Writer's Workshop: OREO Opinion Writing

In Writer’s Workshop we started writing opinion pieces. In the past week, our students have been busy at work writing about the strong opinions they have about characters in the books they have read. We week we started using an 'O.R.E.O.' graphic organizer to help us keep our writing organized and include reasons and examples to support our opinion.

We kicked off this mode of writing with a fun song to help us remember what each letter in 'O.R.E.O.' stands for, and what the word opinion really means! We can't wait to work on more fun projects with this style of writing!

Click on the link below to hear the song!

OREO Song

Science Investigation: Coastal Erosion

In science this week we have been busy exploring how we can slow Earth’s surfaces changes. Over the past month have charted and learned about slow Earth changes, as well as rapid Earth changes. This week, students worked in small groups to design a coast and creatively construct barriers to slow coastal wind erosion.

On Thursday we tested out our designs! Each group blew through straws to show gentle wind and we used a hairdryer to create strong winds. Ask your child if their design was successful in slowing or even preventing erosion!

Math Workshop: Balancing Equations

In Math Workshop over the past few weeks students have been working on multiplication tables of 2, 5 and 10. Throughout this unit students have learned many strategies to multiply and divide using models and known multiplication facts. In second grade students learn to balance equations using multiplication facts combined with addition and subtraction facts they know. We've been having fun using a number scale to visualize and check our balanced equations! 

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from our second grade class! I hope you are all having a fabulous vacation!

Here are some pictures from our holiday party last Thursday!

Friendship book swap

Mrs. Pike being brave at the reindeer toss station!

The kids made reindeer ornaments that glow

Making reindeer hats

Mary and her beautiful candy cane dress!

Kids were very excited about their new books from the book swap! Thank you parents!

December Celebrations

December was such an exciting month in second grade. We have a poem in the classroom called 'December Celebrations' that we have been reading:

"Every year at just this time, in cold and dark December,

families around the world all gather to remember.

With presents and with parties, with feasting and with fun,

customs and traditions for people old and young.

So every year, around the world in all lands and nations,

people of all ages love December Celebrations!"

Last week, Mrs. Eisen, a teaching assistant in our classroom, came in to read an animal fantasy book, Hoppy Hanukkah. She shared with us some fun food and game traditions her family plays when they celebrate this holiday. She brought in dreidels for each child and starbursts that they earned for prizes. Thank you Mrs. Eisen for teaching us about your favorite December celebration!

Elf Store Visit

We had a great time on Monday visiting the Grade Two Elf Holiday Store to decorate our elves. Now, we will use this character to help formulate a creative writing story in Writer's Workshop.

Today in Writer's Workshop, we brainstormed ideas for our setting, characters, magic power, problem and solution. More updates coming soon as we craft some creative stories!

Science: Erosion and Weathering Investigations

In science, we began our study of the many ways in which Earth's surface is constantly changing. Last week, students took part in two science investigations on weathering and erosion. First, we simulated the effects of weathering by shaking bits of chalk in small jars filled with pebbles and then water. The kids had a lot of fun working together to carry out this experiment and draw pictures of their observations.

Later in the week we studied the effects of erosion by gently blowing through a straw against a mound of sand. We each got to blow one time, then each blew ten times. Ask your child how their sand mound changed and what they learned!