Field Trip
Dear Second Grade Families,
Our field trip to the Pioneer Living History Museum is Friday, March 4th! Please login into Configio/Parent Portal to submit a permission slip for your child to attend. Here are some important details for the field trip:
We will be leaving school at 8:30am, spending most of the school day at the museum, and arriving back at school around 2:30pm.
Items to label with name in black marker:
• Lunch will be eaten on the museum grounds, and we ask that you pack an easy-to-eat lunch for your child (lunches will be in a cooler). Please, put your child’s lunch in a brown paper bag with his/her name written on it in black marker.
• Large disposable water bottles are ideal, as it is a long day. His or her water bottle for the day should also be disposable with his/her name written on the top.
• We would like each child to bring a snack that is wheat-free, orange-free, and nut-free (such as popcorn, carrot sticks, fruit, potato or rice-based snacks) with his/her name written on it as well.
• Please make sure all food/drink items are disposable, as we do not want the students to lose any of their belongings at the museum.
Please do not send money with your child. Children will not be able to buy their lunches or snacks.
You may send a hat and sunglasses with your child since it is an outdoor museum, and please apply sunscreen before dropping your child off at school. The students are still expected to wear their uniform, as they are representing our school.
The students and teachers will ride buses to the museum, while we ask parent chaperones to drive themselves. Carpooling is encouraged! We ask that you do not drive your own child to the museum with you, because the bus ride there is part of the experience!
We are very excited for our field trip and we know it will be a wonderful experience for everyone.
If you are willing to bring a cooler and ice, please let your teacher know!
Please contact us if you have any questions!
Athletic Field Day
Athletic Field Day will be Thursday, March 9th! Please make sure your child comes to school well rested, wearing proper athletic clothing (no pop culture, please), and with plenty of water. You may apply sunscreen as well as send a hat and/or sunglasses. This will be a fun day of sportsmanship with academics in the afternoon.
Important Dates:
February 21: No School, President's Day
February 25: Multiplication & Division Assessment
March 1: Science Test-Human Body
March 4: Field Trip to The Living Pioneer History Museum
March 7: "The Land of Counterpane" Recitations
Stanza 1-2 due Friday 2/25, Stanza 1-3 due Thursday 3/3, entire poem recited week of 3/7
March 9: Athletic Field Day
March 11: Half Day
March 12 – 20 Spring Break
Conversation Prompts:
What is 17 divided by 4? What is left over?
What is important to include in a letter? What must you write on the envelope?
What is the name of the trail settlers traveled on to the Pacific Coast? Why did people move west?
How does the digestive system work?
What is the weather like in the Big Woods now? (It is warmer, it is now springtime.) What do the Ingalls do now that the weather is warmer? (They go to the general store and buy goods.)
Academics
History
The students are loving the Unit on Westward Expansion! So far, they have learned that the Erie Canal helped carry people West, and we read about the invention of the steamboat. They got to re-enact the Pony Express for our Great Hearts celebration, which was a lovely way to incorporate movement with history. We will continue our Westward Expansion unit as we discuss the Goldrush, daily life in a covered wagon, the Oregon Trail, the building of a transcontinental railroad, and the Trail of Tears.
ScienceStudents reviewed the digestive system and are working on identifying the parts of the system and their role in digestion. We discussed ways we can stay healthy and the five food groups. Next week, we will examine some food labels and learn about making healthy choices. We will also learn about the importance of exercise before reviewing for the unit test. A study guide on white paper was sent home Thursday for students to prepare for the test on February 29th.
LiteratureNext week, students will read about summertime in the Big Woods. The Ingalls welcome many visitors now that the weather is nice. Pa finds a tree loaded with honey and retells how he was able to collect it. Ma sets about making cheese and the girls help her.
Grammar
The students will begin work on an informative paragraph about the Oregon Trail. They will learn that good writing undergoes the process of brainstorming, rough draft, edits and revisions, and a final draft.
Math
This week, students worked on multiplication facts of 4s and 5s. Next week, they will continue work with multiplication of 4s and 5s, and they will also study multiplication and division of 10s. If you find your scholar is struggling, here are a few helpful suggestions:
- Use items from around the house to create groups and demonstrate multiplication problems.
- Similarly, use items to create equal groups when dividing. Remind students that division is sharing equally.
- Remember to PECS (Picture, Equation, Complete Sentence) on Word Problems. Often, beginning with a picture is best practice.
- Create and study multiplication flash cards.
SpaldingScholars will continue to practice new spelling words and cursive letter formation by learning to connect letters through writing the phonograms. Please continue to dictate the spelling words and have your child rewrite any missed words. For the cursive practice, please have your child write each phonogram in cursive three times.
Thank you for all your support. Best-Your Second Grade Team
