Polar Biomes
This week in second grade we are focusing on the polar biome. The polar biome encompasses the area around and beyond the Arctic Circle. Students learned that the polar biome has extremely cold temperatures and significant ice cover caused by permafrost. Second graders know that there are five parts that make up a biome – Energy, soil, water, flora, and fauna. Students can label and identify all parts in the polar biome. Students can also dive deep into flora and fauna and name all types of flora and fauna that can be found in the polar biome.
Non-Fiction Writing
Second graders have become excellent non-fiction readers! Students have taken their non-fiction knowledge to help them become authors of their own non-fiction books. We learned that non-fiction books are based on true events and most include a table of contents. A table of contents is important because it serves as a road map for readers to navigate. Second grade authors took their time to brainstorm topics they know ALL about. Authors then wrote title pages, planned their chapters for their table of contents and then began writing their chapters. Students are learning that not all non-fiction books look the same. Many use diagrams, pictures, and step-by-step descriptions to help readers understand. Second grade authors are using this information to write their non-fiction books with different writing paper (picture paper, diagram paper, lined paper, multi picture paper, and many more). We are so proud of our non-fiction writers!
Decomposing
Students have been subtracting one and two-digit numbers from two-digit numbers within 100. Second graders are using strategies based on place value to evaluate expressions that involve decomposing a ten. Decomposing a ten means that you are transforming one group of ten into ten ones. Decomposing helps us subtract bigger numbers from smaller ones. We are so proud of each Second grader for learning all the different ways to subtract using decomposition and practicing with their favorite strategy that makes the most sense to them.
Important Dates:
- October 14th-15th – Fall Break (School Closed)
- October 22nd – Picture Day
- October 28th – Polar Biome Presentation
- October 28th – LeAnn Gardner Parent Presentation (5:30 pm)
- October 31st – Halloween Carnival (11:30 am Dismissal)
