Community Faces & Places
We will be learning about our classroom and school community as well as the broader community in which we live. This unit will include the study of maps, community workers, and some history of the St. Paul community. 

Maps Take Us Places
Students will learn about all kinds of maps such as story maps, song maps, time lines as a map of history and geographical maps. We will be reading folk tales from around the world and find where they are from on the map.

Solids, Liquids, Air & Weather
We will conduct scientific observations of the weather, learn vocabulary words, learn about the water cycle, and use tools to measure temperature and wind. Second graders will also learn about the properties of solids, liquids and air as they conduct  experiments.  

Plants
This is a study of how new plants are propagated. We will do experiments to see how new plants grow, and write observations of what we see. We will take an all-day field trip to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in the spring.

All the thematic units are integrated into the academics and arts. The books we read and the projects we do focus on our central theme. Some of our other academic routines include:

Reader's Workshop
This time starts with a whole group mini lesson then moves to small group instruction time to suit your child's individual needs.
   
Math
We are using the Everyday Math curriculum. Look for Homelinks and family information letters in your child's Homework Folder. Please keep all math family letters in your Family Folder for future reference (they have all the answers to the math homework). They come in handy when trying to help your child understand a difficult concept. We are also using Every Day Counts Calendar Math. 

Writer's Workshop
We will have Writer's Workshop every day. This is a time for your child to develop his or her writing skills. Updates about writing will be in our second grade newsletter published throughout the year.

Handwriting
We will be using the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum. It will help children learn how to print neatly, giving them more confidence in writing.

Physical Education
Second graders will have gym class once a week and students must wear tennis shoes. We will let you know when gym days are in the second grade newsletter.

Technology
Second Graders will be working with computer programs that match our themes in second grade.
       
Social Studies
Our Social Studies curriculum includes hands-on, interactive projects and is based in literature. We will be using it throughout the year, integrating it into our thematic units. Second graders will also be participating in the Families All Matter Book Project learning about diversity. A letter will be sent home to explain this project.

Science
Our science curriculum includes 3 Foss kits. The kits are wonderful, hands-on learning experiences for your child. Specialists will also  teach lessons about science, and second graders will read books to learn about science concepts and vocabulary.