Happy Holidays!

Hello Families,

Our classroom has been busy the last few weeks. We have been preparing for the Winter Concert, working on special secret projects, and having a lot of fun!

Here we are enjoying the huge snow banks behind the school!

In Reading and Writing Workshop, we have been focusing on non-fiction.  We have been learning about all of the non-fiction text features such as: table of contents, glossary, index etc.  We have learned how to read for facts and we have begun writing our own "All About" books.  These informational books are based on subjects that we are experts on.  Within this writing unit , we will craft chapter books!

Hunting through informational books for text features

Our Published Books: Narratives

We are Authors!

Mathematics:  In math, we have begun learning strategies for adding two digit numbers.  We are learning how to use a number line and the splitting strategy.  We are also learning about 2D shapes: their attributes and symmetry.

We are estimating and grouping popsicle sticks to use for adding.

Coding:  This month CES is celebrating Coding with a Coding Dance Party.  We had a special class with Ms. Horton where we learned more about the world of coding.  We had four stations where we learned more about how to write computer code!

In science, we continue to learn more about landforms and waterways.  We created an experiment to see how canyons form.  We also had an engineering task where we tried stop a landslide.  It was very engaging.

Trying to stop a landslide

Building a Plateau

Creating Canyons

An Erosion Relay Race!

Genius Hour: Creating Boats!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday Break! 

Being Thankful

Hello Families,

I wanted to let you know how very thankful I am for my wonderful students this year.  It is such a pleasure to teach this lively group.  They child adds so much to our classroom community.  I am excited to get back to school and see everyone!

Before our days off we started our first big science unit.  We are learning about landforms and waterways.  So far, we learned about how rivers are formed and erosion.  We had a lot of fun experimenting!

Experiment 1: We made mountains out of paper.  We then made it rain on the mountains to see where the water flows.

Experiment 2:  We tried to figure out why the sand at this one beach in California is purple.  We learned about how rocks break down and erode.

We are breaking down paper rocks.

The rocks are travelling down the river to the ocean.

They will become sand.

Just so you know- I will be sending a sign up for parent teacher conferences.  I will be holding conferences over several days.  If these times do not work for you please let me know.

Mrs. Batten

Budding Authors!

Busy Editing!

Writing Workshop: Our class has been hard at work on our personal narratives.  Each child has chosen their favorite story that they have written so far this year.  They learned how to revise and edit the text.  Now we are busy publishing.  Students are  typing their stories, adding craft, illustrating and creating covers.   This is an exciting process and a lot of fun!

Illustrating our Printed Stories

Typing using Google Classroom

Using Wallpaper to Create the Hard Cover

Checking our Spelling

More Revising

Measuring the Fun!:  In math, we have been working on measuring and place value.  Our work has been connected to the story Jack and the Beanstalk.  Our class has been measuring giant beans and the perimeter of Jack's garden bed.  This week we made our own number lines or measuring tapes to measure items in the classroom.

Creating Measuring Tapes

Measuring perimeter

Measuring Jack's Magic Beans

Making sets on ten Unifix cubes to measure

Teamwork

Reading Workshop:  During reading this week, we practiced reading Elephant and Piggie books fluently and with expression.  We also looked closer at dialogue and how to use quotation marks.  Students are enjoying working within their reading groups.

Genius Hour:  The students have enjoyed creating pumpkin patch marble mazes, bee  bots mazes, and a season craft in our last few genius hours.

Using our Engineering skills:  Designing a Marble Maze

Learning about Coding with Bee Bots

We created mazes and then programed our Bees to go in them!

We had to use our measurement skills to create 6 inch blocks on the path.

More Teamwork across Second Grade Classes

More Genius Hour Fun!:  Next week we will invite Ms. Correa to our classroom to teach us Spanish!  If you have a skill or activity you would like to share with second graders... please let us know.  We would love to have you!