Curriculum

Math: Unit 2

In this unit, students build their understanding of place value relationships by representing two and three digit numbers in different ways (including with visual models) and comparing the value of numbers. They will apply their thinking on groups of tens and hundreds to addition strategies for adding two to four 2-digit numbers (including problems with money) by choosing appropriate tools and representations.

Reading: Module 4

In this module, children will experience traditional and contemporary stories. Some of these are stories that may be familiar to children but have a new, interesting twist!

Children will learn that stories can convey messages to readers. Important lessons can be learned from the characters, and just like real people, characters in stories make mistakes and learn from what they do wrong. Readers can learn valuable lessons from the actions of these characters.

Writing: Year Long Unit

How do writers use their own recursive writing process to honor the readers that will read their writing? How do readers and writers learn about and use the conventions of standard English?

A study in the use of the writing process, including the revision and editing.

This unit is a study in the ways that developing knowledge of English conventions, grammar and usage enhance the writing process as students create a variety of texts. As a year long unit, these skills are designed to be taught explicitly, explored in a variety of contexts, and woven into students’ everyday work as writers. Students should have multiple opportunities to use their newly acquired skills authentically. Instruction in the conventions of English grammar, including understanding of sentence types, parts of sentences, and parts of speech will enable students to use these skills in their own writing with increasing attention to the task and situation. Through shared literacy experiences, students will explore how words and phrases can supply rhythm and meaning in a story, poem, or song. They will then be able to provide feedback to peers and strengthen their own writing through revision and use of the feedback of others. Students learn and practice revision and editing skills, including building an understanding of how to revise and edit for various purposes (for example functional writing vs. a published piece). As the year progresses, and student writing is increasing in length and complexity, they will continue to develop and strengthen their use and understanding of their writing process.

Social Studies: Unit 2 Students use maps, globes and other geographic sources to locate features that exist in all communities: physical features, political features, and cultural/human features. Some features help us to see how people manage and modify the environment. For example, we build roads, parks and buildings to meet our needs, and this is how we manage and modify the environment. Next, students identify examples of renewable and non-renewable resources in our world. Students describe the actions people can take to address consumption of these resources. These actions include: recycling, reducing, reusing or throwing away. Ultimately, this unit is about the impact of people on various places. Students might personalize the ideas in this unit by adopting a place (in the classroom, school or community) to make decisions about and care for. Note: Historically, 2nd grade teachers have focused on forest and grassland regions to provide context. However, teachers are encouraged to expose students to a variety of settings around the world. Please note that this is not an in-depth study of “region", as the concept of region is not introduced until 3rd grade.