We enjoyed a wonderful trip to Radke's Apple Orchard. The orchard was pretty picked over but we worked hard to find the apples that were left. The children toured the orchard in a wagon pulled by Mr. Radke and his tractor, used apple pickers, and enjoyed a picnic lunch on the orchard grounds despite the mosquitos! Thank you to the parent chaperones for all of your help! If you have any photographs to share, please upload them (large size) to this google folder so we can add them to our website. Be sure to see the Gallery for all the highlights.
Other apple highlights from the week include a blind apple taste test on Monday. Results will be revealed next week and the children will complete a "Favorite Apples" Graph in their science journals. We also read How an Apple Grows by Betsy Maestro and began learning about the life cycle of the apple. Important vocabulary words include blossom/flower, bud, seedling, stem, pollen, core, seeds, fertilization, stamen, pistil, sepal, harvest, and more.
It's amazing that after so many years of studying apples, I still learn new things! This year I learned that there is another name for an apple seed. I challenged the kids to see if they could figure it out. Sonali and Gaurav were the first to meet the challenge and their good detective work revealed that apple seeds are also called pips. Bravo!
WE NEED LILIES
As one of our final activities for our apple unit, we will be discussing the importance of the apple tree's flowers or blossoms. We want the children to examine and observe the parts of a flower up close and see the pollen that is so important in the fertilization process. Because of their size, lilies are the perfect flower for this lesson. We need of about 12 large lilies for Monday, October 6. Lilies can usually be found at your local grocery store. The bigger the better! Please email Ms. Harrison if you can help and so we'll know if we will have enough.
HELP WITH BAKING
Next Tuesday, we will be baking Apple Pandowdy using the apples we picked at the orchard. We need a few volunteers to help with the preparation and putting the batter together (with the children). We also need some ingredients. I have set up an Sign-Up Genius link if you'd like to help. The baking project will take place first thing Wednesday morning with prep from 8:30-9:00 and then again from 9:30-10:30. We hope to have the pandowdy in the oven by 10:30 and ready to eat as a lunchtime dessert with whipped cream!
MATH
We introduced a new addition strategy called +9. It is complicated to add 9 to any number and it takes a lot of counting up and lots of fingers! Instead, we encourage children to add 10 (which is a friendly number) and then subtract 1. For example:
8 + 9 = ?
8 + 10 = 18
18 - 1 = 17
So, 8 + 9 = 17
Children need to get very comfortable adding and subtracting ten from any number. They are most familiar counting by 10s (10, 20, 30, etc.) and have this pattern memorized to 100. Adding dimes are a great way to get kids to counting by 10s from any number and provide an authentic, hands-on way for using math in the real world. Grab some coins at home and have your child practice adding dimes to any amount. For example, have your child add a nickel and three pennies (8¢) and count 10s with dimes (18¢, 28¢, 38¢, etc.).
The strategies described in our newsletters are a part of our general second grade curriculum goal/expectations and ones that all second graders need to become secure with over the course of the year. We recognize that children have a range of math understanding and abilities. We work to differentiate our teaching so that the needs of all learners are met, whether they need challenge or remediation.
WORK ON WRITING
This week, we introduced a new component of our literacy curriculum. It is called Work on Writing. We talked about why we write and the kids came up with many great ideas (to communicate, share ideas, because it's fun). During our reading/writing block in the afternoons, children will Work on Writing almost everyday. They have writing binders and will decide what to write about. This week we talked about how to choose what to write about. Writers write about what they know best from their lives, about memories, experiences, etc. We have only just introduced this idea and for our first activity, we had the children brainstorm a list of writing ideas that they can look back at when they get stuck. If you are a writer, we invite you to come in this year to talk about your writing process - specifically coming up with ideas. We mentioned that many writers carry a "writer's notebook" with them always so they can write down their ideas and inspirations. We invite you to get a small notebook for your child too! Next week, we will give the kids a strategy to use when they get stuck on spelling.
PREPARED FOR THE WEATHER
Now that the cooler fall weather has arrived, please make sure your child comes to school prepared to enjoy recess outside. We go outside everyday. We recommend that children wear layers at this time of year and it's not bad to send light-weight mittens and hats. The lake breeze can be quite cold! Thanks for your cooperation.
Happy birthday to Lucy! We had a lovely celebration for her on Friday.
On Friday, we finished our read aloud, Gooseberry Park. Be sure to ask your favorite second grader how it ended! Ms. Atiya has another fun book ready to start next week.
Enjoy the weekend and stay warm!
Lisa