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Second Grade Curriculum Overview
The Second Grade Learning Environment The second grade program continues the journey of learning as students seek to understand the world around them. The classroom is an environment that supports collaboration and respectful exchange between all the members. It is a room where curiosities are piqued, ideas are explored, thinking is celebrated and laughter can be heard. It is place where children learn to communicate effectively, continue to build their confidence and expand their willingness to try new things while still receiving the appropriate amount of support and nurturing. The classroom is a space where students learn by doing.
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Second Grade Academics: Language Arts The Second grade language arts program is very diverse and is designed to cultivate a culture of reading and the process of writing. The program offers a balance of challenge and support while building children’s confidence in their abilities and development as growing independent readers and writers. Reading and writing are interrelated and are approached through a variety of means to meet the diverse needs of 7 and 8 year olds. Students use their reading to develop their writing skills and their writing as an avenue for understanding and appreciating the books they read. Many reading and writing assignments are designed around our Storyline. Writing Second graders are gifted and natural born storytellers. Stories stem from their daily interactions with their environment as well as from their creative and inquisitive imaginations. It is the goal of the second grade story writing program to harness all of the ideas and then go back to edit and revise. Second grade writers are encouraged to carefully sound out words and spell them phonetically while writing. Through teacher or peer conferencing, students have opportunities to share and get feedback on their stories. Students write for a variety of purposes and learn to write in several genres including: narrative, poetry, and nonfiction. Moreover, students learn that their story is worth telling and through this shared experience connections are fostered and their thinking is validated. Skills • Writes with legible handwriting • Expresses ideas clearly and creatively • Writes for a variety of purposes • Revises own writing for content with guidance • Edits own writing for grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization with guidance • Writes in complete sentences • Publishes writing and engages in peer conferences and shared writing • Uses capitalization and punctuation skills, and identifies parts of speech • Spells most phonetic words and high frequency sight words correctly • Uses appropriate spelling patterns when spelling unknown words
Materials: Story Writing Journals with lined and unlined paper Story making and/or publishing materials: Pencils, crayons, colored pencils, stamps, etc. Sight words and phonics games Word work activities Story cubes Textbooks/Curriculum: Spellwell spelling curriculum Fountas and Pinnell word study continuum Fiction and non-‐fiction stories
Assessments: Writing conferences Story writing journals Weekly phonetic spelling tests Sight word lists
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Reading Second grade students solidify and extend the skills acquired in first grade. Students learn to read more fluently and practice reading with expression, intonation, and proper phrasing. With less time spent on decoding, students focus their comprehension skills. Through guidance and modeling, students begin to utilize strategies to analyze literature, like summarizing, predicting, and inferring. Time is devoted to dissecting the elements of the story: character, setting and plot, and identifying the components/characteristics of a variety of stories. Reading instruction is differentiated to meet the diverse needs of readers ranging from emergent to fluent, and happens in small groups. The second grade classroom is set up to provide easy access to a variety of books and literacy materials. Skills
• Uses skills and strategies to decode unknown words • Reads aloud fluidly with expression and intonation • Reads with proper phrasing and pacing • Incorporates and uses new vocabulary • Comprehends, analyzes and discusses materials read • Employs comprehension strategies, such as: questioning, visualizing, inferring and synthesizing
with guidance and/or independently • Compares and contrasts stories • Connects to stories on a personal or global level • Identifies and discusses elements of a story: character, setting, plot • Reads for pleasure • Reads to gain knowledge • Listens to and engages in read alouds
Materials Classroom Library with fiction and non-‐fiction books Leveled readers Big books Listening centers Dictionaries Poems Phonics games
Textbooks/Curriculum: Fountas and Pinnell leveled readers Fiction and non-‐fiction stories National Geographic Explorer monthly magazine for kids Time for Kids weekly magazine
Assessments: Fountas and Pinnell assessment Guided reading small group assessments Reading conferences Follow up comprehension or extension activities to accompany stories Cold reads
