Second Grade Curriculum

Art

Course Description: The second grade curriculum expects that students can independently explore more complex techniques as they discover greater potential with art materials and greater awareness of their own creative capacity. Using the elements of art, line, shape, color, value, texture, form, and space, students are urged to work more slowly and deliberately to emphasize greater detail and to practice observation skills. New and different ways of approaching the following art experiences and topics are introduced: architectural design, drawing, three dimensional artwork, ceramics, collage, mixed media, printmaking, painting, fiber arts, and opportunities for interdisciplinary projects. There is an emphasis on art appreciation, skill development, self-expression, innovation, the development of aesthetic sensitivity, perseverance, and good work habits. Art terminology, design elements and composition are introduced and applied daily as integral parts of every lesson in a manner appropriate for each young artist.

Students will observe, think, discuss, choose, plan, organize, respond, and value in each art lesson.

Learning Objectives

•  Students develop and expand visual arts knowledge and skills in order to imaginatively express their art ideas and...
• Students will develop a base for making aesthetic judgements by learning how to look at works of art through instructional opportunities to ...
  • learn to see in the manner of the artist through exposure to works of art, objects in daily life, and the environment
  • use thinking skills such as observation, discrimination, comparison, contrast, and imagination
  • make informed responses to works of art by applying art concepts
•  Students acquire knowledge of historical and cultural aesthetic points of view in art history through instructional opportunities and ...
  • study a variety of artworks and artists and their contributions, both contemporary, historic, and prehistoric
  • learn to identify and appreciate differences in the aesthetic values of others
  • increase their awareness of art in other cultures and the values and beliefs in a culture as communicated through the arts
  • describe a variety of art forms using the vocabulary of visual arts media
• Students develop and expand aesthetic perception through instructional opportunities to...
  • observe and describe principles of design in works of art, nature, events and objects in everyday life
  • communicate aesthetic responses and the appreciation of art
  • perceive the world in terms of visual images and symbols unique to visual art
  • acquire artistic skills through the understanding of the elements of art: line, color, shape, texture, form, value, and space
  • recognize the importance of personal expression and respecting originality in the artwork of others
  • develop manipulative and organizational skills through the process of selecting, arranging, and decision making
  • explore and practice using a wide variety of art materials

Instructional Methods

Character Education

Course Description: Character Education is integrated within all subject areas and classroom activities. An emphasis on respect, kindness and responsibility is consistently discussed and encouraged.

Learning Objectives

• Show empathy toward others
• Value compassion and kindness
• Cite examples and non-examples of courage
• Communicate and complete assignments honestly
• Take initiative
• Model responsibility
• Recognize perseverance as a strength and achievement
• Show respect to others and to property
• Cite areas of confidence and brainstorm strategies to build confidence is self and others

Instructional Methods

• Direct whole group instruction in a classroom setting
• Modeling of proper techniques by instructor
• Circle of Peace conflict resolution technique
• Individualized instruction/discussion
• Role playing
• Whole school assemblies

Field Trips/Special Projects

• Classroom role playing and the second grade drama explore moral questions
• Holiday Mitten Tree
• Students collect litter from around our campus
• Community service projects vary from year to year depending on student passions
• Trips vary with interest. For example, current students will be visiting the Center for the Homeless

Language Arts

Course Description

Students in second grade language arts focus on six areas including reading, writing, handwriting, phonics, spelling and public speaking. Students read orally and independently to practice basic comprehension skills and to develop higher level thinking skills. In phonics, we review word structure and letter-sound correspondence. A phonics-based spelling program reinforces these concepts, reviews sight words and introduces new vocabulary. Rules of grammar are taught and reinforced through creative and expository writing. This provides an opportunity to develop a genuine form of self-expression. Children review manuscript formation and transition to cursive handwriting throughout the year. All students practice public speaking skills through peer presentations and participation in a class play.

