Primary Division

List of 12 items.

• Library

  Second grade students learn and think about the structure of the library space and the structure of the library’s organizational system. Second graders begin using different strategies and tools, such as shelf markers, to help them become more independent library users. Library class time is also used to expand on classroom studies, including work on realistic fiction. Students read and discuss realistic fiction picture books and explore what distinguishes a realistic fiction story from other genres of fiction.

  
  

  During library class time in the second semester, second grade students are encouraged to pursue their interests as they select books from an increasingly broad collection of picture books, chapter books and nonfiction titles. In April, during National Poetry Month, second graders read and discuss poetry, focusing on narrative poems, and explore the library’s poetry section. As the year progresses, students are given more independence as they navigate the shared space and work towards becoming more effective and confident library users.

• Literacy

  Second grade students explore the Community theme and concept of Structure through their discovery of different genres. They learn about the organization of their classroom library and spend time reading a variety of poetry, narrative and nonfiction texts, discussing the form and function of each genre and the structure of stories. Through the study of Poetry, students practice reading fluently and expressively as they notice specific text structures and use those structures to help guide their oral reading. They also strengthen their reading comprehension skills as they apply strategies such as predicting, visualizing, identifying character traits, thinking about new word meanings and paying close attention to story elements. Students also make connections as they read picture books, early chapter books and longer chapter books. Students write their own poems, examining the differences between a variety of poetic structures while thinking about the tools poets use to express themselves. 

  
  

  Students also explore the world of nonfiction, as they research a variety of topics related to their community structures project. Using nonfiction text features, they write about the community structures that they build. They learn how to research and put new information into their own words. The second grade class learns how to formulate a topic sentence, supporting details and a concluding sentence. Students also build their spelling and reading skills through direct and explicit word study instruction, in which they learn about the sounds, letters, and meanings of words. This helps them read and write unfamiliar and multisyllabic words. Students learn to identify fragments and write in complete sentences in narrative and nonfiction texts so that they can clearly express their ideas to an audience. 

  
  

  In the second semester of second grade, students continue to develop as readers and writers through the culminating studies connected to the yearlong theme of Community. They examine the structures and elements of both narrative and informational nonfiction, as they thoughtfully discuss authors’ uses of details, description and dialogue. Second grade writers also compose their own personal narratives, moving through the writing process more independently and using mentor texts to revise their writing. Students read a variety of narrative texts, making interpretations about the more complex story elements of character development, plot, theme and lessons learned and also participate in meaningful conversations to discuss those ideas. Students learn to analyze characters' traits and back up ideas with evidence from the text. Integrated closely with their Community study, students launch into an in-depth look at informational writing where they explore the ways writers use facts and opinions to inform their audience. Second grade literacy culminates with each student researching a change-maker of their choice and writing an expository text that reflects everything they learn about that individual and the memorable changes they made in their communities.

• Mathematics

  Students continue building their understanding of number relationships and hone their repertoire of computational strategies. The interdisciplinary nature of mathematics provides students with opportunities to make connections between their various subjects, especially as they begin to explore the attributes of various geometric shapes and the utility of such shapes in the human environment. Through explorations, students develop their math vocabulary, modes of representation, and communication skills. By using games, models and manipulatives, they extend their understanding of place value and the structure of the Base-Ten system. Students also make connections between disciplines as they explore the attributes of different geometric shapes and the purposes of those shapes in the human environment. Through open-ended explorations and number and reasoning routines, students develop their math vocabulary and communication skills. As they progress throughout the term, students engage in both individual and collaborative work focused on creating meaning with the mathematics in their lives.

  
  

  Students use a variety of addition and subtraction strategies in the final term. They reason about the structure of each strategy and how particular strategies best match with particular numerical situations. Students use the open number line to represent and analyze these strategies. Overall, the curriculum emphasizes accuracy, flexibility and efficiency. Across tasks, students are encouraged to build problem solving habits of mind such as perseverance and collaboration. Throughout the term, the curriculum integrates mathematical processes with the grade-wide Community theme and the general concept of Communication. Students record their mathematical thinking to share their ideas with others, and they identify mathematical situations in the classroom, school and the larger world. Moreover, mathematical investigations provide a platform for students to apply their addition and subtraction skills in real-life contexts. Instruction within these investigations focuses on strategy selection and collaborative work process. Within each inquiry, students further develop their mathematical language.

