Brrr! The cold has arrived and it looks as if it's here to stay for awhile. Please make sure your child comes to school prepared for outdoor play next week. We always take into account the temperature and windchill and won't go out if it's dangerous. Be sure to ask your child about how the children in Alaska enjoy recess - at 20 degrees below zero!
We continued learning about snowflakes and have our snowcatchers ready to use whenever the flakes start to fly! We read a book called The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder by Mark Cassino and learned that all snowflakes begin in very high, very cold clouds. They begin from a speck of dust, dirt, ash, bacteria,or pollen. That speck becomes the center of the snow crystal. Water vapor in clouds attach to the speck and form water droplets. The droplets freeze and grow into a hexagon-shaped ice crystal. We also learned that a snowflake stops growing after it leaves the cloud. See if your second graders can tell you how/where snowflakes form. This week, we will learn more about symmetry in math and the children will create their own snowflakes on the iPads. Let it snow!
We continued learning about snowflakes and have our snowcatchers ready to use whenever the flakes start to fly! We read a book called The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder by Mark Cassino and learned that all snowflakes begin in very high, very cold clouds. They begin from a speck of dust, dirt, ash, bacteria,or pollen. That speck becomes the center of the snow crystal. Water vapor in clouds attach to the speck and form water droplets. The droplets freeze and grow into a hexagon-shaped ice crystal. We also learned that a snowflake stops growing after it leaves the cloud. See if your second graders can tell you how/where snowflakes form. This week, we will learn more about symmetry in math and the children will create their own snowflakes on the iPads. Let it snow!
VALENTINE'S DAY
We will be celebrating Valentine’s Day on Thursday, February 14th. Please see the attached note for a list of names of children and teachers for valentine's day cards so you and your child can plan ahead. The room parents will be helping us with our celebration. Details coming soon!
We will be celebrating Valentine’s Day on Thursday, February 14th. Please see the attached note for a list of names of children and teachers for valentine's day cards so you and your child can plan ahead. The room parents will be helping us with our celebration. Details coming soon!
valentineslist2012-13.pdf |
MATH
We continue to work on solving number stories (number problems). The children are learning to recognize clue words that tell them whether to add or subtract, such as how many in all, how many are left, how many more/less. Children read and solve number stories and must explain their mathematical reasoning using pictures, numbers or words. We also challenge the children to write a number model or number sentence (an equation) with each question. Sometimes number stories involve multiple steps and the children are learning to break down each step down before trying to solve the final answer. Here is an example:
I have 4 red cups, 6 green cups and 5 blue cups. I have 9 saucers.
How many more green cups do I have than red cups?
How many more saucers do I need so that each cup has one?
To work on these concepts, we have also introduced how to read a thermometer. The children now recognize that the "tick marks" on a thermometer count by 10s, 2s, or 1s. Our number stories with temperature involve how the temperature changes during the day (the highs and lows). If you have opportunities for your child to read a thermometer at home, please encourage him/her to do so!
OTHER CLASSROOM LEARNING
Be sure to ask your second grader about his/her self-portrait in Computer class, the bossy-r spelling pattern (-ar and -or), and our visit from author Roxie Munro!
Enjoy the long weekend! We hope that your child will be able to tune into the Inauguration tomorrow.
We continue to work on solving number stories (number problems). The children are learning to recognize clue words that tell them whether to add or subtract, such as how many in all, how many are left, how many more/less. Children read and solve number stories and must explain their mathematical reasoning using pictures, numbers or words. We also challenge the children to write a number model or number sentence (an equation) with each question. Sometimes number stories involve multiple steps and the children are learning to break down each step down before trying to solve the final answer. Here is an example:
I have 4 red cups, 6 green cups and 5 blue cups. I have 9 saucers.
How many more green cups do I have than red cups?
How many more saucers do I need so that each cup has one?
To work on these concepts, we have also introduced how to read a thermometer. The children now recognize that the "tick marks" on a thermometer count by 10s, 2s, or 1s. Our number stories with temperature involve how the temperature changes during the day (the highs and lows). If you have opportunities for your child to read a thermometer at home, please encourage him/her to do so!
OTHER CLASSROOM LEARNING
Be sure to ask your second grader about his/her self-portrait in Computer class, the bossy-r spelling pattern (-ar and -or), and our visit from author Roxie Munro!
Enjoy the long weekend! We hope that your child will be able to tune into the Inauguration tomorrow.