Teachers:
		Kristina Skladaitis Teacher				Christy Coughlin Instructional Support

This was an exciting year in 2nd grade!  Throughout the year, we completed over 10 different science units including bats, adaptations, insects and plants and trees.  When we studied bees, we tasted 4 different types of honey and even had the chance to taste royal jelly.  For Museum Night, students created an exhibit along with the kindergarten class showcasing oceans.  They made 5 different murals, including one that showed the effects of the Gulf Coast Oil Spill.  Both classes created post cards that were sold on museum night.  All proceeds from the sale went to The National Wildlife Federation. 

We were able to go on 5 field trips: Crystal Cave Park, the Peter Pan play at the Arden Theater, a Christmas party at the 5th District Police Station, the Academy of Natural Sciences, and the Elmwood Zoo.  In math we studied 12 different units and practiced working with money, time, addition and subtraction, fractions, number stories and multiplication.  We read 20 different stories in our anthology books and students had the opportunity to read for at least 15-30 minutes each day (totaling at least 44 hours or 2,640 minutes).  We practiced 176 sight words and hundreds of spelling words.  In October, the students practiced and then performed the reader’s theatre play The Great Ball Game.  Then in January, the students wrote their first fiction stories for 2nd grade and had them published into a hard back book.  In social studies we learned about communities and geography (including map skills).  We also spent some time learning about Pennsylvania (3 major cities, 5 major rivers and the 3 major mountain chains).              

It was an amazing year, full of wonderful projects and surprises.  I will miss my students tremendously but know that they will excel next year in the 3rd grade!  Have a wonderful summer and remember to read, read, read! 

January and February were filled with interesting learning experiences within the 2nd grade classroom.  The students learned about the sun, moon and stars.  They were able to identify moon phases and learned about several star constellations.  Next they moved on to adaptations.  We discussed what animals and humans need to do in order to survive.  They used what they
learned about hibernation, adaptation and migration to create their own animals during an in-class science project.  Next we move on to endangered and extinct species.  They will make their own fossils and learn why many species are endangered.

March will be an exceptionally exciting time for us!  The students will becoming amateur entomologists!  During our large insect unit we will study bees, ants and different types of pests.  The students will read books, complete a research project, create clay models, complete classroom projects, take hikes, participate in lessons, write for various purposes and become actively involved in their learning.