Last Friday, the second graders got to show off their excellent reading skills by sharing stories with the Pre-Kindergarten students. By doing this, the second graders build confidence in their reading, practice fluency, and reading with expressing. They also had an opportunity to feel like the "big kids" and be role models for their PreK friends.
In social studies, the students continue to learn about maps, communities, and directions. Ms. Stark took the students outside to practice using a compass to tell direction and location. We learned that the compass is always facing north no matter what direction we are facing!
In science, we got to have our first experiment! In our study of whales, we learn that whales all have a layer of fat, or blubber, that protect them from the icy, cold waters of the ocean. This blubber can be up to 20 inches thick! Sort of like the really, really warm coats that we wear in the winter, but even better!
The students wrote a hypothesis on whether they believe blubber would keep their skin warm in ice water. Mrs. Gouttierre created "blubber gloves" using Crisco shortening inside of plastic bags. First, we put our hand into the bucket of ice water for 10 seconds---it was cold!!
Then, we put on the "blubber glove" and put our hand back in the water. Right away we could feel the difference, we could keep our hand in for much longer and it barely felt cold at all!
In math, we began hidden pictures and reviewing greater than/less than. Hidden pictures use graph paper and following specific directions. If we follow the directions correctly we end up with a pretty awesome picture!
We played a greater than/less than game with a partner using dice. This is a good game to play at home with a sibling or parent.
Reminders for tomorrow:
ROXABOXEN: the students have decided on their groups and their buildings and are so excited for tomorrow! Thank you to all the students and parents who donated their treasures to our Roxaboxen community. There is no limit on parent volunteers, everyone is welcome! If you wish to come, be in the second grade classrooms anytime between 9-11.
PAJAMA DAY!
In honor of our Head of School for a day, tomorrow is Pajama Day! Students are welcome to come to school in their comfiest outfit, while still following St. Paul's dress code. Students are also welcome to wear slippers, we just require a change of shoes for P.E. and recess.
