2nd Grade

The second grade Bible curriculum focuses on the promises of God and how He always keeps His word.  The stories are presented in such a way that the children learn to know God, accept His salvation, and live lives of service and obedience.  The children also recite Bible passages from memory which coincide with and reinforce the curriculum. In addition to our curriculum we include the reading of Dangerous Journey and through discussion and various activities we relate it to our personal faith journey.

• Spiritual Portfolio – The theme for the second grade spiritual portfolio is “I Believe.”  Throughout the year we focus on God’s promises in our Bible stories, and learn about how these promises carry through the stories in the Bible and apply to our lives as well.  Using stories, discussion, readers’ theaters and various activities we strive to make these promises real to our students.  In the spring we ask the children to write what they believe about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, drawing on the things they have learned throughout the year.

• Capstone Project – In the spring we integrate faith and learning with our study of a book called Dangerous Journey, a children’s version of Pilgrim’s Progress.  Through reading the book and many discussions, the children learn that the life of a Christian is not always an easy one, but has great reward when we keep our eyes fixed on God and what He would have us do.  For a whole day the students wear backpacks in class, during recess and during specials.  They learn that our sin is a burden we carry that can only be taken off by the blood of Christ on the cross.  As we reach the part of the story that tells of the cross, the children are allowed to remove their backpacks.  They feel great relief as their burden is removed.  The connection they make between sin and the heavy backpack is a very real one for them!  What a precious gift our salvation is for us and one to be thankful for every day!

Language Arts

Our main goal is for the children to develop a love for reading.  Another goal is that children will understand what they read.  This will be accomplished through the teaching and use of comprehension strategies.  They also work on reading fluency, accuracy, and expanding their vocabulary. We will work on achieving these goals by providing the children with positive reading experiences and quality literature.  We use appropriate leveled books, stories from various text sources, and many other reading materials.  Second graders also learn the art of writing personal narratives, opinion pieces in the form of reviews and informational pieces on their own expertise.  Reading, listening, speaking, phonics, writing, spelling, and penmanship are all integrated into our second grade language arts curriculum.

Math

Our second grade math program is Math Expressions.  The main concepts covered are addition, subtraction, basic multiplication, mental arithmetic, place value, counting money, telling time, patterning, 3-D and 2D shapes, simple fractions, and measurement.  These concepts are taught using a problem solving, hands-on approach to doing math. Our goal is not only that children learn these math concepts and operations, but that they will learn them in such a way that they can use them in daily living.  An important part of our math program is “Home Links.”  We find that the excellent support of our parents in these homework activities help our students to be successful in math!

Science

In second grade, students develop models of different landforms and bodies of water.  In a study of life science, students explore the diversity of plants and animals, as well as the relationship and dependency of both plants and animals. In their last unit second graders discover the properties of matter and how different properties make material useful in designing and building different items.

Social Studies

Second grade social studies focuses on the local community.  The students begin with a short unit on Maps and Globes in which they use literature, technology, maps and activities to identify places in their world.  The students  then move on to the Communities Unit in which they learn how they live, work, and affect their own community.  This is done through the use of literature, hands-on learning activities, debates, discussion, and writing.

Art

Along with the creativity that is intrinsic in young children, a greater amount of skill and development is seen during second grade art. Terms such as “abstract” or “profile” are introduced and art history is woven into the art lesson.   Several types of materials are used and the students are challenged to build upon skills learned in first grade.  Art class often uses ideas from lessons studied in the classroom. This enables the students to understand how art ties in with everyday life and how art can be used to communicate ideas, emotions, or thoughts. For example, the second grade Bible curriculum covers the story of Daniel in the lion’s den; “telling” this story in his/her artwork is a good way for a child to express his/her trust in an awesome and all protecting God.

Library

Appreciation of literature is taught through storytelling and through stories read aloud by the librarian.  Children hear stories from the various genres: realistic fiction, traditional literature, fantasy, poetry and non-fiction. They are taught how to locate books by using the computer and to select books in both the fiction and non-fiction sections using their knowledge of the alphabet and call numbers.  They also work with periodicals, picture dictionaries, children’s encyclopedias, globes and atlases.

Music

In second grade music children learn that music is fun and is a gift from God. This gift will continue to be developed and discovered through tuneful, beatful, and artful activities. Tuneful activities focus on being able to think a tune and coordinate his/her voice to sing that tune. Beatful activities focus on feeling the pulse of the music and how it can be grouped into twos or threes. Artful activities give the student the opportunity to feel and be moved by the music. In addition, students will begin the process of learning how to read music in duple meter. The term “composer” will be introduced and students will study the life and music of a famous composer each month.

Physical Education

In second grade physical education we review the fundamental skills of throwing, catching, kicking, and introduce striking (hitting).  We begin fitness evaluation, with fitness challenges.  We work on attitudes toward winning and losing, as well as learning to play honestly and fairly.  We develop a better understanding of why and how Christians play and exercise.

Spanish

Our goal in Spanish is for your child to learn Spanish, appreciate culture, have fun and most importantly gain a better understanding of the diverse world that God created!  Second graders will continue to build on their Spanish through songs, books, vocabulary words and other interactive activities. For more information, please refer to the HCS Spanish webpage.

Study Skills

Study Skills are techniques which children use to assist them in their learning.  Study skills are not taught as a separate subject; rather, they are taught in conjunction with other subjects.  The study skills that second graders begin developing and mastering are listening, handwriting, critical thinking, organizing information, and basic research skills.