In our social studies program, our aim is to help our students gain a sense of community, both locally and globally. We work to promote a sense of respect and understanding for all people of the world, which includes classmates who share our own and other backgrounds, people who live thousands of miles away who embrace a culture almost entirely different from our own, and people who lived thousands of years ago. We look primarily for things that are alike about them and us and for cultural traditions that we have in common. Community-service projects, discussions of current events, and the study of local and world maps-- all give us a better sense of the people and the world around us. We hope to promote respect for Mother Earth.
It is our hope that our students will gain some sense of time and distance. Our maps studies, exploration of the prehistoric time of dinosaurs, our readings about Christopher Columbus and Martin Luther King, and an extensive study of Native Americans help us visualize and understand the lives and opinions of people who lived in a time other than our own. In preparation for the 2004 election, the students will learn about the process of electing a president.
In the fall, our primary theme
is insects. A natural area of interest for children, our students
share and examine insects they find at home,
in the woods on our
school campus, or in the nearby creek. Our science teacher, Mr.
Newberger, introduces this unit, and we reinforce the concepts
of adaptation, respect for nature, and our inter-connectedness.
Ant
farms, a butterfly
chrysalis, and praying mantis egg case formations may be observed.
The children
draw and write about their observations. Books about insects
are read to the class, while others are read independently. Each
student chooses a particular insect on which he/she writes
a report. Students visit the Insectarium to see closeup live
and mounted exotic and local insects.
We celebrate holidays in second grade, not just as a time for having fun, but as a means for conveying the meaning and traditions of holidays that have been part of a culture for thousands of years. As we learn about and celebrate each other's holidays, we learn more about each other and the ethnic and religious backgrounds that define who we are, while learning to appreciate and respect one another. Those holidays that we all share in common, such as Halloween or Valentine's Day, help us to create a sense of community. Holidays foster communication and understanding, and, thus, take on a larger meaning than one might at first imagine. Presidents day provides an opportunity to discuss the contributions of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
In January students learn about the civil rights efforts of the 1960's. Biographical books about Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks impart dramatically the effects of segregation, intolerance, and racism as they were played out in the lives of these heroic and historical figures. Teammates describes for the children the entrance of Jackie Robinson to a major league baseball team, and stories about the underground railroad, such as Follow the Drinking Gourd and The Secret to Freedom, convey a sense of urgency and liberation regarding the issue of slavery. Discussions of justice and kindness propel us to higher levels of thinking regarding the way we treat our classmates, our fellow citizens, and the people of the world.
In January Mr. Newberger introduces our study
of dinosaurs in science class.
His movies and hands-on activities infuse this six-to-eight week
unit with life and enthusiasm. We carry that charge into our classrooms
through a variety of activities. Central to the unit is a child's
investigative report on a dinosaurof his or her choice. Reading from a variety of books, both
individually and as a class, students find information that enables
them to write a report about their particular dinosaur. Other
projects that contribute to their understanding of dinosaurs in
general and the time and world in which they lived include dioramas,
dino poetry, scale
drawings, computer-generated pictures,
computer animated slide shows,
graphs
, Dinosaur
Dicoveries in the News , inventive Dinosaurs and
clay models. Our
study is highlighted by our field trip to the Academy of Natural
Sciences, where we visit Dinosaur Hall.
Spring is the time to study the various adaptations people made to their natural environment. We read about tribes from various regions of the country. Students learn that a tribe's way of life, including the types of shelters, food, clothing, and crafts, was determined by the environment in which the tribe lived. Our exploration of Native American legends inspires us to write our own stories in a similar style and spirit. We also make many crafts, such as weavings, sand paintings, pouches, hide paintings, shields, and totem poles, to facilitate our understanding of the topic. Our field trips to the Elwood Brunt Lenape Museum and Peace Valley further enhance our appreciation for the Native American culture.
This web site is maintained by the second grade teachers of Germantown Academy, Barbara Cipolloni, Nancy Jones, and Paul Savering. Site design and technical assistance furnished by Carol Siwinski, Curricular Technology Specialist.
Updated, April, 2007