Contraction Kites

This past week during our reading time we have been reviewing contractions. Students remembered that contractions are two words that are put together with an apostrophe. They then had an opportunity to put this knowledge to use by breaking apart a contraction into the two words that form it and create their own "contraction kite".

Each student was given a contraction on a small piece of paper such as "don't", "can't", or "wouldn't", etc. They then wrote this contraction on a diagonal piece of colored paper that would be the main part of their "contraction kite". The next step was to write each word that formed their contraction on a different ribbon shaped piece of paper for their kite. Then students wrote a sentence using their contraction on a white cloud piece of paper. Lastly, students combined these pieces together by taping a string on the back of each piece of paper to create their "contraction kite".

These beautiful kites are now hanging around our classroom, giving the room a springy feel!

Line Plots

This was our last week learning about graphs so we ended this math chapter by creating our own line plots. Students have learned that line plots show the frequency of data using x's displayed on a number line and they put this knowledge to use by surveying their classmates and creating their own line plots. 

Students were given different graphing ideas for their line plots such as "number of siblings", "number of shoes", or "number of aunts". Walking around the classroom, students surveyed their classmates to collect the data needed to create their line plot. Once finished, students used a ruler and created their line plots on a large sheet of paper. These line plots are now being displayed in our classroom window in the hallway. Feel free to come on out and study our classroom line plots!

Spring is here! 

We have decorated our classroom window with "hand flowers" to put us in the mood for spring weather!

Easter Eggs

Since Easter is coming up quickly, we wanted to focus on the meaning of Easter and why we celebrate this special holiday. In order to do this, our second graders enjoyed an Easter craft that allowed them to think about what Jesus has done for them.

Each student was given an Easter egg coloring page and they were told to color the egg as beautifully as they could. After coloring the egg, students carefully cut the egg into small puzzle pieces. Lastly, students put these puzzle pieces back together and glued them onto a separate colored piece of paper so that the egg was put back to what it was before it was cut.

As students completed this activity we discussed how it compared to our lives. As students colored the egg, we considered how the egg they were coloring was perfect and without fault. The same as when God created Adam and Eve, they were perfect and without sin when they first entered the Garden of Eden.

However, once students began to cut the egg into small puzzle pieces, students discussed how this compared to Adam and Eve sinning in the Garden of Eden. The egg was not perfect anymore and the same was true for the human race after sin entered the world. Once students began to put the puzzle pieces back together again and glue them onto their piece of paper, they could understand that this is exactly what Jesus did for us on the cross. By dying and coming back to life, He fixed our sin problem and put us back together again so that we can one day be without sin and be perfect again.

As your students bring these eggs home, ask them to explain this story and what it means for them. 

Happy Easter!

Picture Graphs

This last week we have been learning about picture graphs. To begin this chapter on graphs, we first learned how to conduct surveys in order to gather information. Next, we learned both how to create picture graphs as well as how to analyze the data presented on these graphs. To put all of this knowledge to use, our second graders created their own picture graphs by using data gathered by surveying their classmates.

To begin this project, students pulled survey ideas from a cup. These ideas included things like “favorite vegetable”, “favorite color”, “favorite movie”, etc. Once students had their idea, they walked around the classroom, surveying their classmates in order to collect data for their picture graphs. Once students collected this data, they began to draw their graphs using rulers for a straight edge on large sheets of paper.

Students enjoyed presenting the data they collected on their graphs by thinking of pictures for each object presented. Students drew one picture on their picture graphs for each vote of their classmates in order to determine the “favorite” of our classroom. The last step of this project was to add color and insert a title for their picture graphs. These graphs are now displayed in our hallway window to convey our “classroom favorites” to the rest of the school. Feel free to stop by and check out our graphs!

Money Egg Hunt

Our second graders have almost finished learning about money in chapter 8 of their math books. To have one last review about what we have learned in this chapter before the test, we had an Easter egg hunt outside.

Each student received a plastic bag so they could easily store the plastic eggs they found scattered around the playground equipment outside. In each of these plastic eggs was a coin, either a penny, a nickel, a dime, or a quarter. After hearing the whistle blow, the students were off and running, trying to find as many plastic Easter eggs as they could.

Coming back inside the classroom after the Easter egg hunt, it was the students’ job to count the money that was stored inside of the plastic eggs they had found. The students enjoyed counting their money and discovering who had collected the most. Through this Easter egg hunt, students reviewed their knowledge of how to add different coins together to decipher how much money they had collected. Our chapter 8 math test is tomorrow, and after watching our second graders during this Easter egg hunt, I can see that they have certainly learned a great deal throughout this chapter!  

The Leprechaun King

For the past week we have had many interesting leprechaun visits in our classroom. The Leprechaun King has left notes, golden treats, and (best of all) small green footprints on student desks!

The first few days of leprechaun visits, the Leprechaun King left small green footprints on only a few desks along with a little green note and golden treat. In the note, the Leprechaun King was telling these students that he was impressed with what he saw them doing in the classroom during the school day. Because of this, he gave these students some pieces of his gold.

The leprechaun also played some tricks on me! Every day in the classroom we use our Apple TV and one day, when I couldn’t find the TV remote, the students searched the room, looking for the missing remote. Eventually they found the remote in the back of the classroom with small green footprints next to it!

Today, on St. Patrick’s Day, the leprechaun visited our classroom for the last time. The leprechaun made a mess of the student desks by leaving small green footprints on every desk, along with a golden treat for each student. He added a note on our chalkboard, telling students that he would visit them next year. We can’t wait to see what the Leprechaun King has in store for us next year!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!