Learning Objectives

•  Apply rules of phonics
  • Identify parts of words (syllables, base words, suffixes)
  • Identify word structures (vowels, consonants, blends, digraphs, trigraphs)
  • Identify six syllable type
  • Identify syllable type exception
  • Divide multi-syllable word
  • Practice spelling r-controlled words (ar, er, ir, or, u)
  • Read and spell words with a silent letter (ex. know)
  • Identify and apply spelling of words with soft g and c
  • Spell words using correct vowel teams
  • Identify schwa
  • Read and spell all phonetically regular words
  • Spell words with common suffixes and prefixes
  • Identify and define common Latin suffixes
  • Form and use irregular plural nouns
  • Apply spelling rules for adding suffixes to base words
  • Spell “trick” words or high frequency words with irregular spelling
  • Read, define and use homophones correctly
  • Read, define and use homographs correctly
  • Read and spell contractions
  • Identify words from which a contraction is made
• Read capably and fluently
  • Make connections to personal experience
  • Predict story events
  • Imagine and draw story elements
  • Relate emotions evoked by text
  • Interpret meaning of text
  • Summarize events read
  • Ask questions about plot, characters and setting
  • Compare and contrast characters, settings and themes
  • Defend opinions and predictions by citing text
  • Apply phonics skills to decode
  • Use context clues to decode and define new words
  • Reread to clarify meaningDescribe story elements
  • Use dictionary skills to determine word meaning
• Express ideas through writing
  • Construct simple and compound sentences
  • Discriminate between four sentence types: statement, command, question and exclamationIdentify the complete subject and predicate
  • Identify and use adjectives within sentences
  • Identify and create verbs within sentences
  • Identify and create nouns within sentences
  • Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbsReread and edit writing to improve content or correct errors
  • Critique peer writing
  • Compose a sentence that reflects the main idea of a paragraph
  • Write several sentences to support a main idea
  • Include and identify setting, main characters and logical sequence of events within a written narrative
  • Compose various types of writing including:
    • descriptive paragraph
    • opinion pieces
    • realistic fiction
    • poetry (haiku, couplets, acrostic poems, free verse)
    • friendly letter
    • autobiography
    • fantasy
    • report/research
• Utilize basic rules of grammar
  • Identify proper use of periods, question marks, exclamation marks, commas and quotation marks
  • Use apostrophes for contractions and to show possession
  • Recognize different forms of one word
  • Arrange groups of words in alphabetical order
  • Recognize synonyms and antonyms
  • Use spelling words to form compound words
  • Spell high-frequency words correctly on tests and in daily work
  • Use possessive nouns and pronouns
  • Use proper subject-verb agreement
  • Apply rules of capitalization
  • Apply correct punctuation within sentences
• Write legibly
  • Reproduce all manuscript and cursive letters with correct letter formation
  • Allow appropriate spacing between letters and words
  • Write on a base line
  • Create letters with a consistent size
• Express ideas orally to a group
  • Participate in conversations with a group
  • Respond to others’ ideas thoughtfully
  • Ask related questions to a speaker or participant
  • Project voice to enable every member of the group to hear
  • Make frequent eye contact with peer or audience member
  • Use complete sentences when presenting information and answering questions
  • Use proper grammar
  • Incorporate visual aids into oral presentations
  • Maintain good posture while speaking
  • Control speed of speech

Mathematics

Course Description: Students in the second grade focus on problem-solving strategies, thinking skills, real applications, mental arithmetic, organizing data and computational skills. They build on existing math knowledge and learn how useful mathematics is in their lives.

Learning Objectives

• Understand relationship between numbers, quantities and place value in whole numbers up to 100
  • count by ones, twos, fives and tens to 100
  • identify patterns when adding or subtracting 10
  • compare and order numbers through 100
  • identify even and odd numbers
  • recognize fractions as part of a whole group
  • collect and record numerical data
  • Interpret, compare and create tables, tally charts and bar graphs
• Solve simple problems involving addition and subtraction of numbers up to 100
  • Model addition of numbers less than 100 with objects and pictures
  • Add two whole numbers less than 100 with and without regrouping
  • Subtract two whole numbers less than 100 with and without regrouping
  • Understand the relationship between addition and subtraction
  • Estimate to determine whether an answer is reasonable
  • Use mental arithmetic to solve basic addition and subtraction facts
• Model and represent number relationships to solve problems involving addition and subtraction
  • Use communicative and associative properties to simplify mental calculations
  • Recognize and extend a linear pattern
  • Create and describe a number pattern
• Identify and describe attributes of common plane shapes and common objects in space
  • Construct squares, rectangles, triangles, cubes and rectangular prisms
  • Describe, classify and sort plane and solid figures according to number of faces, edges, and vertices
  • Predict the result of taking apart and putting together two and three-dimensional shapes
  • Identify congruent and similar two-dimensional shapes
• Measure length, temperature, weight, time and money in standard units
  • Use and describe relationship between inch, foot, yard, centimeter and meter
  • Decide appropriate unit of length
  • Estimate length
  • Estimate and use cups and pints as units of measure
  • Compare weight of two different objects using a scale
  • Recognize the need for standard units
  • Tell time to the minute and recognize difference between a.m. and p.m.
  • Describe relationships between seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and a year
  • Calculate the duration of an event
  • Find value of American coins independently and in combination
• Make decisions about how to set up an equation to solve a problem
  • Choose appropriate materials, operation or strategy to solve a problem
  • Use tools, objects or drawings to solve problems
• Solve problems and justify reasoning

