Explorers of the World Around Us

As we conclude the first half of our second grade year, Ms. Harrington's students are also concluding their social studies unit for the trimester, "Explorers of the World Around Us". The children chose their own explorer to research independently, with peers, teachers, and fourth grade reading buddies. They drew portraits, studied their explorer's travel routes on maps, sorted out the information they learned on graphic organizers, and wrote reports. Here is some of their work:

Charles Lindbergh

by Emily

Charles was a curious person. He was curious about learning to fly. He wanted to explore learning to fly, but it wasn't always easy. That's because the airplanes always brode down and they always needed more and more fuel. So he made lighter planes that didn't break down. Even though it was hard, Charles persisted. Eventually, he flew across the Atlantic Ocean. I think we can learn a lot from Charles, like how to use our brains to solve problems.

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James Cook

by Blake

James Cook was a curious person. He was curious about the South Pole. He wanted to explore the coasts of the world. There was a big storm. Even though it was hard, James persisted. Eventually, he sailed around the world. I think we can learn a lot from James, like how to sail and keep trying when things are hard.

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Jane Goodall

by Elizabeth

Jane Goodall was a curious person. She was curious about chimps. She wanted to explore animals in Africa, but it wasn't always easy. That's because Jane's mom said that she had to go to secretary school. Even though it was hard, Jane persisted. Eventually, she made it to Africa. I think we can learn a lot from Jane, like how to save wildlife.

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Vasco da Gama

by Tristan

Vasco da Gama was a curious person. He was curious about finding different spices at India and goods, too. He wanted to explore a new trading route, but it wasn't always easy. That's because it was very hard to find a ship and the seas were very dangerous, too. Even though it was hard, Vasco da Gama persisted. Eventually, he found a new trade route. I think we can learn a lot from Vasco da Gama, like how to follow your dreams.

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Leif Erikkson

by Gracie

Leif was a curious person. He was curious about discovering new lands. He wanted to explore new lands, but it wasn't always easy. That's becuase he had to travel a long way until he came to the first coast of land in North America. Even though it was hard, Leif persisted. Eventually, he came to the first coast. I think we can learn a lot from Leif Erikkson, like how to discover new lands.

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Robert Fulton

by Reid

Robert Fulton was a curious person. He was curious about how to build machines. He built a submarine and steamboats. He was creative.

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Marco Polo

by Skye

Marco Polo was a curious person. He was curious about sea monsters, but he was brave and found out and he wanted to explore and sail on the ocean, but it wasn't always easy.That's because he was afraid of sea monsters, but he was brave and did it anyways and it was cool. Even though it was hard, he did it and persisted. Eventually he was brave. I think we can learn a lot from him, like how to be creative and impressive. I like this explorer because he is spectacular to me and I think this is a great time to me and I learned a lot from him. He is a good explorer for me, because I like the ocean.

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Amelia Earhart

by Dylan

Amelia Earhart was curious about being the first woman to fly over the Atlantic Ocean. She wanted to explore the Atlantic Ocea, but even thought it was hard, Amelia persisted. Eventually she did it because she believed in herself. I think we can learn a lot from Amelia. I learned from Amelia that I should keep on trying, don't give up, and believe in myself. And also, I think that Amelia shouldn't listen to other people and what they say. She should care what she thinks. 

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Benjamin Banneker

by Jaeden

Benjamin Banneker was a curious person. He was curious about the stars. He wanted to explore the stars, but it wasn't always easy. That's because he struggled, because the people said he was a black man and so he couldn't make maps of the stars. Even thought it was hard, Benjamin persisted. Eventually, he wrote to the president to say that he could do it. I think we can learn a lot from Benjamin like how to make maps of the stars. 

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Ponce de Leon

by Nick

Ponce de Leon was a curious person. He was curious about discovering new lands. He wanted to explore new lands, but it wasn't always easy. That's because he had to travel through storms. Even thought it was hard, Ponce de Leon persisted. Eventually, he risked to go through a storm. I think we can learn a lot from him, like how to go to a new land and just keep going, even if it's hard.