• Performing Arts: Dance

  Dance class is tightly woven into the second grade curriculum. Students have various creative movement opportunities based on picture books, poetry, nature and their own imaginations. Some favorite experiences are our story dances based on “Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae and “Swimmy” by Leo Lionni. Students interpret the Read Alouds through improvisation, changing the qualities of their movement to match various characters, feelings and events in the books. A highlight of the second grade winter Dance curriculum is “The Nutcracker”. Throughout this extensive study, students become very familiar with the story of the ballet, take part in a basic ballet warm-up, create their own Nutcracker-inspired dances and even learn some set choreography. All of this comes to full fruition with a trip to Lincoln Center to see New York City Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” live on stage. Alongside all of this challenging work, dance technique skills are introduced and developed through the warm-up, stretch and traveling sequences that are a part of every class. Each student’s social and emotional growth is nurtured by working in small groups and partnerships, sharing dances, playing the role of a good audience member, respecting each other, oneself and the studio, as well as being consistent, cooperative and enthusiastic participants in class.

  
  

  The class begins the spring semester by working on an extensive choreography project that introduces and focuses on the “ingredients” of dance – time, space, energy and body. We use Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night as inspiration for this project. We then move into an integrated performance study inspired by Carole Lindstrom and Michael Goade’s picture book “We Are Water Protectors”. Each class has opportunities to use their “muscle memory” to learn, rehearse and retain set choreography, as well as create their own movements included in the final dances. Sharing our work with second grade families in a live performance is a highlight of the spring semester!

• Performing Arts: Music

  In second grade Music, students make connections to sound and rhythm through active listening, speaking, singing, body percussion, playing various instruments and moving with a variety of rhythmic and creative movements. Students focus on beats and rhythms by both copying and creating short repeating patterns. Students create original musical pieces by making connections to their interactions with nature and sculpture as experienced in their field trips. Their classroom poetry writing also serves as source material for additional music composition and performance. The concept of Community in the first grade curriculum is developed through cooperative music-making in solo, duet, small and large ensemble groupings. Students practice the skills of focused listening and observing, and positively reflecting both as an ensemble and audience member.

  
  

  The development of musicianship and musical awareness continues to flourish in the second half of the school year, using an integration of Orff and Kodaly methods through singing, body percussion, rhythmic speech, storytelling, music reading and composition, listening activities and kinesthetic learning via creative movement and folk dancing. Students sing both in the classroom and during iBlock time with the entire second grade community. Their songs focus on Social Justice theme, Earth Day and nature songs as well as learning American Sign Language. In collaboration with Dance, Visual Arts and Science, students prepare for a Family Share performance, drawing inspiration from the book “We Are Water Protectors”. Within the framework of learning a Japanese version of the game Rock Paper Scissors, students use body percussion and found sound objects to develop steady beat, rhythmic playing, decoding, reading, writing and composing skills. The concept of Communication in the curriculum is nurtured through these cooperative music-making projects as students artistically express their ideas and emotions. 

• Science

  Second grade Science focuses on learning scientific skills and developing scientific attitudes as students learn to think like a scientist through a study of organisms and their habitats. At the start of the semester, students visit Black Rock Forest Consortium where they research and experience the forest habitat to then draw comparisons to city environs back at home. We then focus on the world of birds and students learn to be close observers, ask questions and use their observations to develop scientific ideas. Student scientists study nests, adaptations and bird behavior. A special treat is learning about birds of prey and dissecting an owl pellet to strengthen an understanding of food chains. An important focus in second grade Science is communicating scientific ideas: throughout the unit each student maintains a scientific folder where ideas, observations, scientific thinking and questions are recorded.

  
  

  During our winter Energy unit, students discover the fundamentals of circuit construction and explore various ways to make a complete circuit. They then expand upon their understanding of energy by exploring renewable and nonrenewable energy sources while they engage in hands-on experiments with solar energy and wind power. Through class discussions and Science Story, students deepen their understanding of the earth’s connected systems and the impact of human activity on the planet as they explore issues of climate change and global warming. In the spring, students engage in a variety of explorations focused on water. Early investigations allow students to explore concepts of Cohesion, Surface Tension and Capillary Action as they simultaneously focus on close careful observation and writing like a scientist. Subsequent investigations invite students to explore concepts of Floating and Sinking as they categorize different materials based on their observable properties, as well as explore concepts of Density. Throughout the unit, students also examine the role of water in their world, and consider challenges to the world’s water, such as plastic pollution in the ocean. 

