Second Grade

Language Arts Students continue to learn and practice the fundamental rules of phonics and their application in spelling, reading and writing. Phonemic awareness as well as sight word recognition is reinforced. Students are introduced to the use of the dictionary and the thesaurus through which they expand spelling and vocabulary and become familiar with synonyms, antonyms and homophones. In English grammar, students learn to write increasingly more complex sentences using varied vocabulary. Students are taught to identify paragraphs, including main idea and topic sentence, and are expected to use paragraph structure in their expository and creative writing. Emphasis is placed on accuracy in spelling, punctuation and sentence structure. Students learn to identify subject and predicate as well as parts of speech.

In reading, second grade students are introduced to a variety of literary genres while learning the characteristics that differentiate them. Through these sources, students learn to extract information – both explicit and implied, to predict reasonable conclusions and to organize and summarize a sequence of events. Emphasis is placed on written comprehension with the inclusion of correct grammatical sentence structure, spelling and handwriting. Second grade students learn to present book reports both orally and in writing.

Mathematics continues to reinforce the basic math skills in addition and subtraction while applying these skills to more complex operations. They are taught recognition and use of cardinal and ordinal numbers, comparison of numbers and the identification of place value. Students learn to recognize the underlying concepts and practical application of time, money, measurement, graphing, fractions, patterns and fundamentals of geometry. Second grade students learn the multiplication tables through twelve. They learn to divide by two.

Social Studies includes the study of Plymouth Colony, the Pilgrims, the first Thanksgiving and the Wampanoag Indians. Students also study the history, cultures and traditions of Native American tribes (exclusive of California). Cultural traditions throughout the world are also studied through an emphasis on holidays and the traditional breads, foods, crafts and costumes. Second grade students learn basic map skills including directions and identification of continents and bodies of water. Students are introduced to non-fiction resources for the transition from project based curriculum to textbook guided learning.

Science continues to expand the students’ knowledge of scientific concepts, terms and procedures as they study the life cycle, light properties, motion, magnetism, sound, soil and rocks. Students learn to accurately record data from field studies and make proper laboratory write-ups.

Foreign Language adds the reading and writing of Spanish. Students learn the alphabet, names of colors, numbers to twenty, days of the week and months of the year. They learn simple nouns, adjectives and verbs. Children are taught customs and cultures and learn to sing traditional songs.

Technology continues to work on proper computer use and typing with Adobe Photoshop Elements, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint and the Internet.

Physical Education refines and expands students’ motor, eye-hand and eye-foot coordination skills as they rotate through various games and activities including basketball, hockey, soccer, bowling, track, gymnastics and dance.

Art includes self portraits and creating two identical paints using opposite color schemes and stenciling. Native American and Aboriginal art and story telling are explored and students make clay pinch pots and create a print plate using Native American and personal symbols.

Music introduces reading from a musical score and students learn the names of the notes and how to recognize them on the treble clef. Students listen to and identify orchestral instruments. They learn songs and dances, including a Native American Powwow.