SECOND GRADE CURRICULUM
RELIGION
Voyages: Exploring God's World is a study of Bible stories: Adam and Eve and other Old Testament Bible heroes to the New Testament stories of Jesus, His miracles, teachings and life are studies. A study of the Apostle Paul concludes the 9 small unit booklets that each child receives during the year. Second graders learn of God's love and forgiveness through Jesus Christ who has a plan for each of their lives. The children memorize selected Bible verses, The Ten Commandments and many songs to help put God's Word into their hearts. Second graders learn to use a Bible and highlight the selected verses. Each Wednesday students attend a school chapel service. Second graders lead one of the chapel services in the school year.
READING
Houghton Mifflin introduces second graders to stories from award winning authors. Students continue to build their reading level and use supplementary books to reinforce their reading skills. Activities with each story include practice in comprehension and vocabulary. We encourage parent involvement to help their child become a more fluent and expressive reader. One hundred minutes of reading time is expected outside of the classroom weekly.
PHONICS
Sadlier Phonics helps each student become a stronger decoding reader. Second graders learn about short and long vowels, compound words, contractions, synonyms, antonyms, blends, digraphs, and diphthongs-all skills to help each student learn to attack new words and make reading fun! Many poems are included in the Sadlier series that work on the skill being practiced.
WRITING
Students are encouraged to write regularly. Writing is integrated throughout the day and intertwined in many subject areas. Almost daily the children write creative stories in their journal or on a certain topic. Students use McDougal Littell Handwriting Practice Book to review correct formation of lower and uppercase letters in manuscript. Emphasis is placed on legible writing. Later in the year, second graders begin to learn cursive writing with a single letter and word practice for upper and lower case letters of the alphabet.
SPELLING
Houghton Mifflin Spelling is used to increase vocabulary and transfer spelling skills to writing assignments. Weekly tests are given. The use of the dictionary and thesaurus and learned in their spelling book. Challenging words are included each week.
ENGLISH
Second graders use Houghton Mifflin English. Students learn about nouns, verbs, adjectives, punctuations and sentence structure. These skills are then applied to writing in many forms-sentences, paragraphs, stories and letters.
MATH
Horizons Mathematics introduces second graders to math concepts ranging from concrete to abstract. Students learn addition and subtraction (up to four digit numbers), money geometry, fractions, measurement, time, data and graphing, and an introduction to multiplication and division. Timed math facts and many story problems are included in their study of math.
SCIENCE
Discover Science Scott/Foresman is used to introduce scientific discovery through units about plants, animals, light, heat, sound, solids, liquids, gases, electricity, dinosaurs, nutrition, our body and the solar system. Experiments, videos and field trips enhance their experience in Science and the world God has given us.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Neighborhoods and Communities, Macmillan/Mcgraw Hill, is used for second graders in their study about the places in the world around them. The students learn map and globe skills. The students learn the names and location of all fifty states. They write reports and participate in a classroom Indian Pow Wow.
ART
Second graders learn about different artists, create some of their own art through painting and drawing, and experience the use of different media.
MUSIC
Students have music instruction daily in the classroom. It may involve singing, listening, playing instruments, movement, expression and music theory. They learn a variety of Christian songs and participate in musicals and plays presented in the winter and spring of each year.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Second graders have P.E. twice a week with the P.E. teacher. Students participate in activities to develop strength, endurance, and flexibility. They develop basic skills for individual and team sports. Emphasis is placed on cooperation as a team and showing good sportsmanship. They participate each year in the Presidential Physical Fitness Challenge Test in which they run a mile along with doing other endurance tests.
CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
Students go on field trips that are related to units and learning activities in class. They are encouraged to participate in school spirit days. During National Lutheran Schools Week, the students have prayer partners in the school and in different communities.