Oct. 12-14

We had a short, but very eventful week in 2B. On Monday and Tuesday, we took time to create some artwork, experiment with an ipad app project, enjoy math centers, and read some interesting books. Then on Wednesday, our class went to the St. Louis Art Museum, where we got to see paintings by Picasso, Monet, and Seurat, just to name a few.  These are all artists that we will study this year. Then in the afternoon, our class traveled to the F.I.S.H. pantry where we dropped off at least 20 bags of donated goods, and then got a tour of the pantry. It was really cool to see how members of our community are serving others on a daily basis. It was also great for the kids to see how blessed they are, and that they can serve others as well. Thank you to all of those who helped organize this outing, planned our Harvest Party, and accompanied us on our trips. It was a great day, all thanks to you!

Guided Writing: We edited, sequenced, and wrote sentences.

Practicing their high frequency words by writing on their desks:)

Reading with a buddy

Using Front Row: a website for differentiated math instruction

Practicing fact families using dominoes

Speed Addition Game

Sarah brought a toad to show the class

We learned about warm and cool colors and painted leaves

F.I.S.H. Pantry

Carrying in donations

Harvest Party

Pumpkin Bowling

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Memory: "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6
Spelling: Chunk -ide, -eat
Grammar: Irregular Plural Nouns
Phonics: Consonant Cluster with s
Reading: Inferencing
Math: Lessons 31-35, TEST Friday
Science: Chapter 6- Earth's Resources
Writing: Write to Persuade

Important News and Information
-We will have a half day on Wed. Nov. 4th. If you would like half day care, forms were sent home and are due on Oct. 30th.
-Muffins for Moms will be Wed. Nov. 4th beginning at 7am in the church basement. Feel free to eat some breakfast with your kids, and stay for chapel afterwards.

10/5-10/9

This week we learned about Natural Disaster. The kids began researching information about these disasters using nonfiction books. Next week, the kids will compile their notes to create a project on the iPads to demonstrate what they've learned about how the earth can change.

We read "Creepy Carrots" where poor Jasper the Rabbit has a big problem...Creepy Carrots were following him! The kids brainstormed lots of great solutions for how Jasper could solve his problem. 

We charted what we know and what we hoped to learn about Natural Disasters

Plural Nouns Activity 

An around the room activity to practice plural nouns

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Memory: None
Spelling: High Frequency Words (No Test)
Grammar: Complete Sentence Review
Reading: Scholastic News
Math: Centers focusing on fact family practice and fact speed
Science: We will complete a project (using an iPad app called SnapGuide) about natural disasters and how the earth changes
Writing: Guided Writing

Important Information and News:
-On Wednesday, we will have our field trip to the Art Museum in the morning. Wear the red zion t-shirt and bring a packed lunch (peanut free) to eat in the classroom when we return. That afternoon, we will have our Harvest Party featuring a trip to the FISH pantry to serve in our community.

-I will have a box outside of the classroom for kids to drop off items to be collected for the FISH pantry: books, oatmeal, jiffy corn muffin mix, pork and beans, hot chocolate, fruit drinks, children's toothbrushes, children's shoes, jackets, and coats. Thank you for any donations you may have:)

-Picture Retakes will happen on Tuesday Oct. 13th. If you would like your child to have a retake, have them bring their original set of pictures, and if your child didn't get a picture taken in July, just have them bring their smiling selves:)

-Next week we will only have three days of school. Thursday there is no school due to parent teacher conferences, and Friday is Fall Break. Safe travels for all!

9/28-10/2

This week we learned about how a setting of a story is not just outside or inside, but is descriptive and includes a time (when), place (where), and environment (what). The kids each chose a minion sticker and designed a descriptive setting for their minion. Then in centers throughout the week, the kids worked on writing stories about their minion with directions to include a beginning, middle, and end, information on their character, and a descriptive setting. Be sure to look for these minion stories in their Homework folders from Friday.

In science this week, we learned how erosion shapes the land, causing the land to change slowly. We learned how water and wind can slowly change the surface of the earth over time.

Brainstorming short vowel sounds

Learning about primary and secondary colors

Mrs. Stuhr came to visit! The kids learned about the power of prayer

They made prayer journals with Mrs. Stuhr using shaving cream. 

We got a little messy!

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Memory: He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2
Spelling: ine/ice:

fine, mine, whine, line, vine, slice, mice, nice, dice, ice

Grammar: Plural Nouns
Phonics: Long Vowel Sounds
Reading: Problem and Solution
Math: TEST Friday
Science: Earth Changes Quickly
Writing: Natural Disaster Report

Important News/Information:

• Parent Teacher conferences will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15th. A sheet was sent home on Friday listing the time your family is scheduled for. Please return the bottom half of the sheet, letting me know if it does or does not work for you. Thank you!
• Field Trip forms for the St. Louis Art Museum were sent home on Friday. Please have the permission slip form signed and returned as soon as possible! Also double check that your child has turned in their permission slip for the F.I.S.H. pantry
• Book Orders will be due next Friday, Oct. 9th. Every child that places an order will get a brand new Geronimo Stilton book for free!!!
• End of 3rd Quarter is next Friday, Oct. 9th
• F.I.S.H. Pantry is in desperate need of volunteers age 16 and older on November 21 between 9:30am-4:00pm. Rhonda Coplin was hoping to organize a Zion parent outing. If interested in volunteering (for a half or full day) let her know! Thanks for serving:)

9/21-9/25

We had a good week in 2B. In science, the kids learned about the different types of water on earth. They conducted an experiment and found that salt water is more dense than fresh water. We had an eye opening lesson about the different layers of the earth. It was fun to hear their reactions to this new piece of information:) Finally, on Friday, we did our 2nd STEM project of the year. The challenge was to build a boat out of aluminum foil that can float, while holding as many plastic dinosaurs as possible. The kids each designed their own boat in secret, tested their boat, made adjustments to their design, and finally gathered around as we did the final test to see who's boat could hold the most dinosaurs. 

Scavenger hunt for polygons

Math Centers: Learning about Fractions

Science Experiment

Science Experiment

Presenting on the Character Traits of the book they read

Character Traits of the Pout Pout Fish

Character Traits

Character Traits

Testing our Aluminum foil boats

Our Winners! Sofia's boat held 68 dinosaurs and Lizzie's held 70!!!

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: Lesson 7 on/ong:

on, onto, fond, con, apron, long, song, along, belong, strong

Phonics: Short vowel sounds and consonant cluster with r review

Grammar: Reflexive Pronouns

Reading: Setting

Math: Test Friday

Science: How does Earth Change Slowly?

Writing: Write to Inform, Natural Disaster Books

Important Information:
-The end of the 1st quarter is a mere two weeks away. Be sure to sign up for a parent teacher conference time using the link on sycamore. If you are unable to attend, I would be happy to set up a conference with you the week following parent teacher conferences
-Our room moms have been hard at work planning a wonderful Harvest Party for our 2nd grade class! Our class will be traveling to the F.I.S.H. pantry to help sort donated items during the afternoon of 10/14. We are still in need of parents who would be willing to drive students to the pantry and back, and then to possibly stay and help with the remaining party festivities. If interested, contact Darla Hollowood, Rhonda Coplin, or Kristen Gross. Thank you:)
Field Trip Permission forms for this were sent home in Friday folders. Please sign and return as soon as possible! 

Sept. 14-17

This week we wrapped up our Social Studies/Science Unit on landforms and maps. The kids sculpted landforms out of clay, glued them to a plate, and painted their plates to design a landform community. Our final project for the unit had the kids tracing their bare feet to create a barefoot island. They designed their island community adding landforms, a compass rose, and a key. Next week we will begin a unit more focused on science.

Sculpting Landforms

Sculpting Landforms

Finished Landform Projects

Brainstorming examples of proper nouns

Mix and Mingle Game: Share with your partner 3 examples of a proper noun

Write as many math problems as you can that equal the number 14. 

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: Lesson 6 ake/er

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

Grammar:pronouns
Phonics: consonant cluster -r
Reading: Character Traits
Math: TEST Thursday
Science: What is the Earth?
Writing: Writing to Inform Final Project

We had a short, but good four day week in 2B. Jay J. is officially back at school! It has been so wonderful to watch your children care for and serve their good friend. This week we learned about the plot of a story, which will be continued next week. We also spent a lot of time learning about nouns in grammar, landforms in social studies, and the long and short i vowel sound.

Noun Scavenger Hunt

Looking for people, places, and things

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: List 5 chunk -old, -ame  TEST Thursday

Grammar: Proper Nouns

Phonics: Long and Short U

Reading: Plot Review

Math: TEST Tuesday

Science/Social Studies: Landforms

Writing: Writing to Persuade 

Important Information:

-No School Friday Sept18th, enjoy a three day weekend! Us teachers will be attending a conference:)

-2nd grade sings at the 8am service this Sunday 9/14. Meet in the upstairs balcony at 7:45am.

We had a great week in 2nd grade! We spent the week reviewing author's purpose and types of sentences, and also spent a lot of time finishing up our social studies unit on communities. The kids worked together in groups to design their own community. There were many creative communities including Villain World, Puppy Town, and Spy World--an urban community filled with "spy" scrapers and even a spy academy. I was pretty impressed with what they came up with:)

Reading in our classroom library

The students wrote an informational piece meant to inform the class about a book they've read

Spy World

Villain World

Cookie Town

Pumpkin Town 

Puppy City

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: Chunk -ate, -ish TEST FRIDAY
Phonics: Long and Short I
Grammar: nouns
Reading: Plot (beginning, middle, end)
Math: Lessons 11-13
Social Studies/Science: Landforms--check out the news below!
Writing: Write to Inform

Important Info and News

• No School on Monday for Labor Day!
• We will be doing a Social Studies project next week. If you have a shoebox lid (or two or three) laying around, please send it with your child to school by Thursday of next week! Thank you!
• a couple of classroom wish list items: expo dry erase board spray, paper towels   Thanks for your help!