Second Grade

  1. Home
  2. School
  3. Potential Families
  4. Academics
  5. K-5
  6. Second Grade

Second grade classes focus on reading fluency and comprehension.

Reader’s and Writer’s Workshops allow for readers to be challenged at their reading level through small group work and individual conferencing. Our phonics program, Fundations, supports our reading program by providing daily systematic and explicit lessons that focus on word and sentence structure. We also work on understanding addition and subtraction facts and practicing up to triple-digit problems. Second graders can also celebrate First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. These two sacraments are a major focus of our Religion curriculum.

Curriculum Highlights

  • In October, second graders host a Grandparent/Special Person Tea to practice using good manners and to perform songs they have practiced in Creative Arts.
  • In the months leading up to Carnaval, the students spend time learning about the history, geography, foods, crafts and games of their Carnaval country. The students also spend time in Social Studies learning about their Carnaval country.
  • In Science, the students learn about weather, solids and liquids, and plants and animals, with opportunities for hands-on activities and outdoor lessons.

IB Themes for Second Grade

Who We Are
  • An inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities, and cultures; rights and responsibilities; what it means to be human.
    • Central Idea: People's skills, attitudes, and strategies contribute to their role in a community of learners.  
      • An iquiry into:
        • Communication skills
        • Learner's opportunities and responsibilities 
        • Classroom cultures around the world
        • Personal and classroom organization
Where We Are in Place & Time
  • An inquiry into orientation in place and time; personal histories; homes and journeys; the discoveries, explorations and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.  
    • Central Idea:  Investigating the past helps us understand the present.     
      • An inquiry into:
        • What defines the past
        • Artifacts, heirlooms and rituals that represent personal and our national identify
        • Connecting the past to the present  
How We Express Ourselves
  • An inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values; the ways in which we reflect on, extend and enjoy our creativity; our appreciation of the aesthetic.
    • Central Idea:  There are many ways to express ideas, perspectives and feelings. 
      • An inquiry into:
        • How creative expression can treflect culture and perspective
        • Ways we create and share stories
        • Different forms of expressing ideas and feelings
How the World Works
  • An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between the natural world (physical and biological) and human societies; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment.
    • Central Idea:  People identify problems and design solutions to solve them
      • An inquiry into:
        • Function of force and motion
        • Design and engineering process
        • How we describe and group things using physical properties
        • Ways engineers use geometry and measurement 
How We Organize Ourselves
  • An inquiry into the inter connectedness of human-made systems and communities; the structure and function or organizations; societal decision-making; economic activities and their impact on humankind and the environment.
    • Central Idea:  People in communities make choices to solve problems and accomplish goals.  
      • An inquiry into:
        • Goods and services
        • Currency and trade
        • Goal setting and choices
        • Community organizations
Sharing the Planet
  • An inquiry into the rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other people and with other living things; communities and the relationships within and between them; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.
    • Central Ideas:  Understanding plants and ecosystems connects us to patterns in nature.    
      • An inquiry into:
        • Needs and characteristics of plants
        • Systems and patterns in nature
        • Weather patterns
        • Connection between agriculture and economic choices