2nd Grade MP3 Campus

School Data is open on the first of each month for parent reviews. These are due by the 5th. We hope the cut and paste grade level newsletter will be helpful to supplement your remote learning plan reviews. Thank you for submitting in a timely manner and if you need help, please reach out to your SLPC.

Topics: Fact fluency for sums and differences within 20, thinking flexibly with numbers, skip counting forward and backward by 2s, 5s, 10s, and 100s, coin value, estimation and mental benchmarks, beginning fractions

Activities: This month we worked on estimating what 100 of a small item looks like and then grouping them to help count accurately, we also focused on using previous estimates to increase accuracy, we learned a new game that helps to gain addition and subtraction fluency and make choices that involve strategy, and we reviewed the value of coins and then solved a story problem about possible coin values and created a chart to find all of the possible combinations. We then tied in our knowledge of coins to develop ways to have exactly one dollar and represent it on a 10x10 grid. Other math tasks this month included pictorial algebra problems, story problems, fact families, and second grade level work with equivalent fractions (fourths come in a variety of shapes).

Teacher Tip: Practicing coin identification, counting, and basic questions like what coins would I need to add to this to have a dollar are great ways to continue to grow your student's flexible thinking with numbers in a real life setting.

Teacher Info: Mrs. Kurashige, skurashige@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: writing process, using a To Do list, characters, setting, titles, editing for capitals and end punctuation, correct letter form (size, shape, hang hanging letters, only use capital letters when needed), goal setting with 5 Star Rubric, editing marks, compliments

Activities: This month was all about our story writing unit (personal narratives). Students planned their stories using a beginning-middle-end chart. They used pictures, words, and dialogue bubbles in each section to support having lots of details. Students then took their stories through our writing process (plan, draft, conference (revise and edit), publish). We have been emphasizing rereading our writing, adding more details, and writing strong titles (short, eye catching). Students are enjoying sharing their stories during our Author Chair and displaying their books in our classroom.

Teacher Tips: Did you see the 5 Star Rubrics I sent home? I hope you celebrated the skills that your child is consistently using. A great next step is to set a goal to master another area on the rubric. My hope is that all students are working towards 5/5 by the end of the school year. Please let me know if you need additional 5 Star Rubrics for home use.

Please encourage your student to enjoy rereading the books they write in class. Lots of families collect the books in a basket as they come home to enjoy over and over.

Teacher Info: Mrs. Giesen, jgiesen@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: Our learning objectives this month were the following: Observe the properties of a variety of liquid materials, record information about properties of liquids, play games to practice vocabulary associated with liquids, investigate and record the level nature of liquid as it flows from one stable position to another, investigate the appearance and behavior of liquids in containers, develop definitions of solids and liquids based on their observations and comparisons.

Activities: Students observed seven vials of various liquids and made observations about each. Students observed and compared the liquids as they were shaken, rolled, turned upside down, and spun. As a class, we came up with several properties that liquids possess (has color, colorless, viscosity, bubbly, translucent, foamy, sticky, transparent). We played Memory and Go Fish with cards representing the different properties that liquids have. Students learned the word level. Students observed that liquid in a container will remain level as it is rotated. They completed a puzzle that showed how the liquid remains level as a bottle of liquid tips over. We read the story “Solids and Liquids.” Students learned that liquids will take the shape of the container that they are in. They learned that the same amount of liquid can appear larger or smaller depending on the type of container it is in. Students explored the properties of solids when put into liquid water. Would they sink or float? They discovered the properties that a solid object may need in order to sink or float (hollow, open ended objects sunk, aluminum foil floated, wooden objects floated, plastic objects floated, metal wire sunk, metal screws sunk).

Teacher Info: Mrs DeWaard, hdewaard@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: Engineer and Design Process, components of robots (motors, gears sensors, etc.) and programing blocks. Computer protocols for Closing out programs, logging out and powering down, Strategies for following building plans, cam vs gears, how to access and navigate the WeDo computer application.

Activities: Each pair of students must practice logging in and navigating the WeDo programing application. It was exciting to see that after just a few class periods most students were able to access and navigate within the application to successful build and program simple machine mechanism in the “Getting Started” activities.

Specific Builds: Student teams free built models applying the concepts for gears, pulleys, and coding sequences. Students were given opportunities to provide feedback based on their individual experiences in this class. Information drawn from student feedback is used to adjust instruction.

Challenge Project: Moon Lander: Students worked with a partner to design and build a shock-absorbing system that will protect two “astronauts” when they land. Constraints: use only the supplies provided (1 piece of cardboard, plastic cup, three index cards, two ping pong balls (astronauts), six cotton balls, three rubber bands, eight plastic straws, scissors, and 24inches of tape). Constraints on design- cup opening cannot be restricted or narrowed in any way. Astronauts cannot be restrained (if tipped over astronauts should fall out). To test landers were dropped, starting at a height of twelve inches. Drop height was increased over multiple trials. Analysis of each structure’s success was based on the maximum drop height where at least one astronaut remained inside of the lander cabin (cup) on landing. Students evaluated and redesigned their landers to improve performance of their landers. Hands-on projects that require problem-solving and teamwork are the primary focus of this class.

Tip: Include Robotics, Engineering and Design topics and activities in your Independent Science Class review.

Teacher Info: Mrs. Brannen lbrannen@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: Frog and Toad readers theatre, phonic skills, foundational literacy skills, friendly letters, reading fluency

Activities: This month, our second graders dove into various activities focused on phonics and foundational literacy skills. These included working with long and short vowels, story sequencing, character quotations, syllables, rhyming words, compound words, sight words, and comprehension.

Through Reader's Theater scripts featuring stories like Spring, The Letter, and The Story from Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel, students collaborated with classmates and practiced reading with expression. The story "The Letter" inspired several friendly letter activities, including a class thank-you letter to Mrs. Siadal, editing a letter with common mistakes (like missed capitalization and punctuation), and writing friendly letters independently to surprise someone special to them—what great secret keepers! In celebration of Literacy Day, second graders teamed up with sixth graders to read books and create their own Frog and Toad characters from construction paper. Each second grader will soon write a thank-you letter to their sixth-grade buddy, fostering gratitude and connection. To conclude our Frog and Toad study in November, students will work in small groups to refine one of the Reader's Theater presentations. They'll have opportunities to practice these scripts at home before presenting to another class. This is a wonderful way for them to build confidence and overcome any nervousness about reading aloud to others.

Teacher tip : Soon, students will be bringing home scripts for all five Frog and Toad stories—perfect for some fun reading time together! Encourage your child to try reading different parts, focusing on fluency and expression. As our second graders transition from "learning to read" to "reading to learn," we’ll continue to emphasize sight words and repetition to build their confidence and expression in reading.

Teacher Info: Mrs. Elgersma- gelgersma@meridian.wednet.edu