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Second Grade Whole Class Lessons
Interested in what we talk about during enrichment? Check out some sample lessons here!
Weeks 1 & 2: Undercover
Weeks 1 & 2: Undercover
One of our thinking strands is deductive/convergent thinking. I am looking for students who can:
grasp concepts quickly
use the process of elimination
see the interrelationship of clues
use outside information to help interpret clues
defer judgment and consider all information before drawing a conclusion
We "read" Undercover by Bastien Contraire (quotation marks not because I'm a fan of unnecessary quotation marks -- although "I am!" -- but because this book has no words). This is one of those deceptively simple books. As soon as they see the cover, the kids know what will happen inside: a group of objects will be presented, and one won't belong with the others. They also think they know what I'll be asking of them: find the one that doesn't belong. Easy!
What I actually ask them to do is define the category in the most specific way possible, without being too specific. Only then can they decide which one doesn't belong. Let me show you what I mean.
The category is leaves.
The one that doesn't belong is the butterfly.
This lesson is waaaaay too easy for second grade.
Except...
The category is... animals?
Not specific enough.
Water animals?
Still not specific enough.
Whales?
Too specific... or is it?
Some classes nearly came to blows over this.
The central issue, of course, is: are dolphins and narwhals whales?
Do you know? Second graders do (at least they do now). You should ask!
Other questions the students contemplate while discussing this book:
Is a motorcycle a bicycle? Is a motorcycle a bike? Is it possible that the answer to these two questions is different?
Is a sting ray a fish?
Is a lobster an insect?
What does something need to have for it to be classified as a building?
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