2nd+Grade

2nd Graders began the school year focusing on changes and cycles. Mrs. Allocco-Ange used a [|Microsoft Photostory] project she created to introduce students to the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly. [|Click here] to view the project. Other classes introduced the unit through a mini problem-based learning scenario.

PBL Outline SMART Notebook file

All classes are participating in the [|Journey North] Symbolic Migration activity. To familiarize students with the concept of migration, students will experience their own symbolic migration activity using GPS units. As they stop at each waypoint along the migration route, students will open a hidden cache and discover one part of a story of a monarch butterfly as it migrates from Canada to Mexico. The story continues at each waypoint and by the end of the activity, students have symbolically followed the migration route for a monarch and also have heard a wonderful story.

Symbolic Migration Lessons SMART Notebook file Butterfly Migration Google Earth file

[|The Travels of Monarch X Butterfly]

Several classes used the software series by Tom Snyder - [|Science Court: Water Cycle] to build background for the unit. Modifications to the lessons will be made to accommodate for the age level of the students. To promote student inquiry and model the scientific method, students will have the opportunity to explore their own questions related to the water cycle.

Water Cycle Lesson

An introductory lesson on magnets was designed to explore students' initial understandings of properties of magnetic materials. Follow-up lessons focus on student-generated inquiries.

Magnet Lesson SMART Notebook File: