keep a science journal to make sure that scientific methodology is learned and used throughout.
Come visit second grade and experience how exciting learning can be!
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