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Math Second grade students are exposed to many new math skills in addition to building on previously learned skills through the Trailblazers curriculum. The math environment is supportive so that students can feel confident in their math skills and their ability to communicate mathematically both orally and through writing in a math journal. Second graders focus on: number sense and fluency, pattern recognition, measurement, geometry, graphing and analyzing data, sorting and classifying, operations and problem solving. Other supplemental games and hands on activities, such as a daily coin count, are introduced throughout the year to enhance the mathematical learning and to reinforce concepts. Connections to literature are threaded through when applicable by reading math story books. Skills • Understand and use place value to 1000 • Calculate addition and subtraction equations to the hundred’s place • Solve basic word problems • Apply problem solving strategies • Write number sentences • Recognize money and value of money • Add and subtract money • Estimate quantities accurately • Sort and classify • Work with multiples of 2, 5, 10 and 25 • Create and interpret different kinds of graphs • Recognize, describe and solve problems with number patterns • Measure length in nonstandard units • Use mathematical reasoning to compute and explain work
Materials Math manipulatives: Unifix cubes, hexilinks, color tiles, pattern blocks, geoboards, tangrams Base Ten pieces, dice, and money Rulers Calculators Math themed games Hundreds chart Number line Calendar Math journals
Textbooks/Curriculum: Trailblazers curriculum Marilyn Burns books Math literature story books
Assessments: Addition and Subtraction basic fact tests Journal and textbook checks
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Experiential Education Experiential Learning at Cascades Academy is implemented at all levels of curriculum (PK -‐ 12) and revolves around the central idea of learning by doing. The central tenets of this learning methodology include engaging students in a cycle of (1) activity / experience, (2) reflection, (3) conceptualization and (4) application of and on our desired learning outcomes. In the Lower School, students are involved in experiential education both inside and outside the classroom. Experiential learning is manifested through a variety of programs: Storyline (K-‐5) and Robotics (4-‐5), Outdoor Education (PK-‐5), Traveling School (3-‐5), Service Learning (K-‐5), and Enrichment Classes (PK-‐5). Storyline (K-‐5) One of the most popular programs in the lower school is Storyline, a teaching method developed in Scotland. During Storyline, students become characters related to a theme and are asked to respond to various incidents using teamwork, problem solving, and critical thinking skills. In past Storylines, our Lower School Commons area has come to life as a rainforest, medieval castle, research ship, art museum, and invention factory. Students are active participants in the Storyline via their characters; they are engaged and invested in the learning process. Throughout the Storyline, second and third grade students work individually and cooperatively on various projects. These projects may include research, construction, art, science experiments, brainstorming, inventions, or musical performances. The culmination of a Storyline may include a showcase of the children's knowledge and creative work, a service-‐learning project, or be a celebratory activity. In addition, each teacher brings the Storyline theme into the classroom by integrating related topics throughout other curriculum areas. In previous years, second and third graders have taken on the role of tour guides at a bicycle shop that serviced and designed tours all over the United States, as well as, doctors learning about the human body working the rounds at a new hospital. Outdoor Education (PK-‐5) Experiential learning is showcased through the Outdoor Education program and is facilitated around teaching responsibility for (1) self, (2) others, and the (3) environment, through participation in a host of outdoor activities and experiences. Outdoor activities take place in a variety of outdoor settings and occur regularly in the context of standard Field Trips (PK-‐5), the Outdoor School Program (K-‐5), the Winter Ski/Snowboard Program (K-‐5), and the Traveling School Program (3-‐5). Field trips (PK-‐5) Field trips afford Lower School students with real world hands-‐on learning experiences. Field trips are designed to enhance classroom curriculum, build culture, and expose students to new experiences. Examples of field trips include: museums, local businesses, plays, musicals, art shows, and more.
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Outdoor School (PK-‐5) The Lower School "Outdoor School" occurs three times a year: one day in the fall, one day in the winter, and a final three-‐day outing in the spring. Outdoor School takes place at local parks and focuses on a central theme. Students participate in variety of experiential activities ranging from academic to artistic that connect students to self, others, and the environment.
Winter Ski/Snowboard Program (K-‐5) Students take all-‐day ski or snowboard lessons at Mt. Bachelor. Students are grouped by ability and age and are assigned an instructor that will work with them throughout the five weeks. First timers are riding the lifts by the end of the session! The program not only teaches ski and snowboard skills, but it also affords students the opportunity to challenge themselves, gain confidence, be adventurous, and take responsibility for themselves and others in a winter environment.
