Summer Vacation!

Happy Summer! What a fantastic school year we had together! It was wonderful to watch so many inquisitive minds work so hard and learn so much. As we all head off to our next adventure, I want to thank all of the students and their families for making this year so fun and rewarding.
As you are enjoying your summer vacation, take a moment to add a picture or note to our summer Padlet! Let your friends know what you've been up to and the fun you've been having.

I can't wait to come visit you all as third grade role models in the fall!

Sincerely,

Mr. Kilham

May Field Trips

Hello Families! We have had a busy May! After all of our research on ocean animals, we took a trip to the Gloucester Maritime Museum. There we had an opportunity to learn from experts about local ocean life and how scientists identify and study whales. We were able to hold some real ocean creatures, and use microscopes to look at plankton found in the waters right outside! It was an exciting trip, and it was wonderful to hear how much our students already knew about the ocean habitat.

Lots of interesting ocean animals to look at.

Touch tanks were very exciting!

Making fish prints!

We saw all different types of algae under a microscope.

Once we finished learning about ocean animals, we moved on to insects. We have talked about identifying insects, some interesting insect life cycles, and the many cool adaptations insects have to survive in their habitats. To see some of these bugs first hand, we walked over to the Audubon where we put our knowledge to the test! We met some very informative friends from the Audubon who taught us all about insects in the world around us. We caught crickets, grasshoppers, ants, spiders, salamanders, and even a garter snake! It was a fantastic trip!

Learning all about insect bodies, eggs, and homes. We designed our own food insect too!

Bug catching in Fox Field

A Fishy Week

What an exciting week we've had! Students have had two amazing opportunities this week to extend their ocean animal learning (and we have one more tomorrow!) On Monday, Mrs. McInnis shared some fascinating information about whales: how they communicate, how they eat, why they migrate, how we identify them, and much more. Then we met Nile!

Our class climbed inside Mrs. McInnis's inflatable whale Nile to learn about the inside of whales. I learned that the humpback whale's heart weighs between 400-450 pounds! Ask you student if they know how long a humpback can hold its breath. On Wednesday, we had special guests from NOAA at the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office in Gloucester visit and bring along some hands on stations to teach us even more about ocean life.

Students experimented using their sense of smell at the Sturgeon Station. Sturgeon use their sense of smell to locate and return to their old spawning ground each year.

In the next station, children got to listen to whales and dolphins communicate through echolocation. Students then played a game and guessed which ocean creature they heard. They each received a fun whale and porpoise pamphlet to take home as well!

After our visit early this week by Mrs. McInnis, students could easy tell the scientist at the whale station all about toothed and baleen whales! They each got to experiment eating like a toothed and baleen whale using different tools. Ask your child which they thought was easier!

At the turtle station, students learned about the difference between land and sea turtles. Did you know they have different ways to use their protective shell to defend themselves? Ask your child about it! The children also learned that turtles only use their mouths to eat. They practiced pinching different food items with different kinds of pinchers, just like the different turtles use their unique mouths to eat different foods. Students practiced acting as loggerheads, leatherbacks and Kemp's ridley turtles using different instruments. Turtles have many unique adaptations!

In the last station, students got to touch some fish that are local to our area in the northwest Atlantic. We learned about the anatomy of popular fish such as haddock and bluefish, and how special features on their body are used for protection! Students then got to see a fish dissection! Mr. Gilbert took out the ear bone (otolith) of a flounder and showed the kids how scientists use this to collect information on the age of each fish.

We loved having NOAA visit us this year! They brought incredible artifacts and hands-on experiments to help teach the children about the ocean life that lives in their area. We look forward to learning more from our special visitor tomorrow and on our field trip next week to Gloucester!
Sincerely, Mr. Kilham

Thank you!!!

Wow.

What an incredible celebration this afternoon! My fellow teachers and I were in awe of the kind words and notes, and wonderful presentation from you all!! Thank you parents for the relaxing (and energizing!) time this afternoon, and to our students for such creative and thoughtful gift. 

