During our reading blocks, the kids enjoyed reading Non-fiction texts. We continued to discuss the non-fiction text features (glossary, index, captions, labels, diagrams, heading, etc.) The kids also had the opportunity to begin thinking about main idea and supporting details. This is a concept that is ongoing for second graders and will be discussed several times throughout the year during reading groups with both fiction and non-fiction texts.
We began a VERY exciting writing project as well this week. We received a package from Santa with a "Help Wanted Ad" asking for kids to write a letter as to why they would be a perfect Elf to go help Santa in his toy making workshop. The excitement in the classroom was thrilling! We discussed character traits and the students had time to explore a list of traits and to pick the ones that they felt best described them and would be appealing to Santa. After picking their character traits, the students spent time working on a graphic organizer to support their chosen character traits. Next, the students began to write their letters to Santa!
In math this week we worked with place value and expanded form to compare 3-digit numbers. The children also had the opportunity to do another practice Open Response where they had to make sense of a 3-digit number represented by base-10 blocks by making trades or counting. Then as a class we analyzed explanations and drawing, and children revised their work.
Our Science unit "Materials and their Uses" is going very well! The kids are really starting to ask scientific questions and conduct investigations to "solve" their questions. Our first lesson this week had the children design bridges that were both strong and waterproof using various materials.The children did a "strength" test and a "waterproof" test and then created their bridges based upon what they learned during the testing lesson. Our second lesson this week was about how materials can be reused. The children had a blast exploring materials and trying to make "extreme designs" with the materials. For example: the children used popsicle sticks to create structures that were either extremely big or small. Please see some of the attached pictures of the designs that the children created.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Upcoming Dates:
December 22nd- Winter Holiday Party
December 23rd- Early Release- beginning of Winter Vacation
Our strong and waterproof bridges!!!!
Reusing materials to make "extreme designs!"
