Grade 2

“Communities”

In second grade, students dive deep into the study of anthropology and how anthropologists think. The theme operates under the following essential questions:

• Who am I?
• Who are we? What is a community?
• How do communities thrive?

Our goal is for children to recognize the enjoyment that reading brings and the patterns that exist within language for decoding and spelling. The reading program combines a whole-language and guided reading approach with phonetic instruction utilizing the Project Read curriculum. Children read individually, as well as to peers and teachers, and meet in small language arts groups. They express their understanding and appreciation of literature through dramatic interpretations and adaptations of stories. Through lively discussions, children make connections between characters and the plot and learn to recognize patterns of language. Students dictate and write stories using their own resources for content and spelling. As children write, they learn that recording their experiences makes lasting impression. They are exposed to the steps of the writing process: writing rough drafts, conferencing with peers and teachers, and revising their work.

In second grade, students expand their addition and subtraction fluency up to 1,000, master three-digit place value, and begin working with standard measurement tools, time, money, and foundational multiplication concepts.

• Unit 1: Adding, Subtracting, and Working with Data | Creating picture/bar graphs and strengthening addition and subtraction fluency within 20.
• Unit 2: Adding and Subtracting within 100 | Building flexible mental strategies to solve one- and two-step story problems.
• Unit 3: Measuring Length | Using standard tools (rulers, tape measures) to measure in inches, feet, centimeters, and meters.
• Unit 4: Addition and Subtraction on the Number Line | Visualizing numbers, distance, and operations using an open number line.
• Unit 5: Numbers to 1,000 | Deepening place value understanding with hundreds, tens, and ones up to 1,000.
• Unit 6: Geometry, Time, and Money | Identifying 3D shape attributes, reading analogue clocks to 5 minutes, and counting coin values.
• Unit 7: Adding and Subtracting within 1,000 | Using place value strategies to add and subtract three-digit numbers.
• Unit 8: Equal Groups | Foundations for multiplication: exploring odd/even numbers and building rectangular arrays.
• Unit 9: Putting It All Together | Reviewing key grade-level fluency, measurement, and problem-solving concepts.

In second grade, the focus is on making abstract digital concepts and tools as concrete as possible. For example, we focus on introducing coding with physical robots, we introduce animation using real world items in stop-motion animation, and work with electronic circuits by creating light-up paper cards with copper tape. We are working on creating a developmentally appropriate foundation for digital skills with physical, real world tools.

Examples of technology units include:

• Programming story animations in Scratch
• Digital art / comic strips
• Stop-motion animation
• Photography
• Digital music
• Obstacle course for Bee-Bots

Second grade art is a sequential program integrating the life of a student and thematic studies with an in-depth study of studio art. Projects rotate according to the classroom theme for the year.

Examples of topics of study in Art include:

• Shapes, Marks, and Lines – animal drawing, sequential drawings, facial expressions
• Color – Review of color mixing with primary and secondary colors plus black and white, symbolic use of color in facial expression drawings
• Texture and Pattern – paper relief faces, surface textures in clay constructions
• 3-D Forms – imaginary construction with wood, clay animal sculptures, plaster puppets

The second grade Spanish curriculum encourages students to communicate with growing confidence and independence, while exploring how the theme “Communities” is woven throughout the Spanish speaking world. Through stories, conversations, movement, and role-playing, students continue developing their listening and speaking abilities. They practice decoding familiar and unfamiliar words, reading simple phrases and sentences, and composing basic sentences. The goal is to build enthusiasm for using Spanish in familiar contexts while deepening students’ appreciation for other cultural communities.

The Physical Education program is developmental and skill-based. Through movement the students learn how to activate and control the many ways in which their bodies move. Students practice skills through frequent repetition.

Examples of skills include:

• Manipulative skills – throw, catch, kick, dribble, strike
• Balance, coordination – tumbling, animal walks, partner activities
• Locomotor skills – run, hop, skip, jump, gallop
• Social skills and positive self-concept – cooperative games
• Spatial skills and body awareness – creative exploration
• Sense of rhythm – dance, parachute, lumni stick play, rope jumping

Second grade students are encouraged to use the library for its quiet space, to treat library materials responsibly, and to enjoy books. The main goals of the library program are to have students gain an appreciation for a “good story” (literature appreciation), and to recognize that information can satisfy one’s curiosity (information literacy). Children can begin to be able to find resources independently in the library and do more involved tasks such as online book searches. Children are encouraged to enjoy themselves while observing library etiquette so others can concentrate and use their time well.

Examples of Library skills include:

• Select books of interest at appropriate reading level
• Use illustrations to acquire a greater understanding of the story
• Recognize when information is needed and describe what type of information can be used to solve a problem or answer a question
• Sort information in meaningful ways

Second grade lessons help students better understand the connection between emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Students build empathy, communication skills, and respectful conflict-resolution strategies while developing confidence and self-awareness. Lessons also support goal setting, emotional regulation, personal responsibility, understanding the importance of trusted adults, and making safe and respectful choices.