Welcome December! We are quickly approaching the end of the
first semester, which marks our half way point.
I am so proud of how well my students are questioning and thinking! What a joy it is to teach each day. I truly have much to be thankful for. I updated the photos tab with pictures from some of our recent activities.
Here is a look at our upcoming week in second
grade.
Literature: This week we will practice
visualizing stories as we continue to read our Greek myths. We will begin
the week with the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. Students will
practice drawing the characters of the story by listening carefully for details.
We will also be listening for hints about what their surroundings looked like
to add a background to the picture. Throughout the week we will also read
the stories of Perseus and Medusa, Oedipus and the Sphinx, and Daedalus and
Icarus.
History: This week in history, we will discuss
some of the wars and battles that were fought between city-states and
surrounding countries, such as the Persian Wars. We will also spend some
time talking about wise men that emerged in ancient Greece such as Aristotle,
Socrates, and Plato. Students will learn their teaching (and thinking)
styles and how we can learn from them. We will finish the week by
studying the life of Alexander the Great.
Science: In science this week, we will begin the
week by comparing and contrasting solitary and social insects. After
that, we will discuss how insects can be both harmful and helpful to the earth,
other insects, and humans. It is amazing to learn about the ways in which
we depend on insects! Another insect project assignment will go out this
Wednesday, and students will be identifying the habitat and diet of their
insects. On Friday, we will have a project work day in which we will help
students put together their resources pages so you do not have to do that over
winter break.
In case you were wondering, I have been
keeping the students’ insect project assignments at school. I will be
sending them all home next week (with the final assignment) so your child can
begin to put all the information together into the project of his/her
choice. If you would like me to send your child’s papers home earlier,
please let me know.
Important Notes:
-Because of unexpected family matters, Mrs.
Buske left her position at ACA last week.
We will miss her dearly and look forward to seeing her around the school
with her own children. We will have a
new aide beginning shortly.
-The winter music concert is this Tuesday,
December 3! Please bring your child to Grace Community Church at 5:00pm
in the proper concert attire. The concert will begin at 5:30.
-We did not get the chance to take a field trip
to Butterfly Wonderland this quarter, but keep it in mind as a fun family
outing.
-There
will be an insect test on Tuesday, December 10. A study guide will be
going home this Tuesday.