It truly is a pleasure to work in such an amazing school with such a wonderful community :)

Sincerely,

Mr. Kilham

Fraction Fun

Our students have been so excited to start learning about fractions! We learned that fractions describe how equal parts are related to a whole (which, in discussion, tends to involve pizza, chocolate bars, or pies). We are learning that the bottom number on a fraction (denominator) tells us how many equal parts a whole is divided into, and the number on top of a fraction (numerator) is how many of those parts we are describing. For fun, we figured out what fraction of the letters in our names are consonants and what fraction are vowels:

Below, leave a note about where you find fractions or use fractions in life outside of Steward!

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Sincerely,

Mr. Kilham

Common Core standards addressed in this unit:

2.G.A.2 Partition a rectangle into rows and columns of same-size squares and count to find the total number of them.

2.G.A.3 Partition circles and rectangles into two, three, or four equal shares, describe the shares using the words halves, thirds, half of, a third of, etc., and describe the whole as two halves, three thirds, four fourths.

Expert Writing

How do good authors share information?
Hello Families! We have been hard at work these past weeks creating our own "Expert Books!" Students selected topics they knew a lot about and wrote fantastic informational books on their subject. Using topic sentences, conclusions, and details, these young authors have put together some comprehensive guides! We have books on animals, sports, fun hobbies, and many more! The students are very excited to share these books with you at the Author Share in June.  Here are the awesome covers to our books! And I will be sure post the rest as they finish :)
Sincerely,
Mr. Kilham

Common Core standards addressed:
W.2.2. Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section

DASH

How do our senses help us in our day to day lives?

D.A.S.H., or Disability Awareness Starts Here, is a wonderful program that begins in second grade. D.A.S.H. shows students how those who are differently-abled can do many of the same things we do, but learn a different way to do them. In 2nd grade, we learn about blindness and visual impairment. We spent some time learning about famous people who were blind, what their lives were like, and how they made a difference. After learning about Louis Braille, students wrote their names using this new alphabet. 

                                   

                                   

                                   

                                   

                                   

                                   

                                   

                                   

                                   

In D.A.S.H. students have been using their other senses to help them navigate different situations while blindfolded. It is challenging, but we are learning a lot about what it is like to be blind.

Wearing a blindfold, students had to guess what household item they were holding.
How could you tell the difference between a can of cat food and a can of tuna without seeing it?

Learning how to eat without sight. Mrs. Jordan joined in too!

Guided walks were tricky not only for the blindfolded, but for the guides as well!

Thank you so much to our D.A.S.H. coordinators and to the parent volunteers who have helped out with this great experience!

Sincerely,

Mr. Kilham

Our Favorite Fable Characters

Hello Families! As a finale for our fables and folktale unit, students thought back on all of the stories we read and chose their favorite characters. And we've read a lot! 

Using Chatterpix, our students brought these characters to life to retell their tale and lessons these characters learned. Enjoy! Sincerely, Mr. Kilham Common Core Standard addressed in this unit:
RL.2.2. Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.

Nonfiction Text Features

After learning all about varieties of fiction stories (realistic, animal fantasy, fables, folktales) we have moved on to nonfiction texts. To better comprehend what we read, we've been studying the features that guide us as we explore nonfiction. While reading about important people, interesting animals, our planet, and outer space, we'll be stretching our vocal chords and singing our nonfiction conventions song! Ask your nonfiction expert if they can sing you the whole song!

Sincerely,

Mr. Kilham

Common Core Standards covered in this unit:

RI.2.5. Know and use various text features (e.g., captions, bold print, subheadings, glossaries, indexes, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text efficiently.

Germs, Yuck!

How do good scientists answer questions about our world?
Cover those coughs! Last week, we began a new science experiment in our classroom. In order to investigate what happens when we cough (and why we cover our mouths!) we are experimenting with bread. Students each coughed on a slice of white bread and sealed it in a Ziploc bag. Over the next week or so, we will be observing our bread to see what happens! We made sure to include a few clean "control" slices, which will show us what happens to the bread if it hasn't been coughed on. 

We're hoping to see something interesting!

Sincerely,

Mr, Kilham

How Do Animals Stay Warm?

