Science: Investigating Matter

Students have been engaged in our science curriculum learning about states of matter through hands-on inquiry investigations!

Exploring the properties of solids:

Students sorted solid objects by their different properties. 

                                         

Finding the mass of matter:

Students used a pan balance and gram cubes to compare the mass of two classroom objects.

Creating oobleck:

Can matter have properties of both solids and liquids?

Launching Reader's Workshop

Throughout Reader's Workshop in the past few weeks, students practiced expanding their reading selection by choosing a ‘just right’ book. We read the mentor text Goldi Socks and the Three Libearians, and discussed the “five finger rule”.

I have also expanded my reading expectations for students with book bins. Students choose books from the classroom library to read independently. Each day, the students will participate in a mini-lesson with the class, read independently, or conference with me in a small guided reading group. Each student is responsible for responding to our focus lesson and sharing their thinking with the group when we 'turn and talk'.

Writer's Workshop: Map of My Heart

In Writer’s Workshop last week we read a fun mentor text ‘The Best Story’ and students brainstormed ideas for a ‘Map of My Heart’. We will be doing a lot of writing in our classroom over the next few weeks to celebrate the fall and Halloween season just around the corner.

Welcome to Second Grade!

Welcome to second grade! Here is a tour of our classroom!

Every morning we take attendance and lunch, review the schedule of the day, and sing our morning song! Here are the lyrics in case your child wants to practice them at home!

Happy Summer!

It has been a pleasure to teach and learn from your children everyday. I feel privileged to have had such a wonderful group of students this year. As a class, we talk all the time about how we have morphed throughout the year into a family, or community of learners. I believe it is so important that students feel comfortable participating, sharing, and opening up in the classroom. This group has not only been able to do that, but also helped to guide each other on their journey together through second grade. They are such creative and inspiring learners. Have a wonderful summer vacation!

Check out our favorite parts of second grade in these Flipgrid videos!

Field Day Fun!

We had a great day for Field Day! 

Thank you to all parents who volunteered their time to come out and play with us. We spent 200 minutes playing games under the sun. Students worked together to play fairly and had great sportsmanship. I was so impressed by their kindness throughout the day. Here are some pictures! Enjoy!

Watermelon Feast!

Gloucester Maritime Museum Field Trip

We had an incredible day at our field trip to the Gloucester Maritime Museum today! We examined touch tanks, learned about categorizing and identifying whales, saw a massive whale skeleton, created a fish art print, and zoomed in on phytoplankton using microscopes! Thank you again to our awesome parent chaperones who helped to make it a great day! Ask your child what their favorite part of the trip was and check out the pictures below!

Touch Tank and Aquarium Station:

Whale Tails Station:

Whale Center with Mrs. McInnis:

Lunch on the hill overlooking Gloucester Harbor:

Fish Printing Station:

Plankton Lab: