List of 10 items.

• Reading/Language Arts

  Building on work in kindergarten and first grades, students refine reading skills and focus on higher-order comprehension such as making inferences and drawing conclusions. All second grade teachers are trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach and explicitly teach phonics patterns following a phonics sequence. In addition, we devote time to growing reading comprehension skills while continuing to nourish a love of literature through exposure to books from a wide range of genres and cultures. Comprehension is enhanced through class discussion and written responses to literature. Students begin to notice author's craft by exploring the patterns in books in a series and the elements of mystery writing. Both the book series and mystery units are often favorites, especially when readers get hooked by a series and can't wait to pick up the next book. In Writing Workshop, students study mentor texts in a variety of genres and create a yearlong portfolio of their own work. Students compose personal narratives, fictional stories, persuasive essays, poetry, and research reports. As part of the writing process, second graders study and apply grammar and punctuation. Expanding vocabulary is a focus in both reading and writing throughout the year.

• Math

  In second grade, math becomes a way to solve problems. Studying place value, patterns, and equations, as well as money, time, and data sets, students continue to develop as mathematicians. Visual models, such as bead racks, open number lines, and base 10 area pieces support students’ move from concrete representation to the more abstract in mathematics. Through whole and small group instruction and math games, second graders continue to practice fundamental computational skills in addition and subtraction. With a solid foundation in these concepts, students demonstrate their understanding through solving multi-step, open-ended problems. 

• Social Studies

  In second grade, students study our region and then expand to other cultures around the world. Looking specifically at the Chesapeake Bay, second graders explore the geography of the Bay as well as how it has shaped the cultures that have lived around it. By visiting rivers and streams in the watershed, they learn how water from the Bethesda area ultimately reaches the Bay. Second graders also visit the Bay to develop a first-hand understanding of the area. As they study other cultures around the world, students cast a wide net, exploring, for instance, a country's geography, art, music, history, government, religion, and economy. They are immersed in different aspects of the countries: While studying Brazil, students learn about the rainforest and the impact of its loss, and while studying Japan, students write in haiku form, study Japanese vocabulary words, and design their own version of a traditional Japanese home.

• Science

  Second grade marks the first time that students maintain a science journal where they collect their observations and notes during the year, and these journals continue to be an integral part of the science curriculum through eighth grade. During the Simple Machines Unit, second graders study levers, pulleys, ramps, and gears to explore measurement and data analysis as they develop a conceptual understanding of how these machines make work easier. Students also learn about light and color, exploring concepts such as refraction, reflection, and other properties of light through hands-on activities with mirrors, prisms, and lights. During the Ecology Unit, second graders study two distinct habitats on Norwood’s campus: the eastern woodland and a marsh wetland. They learn about food webs and the importance of plants. They grow and observe plants and water-cycle terrariums. They also take local field trips to the woodlands and marsh and discuss the similarities and differences in these two habitats.

• Spanish

  The second grade Spanish program is closely tied in to the social studies curriculum. The students learn to name and locate the continents, oceans, and Spanish-speaking countries, particularly those in South America. By focusing on the animals of South America, the children learn plurals, definite and indefinite articles, action verbs, gender agreement, and adjectives as they describe the physical traits of the animals, what they eat, and their habitats. The students write and illustrate their own class version of the story Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and share the book with parents and classmates.

• Art

  In the Lower School, the art curriculum enables students to gain confidence, knowledge, experience, and appreciation for a wide variety of art ideas and materials. Throughout their experiences in art class, students are introduced to a sequential program which emphasizes process while exposing them to the elements of art. Media covered include drawing, painting, ceramics, collage, sculpture, and printmaking. As students develop as artists, teachers emphasize the development of personal expression, imagination, curiosity, and careful observation. Students apply these concepts and techniques while making connections, problem solving, and developing self-confidence and their personal artistic voice.

• Music

  The Second Grade music program is devoted to instilling a joyful sense of music and music making in every child. The goal is to develop students’ aesthetic sensibilities by increasing musical understanding through activities involving performing, listening, and creating. In addition to learning increasingly musically sophisticated chants and songs (many from a multicultural folk repertoire), Second Graders enthusiastically partake in activities involving playing rhythm instruments, playing xylophones, figuring out mystery songs (music reading), dancing/movement, dramatization, and improvisation on the tone bells. In addition, Second Graders enjoy opportunities for composing original music, sharing personal favorite recordings with the rest of the class, and performing in both the LS Winter Concert and a staged spring musical program based on the culture of either Japan or Ghana.

• Physical Education

  In the Lower School, students are introduced to basic loco-motor skills and activities that develop hand-eye and hand-foot coordination, spatial awareness, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Each year builds on the skills, games, and experiences from the previous year. Going beyond the games and activities, teachers process the experiences with students individually and in groups, asking questions like, “Can a self-win also be a team win?” and “What does it mean to be a good sport?” In the lower grades, students learn the mental and physical foundations that will help them succeed in later experiences on and off the field of play.

• Library & Technology

  Second graders are taught and able to demonstrate a basic understanding of the Dewey Decimal System. They start doing author studies, learning about visual literacy through a study of Caldecott award winning books, and they research countries and animals for class projects. The students engage in research using both print and online resources. Additionally, they continue to explore technology using iPad apps to support language arts and math studies.

• Life Skills

  As part of our commitment to the whole child, Norwood School’s Life Skills Program introduces students to age-appropriate information about personal and community health and well-being that will help them lead happy, healthy lives and make positive contributions to their community from early childhood through adolescence and beyond. Some of the topics for lower school students include friendships, self-esteem, being inclusive, bullying, conflict resolution, peer pressure, responding to teasing, and safety. At all ages, the program establishes skills and strategies for lifelong well-being and promotes caring for the well-being of others. Throughout the program, teachers emphasize the important role students’ own family members play in guiding goal-setting, problem-solving and decision-making.