Second Grade - Curriculum
	Second grade visit to Suffolk Farm. Language Arts Second Grade reading and writing programs are interconnected. However, for the purpose of this curriculum outline, they have been divided into two separate categories. In this way, the program is more clearly defined. Reading Group Writing Reading instruction revolves primarily around a reading series. This series focuses on five critical areas of instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. In addition, it encorporates other elements of oral language, alphabetic knowledge, decodable text, listening comprehension, informational text and provides ongoing assessment. Leveled resources are also included. In order to meet individual needs, whole literature is provided to enrich the reading program. Language and writing skills are essential elements of the program. There is a literature base with which every child becomes familiar. These books are used as springboards for discussion and projects. In small groups, children will explore specific topics related to the literature and engage in in-depth discussions related to the book. Children will be grouped by ability for specific purposes. Small groups are formed to enrich or remediate areas of strength or deficit. Reading Skills Since we recognize that children are at different stages of reading development, introduction or reinforcement of specific skills is addressed independently or within small groups. Each child's development is carefully monitored. As needed, each child is exposed to those skills which will ensure them a solid foundation of basic reading skills. Children are encouraged to recognize and encorporate a broad range of reading strategies. These strategies include: reading for meaning and recognizing when meaning breaks down, self correcting, predicting outcome, picture cues, decoding within the context of a sentence, phonics, sequencing, main idea, identification of character development, pace, intonation, volume and expression. Independent Reading Children begin to read independently during the course of the year and begin to make appropriate independent book selections. Independent reading increases the time that children focus on reading and also encourages fluency. Read Aloud Charlotte's Web by E.B. White Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard & Florence Atwater Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl Writing Second Grade students are encouraged to develop their understanding of written language through a specific process of writing. Children use approximate spelling to create a rough draft. The rough draft encourages children's creativity by allowing them freedom of expression without fear of failure. They then focus on refining character development, sequence of ideas and plot. Teachers conference with individual students regarding specific pieces of work. Once the story is fully developed, students produce a final copy. Final copies require collaborative in-depth proofreading, editing and revision before being considered a completed work. Not all work will be taken to the final copy stage. However, work that is taken through this final stage of the writing process is expected to be neatly presented. Journal The student journal is intended to be a forum for expressing personal thoughts, feelings and creative ideas. Journal entry topics are both guided and self-directed. Memory Book Students reflect on the highlights of their Second Grade experience in their memory books. Children are expected to use standard spelling and to present their work neatly. These reflections are accompanied by illustrations. Writing Skills The writing skills which are introduced and developed include: sentence recognition, capitalization, punctuation (i.e. periods, questions marks, exclamation points, commas and quotation marks). Grammar includes: nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, homophones, contractions, alphabetizing, dictionary skills and writing a friendly letter. There is a focus on writing a story with a beginning, middle and end. Standard spelling is developed by increasing students’ awareness of appropriate resources. Children are encouraged to identify times when creative spelling is acceptable versus times when standardized spelling is essential. Second Grade students are introduced to D’Nealian cursive handwriting. As the year progresses, children will make the transition from using manuscript to cursive. Mathematics The Second Grade program places a strong emphasis on the conceptual understanding of basic concepts, thereby enabling children to establish a strong foundation for the future. Children must not only understand concepts, but also be able to work cooperatively and communicate their thinking to others using proper mathematical terminology. With the use of manipulative objects and writing journals, children explore a variety of concepts and develop more advanced logical reasoning skills. Students are encouraged to discover different strategies for problem solving and recognize how math relates to real life situations. The textbooks are: Charles, et. al. Second Grade Math. Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley, 2005. Students will: master basic addition and subtraction facts understand strategies for two-digit addition and subtraction create and identify patterns understand place value concepts look for reasonable estimates interpret statistical meaning through the exploration of graphing develop techniques for organizing information gain an appreciation for the usefulness of mathematics recognize and compare different geometric shapes understand the concept of fractions learn how to tell time and recognize time passage recognize and count currency form numbers, symbols and equations correctly understand multiplication and division on a conceptual level explore linear measurement retain information use logical approaches to problem solving understand when answers are appropriate Numbers and Graphing count and compare numbers order numbers understand the concepts of more and fewer skip count recognize repeating patterns pictographs experiment and tally bar graphs collect and use data fact families Addition addition stories join groups to add turnaround facts write number sentences explore doubles and doubles plus one make groups of ten missing addends multiple-step problems add one and two-digit numbers with regrouping add one