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Jaques Cousteau

by Sydney

Jacques was a curious person. He was curious about the ocean. He wanted to explore the ocean, but it was not always easy. That's because he could only hold his breath for a minute. But he persisted in his work. He invented he airtank. Then he made movies about the ocean. After Jacques spent most of his life making movies about the sea, he saw something happening. Something shocking. Plants that used to be alive and healthy were dying. Jaques saw that people, without realizing it, were slowly killing the sea and it's creatures by dumping garbage and poisonous chemicals into the ocean he loved so much. He knew what he had to do. He had to make more movies. Movies to warn people. Movies to save the sea. Jacques spoke to the presidents, to kings and queens, to people. I think we can learn a lot about Jaques. I studied him because he loved the ocean. He is adventurous. I like the ocean. It is cool. I would like to go scuba diving.

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Eratosthenes

by Bryce

Eratosthenes was a curious person. He was curious about the Earth. He wanted to know the size of the Earth, but it wasn't easy. Even though it was hard, he learned to measure the size of the Earth using math. I think we can learn a lot from Eratosthenes about math.

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Bessie Coleman

by Naomi

Bessie Coleman was a curious person. She was curious about how to fly. She wanted to learn to fly, but it wasn't easy. That's because people said that she could not do it because she was a black woman. Even though it was hard, Bessie persisted. Eventually, she did it! She went to school in France and learned how to be a pilot. I think we can learn a lot from Bessie, like how to fly and do it even if someone said you could not.

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Sir Francis Drake

by Sammy

Sir Francis Drake was a curious person. He was curious about gold, silver, and even spices. He wanted to explore the world, but it wasn't always easy. That's because the Spanish sailors and Drake fought a lot. Even thought it was hard, Drake persisted. Eventually, he sailed around the world. I think we can learn a lot from Sir Francis Drake, like how to find treasure.

Nice job, second graders! After the holiday, Mrs. Mankowsky's class will begin their "Explorers" unit, as well. For now, here's wishing you peace, love, and happiness this holiday season!

Stone Soup

In preparation for the holidays, the second graders explored the story Stone Soup through Readers' Theater. Here is their performance, recorded and set to their own illustrations. Enjoy!

Stone Soup from Nettie Harrington Pangallo on Vimeo.

When Fall Comes to Erving

As we prepare to say goodbye to autumn, let's take some time to listen to how the second grade students view this beautiful season in our town. They've written a poem about it and set it to music. Enjoy their performance of When Fall Comes to Erving.

Happy Thanksgiving!

In honor of this holiday, some of our students have written some recipes that you may find useful this weekend. Enjoy!

A Recipe for Turkey

by Liz

Ingredients: 

• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper 
• 1 turkey

Equipment: oven, pan

Directions:

1. Put the turkey in the oven.
2. Put the oven on 250 degrees.
3. Cook the turkey for 3 hours.
4. Mix salt and pepper.
5. Put this mix on the turkey.
6. Enjoy!

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A Recipe for Gravy

by Emily F.

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp water
• 1 T of sugar
• 2 mints
• Regular gravy

Equipment: mixer, mint melter

Directions:

1. Mix the salt and pepper, sugar, flour, and cook them for 30 minutes.
2. Take the regular gravy.
3. Mix with the salt, pepper, sugar, and flour.
4. Mix them for 1 hour.
5. Add melted mint and it's gravy.

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A Recipe for Mashed Potatoes

by Sammy

Ingredients:

• 1 Potato
• 1 T butter
• Cream cheese

Equipment: a masher, a knife, and a bowl

Directions:

1. Peel the potato.
2. Slice it.
3. Cook it in boiling H2O.
4. Drain water (H2O).
5. Mash potatoes with butter and cream cheese.
6. Enjoy!

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A Recipe for Green Bean Casserole

by Reid

Ingredients: 

• Green beans
• French fried onions

Equipment: Oven, a baking dish

Directions:

1. Put green beans in a baking dish.
2. Put onions on top.
3. Cook it for 1 hour.
4. Enjoy!

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A Recipe for Green Beans

by Bryce

Ingredients: 

• Green beans
• Water
• Butter
• Salt
• Pepper

Equipment: Sauce pan, knife, cutting board

Directions:

1. Wash the green beans.
2. Cut the green beans.
3. Cook the green beans in 2 cups of water on medium heat until tender.
4. Drain water from pan.
5. Serve green beans with butter, salt, and pepper.
6. Enjoy!

