Storms and Sustainability: Weeks 2 and 3 of Connecting Cultures with Hong Kong

This is a guest post from our library media specialist, Beth Redford.

As part of their "Comparing Cultures" Unit, RES second graders are connecting via the Internet with a classroom in Hong Kong. For the last two weeks we have been talking about Typhoon Haima, foods, farms, and sustainability!

Pilgrim Life

In social studies, students have been learning about our Founding Families, the Pilgrims.  We have been learning about their journey from England on the Mayflower, how they built their homes, and what life was like in the New World (Plymouth Plantation). Throughout this unit, students have realized that life was HARD!

Each student made a triorama of a typical Pilgrim home called a Keeping Room.  It was called this because everything was kept in one room!  That one room was your living room, kitchen, dining room, and bedroom!  It was very crowded!
Here, students recreated Plymouth Plantation with their trioramas and acted out what life would have been like with paper Pilgrim people.

Announcements and Highlights From Last Week!

Announcements:

• Thursday-Homework-Reading Log Due (short week)
• Thursday-Return Library Books
• Friday-No School
• Parent Teacher Conferences: October 10th-October 20th

Chromebooks in 2nd grade!

Last week students got use their new Chromebooks for the first time.  After discussing expected behavior with Chromebooks, partners practiced logging on with their username and password, choosing an avatar, and playing games on Great Sites For Kids!  Throughout the year students will use computers to support their reading, math, writing, thematic, and typing skills.

Students practiced taking turns, sharing, and teamwork skills!

Not to mention, we had fun playing computer games!!

RES Second Graders are Comparing Cultures with Students in Hong Kong

This is a guest post from our school library media specialist, Beth Redford.

As part of their "Comparing Cultures" Unit, RES second graders have started connecting with a classroom in Hong Kong! They are looking forward to exchanging questions and answers about Chinese and American culture. So far they have shared class pictures and a little bit about our school and play areas. The class in Hong Kong is a Year Three class (the same age as second graders). They attend the Renaissance College school, an international school for students ages 5 to 19. Here's a link to their school website:

http://www.rchk.edu.hk/

Reading! Reading! Reading!

2nd grade readers have been working very hard on their reading skills.  As part of our reading curriculum, readers read independently, with adults, and with partners.  Partner reading is an important part of a balanced reading program. Partners have been working on taking turns, helping each other to read tricky words (without telling), and discussing what they learned about characters.

We also read the book Those Darn Squirrels and students had to stop, think, and write what they knew about the characters; Old Man Fookwire and the Squirrels.

Look at all of our amazing thinking!

Artist in Residence

SAVE THE DATE:

Richmond Elementary School Lantern Parade

Thursday November 3rd, 2016

at 6pm

(Rain Date: Thursday November 10th)

We are EXCITED to announce that students from Richmond Elementary School will be working with talented visual artist Gowri Savoor, during a six day artist in residence in mid-October.  During this residency every K-4 student will create a paper lantern during their weekly art classes.  Students will have a chance to create something beautiful, using varied materials and will be supported by Ms. Savoor and art teacher Mrs. Kim Aucter as they create.

The lantern parade will allow us to showcase our work to families and each other and we hope you can support this great artistic opportunity for students by saving the date and attending! The parade will include a lighted walk, music and hot cocoa.

We are so thankful for our community partners who support amazing opportunities for our students!  This Artist in Residence was made possible by grants from the Vermont Arts Council and the Huntington Valley Arts.

Are you interested in helping to support the arts and this event at RES?

1. We are looking for a few recyclable items for the lantern making (drop off at school by October 14th):

Large Yogurt Containers (32 Ounces)

Shallow Plastic Containers  

Small Bubble Wrap

Yarn Scraps or rolls

Plastic Tablecloths (Perhaps a birthday party leftover?)

2.  We need to borrow:

Small Hand-Held Pruning Shears (label and we will return)

3.   We need as many adult helpers as we can get—!  If you have some time to come in and create with a class (or two) or could help us to organize materials and the parade. Parade organizers include helping set up materials, serve hot cocoa, and sharing your musical talent!  Please sign up here:  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/805084FABAD292-lantern

Doubling In Second Grade

During math time, students have been working on solving doubles math facts (3 +3, 7 + 7).  Learning math math facts like doubles, helps students be more efficient and accurate when solving other math problems.  If students know 5 + 5 = 10 then 5 + 6 is just one more!  Second graders listened to the story Two of Everything by Lily Toy Hong which was about a magic doubling pot.  We also solved doubling story problems and played the game Double It which helped students become more automatic with their facts.

                               

Amazing teamwork!  Friends were helping each other double!

We learned that when you double a number it will ALWAYS equal an even number!!!