Spike's New Home
10/28/2017
This is Spike and he is in need of a new home! This is how the second graders were introduced to their newest project based learning experience and how the inquiry into how to make the best habitat home for Spike began. This small project offered lots of room for collaboration, critical thinking and some creativity thrown in, all the while solving an actual problem as Spike was quickly outgrowing his old home. Second graders studied plants and their habitats to determine what would make the best home for Spike. They learned what type of plant he was and what his specific needs might be. Then they decided that Spike needed friends! Thankfully his new friends all had similar needs, primarily lots of light and occasional watering. The second graders then had to decide what type of habitat to use. They settled on an old aquarium that used to house some sort of slithery creature because they reasoned that the glass walls would let in plenty of sunlight. After deciding where each plant should live, the students also decided that they needed to be planted in soil. So a cardboard barrier was constructed to keep the soil in place. They had a different idea in mind for the edges. Each plant was carefully replanted into their new habitat. Then the sand on the sides and top was added. The final product...a new habitat home for Spike and his friends!
The Power of Community
10/21/2017
It's a comfortableness, a feeling of acceptance and an overwhelming warmth that comes from knowing you belong. It's everyone working together to communicate and collaborate every day. Each classroom at PNA is its own little community, with daily interactions of encouragement, acceptance and support. Community is a place where students are given the space to come into their own, with ready supporting hands there to help when needed. Where critical thinking and creativity are enhanced by collaboration and communication. Community is also a place where a four year old enthusiastically greets her older sister's teacher, where a Middle School teacher engages in a lively conversation with a third grader, where students from grades 2-8 come together to discuss and collaborate each Monday with the Head of School. Where the kids know the teachers and the teachers know the kids. Where parents play an active role in their children's education, their support manifested in a multitude of ways. Here at PNA students of all ages are part of the community. They teach each other, help each other and look out for each other. That is the power of community.
There's Another Way...
10/14/2017
Think back a bit. How did you learn about the concept of base ten and place value? How about addition/subtraction facts or how to show your knowledge of multiplication? Chances are that those memories had some sort of flashbacks of worksheets, worksheets and more worksheets. Chances are math class did not look like this...kinesthetic and collaborative while investigating mathematical concepts. At PNA we utilize Bridges in Mathematics in leveled math classes to teach these important concepts. The Bridges math curriculum "focuses on developing students’ deep understandings of mathematical concepts, proficiency with key skills, and ability to solve complex and novel problems." -Math Learning Center "Bridges blends direct instruction, structured investigation, and open exploration. It taps into the intelligence and strengths of all students by presenting material that is as linguistically, visually, and kinesthetically rich as it is mathematically powerful." - Math Learning Center Math class in the second grade classroom is a mix of playfulness combined with critical thinking and mathematical reasoning. There is an expectation for hard work with room for kids to learn the way they do best...by doing.
The Needs of Seeds
10/6/2017
Lately the second graders have been exploring the needs of seeds. They learned that seeds only need water to grow but that they need sunlight if they want to survive. They learned this by looking at data collected from the light/darkness experiments they started at our parent lunch. Can you guess which seeds grew taller during a week's time? The seeds in the dark! Ask your second grader why. Their investigations continued as they made replications of three different seed pods and experimented with how they were dispersed by the wind from the mother tree. The students learned that in order to have the best chance of survival that the seeds needed to avoid the "zone of darkness." The second graders also learned about the mystery of the Koa tree and how it is found on two different islands thousands of miles away from each other. This led into their investigations on other ways that plants disperse their seeds in order to give them a better chance of survival. Finally, the students were tasked to create a representation to show their knowledge of the different ways plants disperse their seeds. The students worked in partnerships or individually to create stopmotion videos of their traveling seeds. Despite some technical difficulties, minor breakdowns in communication and a slight time crunch, the second graders persevered and created these awesome videos below. Enjoy! |
Marcella HitchcockMs. Hitchcock teaches second grade, is a mom of two, an avid reader, lifelong learner, and a seeker of sunshine! Archives
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