2nd Grade
St. Mary's Second Grde class is taught by Carol
O'Donnell.
Please review how the following topics have been prepared for the Second Grade school year.
RELIGION
Second grade is a very special time in a Catholic student’s life. The sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion are made this year.
In addition to participating in the readings in weekly Mass and understanding our faith in more complete way, Faith First guides them through doctrine, scripture and liturgical seasons.
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LANGUAGE ARTS/READING
Students build on the skills they developed in first grade.They read longer passages and a variety of genres. Comprehension strategies are emphasized moving from the literal to more critical thinking.
Many activities relating to the stories are incorporated, among them letter writing, reports, comparative writing, drawing conclusions and persuasive writing.
The Macmillan McGraw-Hill reading series utilizes a guided reading program so that each child is able to succeed at his or her reading level.
The students continue to study the rules of English grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and syntax for both written and oral contexts.Spelling is incorporated in writing and as separated lists that are tested weekly. The spelling words are also reinforced as part of the reading text.
An increase in the vocabulary of the student is encouraged with the use of research in dictionaries and encyclopedias.
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MATHEMATICS
In second grade, the focus in the Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley math series is problem solving and moves from concrete thinking and using manipulatives to more abstract concepts. Topics presented in the curriculum includes:
- Numbers in various contexts from skip counting, even and odd, tallies, graphs, works, number lines, ordinals, 100’s chart, rounding, and estimating,
- Addition, subtraction with and without regrouping,
- Place value,
- Missing numbers in equations and patterns,
- Money, time, and measurement.
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SCIENCE
Second grade students are introduced to science concepts of investigation. Units include:
- Dinosaurs,
- Plant life,
- Animal/plant habitats,
- Heat/light,
- Air/water,
- Weather, and
- Safety.
Students participate in experiments, group discussion and are evaluated through daily worksheets and unit tests.
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SOCIAL STUDIES
Students develop their understanding of the world and the place of the United States in it.
Students learn about the seven continents, the four oceans, the borders of the United States and how goods and services move from one place to another.
This curriculum area is integrated and well supported in our reading text as well.
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Art
St. Mary's art is taught by Carrie Jimenez.
Students will learn to identify different tools used for the visual arts.
Students will understand how to use these tools safely, and in various ways, to create their own works of art. Materials and tools used will include paints, pencil, glue, and scissors.
Students will develop eye-hand coordination and build imagination.
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MUSIC
St. Mary's music is taught by April Myers.
In second grade, students continue to sing and keep a steady beat along with adding instruments at a more advanced level with ostinato patterns.
The eighth note, half note, and whole note rhythm patterns are introduced. Music listening and appreciation are developed and emphasis is placed on drama and movement.
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PHYSICAL EDUCATION
St. Mary's physical education is taught by Susan Bassie.
The physical education curriculum has five focus areas: locomotor skills, nonlocomotor skills, manipulative skills, and physical fitness.
Students will learn and demonstrate control when performing skills such as rocking, pulling, skipping, and jumping. Other skills such as tumbling, balancing, throwing/catching, and kicking are introduced to second graders.
In addition, the students are taught the characteristics of health-related fitness through lessons and daily exercise routines.
Exercise and equipment safety are taught and demonstrated.
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COMPUTERS/TECHNOLOGY
St. Mary's computers/technology is
taught by Sharon Swanke.
The second grade computer/technology curriculum focuses on expanding and building upon computer/technology terminology along with age-appropriate software.
Second graders learn the alphabet keys and type 2-5 words per minute with 85% accuracy.
Students will build upon their KidPix knowledge by creating more advanced slideshows.
Students will also learn how to horizontally align text and change line spacing in word processing software.
Students begin to learn how to search the Internet and complete basic Internet scavenger hunt.
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