Week of 12/16

We just have a few more days of school until Winter Break.  Winter break begins on Dec. 23 and goes until Jan. 3.  The only homework students have over break is to read.  They are welcome to turn in their reading log this Friday if they are afraid they will forget.  I also sent home the Roaring Reader form.  This is a great time to begin to fill that out to get the Roaring Springs tickets.

We have been studying Christmas traditions in other countries.  Each country has an art project that goes with it so our room is looking quite festive with all the Christmas decorations.  Students will be bringing all their Christmas art home on Friday so you can add them to your own decorations before Christmas.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Students will be performing this twice on Friday, December 20th: 9:00 am and 10:00 am.  Students may wear their pajamas on Friday. They are doing well and are excited for the performance.

Thank you for all the wonderful props.  I believe the only thing we don't have is a sort of Santa coat (red coat).

I hope you all enjoy the Christmas holiday.  I am thankful to be able to teach your second grader.

Week of 12/9

I will begin with the most exciting news . . .

Performance
On Friday, December 20th, Students will be performing a Reader's Theater version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."  They will be performing twice. Once at 9:00 am and then again at 10:00 am.  Students get to dress up in pajamas that day. You are invited to come watch one or both performances.  I wanted to let you know early so you can mark your calendars.

Christmas Gifts
Mrs. Osgood's second grade class is selling ornaments for $1.  If your child wants to buy any, they are available all week to purchase.

Homework
This week normal homework came home.  Next week I will only be sending home a reading log.  Roaring Reader reading log came home last week.  It must be completed and turned in by March 20th in order to receive the Roaring Springs tickets.  Christmas break is a great time to get some of that extra reading in.

Props
This week we need to begin collecting props.  Anything that resembles the item on the list works.  We love homemade things.  If you have anything that would help, please send it in with your second grader.

Christmas tree
stocking
wrapped presents (empty)
stuffed dog
horns (antlers)
read thread
fire place
chimney
log (for the fire)
cans of food
bags or sacks (that Santa would stuff everything into)
cup
sleigh
Santa suit or something like it

Week of 11/18

This is our final week of November.  Thanksgiving week is next week so there will be no school from November 25th - 29th. 


We finished our unit on the diversity of animals.  We learned how scientists classify animals.  We learned how to calculate how many different species of frogs are in one place.  We learned about different types of birds and their needs.  We also got to learn about animals that live in cavities in our area.  We ended our unit by building a prototype of a bird feeder and presenting it to class.
Here are a couple images of our experience:

Cavities in the Cottonwoods Presentation

Students' bird feeder prototypes

Spirit Wear
The school is selling spirit wear.  Order forms are due December 6th.  Proceeds go to Mr. Boothby's STEM program.

Spirit Wear Order Form

Week of 10/28

October 31st: Book Celebration Day
On Thursday students may dress up all day in a character from Peter Pan.  We will watch Peter Pan and do Peter Pan activities throughout the day.

PJ Day/Marble Party
On Friday, November 1st students may wear pajamas to school.  Also, students earned another marble party and voted for a game day on Friday.  Students may bring card games or board games (no electronics) that they would like to play with classmates during our special game time.  We will be playing an assortment of games throughout the day. 

Conferences
Next Friday, November 8th, will be parent teacher conferences.  I sent a link to the conference sign up form yesterday.  I will attach a link here as well in case you didn't get that form.  I've received requests from 13 parents so far.

Conference Form

Science

Your 2nd grader is becoming a scientist in how they observe, ask questions and investigate to find answers.  They have been practicing these skills for a couple of months.  The past few weeks they have been learning about the diversity of animals.  They learned to categorize animals like scientists and they practiced identifying different types of frogs by the sound they make.  The next step is for students to become engineers and build something for an animal while considering the needs and characteristics of that animal.

Next week, we will begin working on engineering bird feeders.  The students will research local birds and their needs then build a model of a feeder that will meet those needs.  This is our first research activity so I will give students a lot of support.  If you would be willing to donate items for our feeders I have provided a list of items that we could use.  You don't need to go buy anything, but I know sometimes these items are already laying around the house.

If you would like to guide your 2nd grader in research, you could find information on birds that live in our area.  Discover what they eat, their size, how they eat, what kind of habitat they like (nearby plants and other animals).  Students can bring that information to class to share.  We will also be doing this research in class so the home research is only if you would like to learn more with your child.

Science Supplies (not required)
aluminum foil
8 oz paper cups
pipe cleaners
skewers
clothes pins

Week of 10/14

This is a short week.  Students don't have school on Friday, the 18th.  The following week is fall break, there is no school from October 25th - October 29th.

October 17th is our field trip to Linder Farms.  We are going to a farm so students need to dress appropriately.  They should wear closed toed shoes and have a jacket that is just right for the weather.  Gloves can be helpful since they have to pick up a pumpkin.  Students will go on a hay ride, go through the maze, pet some animals and select a pumpkin to bring home.

Because of the field trip there will be no Thursday math test this week.  We will resume after fall break.

Homework:  Homework came home on Monday and will be due October 28th.  If you are going to be busy over fall break and are concerned about forgetting about or losing homework, students are welcome to turn it in Friday and I will keep it safe.

Book celebration:  Students are welcome to dress up as a character from Peter Pan on October 31st.  We will celebrate the book.  We began reading it and students have been making a list of characters.  There are quite a few to choose from.  I will send you the list they made by the end of the week.

Science: If you would like to see some of the things students are learning in science there is a video under the links on the side of this post called Frog Mystery.

Week of 10/7

Upcoming Events

Field Trip to Linder Farms
We will leave the school at 10:15 on Thursday, October 17th.  We will arrive at Linder Farms around 10:45.  Students will go on a hayride, pet the animals, eat lunch and choose a pumpkin to bring home.  Make sure students wear closed toed shoes good for walking in fields, long pants and jackets appropriate for the weather.  It is a good idea to bring gloves to carry the pumpkins.

Fall Break
Fall break begins Friday, October 18th and ends October 25th.  There will be no school.

Conferences
Mark your calendar, conferences are November 8th.  I will send out a form for you to select times as the time gets closer.

Book Celebration - Peter Pan
On Thursday, October 31st we will have out book celebration.  This year, students may dress up as a character from Peter Pan for the entire day.  We will watch the movie and do Peter Pan activities throughout the day.

Week of 9/30

If you come into my classroom, you will see a few things you may have never seen before.

    I have learned that movement is essential to keeping or brains healthy and working well.  When we get tired, movement can actually renew our energy.  My classroom is outfitted with places that encourage students to move.  The colorful box in the second photo is a landing location for standing movements as are the colorful shapes in the third photo.  Students especially enjoy jumping on the hopscotch squares and the red lines.

If you come to visit and you see a 2nd grader hopping, doing jumping jacks, lunges or some other movement they are either doing it because it is one of the steps on their list of tasks: complete the facts, do 5 jumping jacks. . .  or, they know that movement will help them focus so they are getting their brain ready to work again.

I have posted a video below to demonstrate.  Some students are sitting at their desks completing the assignment.  Some are on the floor correcting their own work, the jumping students are moving between those steps while they are on their way to the next.

We all need to move and stretch our muscles in addition to our brain.  I've decided to build it into each 2nd grader's day.