Category: Second Grade

2nd Grade Fairy Tales

Last week, the second graders finished their study of fairy tales with a celebratory publishing party!

They started the unit by each choosing a fairy tale to read and complete a castle book report on. The students definitely took their time and used their creativity to complete the reports.

Next, the class learned about the stages of the writing process by creating their own fractured fairy tales. The fairy tales the second graders created were creative, interesting, humorous and beautifully presented. Excellent work second graders!

#SaklanCreative

Respectful & Accepting

This week, the 1st through 8th graders met with their families groups to discuss the January Social Emotional Learning themes of being respectful and accepting.

The 8th graders led a discussion of what the words respectful and accepting mean, and then shared the book Where Oliver Fits, by Cale Atkinson, in which Oliver finds that trying to fit in is a lot harder than he thought it would be.

Following a discussion of the story, the each student decorated a paper puzzle piece with words that describe them. Check out the puzzle pieces that each family group created below.

#SaklanSEL

Goals for the New Year

A new year brings opportunities to set clear intentions and goals. Having children set goals creates more intrinsic motivation, fosters increased self-esteem, and sets a positive approach to learning and growth.

Earlier this week, the second graders set their own goals for 2022. They focused on several areas of possible growth, including: academic, experiential, health and physical opportunities. 

When we voice our goals and write about them we have a much better chance of achieving them, no matter our age. Thank you to our second graders for sharing their goals below.

2nd Grade Explores Family Heritage

During their Family Heritage unit, the second graders discussed their ancestors and the journey they made coming to America as immigrants. It was amazing to see how many countries around the world were represented by this class! They were also asked to think about their own family cultures and traditions and what makes each of them unique. This involved interviewing family members, finding out the meaning associated with their names and recognizing the similarities and differences between themselves and their ancestors, past and present.

To sum up this unit, the students were asked to create a clothespin doll to represent some aspect of their cultural heritage. They were given full creative license to choose fabric, paint, clothes, beads, and crafts to adorn them. Check out their creative dolls below!

#SaklanDiversity

Country Roads

The Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students have been learning about song form and melody line. They explored this while learning the verses, chorus, and bridge of “Country Roads.” The students also connected Saklan’s social emotional learning curriculum to the song lyrics by discussing what it might mean to visit family you haven’t seen for a long time and “going home.”

#SaklanWellRounded

Animal Classification

The Saklan second graders have been learning about animal classification. They learned what makes an animal a vertebrate versus an invertebrate, and then about the five types of vertebrates. 

Next, the students learned about habitats, and studied different habitats around the world. They also learned about adaptations, and looked at different adaptations that allow plants and animals to live in their chosen habitats.

#SaklanAcademic

Visiting Moraga Gardens Farm

During September and the first week of October, the Hoot Owls, Owlets, first graders, second graders, third graders and fourth graders took their first field experience of the year to Moraga Gardens Farm! Ms. Meredith led each of the classes on the two-block walk to the farm, and then on a tour of the community garden. The garden was filled with eggplants, cucumbers, kale, apples, pears, tomatoes, and much more.

During the tours, students learned that fruits and vegetables grow from flowers after being pollinated. They saw the difference between seasonal trees, such as a peach tree (summer) and persimmon tree (fall). The children saw how vines grow by attaching their tendrils to other structures and plants, and how plants defend themselves from predators. They went inside the greenhouse, heard the bees buzzing in their hives, and got to sample some of the garden’s produce. Lastly, the students were invited to feed and pet the chickens.

The students all had a great time in the garden. Thank you, Ms. Meredith, for leading these interactive, engaging field experiences!

#SaklanFieldExperience

Moon Festival

One of our second grade students shared his family’s tradition of celebrating Moon Festival, or Mid-Autumn Festival, with his classmates. He started his presentation by sharing background information on what Moon Festival is and how it is celebrated.

Moon Festival is a big holiday celebrated in East and Southeast Asia. It celebrates the harvest and it is a time to be thankful for what the year has given to you and your family. It is kind of like Thanksgiving.

Moon Festival is also when the monthly full moon is the biggest and brightest of the year.

During Moon Festival, people eat moon cakes and hang up lanterns. Buildings and streets light up with colorful lights. Families get together for big meals, then watch the bright floats in a parade together.

Kids do not have school for one week and parents do not have work!

Moon cakes are big and round like the moon. They bring good luck to you the whole whole year.

After learning about Moon Festival, the second graders were invited to try moon cakes. These were a big hit with the second graders, and David too!

#SaklanDiversity #SaklanStudentsasTeachers

Music Enrichment Classes

We are excited to offer music enrichment classes this fall! The classes, listed below, will begin on Thursday, September 30th and run through December 16th.

  • Music & Movement for Preschool & Pre-K on Thursdays from 2:30 – 2:50 p.m. Students will experience music through play, movement and singing games. Students will work towards development of perceiving and performing the steady beat in music, identifying and understanding musical form, and recognizing musical opposites such as fast and slow, loud and soft and high and low. In addition, the classes will emphasize the development of proper vocal technique and health. Students in this class will receive complimentary Extended Day care from 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. on days the class meets.

  • Beginning Choral Habits for K – 2nd Grade on Thursdays from 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. The K-2 after school music course will be an opportunity for students to develop beginning choral habits and structure. Students will learn proper body alignment, breathing and vocal techniques and will work on developing beautiful blend with several unison choral arrangements. Later on in the year, students may work towards arrangements in canon and two-part harmony. Singing games will also be incorporated to allow for musical enjoyment and allow the students to engage the music with movement, imagination and creativity.

To sign your child up for one of the above classes, please click on the class name.

#SaklanWellRounded