We read a booklet about Earth day and about how it began. We brainstormed ways to help the Earth. Then we participated in the Earth Day Groceries Project. This is a nationally known project to bring awareness to Earth Day. Bags are "borrowed" from a local grocery store. (Our bags are from our local Acme.) Then the students decorate the bags with special Earth Day messages and the bags are then returned to the store to be used to bag groceries. Take a trip to Acme and check out the bags.
This week in reading our essential question was "What do heroes do?" We read several stories about heroes. We read about Diana Golden, a skier with one leg. We read about Cesar Chavez, a proud farm worker that helped improve conditions for people working on farms. I think the favorite story of the week was about Rudy Tolson-Garcia. He is a young man that was born with birth defects which led to the removal of both of his legs. Not letting this bring him down, he challenged himself in many sports. He soon became an incredible athlete and was the first amputee to complete in the Ironman triathlon.
The skills we focused on this week in reading were summarizing and sequencing. We also practiced identifying synonyms.
In math this week, we focused a lot on money. We used a "Good Buys Poster" and practice estimating costs to purchase more than one item. We touched briefly on making change. By the end of the week, we were reviewing place value. Next week, we will be creating a special book to continue to practice place value.
The students were introduced to the city of San Francisco this week in social studies. We viewed some images of what San Francisco looks like now and what it looked like in 1846. Next week, we will discuss how the gold rush changed the city of San Francisco from a rural community to an urban one.
Of course, one of the highlights of the week was Jump Rope for Heart. The students with the other second grade class participated on Monday. The students had a great time and definitely got their exercise in for that day.
Everyone at school has been busy preparing for one of our most favorite days of school, Best of Heights Night. This year it will take place on Tuesday, April 15. I would encourage you to come to our classroom to see many of the projects your child has done. This is also a great opportunity to visit other classrooms and see what things might in store for the students in the future.
This weekend is Opening Day for baseball...Hope to see you there.