Music

Course Description: Music at the second grade level is a continuation of the groundwork established in the first grade. They continue to explore music concepts as well as music literacy. Both of these aspects will be the main focus for the entire year. The students will also have the opportunity to perform in various mini-assemblies as well as large scale productions.

Learning Objectives

• Understanding of music literacy, including: rhythm, tonal, and melodic literacies
• Understanding of different genres in music
• Ability to show changes in musical style with movement
• Ability to discuss changes in musical style using music terminology
• Understanding of music in different cultures
• Basic ability to correctly perform on barred instruments
• Ability to correctly perform on classroom percussion instruments
• Basic understanding of the “road signs” in a piece of music
• Basic understanding of music terminology
• Understanding of form in music
• Ability to construct and perform a tonal example
• Ability to construct and perform a rhythm
• Basic understanding of tempo in music
• Basic understanding of dynamics in music

Instructional Methods

• Direct whole group instruction in a classroom setting
• Sound clips
• Videos
• Digital presentations
• Small cooperative learning groups
• Paired work
• Modeling of proper techniques by instructor

Field Trips/Special Projects

Physical Education

Course Description: Students in second grade physical education participate in a variety of games and activities designed to increase their manipulative skills, locomotor skills, and fitness level in order to develop a life-long love of activity, while bolstering their cooperation, teamwork and personal-social skills.

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate mastery of the following locomotor movements: walking, skipping, jumping, hopping, galloping, sliding, and running
• Understand and demonstrate proper, safe equipment usage
• Continue demonstration of teamwork and sportsmanship during competitive activities
• Demonstrate mastery and understanding of basic strategies used in sport specific games
• Demonstrate mastery and understanding of sport specific skills
• Understand boundaries for specific games and activities
• Demonstrate mastery for the following manipulative skills: throwing, catching, kicking, and striking

Instructional Methods

• Direct whole group instruction in physical education setting
• Drills and exercises designed for game simulation (tactical understanding)
• Drills and exercises designed for repetition and skill development
• Individualized instruction
• Whole-part-whole technique
• Demonstration of proper techniques by instructor and students

Field Trips/Special Projects

• Lower School Olympic Day
• Move Across America

Science

Course Description: Second graders participate in a child-centered, process-oriented and discovery-driven program. Hands-on activities help student connect science concepts to each other. Topics of study include life cycles and animal classification, circulatory and nervous system, rocks and minerals, plate tectonics, an introduction to gravity, engineering, matter, energy, magnetism, force and motion.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize key components of the scientific method
  • Encourage questions and curiosity
  • Record and describe observations
  • Begin to make conclusions based on observations and prior knowledge
• Identify and observe proper lab safety routine
• Identify three states of matter; solid, liquid, gas
• Recognize specific properties of each state of matter
• Recognize the effect of energy on different states of matter
• Observe that matter can change from one state to another
• Introduce the concept of weight, mass, volume, and density in relation to matter
• Introduce concept of classifying groups according to similar characteristics
• Identify different categories of animals; mammal, reptile, amphibian, fish, and bird, vertebrate, and invertebrate
• Identify, compare, and contrast characteristics of each animal type
• Identify the layers of the earth and basic principles of plate tectonics
• Recognize the difference between rocks and minerals
• Identify qualities and characteristics of minerals
• Form a hypothesis to identify specific minerals based on our study
• Introduce concept of cellular structure and organization
• Identify the basic components and function of a cell
• Recognize the qualities of structural integrity
• Identify examples and non examples of a weight bearing structure
• Design and create a weight bearing structure
• Identify structures that provide stability and flexibility
• Discuss designs of existing bridges and skyscrapers
• Design and create a tall structure

