Grade II

List of 11 items.

• + Coding

  (One 45-minute class per week)
  
  

  In Coding, the second graders explore some of the basic ideas of computational thinking and robotics. They learn about debugging, loops, and sensors and actuators. Using ScratchJr, an icon-based programming language, they create original interactive stories. They also begin to use word blocks in their programs. They apply their growing skills in coding and robotics to design, build, and program their own projects, such as a robotic mini-golf course. At the same time, they gain valuable experience in collaboration, critical thinking, and creative problem solving. In addition, they talk about digital etiquette and safe computer usage.  Second graders come to the makerspace in half-class groups.. Each group has a 45-minute class for half of the year, split between the fall and spring terms.

• + Thematic Study: The Charles River

  The history of the Charles River from the Wampanoag Nation, to the European settlers, and finally culminating with mill life in the Industrial Revolution serve as the cornerstone for the Thematic Study curriculum in second grade. Second graders gain factual knowledge while engaging in perspective taking on the diverse historic peoples of New England. Using the following guiding questions, they develop a deeper understanding of our community and the environmental history of the Charles River ecosystem: 

  
  

  • What is stewardship? 
  • Who has power and access to land and resources? 
  • What is activism? 
  • What is our responsibility as citizens to our local environment?

• + Language Arts

  Speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills grow with language development. Mastery of language is a continuum that extends over a number of years and happens for children at different ages depending on their maturation, experience, and language background. Seven-and eight-year-olds vary in their rates of language development. The reading and writing curriculum adapts to individual needs that range from early reading to relatively advanced comprehension and vocabulary. 

  
  

  A set of B- Grade VIII standards provides the framework for our work in language arts. Below are listed some of the goals we have for Second Grade students in Language Arts over the course of the year. These are by no means all of the topics we cover, but rather an overview of some of the skills we expect children to master by the spring. 

  • Knows all regular letter/sound correspondences 
  • Decodes phonetically regular one and two syllable words 
  • Knows common word endings (ed, ing, plurals) and uses them to decode/use words in context 
  • Reads at least the first 500 words from the high frequency word list accurately and automatically 
  • Reads grade level text aloud accurately 
  • Reads with comprehension 
  • Generates ideas for writing 
  • Forms printed letters from top to bottom 
  • Sequences stories in an organized manner 
  • Rereads own writing to others 
  • Includes details in her/his writing 
  • Spells at least 130 of the most frequently used words conventionally 
  • Uses terminal punctuation and basic capitalization 

  
  

  Reading: Reading is taught through guided reading in small groups, through the use of decodable and authentic texts. Through genre-specific reading units, children learn the elements of fiction and nonfiction texts, study specific authors, and develop comprehension and inference skills by reading early chapter books. During small group reading instruction, children practice decoding unfamiliar words, as well as reading for fluency and expression and critically evaluate content. Teachers read aloud stories, poems, and factual books both to expose children to a variety of genres and to foster a love of books and reading.

  
  

  Writing: We strive to help children use writing as a powerful means of communicating their ideas, imagination and feelings. Children write on a daily basis in a variety of forms. Each child maintains a writing folder to promote the organization of ideas and technical skills. In Writers’ Workshop, children explore topic selection, descriptive detail, character development and the components of story. They engage in the writing process: drafting, revising, editing and publishing. Throughout the year, students practice these skills through three primary writing units: personal narrative, nonfiction animal research projects, and poetry writing. 

  
  

  Phonics, Spelling, and Handwriting: The students participate in Fundations, an integrated multisensory program, each day for thirty minutes. The daily lessons build on the students’ prior knowledge while encouraging the growth of their skills in the areas of phonemic awareness, word study, vocabulary, handwriting, spelling, fluency and comprehension.

• + Mathematics

  The goal of our mathematics program in Grade II is to help children construct their own mathematical knowledge. We use the Illustrative Math curriculum in grades K-IV as our primary resource. Through meaningful learning experiences in which they solve problems, reason about their mathematical thinking, and communicate their ideas in written and oral form, children make connections between mathematical ideas and real-life experiences. Students extend their understanding of the base-ten number system as they tackle addition and subtraction with larger numbers. They build greater fluency with those operations through the use of meaningful strategies and visual representations. Grade II also introduces the use of standardized forms of measurement and engages students in describing and analyzing shapes using more formal vocabulary. Throughout there is an emphasis on cooperation, solving problems in different ways, and experiencing the joy of mathematics.

