Week of May 21,2012

Language Arts

We have now completed our SecondGrade Reading Textbook series.  Eachhomeroom will be completing activities that will continue strengthening readingcomprehension and vocabulary skills. Please review papers in the homework folder.  Tests termed as ‘blind reading’ may be givenone to two times a week for a grade. Each classroom may also be reviewing or completing grammar lessons.   Our last grammar lesson focused on identifyingand using contractions properly in sentences. In class, we will continueworking on writing sentences correctly.   Students need to rememberthat sentences begin with a capital letter, express a complete thought, endwith correct end punctuation (. ? !), and proper nouns are capitalized (SOL2.12). Please note that Grammar Tests will all be markedon practice papers as to when tests will be taken for each homeroom.  

SocialStudies

Studentsare now studying our Famous Americans SOL 2.11.  Students are always surprised by the impact Famous Americans have had on our country’shistory (2.11).  Students will studyGeorge Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., and JackieRobinson, Susan B. Anthony, and Helen Keller. These Americans, whose contributions have improved the lives of other Americans,are still honored today.  Please review social studies papers as they comehome.

*Hereare some facts about our Famous Americans that your child should know.

Ø  George Washington: Heled the fight for freedom from England and helped establish a new country.  He was the first president of the UnitedStates.  He is known as Father of ourCounty.

Ø  Abraham Lincoln: Hewas the President of the United States who helped to free African Americanslaves.  He was the 16^thpresident of the United States.  His nicknamewas Honest Abe.

Ø  Susan B. Anthony: Sheled the struggle to give women equal rights, including the right to vote.

Ø  Helen Keller: Sheovercame her disabilities and worked to help others who were blind and deaf.

Ø  Jackie Robinson: Hewas the first African American player in the major leagues of baseball. Hisactions helped to bring about other opportunities for African Americans.

Ø  MartinLuther King, Jr.: He was an African American minister who worked so that allpeople would be treated fairly. He led peaceful marches and gave speeches.

Science

We will be moving onto chapter5, Weather.  Students will investigate and understandbasic types,   changes, and patterns ofweather. Key concepts include temperature, wind, precipitation, drought, flood,and storms.  Students will learn about theuses and importance of measuring and recording weather data.  Please review science papers as they comehome.

 ScienceVocabulary your child should learn and recognize forchapter five, Weather (SOL 2.6 & 2.7b).

evaportate- tochange into a gas                                       

watervapor-water that goes into the air

condense- tochange into a liquid                                      

watercycle-the movement of water between the ground and the sky

precipitation-water falling from the sky as rain, snow, or hail

erosion-when worn down rocks are carried away

earthquake-the shaking of the ground caused by shifting of Earth’s crust

landslide- asudden movement of soil down a hill

volcano-a mountain formed when hot, melted rock bursts through the surface and buildsup

Math

We are wrapping up chapter 6, Two-Digit Subtraction.  Students have learned how to trade 1 ten for10 ones to solve problems like 43-27. They have also learned how to solve subtraction money problems.  End of chapter test will be this week.    We will then move onto chapter 7, Geometry and Fractions. Studentswill learn to draw a line of symmetry in a figure and identify and createfigures with at least one line of symmetry. Students will also identify, describe, compare, and contrast plane andsolid geometric figures.

If we sendhomework home to be returned to school, *Homework* will be written across thetop of it to let you know it needs to be returned.  Class quizzes will beat least once a week.  Please review the terms below that your child needsto know in order do well in this chapter.

Math Vocabulary your child should learn and recognizefor chapter seven, Geometry (SOL 2.16) and Fractions (SOL 2.3) is below under the Downloads.