Today we had the pleasure of learning a great science lesson from Mr. Prazar! He joined us this afternoon to teach us all about animal adaptations, in particular how animals survive in the cold. Students built "animals" by wrapping different types of insulation (fur, feathers, "fat") around water bottles, and we tested to see which kept water the warmest in our chilly winter weather. We learned that the more food energy an animal gets, the more insulation the animal can create to keep itself warm. This also means it must keep eating enough food!

The big green numbers are the "energy units" the animal could produce by eating, which meant how much insulation it could create. The "polar bear" had the most insulation (fur and lots of blubber) and kept the water the warmest!

After, we discussed different ways local animals survive our cold weather. I learned something very cool about how wood frogs survive the winter. Ask your students what they learned! Sincerely, Mr. Kilham

Crazy Hair Day

What great hair today! Perfect for our upcoming Dr. Seuss week 😃

...and one more for good measure.

Have a Wonderful Vacation!

Hello Families! Its hard to believe we're halfway through February. Spring will be here before we know it! While you are enjoying your week off, take a minute to post a picture of something fun you have done while we are apart. Maybe you're traveling, maybe you're playing in the snow, maybe you're enjoying a good book on the couch. I hope you're having a great vacation :)

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Sincerely,

Mr. Kilham

Polar Concert

What a show!
The second graders did a fantastic job at the Polar Animal Performance. Our penguins looked great! It was a truly impressive production: students learned so many songs, dances, stage directions, and lines, and put them together beautifully. Well done! And of course, a big thank you to Ms. Swanson for creating and directing such a fun, informative, original production.

One of my favorites: Have to Have a Habitat

The Penguin Lady

Today we had special visit from Dyan deNapoli, aka the Penguin Lady!

 Dyan shared her extensive penguin knowledge with us through pictures, quizzes, stuffed animals, and her very own penguin calls. Did you know that some penguins can dive down 1,700 feet? Or that rather than the hollow bones that most birds have, penguins have solid bones that help them swim? How long do you think a penguin can hold its breath? Ask your child what else they learned!

Fables

Recently, students were given fables to read in a group. Their assignment was to act out the fable and share the moral of the story with the class. With only a day to practice these, I have to say they did a pretty great job!   Belling the Cat

The Dog and the Bone

 

The Wind and the Sun

The Mouse and the Lion

Polar Bears

Why are adaptations essential for animals? Over the past few weeks we have been learning all about polar regions. Soon, we will pick out and research out own polar animals! To practice our researching skills, we have been working together to learn as much as we can about the polar bear. We have focused on their Adaptations, Life Cycle, and Habitat as we gather important information. Below, please share your favorite or the most interesting fact you have learned about polar bears so far!

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We have a polar bear in our classroom! We're not as big as her yet, but maybe someday!

Sincerely,

Mr. Kilham

Change is Simple

How do different creatures affect our ecosystem?

Click the picture above to visit the Change is Simple website!

Friday we had special guests visit our classroom! Change is Simple, an environmental education program, came in and taught us all about bees and how important they are to us. We learned that there are over 20,000 different types of bees (wow!) and that without them we couldn't grow many of the fruits and vegetables we love to eat. Using some blurred goggles, we saw what happens to bees when they encounter pesticides, and why that makes finding pollen so difficult. We finished by sharing ways we could help the bees and, in turn, help ourselves and the foods we eat.

Polar Regions

Hello Families!

This month we are learning all about the polar regions of our planet! We had a great conversation about why the ends of our earth are so cold, and now we are learning about what animals must do to survive there. As we learn more about these polar animals, we will be focusing on three areas in particular:

We have been focusing on the polar bear to begin our research, and we've already learned so much about their lives in the arctic region. Below is a video we watched a few segments of last week that discussed polar bears along with some of the different arctic animals that you might find in the tundra. Feel free to check it out!

Common Core Standards Covered in this Unit

RI.2.5  Know and use various text features (e.g., captions, bold print, subheadings, glossaries, indexes, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text efficiently.

W.2.7 Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., read a number of books on a single topic to produce a report; record science observations)

New Year's Resolutions

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