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A Recipe for Corn

by Sydney

Ingredients:

• half of a lemon
• 3 pieces of corn
• 1 tsp butter

Equipment: Bowl, pan

Directions: 

1. Get the bowl. 
2. Put corn in bowl.
3. Pour in frying pan.
4. Toss the corn around until it is brown.
5. Put it back in bowl. 
6. Ready to serve!

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A Recipe for Cranberry Sauce

by Gracie

Ingredients: 

• Jelly
• Cranberries
• Sugar

Equipment: mixer, bowl, oven

Directions: 

1. Mix the jelly and the sugar and the cranberries together in a bowl.
2. After mixing, take the skins of the cranberries out.
3. Squish them all together.
4. Put it in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes.
5. Then heat it up in the oven for about 5 minutes.

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A Recipe for Stuffing

by Nick

Ingredients: 

• Stuffing packet
• Hot water

Equipment: A pot, spoon, and bowl

Directions:

1. Put the hot water in the pot.
2. Turn the oven on.
3. Boil the water.
4. Put the stuffing in.
5. Cook it for 20 minutes.
6. Stir it.
7. Pour it in a bowl and eat it.

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A Recipe for Apple Crisp

by Dylan

Ingredients: 

• 5 apples
• 1 T cinnamon
• 1 T oatmeal
• 1 tsp breadcrumbs
• 1 T sugar

Equipment: knife, pot, spoon, cutting board

Directions: 

1. Take the 5 apples and cut them all.
2. Put 1 T of cinnamon on each apple. 
3. Put 1 T of oatmeal for each apple.
4. Put in 1 tsp of bread crumbs.
5. Mix in 1 T of sugar. 
6. Mix them all and put them in the oven.

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A Recipe for Lemon Meringue Pie

by Skye

Ingredients: 

• 2 lemons
• 1 pie crust
• 1 cups olive oil
• 4 cups of lemon juice
• 6 eggs (take the yoke out of the eggs)

Equipment: whisk, knife, measuring cup, measuring spoons, a blender

Directions:

1. Wash your hands.
2. Get 2 lemons. 
3. Get pie crust and bake until brown.
4. Get a measuring cup.
5. Get a measuring spoon.
6. Get a teaspoon.
7. Squeeze lemons on olive oil.
8. Then put over, layering on after.
9. Preheat oven on 350 degrees.
10. Beat egg whites until stiff.
11. Layer egg whites.
12. Mix egg whites, oil, and lemon juice.
13. Warm extra pie crust.
14. Bake in oven at 350 degrees until lightly brown on top.
15. Enjoy!

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A Recipe for Chocolate Pie

by Blake

Ingredients: 

• 1 bag of chocolate chips
• 2 cans of whipped cream
• 1 pie crust

Equipment: mixing spoon

Directions:

1. Melt the chocolate.
2. Mix it with whipped cream.
3. Pour it in a crust.
4. Cook it at 200 degrees for 5 minutes.
5. Let it cool.
6. Enjoy!

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A Recipe for Strawberry Shortcake

by Naomi

Ingredients:

• Strawberry
• Cake
• Eggs
• Sugar

Equipment: bowl, fork, knife

Directions: 

1. Cut up strawberries.
2. Mash up strawberries.
3. Put in container.
4. Freeze them.
5. Put sugar on it.
6. Make a cake.
7. Pour the strawberries on.
8. Enjoy!

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A Recipe for Strawberry Shortcake

by Jaeden

Ingredients: 

• 5 strawberries
• frosting
• cake
• whipped cream

Equipment: spoon, a plate, a knife, a mixer, and a fork

Directions:

1. Cut the top of the strawberries.
2. Put the strawberries on the cake.
3. Put frosting and whipped cream on the strawberries.
4. Enjoy!

Learning Through Playing: A Jamestown Computer Game

Have fun and learn lots, kiddos!

