Second Grade Classroom Goals

WHAT YOU’LL SEE STUDENTS DOING

• working in cooperative groups in a social learning atmosphere
• making imaginative creations in the “invention center” using recyclable materials
• organizing ideas as a group using webs, KWL charts and Venn diagrams.
• brainstorming as a group building on their own knowledge and skills
• sharing their work and ideas with one another

THE CURRICULUM IS

• hands-on, with real life connections, and meaningful to the students
• a central theme using the Storyline Method, an innovative approach to integrating curriculum, including music, art, and science
• inquiry-based where students explore topics in-depth

LOOK AROUND THE CLASSROOM AND YOU WILL SEE

• A reading nook with many books available to students organized by authors, genres, and interest
• A writing area including students book boxes, writer’s notebooks and dictionaries
• An invention center with recyclable materials
• A computer area with learning games
• A math area filled with math games and math manipulatives
• A block area

THEMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Habitats: Owls and the Northwest Forest- an in-depth study of old growth forest and owls. This includes dissecting owl pellets and doing research on the different species of owls.

Weather: We will explore topics surrounding weather and will study the different types of natural weather disasters. A meteorologist comes in to talk to the students about weather in the Northwest.

Neighborhood: Students will create their own neighborhood by observing houses in their community. Students will design their houses through drawings and will create their houses out of clay.

American Sign Language: Students learn to sign their ABC’s, numbers, and learn to converse using some basic sign language.