2nd Grade Curriculum
Second grade at the Maurice Sendak Community School is filled with hands-on social studies activities, new math challenges, creative writing experiences and an abundance of reading.
ELA
Students in second grade will be diving into longer chapter books for the first time in the classroom. After a review of strong reading habits in the beginning of the year, students will begin to work on understanding nonfiction texts, undergo in depth character studies through series reading and become literacy experts through reading poetry and content rich picture books. In writing, students begin the year writing about themselves through narratives, then venture into writing nonfiction books, realistic fiction, poetry and they begin to learn how to write about what they are reading. Through writing, students are given the opportunities to think creatively about what and how they want to write. Writing a poetry nonfiction book instead of a chapter book is one example of this. Partnerships are used frequently in both reading and writing in second grade and they learn how to work together to help each other.
Math
In math, students start the year by adding and subtracting single digit numbers and end the year learning the foundations of multiplication and fractions. The larger part of second grade math is focused on addition and subtraction strategies up to one thousand. Students are given opportunities to create math strategies that make sense for them but also by using the knowledge of place value and friendly numbers. Students work on solving multi step problems using models and explanations to show their thinking. They have opportunities to present their thinking on a daily basis on how they go about solving a problem. The creativity is endless in second grade math and mistakes are welcomed.
Social Studies
Social studies takes second graders through a time machine through New York and NYC, starting in the 1600’s when the Haudensanuee settled in upstate NY and ending at the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. One of the most exciting parts of social studies are the field trips. We go to the NYC and Brooklyn Historical Society, we visit the Wyckoff House, Tenement Museum, Ellis and Liberty Island and of course the Brooklyn Bridge!
ELA
Students in second grade will be diving into longer chapter books for the first time in the classroom. After a review of strong reading habits in the beginning of the year, students will begin to work on understanding nonfiction texts, undergo in depth character studies through series reading and become literacy experts through reading poetry and content rich picture books. In writing, students begin the year writing about themselves through narratives, then venture into writing nonfiction books, realistic fiction, poetry and they begin to learn how to write about what they are reading. Through writing, students are given the opportunities to think creatively about what and how they want to write. Writing a poetry nonfiction book instead of a chapter book is one example of this. Partnerships are used frequently in both reading and writing in second grade and they learn how to work together to help each other.
Math
In math, students start the year by adding and subtracting single digit numbers and end the year learning the foundations of multiplication and fractions. The larger part of second grade math is focused on addition and subtraction strategies up to one thousand. Students are given opportunities to create math strategies that make sense for them but also by using the knowledge of place value and friendly numbers. Students work on solving multi step problems using models and explanations to show their thinking. They have opportunities to present their thinking on a daily basis on how they go about solving a problem. The creativity is endless in second grade math and mistakes are welcomed.
Social Studies
Social studies takes second graders through a time machine through New York and NYC, starting in the 1600’s when the Haudensanuee settled in upstate NY and ending at the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. One of the most exciting parts of social studies are the field trips. We go to the NYC and Brooklyn Historical Society, we visit the Wyckoff House, Tenement Museum, Ellis and Liberty Island and of course the Brooklyn Bridge!