Adventures in Jamestown

Archaeologists in Jamestown

This trimester, the second grade students are studying the history of what is now Jamestown, VA. They are doing research about what it was like to be a Paspahegh Native American at the time before, during, and after the English settled in Jamestown in 1607. There was much they already knew! For example, the students knew that people fished and hunted for food. They also knew that sometimes there was peace between the Native Americans and English, and that sometimes they could be helpful to one another; however, they also knew that there were many violent times. Here are some of the kids' initial reactions:

A Paspahegh Native American village before the Europeans settled at Jamestown 

The Paspahegh people used their land for hunting and fishing. The Europeans thought they received permission from the chief, Powhatan, to take over the land, but they were mistaken. 

 "I think it is very important that everybody would get along together at that time by getting used to each other." ~Elizabeth

"I think the English people would only shoot if the Native Americans made a threat to them, right?" ~Blake

"If you had a garden and worked hard on it and then someone came and took your food and you didn't have any left, you would feel sad." ~Nick

"Trees are part of nature, living things, and so chopping trees down is bucket dipping. It's not good for the trees or the Native Americans who needed that stuff. It was part of their environment." ~Gracie

The Susan Constant was one of the first ships to arrive at the land that would become Jamestown.

After years of mixed peace and struggles, the Native Americans and English fought again to drive each other out of the land the Europeans called Jamestown. In the end, the English won over the land. Muskets, poisons, and diseases brought over from across the ocean were too much for the Paspaheghs to overcome.

Archaeologists have found lots of evidence about life in Jamestown. The children, pretending they were archaeologists, looked at the artifacts, and used their imaginations to decide what the objects were, what they were used for in Jamestown, who used them, and what it could tell us about what life was like. Dylan saw some arrowheads and wondered if they were tools to carve into rocks for writing and drawing. Skye saw some broken pottery and wondered if there had been a hurricane to break it all. Reid saw some copper pieces and thought they were probably used for money. After all the students had seen and made guesses about the artifacts, the group got together to learn about the clues that history has left us. Ask them about it!

We're Writing Creatively in Second Grade

Creative Writing: A Trip to the Moon

The second graders have been reading and writing about space this week. In this creative writing assignment, they began thinking about the writing process. First, they put together graphic organizers to describe what they would do to prepare for a trip to the moon. Next, they used their organizers to develop a first draft.  After making some revisions, the children edited their drafts. Take a look! They had some fantastic ideas.

If I took a trip to the moon, I would need to learn how to fly a spaceship. I would bring food and water. Then I would take a picture of my friends so I wouldn’t get lonely. I would take air and a spacesuit with me. I would take a diary. I would go to the moon so I can read books—but I’ll have to keep them from floating away!

Nick

If I took a trip to the moon, I would need to learn how to fly a spaceship. I would ask my Grammy White to make me a spacesuit and buy me a helmet. I would also ask her to make me a cake, too! I would bring my family so I don’t get lonely. I will bring dog food, sandwiches, water, and cat food. I would go to the moon so I can explore the astronauts’ foot prints. I will bring a tent and a fridge.

Jasmine

If I took a trip to the moon I would need to learn how to fly a spaceship. I would bring a friend. I would also bring food. I’d bring air. I would bring a spacesuit. I would go to the moon so I can explore it.

Will

If I took a trip to the moon, I would need to bring a friend. I’d bring food and water. I would bring my family and my dog. I would bring games and a spacesuit. I would also bring sponges for a sponge bath to keep clean. Then I would be ready! I would go to the moon so I can explore!

Katelynn

If I took a trip to the moon, I would need to learn how to fly a spaceship first. Then I would pack some food and water. Then I would bring some company. I would need to bring a spacesuit and an air tank. I would need to bring games, books, journals, and a diary. I would go to the moon so I can study the moon.

Emily L.

If I took a trip to the moon, I would need to learn how to fly a spaceship. I would need an oxygen tank and food and water. Also, I would need games and books and I would need one stuffed animal. If you or me want crayons and some coloring books , I would bring one. I would need a space suit, too. Then I would go to the moon so I can see if there are really aliens!

Tristan

If I took a trip to the moon, I would need to fly a spaceship. I would bring a friend and an air tank. I would bring food and water. I would also bring a camera. I would go to the moon so I can investigate the moon.
Greyson

If I took a trip to the moon, I would need to learn how to fly a spaceship first. I would bring things to do. I would bring food and drinks. I would bring my friends and family. I would bring an air tank and a space suit with a space helmet. I would go to the moon so I can investigate the astronauts footprints!

Samantha 

Creative Writing: Visiting a New Place

Let’s go to Mali! We might see gorgeous weavings and quilts and I’d really love to see the exquisite country. And another thing: instead of looking, you can do stuff like we might make lovely weavings! And learn more French and weave beautiful cloth and clothing and draw a picture of the beauteous country! Mali is a great place!

Jessica

I want to go to Africa. I want to see lions. I know I will find them in a big field. I also want to see cheetahs. I want to see one of them run really fast. I know I will find them in another wide open field. I would like to study African animals when I grow up and figure out things about all animals that live in Africa like cheetah, leopards, lions, antelope, white tailed foxes, kangaroos, mice, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, bunnies, red tailed hawks, red tailed foxes, and all the other animals that live in Africa. Then end.

Gracie

I would like to go to Australia. I would like to see kangaroos and emus. I would like to see koalas.

Elizabeth

I would like to go to Japan. I would like to see people using chopsticks to eat rice and fish.

Vincent

I would like to go to Switzerland. When I got there, I would like to go to the Alps. My  uncle looks at Lake Geneva from his office. Isn’t that cool?!  I think I would like to go to Lake Geneva to see my cousins.

Avery

I would like to go to Paris and see the Eiffel Tower and see buildings. I want to walk on streets and eat at cafes and go to the museums.

Sydney

Today I’m going to Six Flags and I’m going into the water park and I will see peeps that I know there and I will go on a water slide and I will go on a hike and I will go in a pool. There are cubbies that I want to see as big as a tower and a big library.

Skye

I want to go to North Carolina. The things I would see are a lot of bugs it is too buggy. You would see a slide that is over thirty feet tall. I would go down the slide and I want to go in a pool. It is exciting.

Emily F.

I want to go to Boston and I want to go out to eat and go shopping and playing at parks and going in a taxi ride to look at cities and cars and buses and go to a Boston Red Sox game.

Dylan

Welcome to the Second Grade!

What a great beginning we have had!

The children are learning their routines very quickly!

These kids have a good sense of their home classroom and English Language Arts groups. They easily transition from one group to the other, and what’s more is that they’re quickly forming a cohesive and positive class identity as a whole second grade community as well as in each smaller group. On Monday, we will begin separating from our home classroom to math groups as well. We know that the students will continue to flourish in these environments that are specially tailored to address each individual child’s needs!

ELA

So you know that your children are able to develop their reading and writing skills in a context where their individual strengths and learning opportunities are closely considered every step of the way; but did you know that there are a lot of similarities in what they’re learning, too? In order to maintain a feeling of cohesiveness within the second grade class, each group will continue to share the same uniting themes throughout our ELA instruction. This includes shared writing prompts and shared literature. For example, we are now all exploring the similarities and differences between urban and rural communities. Ask them about it at home!

Social Studies

Remaining consistent with our thematic unit of study, the children have been comparing and contrasting urban and rural communities. This study has already resulted in an exciting literature exploration. The kids found books on both kinds of communities. They sorted the books, gathered information from them, marked their favorite photographs and facts with sticky notes, and presented them to the class. They have created graphic organizers depicting similarities and differences, and they are working on some wonderful group artwork depicting both settings. Just today, they created their own imagined cities or towns and made newspapers from them. In these newspapers, there is a headline story as well as a calendar of events that one could attend when visiting these cities or towns.

Science

Our first science unit of the year will be a geology study, led my Mrs. Mankowski. Lots of hands-on activities supported by quality literature are coming our way!

Math

We’re very close to completing our beginning-of-the-year assessments, which will help us see how much these children grow throughout the year--and we’re confident that we’ll all be impressed with what they do! This week, we are beginning to delve into our study of money, combining our knowledge of coins and dollars with our number sense skills.

Stay tuned for examples of the children's work...