Animals

A couple of weeks ago, the second grade class began their unit of study on animals. Here are some of the main ideas from this science chapter:

-Many different kinds of animals live in our world. These are separated into five groups: mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, and fish.

-Animals change as they grow. Young frogs and butterflies look different from their parents.

-A place where an animal lives is its habitat.

-Some animals eat plants, other animals eat animals. This is called the food chain.

-Animals protect themselves in many different ways.

In order to better understand the meaning of animal life cycles, we have focused on frogs and butterflies. The best way to observe the life cycle of the butterfly is to watch one happen before one's eyes - so that's what we are doing! Last week two jars of young caterpillars arrived in our classroom. Over the last nine days we have watched them grow and change. Today, half of them are forming their chrysalis. Every student has been recording the changes they observe in their own Caterpillar Diary.

Also, today the students made clay models of the life cycle of a butterfly. Even though we have only seen three of the stage so far, everyone knows what the final stage will bring - a butterfly! Discuss the changes that your child is seeing everyday here at school with them at home.

Listening Centers

Every Thursday, the second grade class works in centers. These are four different stations with different activities set up around the room. They typically spend fifteen to twenty minutes in each center before switching to the next one. In this manner, they are able to visit all four centers by the end of the class. One center that they have been working in since the beginning of the year is a listening center. Each student is now able to get their own tape recorder and headphones, find a space to plug it in, and prepare the tape to be listened to during their time. I am really proud of how quickly the students were able to learn this routine. Ask your child at home what their favorite book to listen to has been!

Fr. Elvio Visits

This year we are lucky to have Fr. Elvio coming into our classroom once a week to teach religion class. He is the new priest here at St. Sylvester and it has been a really nice way to get to know him. We started our studies with a review of the Blessed Trinity and the Holy Family. Then we moved into the importance of prayer and going to Church. We are now beginning our study of the sacraments. The students should be able to name all seven sacraments - Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick - by the end of the year. Mr. Bennett will be coming around later in this unit of study to quiz each student individually about the seven sacraments. Remember, the students who are baptized will be celebrating their First Reconciliation this year! Be sure to discuss all of the sacraments at home with your son or daughter to find out more about what they are learning!

Plants Revisited

Last week, the second grade students met with their buddies to diagram and label the parts of a plant. They had to color, cut out, and glue the pieces in the correct places. Then, the seventh graders helped their buddies spell the labels correctly.

Also, look at how our real plants have grown!

Please help your child care for their plant now that they have brought them home. Each child knows that plants need sunlight, air, and water in order to grow!