This week has been all about research:
- what is is
- how we do it
- what questions we need to ask
- how can we find information efficiently
- what do we do with our information
The Grade 2 students have been working hard on completing their mini tiger research booklets and have begun researching their chosen animal for a more independent research project. The animals they have chosen to research will inform the creation of their diorama due next Wednesday. Research is a challenge for all of us and its even more so when you are 6, 7 or 8 years old! Fortunately, we have experts at hand who can support the students in their research. Ms Anne and Ms Cendrella (volunteer support), Ms Cora and Ms Dorota (push in support) and, of course our hard-working classroom assistant Ms Suad. Extra support in our class means that students can often get more one-to-one or small group support with their learning.
In maths, we have continued exploring mass by comparing the weights of objects using balance scales. The students first explore finding mass using non-standard units of measurement and we have just begun talking about grams and kilograms. Something interesting we found out is that our ones cubes are equal to one gram of mass and also one milliliter!
In literacy, we have finished up our most recent books we’ve been reading together during our guided reading sessions and will be with new groups and a new book next week. We have reviewed and practised some reading strategies, such as: back-up and reread to check for understanding, self-correct misread words or asking questions about the text. We have also practised making words using specific vowels and consonants and also practised handwriting ascenders. During independent reading time, we have read individually, read with a friend or listened to books on Epic. Our writing has been focused on using research to find information about animals and their habitats.
Next week:
In literacy:
- word work using specific vowels and consonants to make new words
- guided reading in our reading groups
- independent reading/read with a teacher
- speaking & listening with our diorama presentations and asking good questions
- research and writing our research books about our chosen animals
In maths:
- mental maths with numberless word problems, finding missing numbers in addition to 20 or recognising what doesn’t belong to a group of objects
- share our strategies for solving problems and how these strategies support our building maths skills
- finishing up our unit on mass
- formative maths assessment to check for understanding
In our UOI we will be continuing to work on our animal habitat research and reading books about animals around the world.
Enjoy your weekend!
Please see photos here.