Language Arts A&B:
The 2nd Grade Language Arts course will teach students to spell and write vocabulary, read more fluently, apply grammar concepts, and participate in handwriting and writing activities through thematic units. Students will also continue to master weekly sight words and reading and comprehension strategies to grow as readers. All Common Core 2 LA standards are met in this course.
Second Grade Science introduces students to the process of observation and how important it is to the study of science. Learners will identify their five senses and why they are critical to observation. Students will use these observation skills throughout the course as they examine many different types of animals and their environments. Students begin by observing ants in their own environments and continue onto learning the different types of birds. Students will come to understand plant and animal rhythms and will perform small experiments with plants. Stories will be used to teach the students about nature and interactions that humans have with nature. They will continue to learn about animals and their characteristics habitats, and needs. Students will learn through video, audio stories, hands-on participation and observation with nature. The teachers will conduct live assessments for the topics that had been covered throughout the week’s lessons. Grade 2 Science provides students with the opportunity to expand their minds and see for themselves the way that animals and nature are a part of their everyday lives.
Semester B of Second Grade Science begins with the students learning the characteristics of the Weaverbird and Swiftlet bird. Learners will come to understand the different groupings of animals including those with vertebrates, invertebrates and warm and cold blooded animals, carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. Learners will be asked to recall the five senses that they discussed at the beginning of the course and compare them to the senses of animals. They will also learn how animals communicate and the relationship between animals and humans. The course ends with the students taking a closer look at the characteristics of reptiles, insects, birds of prey, and fish. At the close of the course students will have a deeper understanding and appreciation of animals and their habitats.
Social Studies A&B:
In second grade, students in this course will begin to explore the basic fundamentals of social studies including culture, geography, and economics. Students will explore the Ancient Cultures of China, Africa, and the Celts. Students will explore these cultures through ancient folk tales and fables. Learners will create a photo book that describes the significant events in their own life. They will also examine the importance of geography and direction. Students will learn how to locate boundaries while using a world map. Students will identify the places that were discussed in the previous lessons including Africa, China, and the British Isles. They will develop a rudimentary understanding of map symbols as they locate continents, the equator, and oceans. Students will also learn to identify on a road map where they live, rivers, mountain ranges and lakes nearby their homes. Learners will follow a step-by-step approach for successfully completing each lesson, which includes storytelling, repetition, projects, arts and crafts, and videos.
The second semester begins by introducing learners to economics and the role that money plays in every civilization. They will take a closer look at the economy of the Celtic people. Students learn the difference between natural, human, and capital resources. Learners will begin to understand the exchange of money for goods and services. They will gain a basic understanding of what scarcity is and why it is good that we do not always get everything that we want. Students will understand these concepts by drawing upon their understanding of the desires/wishes in their own lives. Students will also learn about desirable human qualities through the use of fables such as “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” Learners will look at individuals who have made a difference in the greater community. Students will learn about Rosa Parks and Susan B. Anthony through short stories. The end of the course asks learners to examine the diversity of the community they live in. They will be asked to recognize the different types of people around them. Students should gain an appreciation for the differences around them and how having respect for others and being honest will contribute to society as a whole. Learners will follow a step-by-step approach for successfully completing each lesson, which includes storytelling, repetition, projects, arts and crafts, and videos.
During the first semester students will build fluency with basic math facts and add and subtract within 100 to solve word problems using strategic methods. Students will also manipulate numbers to 1000 using knowledge of hundreds, tens, and ones. Lastly, students with demonstrate arrays with repeated addition.
During the second semester students will use place value to add and subtract within 1000. They will use place value to estimate and solve word problems to demonstrate skills. Students will measure and compare length and represent it on a number line. They will work with money and time to compare value. Students will collect data and represented on graphs to discuss it. Lastly, they will recognize common 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional shapes by specific characteristics.