Subtraction Strategies

Lesson Introduction:
As a whole class, students counted by 2s, 5s and 10s. First, they counted forwards from a given number. Next, they counted backwards from a given number.

Questions:
Why is it important to know skip counting facts? How can the backward skip-counting strategy help us with subtraction questions?

Students were split into 3 groups. Each group was given success criteria for their given strategy. At the end of the lesson and activity, students shared the strategy they used with the rest of the class.

Group 1
We are learning to:
Use the near-doubles subtraction strategy

I know I am successful if I can:
-Use near-doubles to subtract one number from another
-Use doubles mental math skills before writing the number sentence
-Describe the near-doubles strategy I have used

Group 2:
We are learning to:
Use the split subtraction strategy

I know I am successful if I can:
-Use the split strategy to separate the 2nd number in the subtraction number sentence
-Subtract the remaining numbers in the number sentence
-Describe the split strategy I have used

Group 3:
We are learning to:
Use the jump subtraction strategy

I know I am successful if I can:
-Use the number line to jump in tens and in units (ones)
-Count back in tens and ones on a number line to help me subtract
-Describe the jump strategy I have used

"Bow wow wow" Rhythm Work

Rhythm Unit

Grade 2 has been working in a Rhythm Unit in Music.    They learned several chants and songs and sang, played and wrote the rhythms from those songs on a white board using quarter and eighth notes and quarter rests.

Several students served as coaches for others.

Students collaborated while they worked through their writing and arranging tasks.


Look for videos as each class works through the end of this Music unit.
Bow Wow Wow Grade 2

Being Courageous

Every other week grades one through three participate in Mass. We come together as a Seisen community to listen and learn about how to have courage, improve our friendships, and share love with one another. 

For our Masses, each class takes a turn leading it. On Thursday, November 18th, the second graders from the multi-faith class had their turn. Using the theme of courage, they read the Introduction, Penitential Rite, First Reading, Responsorial Psalm, and the Prayers of the Faithful. The girls were able to practice skills such as public speaking and learning to work together as a team. Here are some photos of the grade two class reading the Introduction, Penitential Rite, and First Reading. Great work girls!

 

What a Great Performance!

St. Mary's Carnival took place today on a rainy day, just like our Seisen Festival of Nations. This is a blog post that we wrote right after the festival.  Enjoy looking back on where your daughters were at in the fall!

In Music class students focused on "Rhythms All Around Us."  They explored greeting words in different languages--Hola, Hello, Kalimera, Hi, Anyoung haseyo, Konnichi wa, Ni Hao, Oi, and Namaste.  You could hear their various body percussion sounds with the rhythms of the words.  They even sang this song in a three-part canon!

Students sang about "Good Friends."  The students sang a medley of songs celebrating friendship.  This medley included songs about food. They learned two songs in Spanish, one called "Bate, Bate" and one called "Chocolate."  They explored making their own rhythm claps.  They also had fun singing some traditional songs, including "Don't Put Your Junk In My Back Yard," "One Bottle of Pop," and "Fish and Chips and Vinegar."

Ms. Handel-Johnson and I were so proud of the way the students said their lines so clearly and with expression.

What a Great Performance!

We would like to share the performances from the Festival of Nations with you. Despite the rainy weather at the Festival of Nations, the Grade Two students gave a fantastic performance!

In Music class students have been focusing on "Rhythms All Around Us."  They explored greeting words in different languages--Hola, Hello, Kalimera, Hi, Anyoung haseyo, Konnichi wa, Ni Hao, Oi, and Namaste.  You could hear their various body percussion sounds with the rhythms of the words.  They even sang this song in a three-part canon!

At the beginning of the year, new friendships are forming.  Grade Twos sang about "Good Friends."  The students sang a medley of songs celebrating friendship.  This medley included songs about food. They learned two songs in Spanish, one called "Bate, Bate" and one called "Chocolate."  They explored making their own rhythm claps.  They also had fun singing some traditional songs, including "Don't Put Your Junk In My Back Yard," "One Bottle of Pop," and "Fish and Chips and Vinegar."

Ms. Handel-Johnson and I were so proud of the way the students said their lines so clearly and with expression.

Dancing About Me!

What makes me unique?  What can I do?  How can I improve what I'm doing?  

Grade Two students have been exploring creative movement to express these ideas.

Learning Objectives:

In this unit students used their knowledge of Fantastic Shapes, Axiel Movements, Locomotor Movements, and Pathways to create their own dance sequence.  They worked with a partner to share feedback to improve their dances.  

Learning Engagements:

Students explored each of these creative movement concepts to express ideas about themselves. 

What's a Fantastic Shape? 

-Move your feet.

-Move your arms.

-Move your torso.

-Move your head, and change your expression.

What are Axiel Movements?

These are movements done in one place.  Here are some examples.

Sway

Melt

Explode

Compress

Expand

Reach

Twist

Turn/ spin

What are Locomotor Movements?

These are movements done from one place to another.  Here are some examples.

Walk

Run

Leap

Skip

Slide

Tiptoe

March

Hop

Jump

Gallop

What are Pathways?

We can create pathways in the air by moving our arms and torso, or on the floor by moving from one place to another. We use these three pathways.

Straight

Curved

Zigzag

Here are some examples of student work.  Students created a dance using the following form--ABCBA.

A (Fantastic Shape), B (Axiel Movement), C (Locomotor movement with pathway).

Stop Motion Animation

In our unit of inquiry grade two students are learning that stories can engage their audience, communicate meaning, and express values. In addition to enjoying stories created by others, we are also learning how to express ourselves in creative ways by using our imagination. To kids, this comes naturally.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."- Albert Einstein

2A and 2B have been working with their computer teacher, Mr. Towse, and art teacher, Ms. Diane, to learn how to share stories by making stop motion videos. The girls have been retelling traditional folktales and illustrating the stories by drawing pictures during art class. Using iPads, they take pictures and turned their artwork into stop motion animations with the app, Stop Motion Studio. The students are learning to make incremental changes between frames so in the final product the illusion of movement is created. Besides the technical know-how, this art form gives the kids an opportunity to learn patience and commitment. Mr. Towse taught 2A students that the Wallace and Gromit clay-mation movies take one man over a year to make!

The girls were practicing using Stop Motion Studio today. Here a few examples of what they made. This is a free app if your daughter would like to make her own animation at home.

It's bonus content Friday!!! :-) Today's "Feed and Read" guest, Ms. Mai, read the story 'Katy and the Big Snow' to 2A in English and Japanese AT THE SAME TIME! She was a role model for the girls by showing how she can express herself in two languages.

Throughout the school year, we will give the girls further opportunities to learn 'global-mindedness' as part our PYP curriculum. Global-minded citizens can communicate in more than one language and value all languages as a tool for sharing ideas. Ms. Mai is thinking about starting her own Youtube channel to share her favorite stories in English and in Japanese. What do you think? Is it a good idea? (-;
Please leave her a comment!!