2nd Grade Classes (Thursday)
2nd Grade Classes (Thursday) Spring 2010 |
| Class and Teacher(s) |
Course Description |
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Poetry
Mrs. Healy |
Come climb the “Poet Tree”. In this class, we will prepare and perform from all “branches” of poetry. Whether you are an observer of nature like Robert Frost, a lover of hip-hop rhyme like Will Smith, or a goofy wordsmith like Shel Silverstein, you will get to the “roots” of your poetic nature! If you like to rhyme, you are just in time…. Don’t “leaf” this class off your schedule!
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Thinking Skills: Play by the Rules
Ms. Ziolkowski |
Do you LOVE to play games? Do you become obsessed with finding the winning strategy to a game or with improving your skills at a game? This class will involve playing a variety of types of games including individual, strategy, social, and card games like Outburst, Apples to Apples, Scattergories, Pictionary, Taboo, and many more. Playing fair and the art of winning and losing will be emphasized as we "Play by the Rules". Metacognition and specific thinking skills such as critical thinking, creative thinking, visual-spatial thinking, and linguistic thinking will be focused on.
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Pre-engineering
Mr. Beck
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In this semester of pre-engineering we will focus on a scientific approach to building and designing structures and mechanisms. We will test our designs and graph data. Then we’ll analyze the results of our experiments and make predictions as we improve our designs. This is a very hands-on class with lots of science and math you’ll learn as we go. As long as you like to build and work with other “engineers” you are all set! Ready – Set – Build!
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Animals: Adaptations and Survival- Insects
Mrs. Lederer
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No matter where you live or go, an insect is one creature you are almost certain to see! Insects seem to be everywhere, and they are one of nature's most interesting living things! This "creepy crawlie" unit will incorporate a variety of activities and projects about BUGS! It is a Thematic unit, integrating science, literature, art, music, social studies, math, drama, and creative writing. Students will become Entomologists, working in cooperative groups, as they learn about, collect, observe, experiment with, and create a variety of insects, paying particular attention to their unique characteristics, life cycles, behaviors, and adaptations which enable them to survive. Emphasis will be placed on the very important role insects play in the balance of nature.
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Animals: Adaptations and Survival- Extinct Animals- Dinosaurs
Mrs. Smith |
Who doesn't like dinosaurs? In this class we will learn all about them and their habitat. We'll discuss some theories about why they aren't just around the corner any more. (or are they?) We will also learn about some people whose job it is to study and find dinosaurs for us to love.
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Mathematics and Literature Connection: Go Figure!
Mrs. Buchert
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We all know that books have plots, characters, and settings, but did you know that there are math problems to be solved in books? This class will provide the opportunity to read some children's books, but also we will follow up each week with a “hands-on” math activity relating to that story! A variety of manipulatives and activities will challenge the best reader and/or the best mathematician! Join us as we pull math from some of your favorite books and make it come alive!
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Music and Motion
Ms. Schneider
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Students will learn the mechanics of creating music from sound waves and pitch to patterns and fractions. The class will investigate and use the symbols used in music and dance. Students will discover different forms of movement to express themselves through dance. We will discover many different instruments from around the world and create our very own instrument.
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Information Technology 2
Ms. Curran
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We are going to learn some basic computer applications in this class which will not only help you here at GALACTIC, but also with your home school projects for years to come. We will start each class off by learning correct typing and posture using our typing tutor for the first 10 minutes of every class! We will begin the semester by creating a 7 slide PowerPoint presentation which will highlight your classes at GALACTIC. You will be using transitions, sounds, animation and voice recordings. We will later learn some basic programming skills using the Terrapin Logo program. You will be programming the turtle to draw a variety of polygons and learning about angles at the same time! Learn the codes and see what programmers can do!
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