9/26-9/30

Tracing each other's feet to make a barefoot island, on which the kids designed their own map complete with a key and a compass rose

Feet tracing

We got to watch the 8th graders launch rockets they made

Rocket Launch

Our last landform project involved the kids designing landforms out of clay and paint, and then labeling them. 

Painting landforms

We played a game similar to hot potato to help us practice our consonant clusters

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Memory: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Spelling:  on/ong: on, onto, fond, con, apron, long, song, along, belong, strong
Phonics: consonant clusters with the letter s
Grammar: verbs
Reading: The setting of  a story
Math: doubles facts plus 1. We will most likely have a test on Friday, depending on how our schedule goes for the week. 
Social Studies: What is earth?
Writing: We will write with the purpose of persuading others to come to our lands that we made this past week

Important News and Information:
-Thank you for all of the milk jugs! We will be able to make our art project!
-2nd grade will sing this Saturday at 5pm. Please send your child upstairs to the balcony, about 10 minutes before the service so the kids can practice through their songs with Mrs. Crumrine. 
-The end of 1st quarter is coming up fast! Please encourage your kids to be reading so they can reach their AR goals!

9/19-9/22

Looking for polygons in our classroom

The kids found a lot of polygons!

We did a photography unit this week in art

The kids looked at different examples of photography, took their own pictures, and then explored their photos using several editing apps. Our last day of photography included having the kids create a pic collage using their favorite pictures

Acting out the story of the Exodus. Those Egyptians just couldn't get through the Red Sea. God delivered his people!

Looking at physical maps

Practicing our keyboarding skills

The kids were able to write on their desks to practice their spelling words. It was quite a big hit:) 

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Memory: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Spelling: ake/er:

rake, take, lake, make, shake, her, water, super, person, tower

Phonics: consonant clusters -r

Grammar: Pronouns

Reading:  We will continue to learn about Character Traits

Math: TEST Thursday

Social Studies/Science: We will be finishing up our landforms unit with two different projects.

Writing: Write to Inform

Important News and Information:
-We are still collecting plastic milk jugs for an upcoming art activity!
-2nd grade sings on Saturday  10/1 at 5pm! Please arrive 10 minutes early if possible. We meet upstairs near the balcony. 

9/12-9/16

This week, we learned about pictographs in math, we heard the story of forgiveness while reading and acting out the story of Joseph and his brothers, and we had a lot of fun creating our own communities out of various recycled materials. Thank you for all of the donations! The kids loved being able to work together in order to create and design their communities!

Reading Together

Presenting our stories about a Wild Thing

Planning our Social Studies Project

Presenting another entertaining story about Wild Things

Going on a Scavenger Hunt and Looking for Nouns

Rural Community

Rural Community

Rural Community

Suburban Community

Urban Community

Looking Ahead to Next Week
Memory: Third Article of the Apostle’s Creed

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Spelling: old/ame: fold, hold, mold, sold, cold, flame, came, fame, same, name

Phonics: Long and Short U
Grammar: Proper Nouns
Reading: Character Traits
Math: Test Wednesday
Social Studies/Science: What is a Landform? What is Geography?
Writing: Write to inform

Important News and Information:
-No School next Friday 9/23, teachers will be at a conference in St. Louis
-Thank you so much for all of the donations of boxes! We are now in need of milk jugs for an art project. If you have any, send them our way:)
-2nd grade will sing at the 5pm Saturday night service on 10/1
-Trunk or Treat at Zion is Fri. Oct. 7th
-The Bobcat Shuffle is scheduled for Sat. Oct. 22nd.

9/6-9/9

After interviewing a friend and writing about it, the kids presented their friend to both 2nd grade classes

Working on their write to entertain story about wild things

Brain Break

Illustrating their wild things for their write to entertain stories

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Memory: Second Article (part two)

… He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

Spelling: ate/ish: ate, rate, fate, late, date, fish, dish, wish, finish, swish
Phonics: Long and Short I
Grammar: Nouns
Reading: Characters
Math: Test on Tuesday
Social Studies: We will be finishing up our communities unit with a project where the kids will design their own communities in small groups
Writing: Write to Persuade


Important News and Information:
-Please encourage your child to be reading their AR books!

-We are looking for recycled materials for upcoming projects in our classroom! We will be designing communities next week and need as many boxes as possible! Any cereal boxes, kleenex boxes, shoe boxes, etc., we would love to have! We are also looking for plastic milk jugs for an upcoming art project. 
Thank you!!!

-Spirit Day is next Fri. 9/16. Kids are welcome to wear their red Zion tshirts, an LHS shirt, or a VBS shirt, along with regular uniform bottoms.
-2nd Grade will sing at the 5pm Saturday night service at Zion on Oct. 1st. 
-Trunk or Treat is Oct. 7th
-Bobcat Shuffle information went home on Friday. This is a great event with some exercise, some good food, and a whole lot of fun! 

8/29-9/2

This week we learned about the world- the names and locations of the continents and oceans, as well as the name of our country, state, and city. We also began to use all four centers during literacy time, and met our chapel faith families for the first time on Wednesday. It was a great week!

In math we worked a lot with patter blocks this week-making observations about their size and color, and creating patterns and designs. 

Finding types of sentences in books

For our social studies centers, the kids worked with maps of the St. Louis Zoo, the city of Chicago, and google earth. 

For writing, we interviewed a classmate and wrote a paragraph about them. 

Interviewing friends

Sorting words by their vowel sounds

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Memory: Second Article of the Apostle’s Creed (part one)

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. 

Spelling: ick: sick, pick, tick, stick, lick, trick, click, brick, kick, flick
Phonics: Long and Short O
Grammar: Subjects and Predicates
Reading: Author's Purpose
Math: Lessons 11-13
Social Studies: Types of Communities
Writing: We will do a short writing project for each type of author's purpose- persuade, inform, and entertain.

Important News and Information:
-No School on Monday 9/5 for Labor Day
-We had our first trip to the school library this week. We will have library every Tuesday. Students are allowed to check out two books at a time. Students can renew their books as many times as they would like and they will automatically be renewed until they are returned.

I encourage students to look for books that they enjoy and are able to read, just like books on our classroom shelf. However, the books are not marked by reading zone in the school library and while I offer guidance, they are given more independence in book selection.  I tell them they may pick out at least one book to read for AR, and then they may pick out a "fun" book (but really, all books are fun:) ) Your child can take an AR test on a library book if it is in their reading zone. My hope is that students will become more aware of themselves as readers and will be able to identify books that they can read on their own as they grow this year. Please take a look at the books your child brings home and have a discussion with them about their book choice. Together, we can help guide them in their book selections that will meet their interest and help them be successful.
-The kids will need to bring a small box in for music class on Thursday to make a musical instrument. A kleenex box, shoe box, etc., will work great!