Service Learning (K-‐5) Through Service Learning opportunities, students learn the value of giving back to the greater community. Lower School students mainly participate in Service Learning as a part of the Storyline theme. In the past, students have become stewards of Tumalo State Park, as well as, our own campus through weed pulling and native planting projects. Lower School students also visit senior friends at Fox Hollow and organize food and clothing drives. Enrichment Classes (PK-‐5) Cascades Academy believes that offering Enrichment Classes, which include fine arts, foreign language, and physical education, is an important way to promote rich and diverse learning experiences and to enhance whole child development. Studio Art, Music, Spanish, and P.E. Twice a week for 45 minutes Science Once a week for 45 minutes FLIGHT/Lower School Community Time Once a week for 45 minutes Mindfulness Once a week for 30 minutes Storyline and Robotics Approximately 3 hours a week Studio Art Art in the second grade continues to build on the seven elements of art: line, shape, color, value, form, texture, and space. Students delve deeper into each element and are also introduced to more principles of design that help to create balance, unity, emphasis, and contrast. Art projects have a historical and/or cultural context and help students begin to critique and discuss works of art using the appropriate art vocabulary. At least one art project connects to the Storyline theme of the semester. Students experience color theory via the color wheel, as well as with concepts such as tint, shade, and tone. Positive and negative space and contrast are elements that are highly emphasized and demonstrated in both abstract and representational pieces. Students also have many
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opportunities to practice and learn about observational drawing from figures, still life, and nature. Students are challenged to explore their creative potential in the beginning stages of thumbnail sketching and are introduced to tools that aid in the creative process. Music In second grade music class, students continue to practice musical skills while using simple and complex percussion instruments, barred melodic instruments, and two part singing exercises. Second grade students are introduced to rhythm reading exercises that grow increasingly complex throughout the year. Beginner level identification of notes on the treble clef and simple melodic reading exercises are part of the daily practice. Listening and citizenship skills are practiced through song share, interpretive movement, and exploring music history of the classical tradition. Spanish Through lessons, games, songs, stories, and art projects, students are engaged and having fun while learning the Spanish language. Students learn to tell the name of another person, use practical classroom phrases, and to use the verb ir to provide information about how they and others go to school. They learn when to use tú or usted, use the verb decir to provide information about what someone (or an animal) says, and to use the adverbs primero, luego, and por último to describe a sequence of events. Students solve math problems and tell time in Spanish, along with, learning to use the verb ser to provide information about themselves and others. Science Second graders are beginning to use the scientific method to draw conclusions. They use their observations about an experiment to test whether something is true or false. They use predictions to discover whether the data sustains the hypothesis. Second graders explore the human body, plant biology, ecology, light and sound, and many areas of science within the Storyline topic. Students also create and propose new ways to improve agriculture, equipment, systems or processes through the Central Oregon Inventerprise Project. Physical Education In P.E. class, students continue to learn a variety of games and activities that focus on developing specific manipulative skills (catching, bouncing, dribbling), as well as, motor skills (agility, reaction time, balance, speed). The class engages in team games and traditional team sports that encourage cooperation with others and the importance of safety and procedures (following rules, being safe while competitive, fair play). The class also focuses on creating positive self-‐images, healthy competition, and personal leadership.
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Social Emotional Learning (K-‐5) The social emotional program at Cascades Academy is a Lower School multi-‐grade program. This program consists of introducing the students to and exploring with them positive character traits and values. The community vision is to impart a common culture and language so that the students can feel empowered and safe. The acronym that is used in this program is F.L.I.G.H.T. F.L.I.G.H.T. F = Friendship L = Leadership I = Imagination G = Gratitude H = Honesty T = Tolerance Within each of these traits, students are encouraged to take ‘flight’ and investigate, determine and experience for themselves and with their small groups the trait through various activities. The 5th graders are considered the FLIGHT Captains and the 4th graders are the ‘captains in training’, co-‐captains. Each captain has a mixed grade group between Kindergarten and 4th grade. The intention of this program is to enhance the Lower School community across all grade levels. For each trait, students explore the meaning and the action behind possessing the trait for themselves. Mindfulness Mindfulness means paying attention to the here and now and being in the present moment, with awareness to breath and body. During the Mindfulness Program, students learn specific methods of attending to their breath, body, thoughts, feelings, and the world around them. Students learn to know and navigate their “inner landscape” by allowing for observation of thoughts and feelings, without being derailed by them. Technology Second graders will review the responsible use of the computers and build on their knowledge of using the computer as a tool to learn. They will develop keyboarding skills with appropriate placement of fingers on the keyboard. Word processing and formatting skills will be taught including spellcheck. Students learn to publish their written work including the ability to copy/insert images. Each student will learn to save a document in a folder they created under their name. For research the second graders will learn how to find appropriate websites through searches. Each child will develop an understanding of safety and appropriateness of computer use. Assessment Once a year, Cascades Academy administers ERB’s Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) standardized assessments. The assessments provide instructionally useful information about individual student growth and performance in key areas of school achievement: reading, vocabulary, math, writing, as well as, verbal and quantitative reasoning and auditory comprehension. The purpose of standardized testing is not “high stakes,” but rather is used to assess student growth and performance in order to inform best practice for classroom instruction.