• + Science

  (Two 45 minute classes per week)
  
  

  Students travel to the lower school science lab in The Hub two times per week. Activities and projects encourage the students to explore and discover. Lessons serve to introduce new ideas, materials and procedures, and to provide opportunities to ask questions, set up experiments, solve problems, analyze data, and make inferences. Central to our work is learning how to communicate our ideas effectively through collaboration, discussions, and drawing and writing in science journals. Projects and activities are rooted in the Thematic Study of the Charles River, and include: layers of the Earth, river formation, soil erosion, properties of water, bridges and dams, simple machines, engineering river vehicles, and studies of the fish and animals that live in and around the river.

• + Art

  Children engage in different art projects in their classroom using a wide variety of media. Students work with tempera paints, watercolors, collage materials, and many other art. Students learn and practice different artistic techniques. The various thematic studies and the children’s immediate experiences in the classroom often become the subject matter for much of their work. Through hands-on art experiences and beginning critiques of artist work, classroom teachers help children develop a passion for and respect of art.

• + Woodshop

  (One 60-minute class per week for one trimester)
  
  

  Second grade students come to the woodshop for an hour each week, in groups of 7 or 8, for a trimester. After thinking about design choices, each student arrives at an idea for a chair, draws a plan, and makes a small model. They are introduced to principles of structure and strength. After being taught to use basic hand tools safely and effectively, each child gets to work to build his/her own life-size chair. The students learn to use rudimentary measurement and to solve problems as they arise. They reap the benefits of working week after week on the same project. Students realize that a large project is made up of many small tasks. Second graders see how their ideas, once expressed on paper, are brought to life in three dimensions.

• + Music & Performing Arts

  (Two 30-minute classes per week)
  
  

  Second Grade students continue their exploration of and immersion in a wide variety of musical experiences including singing, dancing, listening and playing age-appropriate rhythm instruments, among many others. Students continue to be exposed to the tremendous cultural diversity in music, learning more songs in different languages and listening to selections from different cultures.  As the year progresses students become familiar and comfortable with such musical concepts and terms as strong/weak, crescendo/diminuendo, duple/triple meter, ostinato, etc. As in the other grades, repertoire is prepared for lower school assemblies as well as holidays and special events including the Gratitude Assembly, Winter Holiday, Black History, May Day and Closing Day.

• + Library

  (One 45-minute class per week)
  
  

  In the library, second graders begin the year learning about different fiction genres, such as mystery, fantasy, realistic fiction, etc. and discover chapter books within each genre. As the year goes on, the focus is on biographies that tie in with their thematic study (people who help animals as they research Charles River animals and people who fight for workers’ rights as they learn about the mills, for example).. Students continue developing their identities as readers as they select books for independent reading, listen to librarian book talks, and share suggestions with peers.  Through exposure to a variety of different books students learn to use the library and develop a love of reading.

• + Movement Education

  (Two 45-minute classes per week)
  
  

  The Second Grade Movement curriculum provides students with developmentally appropriate activities and games that allow for greater exploration and repetition of the fundamental manipulative skills. As second graders mature cognitively and advance in their manipulative skill development, they are introduced to sport specific terminology and strategies in creative and playful ways.. The curriculum also emphasizes healthy living and mindfulness skills as well as social and emotional skills such as teamwork, communication, and empathy. Students learn to work together in groups, respect each other's differences, and communicate effectively to achieve common goals. They also learn to identify and manage their own emotions, as well as understand the emotions and perspectives of others. As students progress through the year, they will continue to strengthen these skills to become confident, competent, and active individuals.

• + School Community

  The entire Lower School (B- Grade IV) meets together in the Assembly Hall for a half hour each Friday morning. The music component of assemblies includes community singing, performances by Shady Hill students, and performances by visiting artists. Outside presenters come from the arts, sciences, and humanities and make connections to the wider world. Music at the assembly extends the music curriculum and deepens students’ understanding of music as cultural expression. Classroom sharing is also an important focus of assemblies. The emphasis is on sharing works-in-progress from all areas of the Lower School. Preparation for sharing is part of the learning process, and sharing in front of a larger group in a safe, supportive environment helps children develop confidence in public speaking and effectively presenting their work.