• Social Emotional Learning

  In the first half of second grade, Social Emotional Learning skills are integrated into the study of Community. Students learn how people express their identities and their feelings and begin to appreciate the many ways in which diversity strengthens a group. They also become aware that people can express the same feelings in different ways and that others may have perspectives that differ from their own. Working in the whole class and in small groups, students develop empathy and learn to resolve conflict through negotiation and compromise. They learn to assertively express strong feelings, and become increasingly comfortable taking academic risks and persevering through challenges. They are increasingly independent in completing their work, and they take responsibility for their actions so that the community can function effectively. Finally, as part of their understanding of community, students develop an understanding of applying conflict resolution strategies, self-advocacy skills, bullying and bystander behavior and learn how to be an ally, standing up for themselves and for others.

  
  

  In the second half of second grade, Social Emotional Learning skills and objectives are built into the student’s study of Communication. In Community Club, students begin to understand how words they choose can escalate or de-escalate a conflict, with a particular focus on using assertive “I-statements” to communicate with classmates. They also practice recognizing body and brain clues for their own feelings and the feelings of others, and draw connections between nonverbal and verbal communications. Through lessons that encourage flexible thinking and active listening, students work in large and small groups to practice both communicating their ideas and respectfully listening to the ideas of their peers. Students continue to practice conflict resolution, and are continually reinforced on the importance of physical and emotional boundaries.

• Social Studies

  Grade 2 has a year-long Community them and focuses on the concepts of Structure and Expression. Students come well prepared for the emphasis on independent and cooperative learning opportunities. We begin with activities to build a grade-level community filled with the collective strengths of the children.
  
  Students see that they are each unique and together complete. They investigate how physical and organizational structures help the members of a community grow and prosper. They examine the ways families, The School and other communities express their affiliation, and how these communities meet the needs of each member and help to make the groups within successful.

• Spanish Language/Literacy

  This semester students explore the concept of Structure, gaining exposure to new language for structures and vocabulary. They learn key vocabulary to communicate and interact with their peers and understand their surroundings in Spanish. Students study the theme of Community by getting to know one another, making connections with the people in the classroom and the spaces in the school. Students use the four essential language-learning skills—listening, speaking, reading and writing—to expand their vocabulary and grammar skills. Specific vocabulary units pertain to physical traits, objects in the classroom, school places, subjects at school, days of the week and useful expressions. Spanish classes are based on creative problem-solving in dynamic groups where outcomes are not always predictable, but ultimately greater than any individual perspective could envision.

  
  

  During the second semester of the school year, second grade students explore vocabulary and structures related to the theme of Community. They are invited to continue to develop their Spanish through a rich multitude of musical and kinesthetic experiences. Students immerse themselves in learning about the Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands. We explore mapping skills and cardinal directions in Spanish in order to study the Caribbean map. We also study weather expressions in Spanish and analyze the weather in the Caribbean region. In connection with the Library’s Leo’s Choice Award, we hold our own Leo Lee Award, where students explore the culture of the Caribbean through Read Alouds of Latino literature. They practice listening comprehension skills in Spanish as well as the literacy strategies of summarizing, predicting events and analyzing. They study the concept of Expression through the ‘pregones’ from Cuba in the book “Un pregón de frutas.” They learn about the Coquí frog from Puerto Rico in the book “De aquí como el Coquí.” They also explore the traditions and customs of the Dominican Republic in “Los plátanos van con todo.” Students continue the semester researching different cultural elements from the Caribbean, such as food, music, people and nature and create a book in Spanish containing notes and illustrations. Second graders end the year studying El Yunque, the rainforest in Puerto Rico where they practice how to compare and contrast the various flora and fauna of the area in Spanish.

• Technology

  In the second grade Visual Art curriculum, students further develop their fundamental art skills and explore the diverse potential of various art materials. Aligned with the overarching concept of Structure in the second-grade curriculum, students create geometric design drawings incorporating a range of lines and shapes. Through this, they practice using a ruler to make straight, diagonal and curvilinear lines. The exploration of Structure extends into the Sculpture unit, where students experiment with materials such as paper, wire and cardboard. Inspired by artists like Isamu Noguchi and Mark di Suvero, they explore materials to construct models of their dream playgrounds. In this process, students are challenged to ensure the stability and steadiness of their structures by exploring innovative solutions. A highlight of the curriculum is a field trip to Storm King Art Center, where students draw inspiration from artworks that deepen their understanding of form, materials and construction processes. Building upon their knowledge and insights, they embark on a collaborative project to construct a classroom city. Students research local buildings for their designs, each selecting a structure to contribute to the collaborative city. The project involves interdisciplinary collaboration with Technology, makerspace, Social Studies and Math, fostering sculptural skills and the ability to work together within a collaborative space. 

