Scribble Stones!

 

We read the book Scribble Stones by Diane Alber this week.  This sweet story tells the tale of a little stone who wants to do something important in the world but ends up being a paperweight!  The stone is determined to become something greater, and when he meets up with scribble and splatter, the three of them discover a way to spread kindness in the world.  

After reading the book, the second graders made their own scribble stones, creating flowers, trees, faces, and designs on the stones.  The stones were taken home to spread smiles to others, maybe when placed in a flower garden, or perhaps on a shelf, or maybe even as a paperweight!

Guided Exploration

 We use a technique called Guided Exploration to teach students second grade expectation for the use of materials in our classrooms. Last week, we explored Play Doh. Although students have used this material many times in the past, they learned and discussed the ways we can use it for learning, and take care of it this year. Students were challenged to show a way they could use Play Doh for writing, math or art. After playing with it for a while, we took a gallery walk to look at classmates' creations. Here are some of them:

Nutrition Classes with Ms.Bonny

Starting September 29, Bonny White from UVM Extension, began coming in to the second grade with the Book 'n Bag Nutrition Program. She will alternate weeks in each room, teaching the children about the  food groups and making healthy choices with regard to fueling their bodies. This week she was in Mrs.Verespy's class, and next week she'll work with Mrs. Kane's students. She reads the children a book, teaches them a game to promote physical activity, has them wash their hands, and then help prepare the food. Finally we all get to taste it. Last week's "Tofruitty Smoothie" was a huge hit! Bonny leaves each child with an activity bag to bring home, which will always contain the recipe we made that week, plus one other.  Ask your child about what they learned each session! Children love to cook, and will often try healthier options if they have helped make it!

Week 1 of Grade 2

 

Students enjoyed a guided exploration of pattern blocks. We are learning how to have fun and care for our classroom supplies properly.

Second graders reviewed their knowledge of pairs of numbers that add up to ten, by playing a familiar game called "Tens Go Fish", and learning a new game called "Tens in the Pool".

Students practiced for Readers Workshop time by reading silently while the teacher met one-on-one to listen to oral reading skills with classmates. 

Engineering Activity

 

STREAMS Wednesdays!

STREAMS stands for  Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, Math and Social. Here are some pictures of an engineering task from this Wednesday. Students were challenged to build a free-standing structure. We measured to see how tall they were, and took a "gallery walk" to see construction techniques others used.

Partner Poetry

During "Read Across America Week" we read Green Eggs and Ham as a group. The student writing response was to work with a partner to create a poem inspired by Dr. Seuss's rhymes. Pairs chose a type of food they would NOT want to eat if it were green, and made up some rhyming lines about where or with whom they would not eat it! In these photos, partners are sharing their funny rhymes.