Class 2-H is having an absolute BLAST with our new "How To" writing unit.  So far, we've completed some pretty "sweet" activities that we wanted to share with our friends and families.  Last week, we took a poll of our favorite ways to eat an Oreo cookie.  After gathering the data, we then created two different bar graphs.  One was completed by hand, as we learned that every bar graph must contain a title, as well as a labeled x- axis and a labeled y-axis.  Next, we used Microsoft Excel during Computers to graph our data digitally.  Finally, we completed our own cookie books on "How To Eat An Oreo."  Check out our finished product on the Oreo poster that was sent home today.  Now, we want to turn the question over to you- How do you like to eat your Oreos???

Today, we continued our "How To" unit during Writer's Workshop with winter-themed sweetness.  In order to welcome in the cold, snowy season that is winter, the children were given materials and shown a model of a marshmallow snowman.  Then, working collaboratively with their table, they planned, assembled, and recorded "How To" instructions for this kid-friendly craft.  We all worked together as a team and turned out terrific first drafts.  We've even begun to experiment with adding introductions and conclusions to our "How To" pieces!  Check out these adorable, edible snowmen which were sent home today.  You can even have your second grader show other children "how to" make this awesome seasonal craft over the Winter Break! 

Our work during this unit has been nothing short of impressive!  We can't wait until after the vacation so that we can start brainstorming our personal "How To" projects :)  

Enjoy the photos below.  Class 2-H wishes everyone a happy, healthy New Year!!!  See you in 2014!!!

Brendan acting as "recorder" for the Goofy table,
while Ava begins building!

George adding sprinkles for the "charcoal" mouth...

Jade- add a mouth so your snowman can smile and say cheese!

Ben, are you trying to hide behind the snowman?
Hope it doesn't melt on you!

Phoebe is carefully adding arms...are
they made of sticks or pretzels though??

The Woody table recording their "How To" steps.

Levy, your snowman has a scarf...time to add a hat??

Buzz's finished products!!!

Mickey Mouse's snowmen look good enough
to eat!!

The Goofy table has 4 happy kids and 4 sweet snowmen!

The Woody table is ready for the winter!!

WOW!!!  Don't forget to eat your treats before they melt :)


HAPPY WINTER!!!

Thanksgiving Edition

Class 2H has been busy, busy, busy celebrating, giving thanks, and learning all about the first Thanksgiving!  We know all about the pilgrims' harsh journey from Plymouth, England in 1620 to Plymouth, Massachusetts.  The voyage on the Mayflower took 65 days!!!  Many of the pilgrims died the first winter in America due to illness, lack of food, and cold living conditions.  Thankfully, Squanto and Samoset spoke English and taught the pilgrims how to hunt and grow crops.  After the fall harvest in 1621, the pilgrims invited the Native Americans to share in a celebratory feast to give thanks for the bountiful harvest and new friends.  This 3 day long celebration is now known as the first Thanksgiving.

Check out our awesome Thanksgiving retell bracelets.  Each bead represents part of the pilgrims' journey.  Just ask about our beads...we'll be happy to summarize this historical event for you!!  We also had an amazing time making an Oreo turkey this morning.  We can't wait to share our edible artwork with you.  The turkeys are good enough to eat!!  Here in Class 2H, we are thankful for our friends and family.  We wish everyone a safe, happy holiday weekend:)  Gobble, Gobble!!

Sienna and Alex stringing their bracelets...

Samantha, Jade, and Vivek hard at work!

Ben just added the gold bead...what does the gold stand for Ben??

Jordan and Aslan are in the middle of
the first Thanksgiving story.  Jordan's green bead means
the pilgrims just spotted land!

Arjun and Sam "re-living" history!

Jade and Vivek smiling during the retell.
You guys probably wouldn't have been smiling during the harsh winter of 1621!

Brendan, Sam and George hard at work just like the pilgrims!

Sam is celebrating with corn!  Go yellow bead!

Ava, Phoebe, and Ranya have completed the same
journey as the pilgrims.

Ok...Sienna, Alex, and Sydney, time to retell
the WHOLE story!

Aslan, Brian, and Arjun are showing what they
learned from our non-fiction book and bracelet...

We are LOVING our bracelets!!!!

Oreo turkey time!

Adding "feathers" or candy corns
to our turkeys.

"Gluing" our Oreos with chocolate icing...

Brian's turkey is all feathers...where's the meat??

Caution!  Food artists at work!!

Careful...don't break another turkey Syd!

Almost done...but where's the head?!!

Ahhh!  You both have headless turkeys!!!

The head is the most delicate piece of our edible artwork.

Now we have heads and no bodies!!

George, we should give your turkey glasses so you match!!

Proud of our "artwork!"

How "sweet" are these turkeys?!

Uh-oh!  Ava, your turkey might need some surgery!

Gobble, Gobble!!

What's the best part of this turkey boys?

Who gets the wishbone???

Yummy!  Thanksgiving rocks!! (Plymouth Rock that is:) )

Happy Thanksgiving!

  

Pumpkin Math- Happy Halloween

What's that smell coming from Room 27??  Could it be?  Yes, it is!!!  It's time for Pumpkin Math...yay!!! Today, Class 2H was immersed from our fingertips to our elbows, literally, in Pumpkin Math!  What's that you ask?  Just ask our second grade mathematicians!  We investigated MANY mathematical questions today.  Does the weight of a pumpkin compare to its size? What is the circumference of a pumpkin?  How many seeds are in a pumpkin?  Does every pumpkin have the same number of seeds?  Is there any relationship between size and number of seeds??  Ahh...so much to explore!  Who knew we could use so much math in a discussion about pumpkins?!!  Don't believe us?  Check out our amazing activity sheets, where we recorded all of our predictions, explorations, and data.  Please excuse any stray pumpkin pulp and seeds that may have found their way to our sheets.  Math CAN get p-r-e-t-t-y messy!!  To get a better "picture" of what Pumpkin Math involves, check out our photo essay below.  Happy Halloween :)

We LOVE Pumpkin Math...let's do it again tomorrow!!

Comparing the size of our pumpkins...

Goofy was the biggest
and Donald was the smallest!

Counting lines on our pumpkin.
Did you know the longer the pumpkin is on the vine, the more lines it has??

Team work is important
during ALL of
Pumpkin Math!!

Woody table...still counting lines...

Here we are measuring circumference!

Can't believe we are discussing such a big word
in second grade...CIRCUMFERENCE!!

Measuring circumference using
string and unifix cubes...

Ben is taking care of
the circumference...

Super cooperation measuring circumference...
Georgie, bored much?!

Atta boy George!  Get in
on the action!!

How many inches is your
circumference, girls??

Now, we are ALL smiling!!

Time to cut open our pumpkins
and count the # of seeds..

Nice carving Samantha!

That's it...sort the seeds
from the pulp...

Yeah, Levy!  Get in there!!

Getting messy...

Arjun and Aslan are not
afraid of a little pumpkin guts :)

Sorting seeds is fun for
everyone!

Best day ever!!

How's the smell Brendan??

Told you we were "up to our elbows"
in Math...and other things ;)

 Check out all of
the different
methods we used
to count our pumpkin's seeds...so many ways!!!

 Love how we showed our work
right on the table!!  Always show your work...always :)

How many seeds were in your pumpkin??
Was there a relationship between size and seeds?
I think not!

Oh man, are we exhausted after all that work!!
GO PUMPKIN MATH!!


Happy Halloween!