Instructional Methods

Social Studies

Course Description: Second grade students make connections to the larger world by studying geography, identifying civic values and discovering similarities and differences among people and cultures. Students are introduced to our nation’s history, the structure of government and citizenship. Global awareness is reinforced by an integrated approach including activities in art, music, science and language arts.

Learning Objectives

• Identify qualities of a responsible citizen
• Locate seven continents, four major oceans, United States, Indiana and South Bend on a world map
• Use map key, symbols and cardinal directions
• Draw simple maps to show places and create routes
• Create and interpret bar graphs, line graphs, time lines and pie charts
• Relate a basic timeline of our nation’s origin
• Retell the history of Thanksgiving
• Compare Native American cultures from different regions
• Describe the reasons behind the conflict between colonists and Native Americans
• Identify several important figures in our nation’s history
  • George Washington
  • Thomas Jefferson
  • Abraham Lincoln
  • Susan B. Anthony
  • Martin Luther King
• Identify state and national symbols and landmarks
• List functions of government and public services
• Discuss concepts of justice, equality, freedom, inventiveness and individualism
• Discuss the history of immigration and its significance to our country
• Identify people and events significant to civil rights
• Explain importance of voting
• List basic civil servants and major political offices
• Discuss trade, budgets, and taxes
• Compare and contrast continents
• Share and defend ideas in a respectful manner
• Discriminate between fact and opinion in regard to current events
• Name and draw basic landforms and bodies of water
• Compare and contrast lifestyle and resources between people of different cultures
• Propose solutions to environmental issues
• Recognize the relationship between humans and the physical environment
• Use books, websites and periodicals to gather information
• Distinguish between producing and consumin
• Explain how economics affects lifestyle
• Create art to represent different regions and cultures

Spanish

Course Description: Students in second grade Spanish continue to build a foundation for lifelong foreign language learning through an emphasis on listening and speaking skills. They build upon previously learned vocabulary by adding new words pertaining to weather, school supplies, location phrases, body parts, and other topics. Grammatically, continued emphasis is placed on number and gender agreement of nouns and adjectives. Class is conducted almost exclusively in Spanish with the use of teacher-created and authentic materials.

Learning Objectives

Students will: 

• Greet one another and introduce themselves.
• Count objects using numbers 1-31.
• Be able to name and identify the months of the year. 
• Recognize basics commands.
• Identify and name basic school supplies and classroom objects.
• Identify colors.
• Be introduced to the following definite articles: el/la/los/las
• Ask and provide the names of family members.
• Describe family members and pets using familiar adjectives.
• Name and identify common household pets and farm animals.
• Name and identify common architectural features of a house as well as rooms within the house.
• Name and identify common action verbs.

Instructional Methods

• Direct whole group instruction
• Use of hands-on materials and realia
• Multimedia presentations in Spanish
• Student projects and demonstrations
• Role-play/ simulations of authentic scenarios
• Interactive group games and songs
• Partner activities
• Small-group and individual instruction

Strings

Beginning Strings 

This course is designed for students interested in beginning level instruction on violin and cello. Students will receive instruction on tone production, basic music reading skills, and instrument care. Performances will be highlighted through out the year.

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate the correct posture to be used when playing the instrument
• Respect the abilities and efforts of others
• Exhibit personal pride, integrity, responsibility, commitment, dependability, a strong work ethic
• Perform music for the public with the Beginning Strings class
• Hold the instrument correctly with the correct left hand position
• Perform clean articulations on the instrument using detaché bowings
• Produce a characteristic, controlled sound on the instrument
• Form a correct bow grip for the instrument

Instructional Methods

• Direct whole group rehearsals
• Sound clips
• Individual instruction
• Small groups
• Modeling of proper techniques by instructor

Field Trips/Special Projects

• Public concerts
• Guest speakers and performances