and two-digit numbers without regrouping add tens on a hundred chart estimate sums add money add three numbers add mentally Subtraction explore and find how many more relate addition and subtraction use doubles to subtract use addition facts to subtract use addition to check subtraction multiple-step problems subtract tens with a hundred chart subtract one and two-digit numbers without regrouping subtract one and two-digit numbers with regrouping estimate differences subtract mentally subtract money Place Value and Patterns estimate numbers record numbers write numbers using words explore 100 skip count explore the concepts of before, after and between find the nearest ten compare numbers order numbers use ordinal numbers odd and even numbers Money count dimes, nickels, pennies, quarters, half dollars and dollars coin combinations add money subtract money recognize coins and their values Time estimate time tell time to the hour elapsed time tell time to five minutes tell time to the half hour tell time to the quarter hour Measurement use nonstandard units inches, feet and yards explore area explore perimeter weight measurements cups, pints and quarts (liquid measurements) Geometry explore solid and plane figures make shapes understand symmetry recognize geometric shapes Fractions equal and unequal parts unit fractions estimate parts of a whole Multiplication and Division Concepts join equal groups understand the relationship between addition and multiplication build arrays create basic multiplication sentences share and divide make equal groups Science Our focus in science is to make children more aware of the physical world around them and to gain an appreciation for their environment. Children are encouraged to heighten their observation skills and to use those skills to accurately record information. Children use prior knowledge to recognize problems, hypothesize solutions and work toward broadening their understanding of cause and effect relationships. Children are encouraged to explore their natural curiosity through research and experimentation. Field experiences allow children to make personal connections to the concepts studied within the classroom. Plants •Locate parts of a plant •Functions of parts •Seed scattering •Flowering plants •Plants without flowers •Adaptations of plant to their habitat How Living Things Grow and Change •Distinguish between living and nonliving •Define life cycles •Life cycle of an animal •Life cycle of an insect •Life cycle of a plant •Measuring time with life cycles Earth’s Land, Air, and Water •Define natural resources •Classify natural resources •Classify nonrenewable resources •Types of soil •Erosion of soil •Importance of recycling Fossils and Dinosaurs •Formation of fossils •Create fossil imprints •Paleontologists •Extinct species •Learning from fossils (Dinosaurs) •Classification of dinosaurs Energy •Define energy •Sun: source of our energy •Uses of energy •Conductors and insulators   Forces and Motion •Describe an object’s position • Identify relationship between position and motion •Importance of friction •Friction causes heat •Observe the force of gravity •Importance of gravity on Earth Matter and its Properties •Observe properties of matter •Compare the phases of matter •Build models of atoms •Measure mass, volume, and density Changes in Matter •Observe physical changes •Observe chemical changes •Make predictions about changes •Create a mixtures •Separate mixtures Technology in our World •Define technology •Inventions •Benefits in your life •Design an invention   Social Studies The focus in social studies is to make children more aware of the world around them. The goal is to increase children's awareness of the differences that exist among people and to create respect for their fellow man. Understanding historic and geographic concepts helps children gain appreciation for the development of diverse cultures. Children who understand the world around them are better equipped to handle diversity in their lives as it arises and to understand their place in a global community. Native Americans Our study focuses on understanding the various regional groups of Native Americans. We then study tribes from various regional groups. Children begin to distinguish the culture and lifestyle of Native Americans from different regions. Native American Study Literature Brother Eagle, Sister Sky by Susan Jeffers Christopher Columbus by Stephen Krensky Clamshell Boy by Terri Cohlene Dancing Drum by Terei Cohlene Encounter by Jane Yolen Ka-Ha-Si and the Loon by Terri Cohlene Little Firefly by Terri Cohlene Little Runner of the Long House by Betty Baker Love Flute by Paul Goble Meet the North American Indians by E. Payne Quillworker by Terri Cohlene Raven (A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest) by Gerald Mcdermott The Legend of the Indian Paint Brush by Tomie DePaola The Warrior Maiden- A Hopi Legend by Ellen Scheeter Turquoise Boy- A Navajo Legend by Terri Cohlene Trips Garvie’s Point Museum (when available) Continents Through books, children are introduced to different perspectives and cultures. This allows children to understand geography and cultural differences. In addition, children are introduced to direction and basic map skills. As a culminating activity to our continent study, the children have had the opportunity to participate in a hands-on research project. On a 17’ X 24’ world map, the children research, problem-solve and actively construct geographical features found around the world. Continent Study Literature Anansi/The Adventures of Spider by Joyce C. Arkhurst Anansi’s Narrow Waist by Len Cabral Anansi and The Moss Covered Rock by Eric A. Kimmel The Lion Dancer (A Chinese New Year Story) Lon Po Po- A Red-Riding Hood Story From China by Ed Young I Hate English by Ellen Levine Rain Forest by Helen Cowcher Rain Forest Secrets by Arthur Dorros Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters-An African Tale by John Steptoe A Trip to Mini Town by Joanne Nelson A Tale of Antarctica by Ulco Glimmerveen Hill Of Fire by Thomas P. Lewis Why The Sun and The Moon Live In The Sky by Elephinstone Dayrell Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard & Florence Atwater At The Crossroads by Rachel Isadora My Grandmother Lived in Gooligulch by Graeme Base Playing With the Penguins and Other Adventures in Antarctica by Ann McGovern The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell