Ho`okele 2nd graders learn what it takes to be good citizens

The second graders worked extra hard the last two weeks designing and painting a work of art showcasing pristine Hawaii's beaches and shorelines.  Students learned about the devastating effects of beach erosion and possible solutions to this major problem.  While there is no one right solution for erosion, students are learning that non-profit organizations such as Malama Maunalua help restore and conserve our marine environment.  This was the same organization that visited our classrooms and taught the keiki about rain water erosion and how invasive algae is affecting our beautiful shorelines.  Be sure to check out the order form that went home yesterday and purchase a set of notecards to support our PBL project! 

​​Here is a summary of what happened in our classroom:

​In Langauge Arts... 

• This past week's essential question was What do good citizens do? Students read A Difficult Decision, a text from Wonders.  This story was about two boys who found a GameMaster left at a park.  Wyatt initially wanted to keep the GameMaster, while Paul tried to convince Wyatt it's not the right thing to do. Using this story, students learned how to identify different characters' point of view.  The focus standard addressed this week was 2.RL.6 Acknowledge differences in the points of view of characters, including by speaking in a different voice for each character when reading dialogue aloud.​​

• Continuing from last week, the essential question was What do good citizens do? Students read Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio.  This story was about a girl named Grace who learns that there has never been a girl president.  So she is determined to the the first girl president. Using this story, students continued to learn how to identify different characters' point of view. 

• Later we read an original version of the classic fairytale The Three Little Pig and the Big Bad Wolf.  Together we created a bubble map to describe the Wolf from the point of view of the Pigs.  Later we read The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka.  Students created a bubble map to describe Wolf from the point of view of himself.  If you've never read that story check it out here​

• In writing students published their opinion writing on whether Alex should get an iguana or not.  Now students are working on an opinion writing about what pet is the best pet for them.  Here is a list of some of D103 students' best pets: rabbit, puppy, chicken, snake, hamster, fish, and cat.  Wow,  I love the variety!

In Math... 

• In Stepping Stones, students first reviewed skip counting by 2s and 5s.  This practice prepared them for repeated addition or multiplication concepts.
• Then students learned to describe equal groups using addition sentences.  Students learned that all multiplication is, is adding equal groups.  Students drew matching pictures to represent different multiplication problems.  
• We continued to learn about multiplication, by adding equal groups.  But also students learned to describe arrays as equal groups as well.  Students learned the difference between a row and a column and learned how to describe the array using a addition sentence and a multiplication sentence.  Students understand that the multiplication symbol means 'groups of'.  So depending on the multiplication story, it makes a huge difference where the numbers are placed.  For example, three baskets with 5 apples in each basket, should be writing only as 3 x 5 = 15 not 5 x 3 = 15.  ​

• After a quick review of polygons, students were introduced to polyhedrons.  Students learned that, unlike polygons, polyhedrons are 3D.  They only have straight edges and only have flat faces.  Students learned that pyramids are a type of polyhedron and they identified various pyramids.  
• Using their knowledge of faces, edges and vertices, students analyzed and recorded information about various 3D objects.