Winter is Here!
Please label all of your child's outerwear with his/her name (mittens, hats, snow pants, scarves...). Believe it or not we have 3 girls with the exact same pair of pink boots. And, it seems like just about everyone has a pair of black snow pants. When your child wears boots to school, he/she MUST change into a pair of shoes. Please make sure your child has a pair of shoes in his/her book bag, or a pair of PE shoes at school.
Reading:
Just For You - Theme 3: Our World
Your child is reading From Seed to Plant, by Gail Gibbons. This informational book describes the cycle of plant growth in which a seed becomes a plant that grows a flower that produces more seeds.
Please encourage your child to read From Seed to Plant over the weekend. Vocabulary Power precedes the story.
Focus Skill: Reading Diagrams
Vocabulary Power:
beautiful-very pretty
nutrition-food part that is needed for life and growth
protects-keeps safe from harm
ripens-matures and becomes ready to eat
streams-small rivers; brooks
School-Home Connection: You might enjoy reading
these other nonfiction books by Gail Gibbons with your
child: The Milk Makers; How a House Is Built; Zoo.
Writing:
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! All of the students in 2BR brought in their "Slice of Life" photos on time!! We have started writing our first paragraph using a 4-square graphic organizer. All of the children have a lot to say about their photographs which will make for interesting reading once all are published in the 2nd Edition books. This will be a wonderful keepsake of their 2nd grade year. I have added a link in the right-hand column of this blog under writing: Writing with Writers. Your child may want to peruse this site to read writing by other students around the country.
Handwriting:
During the next few weeks we will be finishing up our handwriting booklets for printing. Students have learned to use correct posture and pencil grip while printing the D'Nealian alphabet. Please encourage your child to take his/her time while writing at home. In mid-January, we will begin learning cursive handwriting. I have added a link to D'Nealian Manuscript Practice Sheets in the right hand column of this blog. You can print out these sheets for extra practice at home.
Math:
Do-Anytime Activities: Unit 5
These activities are easy and fun to do with your child at home, and they will reinforce the skills and concepts your child is learning in school.
- Look for 2- and 3-dimensional shapes in your home or neighborhood. Name the shapes and discuss their characteristics.
- Use household items (toothpicks and marshmallows, straw and twist-ties) to construct and name shapes. Encourage your child to try combining shapes to make other shapes.
Science - Health and Nutrition
We are almost finished with our unit on healthy eating. the royal Food Family taught Little D the dragon how to be a healthy eater. May Watts 2nd graders learned that they need to eat foods from all Five Food groups every day to grow and stay healthy. Your child may enjoy visiting the nutrition explorations website link (right hand column of this blog Science/Nutrition Explorations) to play computer games that relate to our recent health and nutrition unit.
