Tracking our learning in 2nd Grade!

From the desk of Mrs. Schmidt...

We are "fall"-ing into some new topics this week!  What a great way to start fall with this beautiful weather we are having!

We are jumping into Unit 2 in Math in which we solved addition number stories.  We talked about the different kinds of addition stories we can encounter, such as parts-and-total in which two or more separate parts are known and the total needs to be found.  We also looked at change-to-more problems.  In these problems, we start with a number of things, then increase that number and find out how many things there are now.  We are using number models to solve these problems and we talked about the importance of including the label unit (books, feet, cm, children, etc.) with the sum for number stories.  The students enjoyed playing "Beat the Calculator," as they were motivated to show that their brain could be faster than a calculator for solving math facts!

This week we read a photo essay entitled "Meet Rosina."  Rosina attends a school for the deaf.  We learned that even though she communicates in a different way than us we have a lot in common! We enjoyed learning about American Sign Language and trying it out ourselves.  In reading this essay, we discussed main ideas and details so that we can summarize what we are reading.  We also talked about these skills in our guided reading groups this week.  Each of our leveled reading books explored how people with special needs are helped through the use of guide dogs and innovations in technology.  We had some very interesting discussions about these topics!

 The students enjoyed experimenting with sign language after reading "Meet Rosina" this week!

In writing, we finished our Autobiographies.  We can't wait to share them with our friends!  We took a writing sample in our writing yearbook this week.  We will write a sample each month and then keep track of our writing fluency by looking at the number of words written for the topic.  For each sample, we have three minutes to plan and draw to brainstorm ideas and then seven minutes to write about the topic.  I met with each of the students to conference about how they felt they did on the sample.  We filled out a writing rubric together in which they looked at the number of words written, their focus, detail, mechanics, spelling and overall work quality.  I was impressed how reflective they were about their writing.

We are having a blast with the "Motion" unit.  I mean this literally this week, as we designed and implemented experiments that "blasted" different-sized marbles and marbles of varying weights down a ramp on a track.  We experimented to find out which marbles would go the farthest on the track. We discovered that the way to make the collision force small was to use a shallow ramp angle or roll a lightweight marble down the ramp.  To make the collision force big, we used a large ramp angle, rolled heavy marbles down the ramp, or rolled more than one marble down the ramp. Ultimately, we concluded that the greater the force, the greater the change in motion.  Also, the more massive an object is, the less effect a given force will have.  We came up with some creative ideas and were very excited as we made new discoveries!

Reminder:  Picture Day is Thursday, October 2nd.  Please send in your child's picture envelope if you are planning on ordering pictures.  Thanks!

 The children worked together to develop an understanding about motion and force using marbles of varying size and weight. They also manipulated the incline of the ramp to increase and decrease the amount of force in each trial.

 The children continue to keep track of and note their learning in their science notebooks!