  
  

  In the second half of the school year, second graders continue to build on their understanding of Sculpture. Students explore with clay, and create clay self portraits that focus on applying scoring and slip techniques to add features and texture to their portraits. The Sculpture unit also allows students to think about identity and communication. The class then works on an integrated Music, Dance and Visual Art performance inspired by the book “Imagine” by Alison Lester. Each second grade class works collaboratively to develop and build performance backgrounds and also independently design animal props to use during the performance. In preparation for our last unit, students learn to sew and craft pillows of their own design, challenging their fine-motor abilities, requiring focus and determination. The semester ends with a Technology and Visual Art collaboration focused on soft circuits and the design process. This experience allows students to use their knowledge of materials to make individual choices for their creations. In addition to these successful projects, students continue to develop their creative problem-solving skills and their ability to work successfully in a collaborative space. 

• Visual Arts

  In the second grade Visual Art curriculum, students further develop their fundamental art skills and explore the diverse potential of various art materials. Aligned with the overarching concept of Structure in the second-grade curriculum, students create geometric design drawings incorporating a range of lines and shapes. Through this, they practice using a ruler to make straight, diagonal and curvilinear lines. The exploration of Structure extends into the Sculpture unit, where students experiment with materials such as paper, wire and cardboard. Inspired by artists like Isamu Noguchi and Mark di Suvero, they explore materials to construct models of their dream playgrounds. In this process, students are challenged to ensure the stability and steadiness of their structures by exploring innovative solutions. A highlight of the curriculum is a field trip to Storm King Art Center, where students draw inspiration from artworks that deepen their understanding of form, materials and construction processes. Building upon their knowledge and insights, they embark on a collaborative project to construct a classroom city. Students research local buildings for their designs, each selecting a structure to contribute to the collaborative city. The project involves interdisciplinary collaboration with Technology, makerspace, Social Studies and Math, fostering sculptural skills and the ability to work together within a collaborative space. 

  
  

  In the second half of the school year, second graders continue to build on their understanding of Sculpture. Students explore with clay, and create clay self-portraits that focus on applying scoring and slip techniques to add features and texture to their portraits. The Sculpture unit also allows students to think about identity and communication. The class then works on an integrated Music, Dance and Visual Art performance inspired by the book “Imagine” by Alison Lester. Each second grade class works collaboratively to develop and build performance backgrounds and also independently design animal props to use during their performance. In preparation for our last unit, students learn to sew and craft pillows of their own design, challenging their fine-motor abilities, requiring focus and determination. The semester ends with a Technology and Visual Art collaboration focused on soft circuits and the design process. This experience allows students to use their knowledge of materials to make individual choices for their creations. In addition to these successful projects, students continue to develop their creative problem-solving skills and their ability to work successfully in a collaborative space. 

• Wellness

  During the first semester of Wellness, students focus on important developmental physical skills while connecting to the Community theme and concept of Structure. We begin the year by working on fundamental locomotor skills. We move on to sportsmanship and teamwork through the use of cooperative games and character education themes. The students then dive into a study of the human skeletal bones. Students work on their understanding of the skeletal system structure and how bones interconnect with one another. We also study the structure of the brain and how it can help us become better movers and learners. Mindfulness practices are incorporated in class throughout the year as students engage in fitness activities. 

  
  

  Second grade Wellness students participate in a range of activities in the Throwing, Catching and Juggling unit. Students work on throwing and catching mechanics, explore the amount of force necessary to move an object a desired distance, practice catching and throwing different sizes and types of objects, and work their way up to juggling two to three scarves at a time. The unit allows students to improve their hand-eye coordination, ability to track a moving object and throw an object to a desired target. Students then move into the Rock-Climbing unit where they work on muscular strength, muscular endurance and coordination while bouldering up and across the integrated rock wall in the Multipurpose Room. 

  
  

  Following spring break, second graders begin their Parachute unit. Teamwork, personal responsibility and problem-solving skills are discussed and put into practice daily across the span of the unit. Students then shift to a Striking and Volleying unit. Second graders use balloons, paddles and balls to practice keeping an object in the air and volley a balloon over a net with a partner. Students conclude the year with the Fitness and Tagging unit. Second graders participate in activities that work on their flexibility, strength and cardiorespiratory endurance. In addition to promoting different aspects of fitness, tag games also teach students bodily awareness and locomotor skills. The goal of this unit is to provide students with a better understanding of the different ways to stay active, allow students to explore different fitness activities and encourage students to find activities that are of interest to them.