2nd Grade - Heroic Tales & Ethical Fables

 

Developmental Picture of the Student

By second grade, children have a depth of imagination, interest and focus that is strongly attuned to learning.  They become increasingly aware of their experiences in the larger world and the values and perspectives of others. Their sense of community deepens even as they extend the security of “family” to classmates and teachers.

How the Curriculum Meets the 2nd Grader

Through oral storytelling and the act of turning stories into writing, students work with daily practice on their developing language skills. An emphasis on language arts, form drawing and nature stories prepares the 2nd graders for writing and reading. The core stories involve heroic people from around the world juxtaposed with fables. The contrast between these two types of stories engage children with a strong picture of morality. 

In written work and rhythmic movement exercises, students practice mastering the times and division tables as well as advanced addition and subtraction processes including transferring and place value. 

Form drawing (creating simple geometric shapes) is taught to bring balance and control to handwork and prepare the children for cursive writing. These challenging exercises develop the child’s cognitive ability and flexible thinking.

The 2nd grade curriculum focuses on stories of heroic people around the world and juxtaposes these with fables that engage children with a strong picture of morality and responsibility.

Nature stories provide the basis for later studies in science, geography, geology and more. Students also engage in regular musical and artistic practice each day.


STUDENT BLOCK BOOK: THE KING OF IRELAND'S SON

The traditional quest narrative is experienced in the 2nd grade curriculum's Heroic Fables Block

 

2nd GRADE CURRICULUM COMPONENTS:

         
 

STORYTELLING
Teachers use customized tales to demonstrate learning concepts and academic principles as well as sharing traditional fairy tales and folk tales from around the world

LANGUAGE ARTS
Practice spelling, phonics, punctuation, reading, sentence structure, capitalization, distinguishing upper and lower case, poetry, rhyming

MATHEMATICS
Continuation with the four arithmetic processes includes a strong focus on the memorization of times tables. Place value is introduced and practiced in multi-digit problems employing carrying and borrowing

Preparation for the SCIENCES
Teachers use nature stories to personify natural and elemental principles. Class field trips to local arboretums and nature centers bring the environmental sciences and zoology alive for the students

MOVEMENT
1st and 2nd graders go to the park four afternoons a week and have multiple recesses every day. Also each day begins with 30 - 45 minutes of classroom movement and exercise

    

WORLD LANGUAGES
Alternating 3-week blocks of German and  Spanish provide cultural exposure, develops memory, language, translative thinking and vocabulary skills

ART
Daily practice with drawing (form drawings) and weekly wet on wet watercolor paintings are created for developmental (rather than artistic) capacities

HANDWORK
Knitting and Purling for coordination, focus and understanding patterns

MUSIC
- Daily singing and pentatonic flute playing
  with class teacher
- Twice weekly lyre lessons

EURYTHMY
Twice weekly Eurythmy lessons establish timing, coordination and spatial awareness

FIELD TRIPS & COMMUNITY EVENTS
The class field trip usually brings students for a day to a farm or nature center in a natural environment to examine plants and discuss animal husbandry and herbology

 


LIFE SKILLS EXPERIENCED IN 2nd GRADE

  • Conducting responsible tasks and class/group dialogues
  • Experiencing stories and texts (via songs, poems, and plays) that envision themes, situations and outcomes
  • Accepting responsibility for clean-up duties and regular chores. Offering assistance with weekly classroom tasks