Second Grade Newsletter 2.3.23

Hello parents and guardians!

Great Hearts Day:

Great Hearts Day is just around the corner! On February 14th, we will be celebrating each other’s virtues. Our 2nd Grade Great Hearts Celebration will be from 11:45am – 1:05pm. Please do not send store bought cards or candy. All store-bought cards and candy will be returned home with your child that day. It would really dampen our spirits to have to disappoint a child in this way. We have other fun and thoughtful ways to celebrate the day.

The students will write a friendly letter and deliver their Great-Hearted cards via a reenactment of the Pony Express. Students will learn to Square Dance after reading about the dance at Grandpa's in the book, Little House in the Big Woods. We will also celebrate Arizona's birthday with a fun craft. 

 

Dress Code Reminder:

Just a reminder that per the Family Handbooks, "Boys and girls are permitted to wear one watch. This may not be a smart watch. Bracelets, rings, and necklaces are not permitted unless for religious reasons." Thank you for your help with ensuring that special accessory items are left at home and students are in dress code. The purpose for the dress code is to help students focus on their academic pursuits; certain smart watches have become distractions for students and those around them. Thank you!

 

Field Trip 

We are excited to announce that the second graders will get to go on a field trip to The Living Pioneer History Museum on Friday, March 3rd! This compliments our unit on Westward Expansion. Students will get to watch a Western Show, pan for gold, and explore the outdoor museum grounds. This is such a fun and exciting field trip for all of us!  We will be leaving school at 8:30am, spending most of the school day at the museum, eat lunch on the museum grounds, and arrive back at school around 2:30pm.   

 

If you are willing to bring a cooler and ice, please let your teacher know! 

 

Please see below for the link to sign up to chaperon. This will go live on Feb. 10th at 7pm. We ask that you only sign up if you or a member of your family has not already chaperoned a field trip this year for second grade. Thank you for your understanding!

 

 

Important Dates:

Saturday, Feb. 4: Father-Daughter Dance

Monday, Feb. 6: The Preamble recitation due

Tuesday, Feb. 7: History War of 1812 assessment

Thursday, Feb. 9: Galileo testing (Make sure your student gets plenty of sleep and a full breakfast so they’ll feel their best. Please arrive at school on time -- or early!)

Friday, Feb. 10: Math Test-Length

Tuesday, Feb. 14: Great Hearts Day

Conversation Prompts:

What did Dolley Madison save from the fire in Washington DC?

What does your epiglottis do?

What is a direct quotation?

Which is longer a cm or a m? Which is longer an inch or foot or yard?

How was Ma's story with the bear different from Pa's story with the bear?

What is the difference between "steel" and "steal"?

 

Academics:

Math

We will review both the metric and customary system for measuring length as well as how to use bar models to solve word problems involving length. We will have a unit test on Friday, February 10th. Encourage your student to estimate and measure items around the house. Students have an inch and centimeter ruler on the last page of their planner to help them complete homework items.

Literature

We will continue reading Little House in the Big Woods while learning about sugar snow and how Grandpa made maple syrup. Then, we will focus on the main characters in the book and the dance at Grandpa’s.

Grammar

Preamble recitations are due Monday, 2/6. Narration and Dictation Exercises will continue with excerpts from Nurse Matilda. We will review direct and indirect quotations. Students will then learn how to write a thank you letter and friendly letter.

History

Monday, students will learn about the ending of the War of 1812, as well as review for the assessment on Tuesday. Then we will begin our unit on Westward Expansion.

Science

We will continue our study of the digestive system, learning about the stomach, small intestines, liver, and pancreas.

Spalding

Next week we will begin learning Spalding cursive handwriting. Please note that Spalding cursive may be different from any cursive your student has already been exposed to. It will be important for them to make a habit of Spalding cursive strokes. Please be aware that homework and other assignments should not be written using cursive until we instruct the students to do so.

Hoping you enjoy a wonderful weekend!

Your Second Grade Team