Grade 2 Curriculum

Second grade students apply what they have learned about the meanings of letters and numbers to more complex challenges and to further develop their analytical abilities. They are eager to look outside of themselves, compare their experiences to others, and discover the broader world. Second grade students learn about animals, the environment, and the Earth’s resources. Opportunities for community service harness their emerging planning skills and their eagerness to help others and have influence in their world. They earn more responsibility to resolve conflicts and demonstrate themselves as an integral part of the classroom community.

Program Highlights

Continent studies
Endangered animals research
Class play
School garden
Folktales and fables
Read for Seeds
Community building activities
French vocabulary
Change-makers unit
Math lunch

Specialist Time

French once a week for 30 minutes
Art studio once a week for 45 minutes
Music once a week for 30 minutes
Theater arts once a week for 30 minutes
Woodworking once a week for 45 minutes
Physical education three times a week for 30 minutes
Library once a week for 30 minutes

By the end of second grade, students progress from learning to read to reading to learn. Second graders also learn how to have a writing conference with a teacher or classmate, how to edit and revise, and how to produce a final piece of writing.

Language Arts

By the end of second grade, students progress from learning to read to reading to learn. Second graders also learn how to have a writing conference with a teacher or classmate, how to edit and revise, and how to produce a final piece of writing.

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Math

The second grade mathematics curriculum creates mathematical thinkers who love to solve problems, riddles, and challenges. Students build facility with addition and subtraction facts, confidently explain mathematical relationships, and solve creative story problems involving computation and logical thinking.

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Second graders explore heroes in history and notable figures who have achieved positive changes in the world. They apply geography and mapping skills to create three-dimensional maps. They begin applying research skills, using primary, secondary and electronic sources.

Social Studies

Second graders explore heroes in history and notable figures who have achieved positive changes in the world. They apply geography and mapping skills to create three-dimensional maps. They begin applying research skills, using primary, secondary and electronic sources.

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Science

Second graders enjoy learning in the campus garden—where they harvest corn that they had planted as first graders and where they apply scientific methods to increase their understanding of the natural world. They engage in extended, interdisciplinary studies of endangered species and explore the cycle and properties of water.

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Each week second graders explore French through puppets, songs, poems, and games. From pre-kindergarten through grade 2, the emphasis is on developing listening and oral skills, with topics revisited and broadened each year. Students interact in groups and pairs, practicing their social and linguistic skills in French.

World Language

Each week second graders explore French through puppets, songs, poems, and games. From pre-kindergarten through grade 2, the emphasis is on developing listening and oral skills, with topics revisited and broadened each year. Students interact in groups and pairs, practicing their social and linguistic skills in French.

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Among other experiences, second graders create textile art, learn about different artists, and create sculptures and other artworks connected to classroom curriculum.

Visual Arts

Among other experiences, second graders create textile art, learn about different artists, and create sculptures and other artworks connected to classroom curriculum.

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Second graders explore their natural love of music as they develop pitch, rhythm and reading musical notation.

Music

Second graders explore their natural love of music as they develop pitch, rhythm and reading musical notation.

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Second graders grow in confidence as they take on individual roles and lines in a musical production. Contributing to sets and costumes, they explore about all aspects of theatrical performance.

Theater Arts

Second graders grow in confidence as they take on individual roles and lines in a musical production. Contributing to sets and costumes, they explore about all aspects of theatrical performance.

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Second graders apply measuring skills and use miter saws and drills to create paddle boats, wooden people, and animal sculptures.

Woodworking & 21st Century Skills

Second graders apply measuring skills and use miter saws and drills to create paddle boats, wooden people, and animal sculptures.

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Second graders demonstrate more advanced skills in sustained physical activity, cooperative play, and team building games.

Physical Education

Second graders demonstrate more advanced skills in sustained physical activity, cooperative play, and team building games.

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Students build healthy habits, personal and community awareness, and positive social skills. Among other topics second graders increase their capacity for self-reflection and to collaborate effectively in small and large groups.

Social Competency and Health and Wellness

Students build healthy habits, personal and community awareness, and positive social skills. Among other topics second graders increase their capacity for self-reflection and to collaborate effectively in small and large groups.

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In the classroom and during weekly library visits, second graders are introduced to the research process.