Grade 2

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Language Arts & Literature Hide

The English and language arts curriculum is designed to develop and promote the student's interest in and knowledge of language and literature, including his abilities to listen, speak, write, and read effectively. He accomplishes this through a comprehensive program that includes a balance of written and oral language. Teachers employ a variety of instructional activities to help students learn the necessary skills and strategies to become proficient communicators. It is hoped that each boy will acquire a lifelong appreciation for the power of the spoken and written language, a love of literature, and a personal belief that literacy can enhance his life. The English/language arts program is built upon three critical strands: listening and speaking, reading, and writing. It also includes four essential conventions: grammar, sentence structure, punctuation and spelling. Oral mapping, oral book reports, daily journals, scientific writing, book reviews, class newspaper articles, writers' workshop, stories, poems, silly sentences, pen pals, and reports on famous people provide the grade two boys with a variety of opportunities to reinforce the essential language arts skills as well as to learn more complex skills in listening, reading, and writing. Students learn the correct word order in written sentences. They identify different types of nouns and verbs. They learn to use commas in dates, greetings and closings of letters as well as how commas separate words in a series. They also learn to use quotation marks. They learn to capitalize all proper nouns, words beginning sentences, months and days of the week as well as titles and initials of people. They develop an understanding of and begin to use high frequency irregular words as well as the basic short vowel, long vowel and consonant blend patterns. Students use basal readers, chapter books and library books as well as books they purchase through book clubs.

Mathematics Hide

The mathematics curriculum assumes that students will make sense of mathematics in which they engage and become confident, active learners. Building this understanding is a long process that is in sequence and includes mathematical tools, technology and manipulatives. Students solve real-life problems and investigation, explore and investigate mathematical ideas and think both inductively and deductively. Communication is essential: "Students communicate to learn mathematics, and they learn to communicate mathematically" (NCTM Standards). Stuart Hall mathematically-literate students exhibit confidence in their abilities, are flexible, efficient and accurate with basic facts and computation, and demonstrate a variety of problem-solving strategies. The mathematics curriculum is built upon five essential strands:

• numbers and operations
• patterns, functions and algebra
• geometry and spatial sense
• measurement
• data analysis, statistics and probability

The following topics will be covered in 2nd Grade:

• Adding and Subtracting Two and Three Digit Numbers (with and without regrouping)
• Comparing, Rounding and Place Value of Numbers to 1000
• Data and Graphing
• Money Concepts
• Geometry, Fractions and Probability
• Multiplication and Division Concepts
• Measurement
• Time and Calendar

Social Studies Hide

Stuart Hall social studies is a study of humanity. Students study the past in order to understand its connection to the present and how it directs the future. The curriculum emphasizes that ethnic and religious groups of the United States and other countries have a role in shaping the diverse society in which we live. The curriculum educates students to use critical thinking to understand the world and how each person fits in the world. The social studies curriculum is built upon four strands:

• civic values, ethics, rights, responsibilities and social participation
• geographic literacy
• historical literacy
• cultural literacy

Second grade students learn about inter-dependence by looking at how families depend upon one another and upon society for their needs and wants. Students define the attributes of a productive citizen in society. They learn about smaller communities within cities and identify local areas that supply San Francisco with some of its basic needs. They recognize people who have made a contribution to benefit global history and how these people influence the community. Students also study parts of their own family history. They explore ways that music, art and religion help them understand other cultures.

Science Hide

The science curriculum is designed to promote an understanding of the nature of science and an appreciation of its methods and philosophy. The program prepares each student for the future by providing opportunities to investigate, explore, and evaluate the world. The program addresses how science works and what processes and methods expand scientific understanding. In kindergarten through grade five, all three strands (Earth, Physical and Life) are studied. In contrast, in grades six through eight, students study one strand per year. This reflects a shift to more in-depth study in the older grades. The science curriculum is built upon three critical strands: Earth Science, Physical Science and Life Science. Hands-on exploration and the use of the scientific method are central to the approach used to investigate the natural phenomena associated with the various strands of science. This approach includes eight essential processes: observing, communication, comparing, ordering, categorizing, relating, inferring, applying. Elements create weather, and second grade students understand how season and weather affect living things as well as how the water cycle is related to weather. They observe the characteristics of solids and liquids and recognize that liquids and solids occupy space and have substance and weight. They understand that liquids and solids can be used to do work and make changes in matter. Students study and observe insects and learn about the life cycle of insects and how they adapt to different habitats on the planet.

Religion Hide

In an endeavor to educate the whole child, we are guided by and faithful to the Roman Catholic tradition of faith in God and in Jesus Christ who reveals to us the love of God for all people. Studying the basic symbols, practices and concepts of religion makes much of history, literature, art and contemporary life intelligible. The intent of the curriculum is to help the student discover and articulate his own beliefs. Because the family is the primary educator in matters of faith and spirituality, we support both parents and students in their religious identities and in the faith foundations established in the home. Active faith propels one toward the pursuit of peace and justice in a diverse world. By educating each child to the love of God, self and neighbor, religious education at Stuart Hall forms in each student deep human values, a sense of wise freedom, and an informed, active faith. The religion curriculum is built upon four strands:

• Scripture: the student understands that scripture is an account of faithful people and that it has literary and historical contexts and inspirational aspects.
• Tradition: the student understands tradition as the collective lived and living response in relationship with God.
• Faith: the student understands faith as trust in God.
• Reason: the student recognizes the role of conscience and discernment in religious and ethical understanding.-3

The primary goal for 2nd grade religion is for students to develop an understanding the concept of forgiveness and commitment as exemplified by the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist (Holy Communion). Students learn that the stories of faith are the foundation of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. They find ways to incorporate the values of forgiveness and community into the life of their classroom and classmates. They begin to distinguish between various origins of these sacraments and explore appropriate ways of participating in various school liturgies as well as those of their own faith tradition. Students discover the importance of participating actively in worship as a way of praising God and building the fabric of community. Students reflect upon the values of giving and forgiveness and explore ways to incorporate these values in their class and school. Students also explore ways other faith traditions help people encounter God and experience forgiveness. SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION: Grade two boys baptized in the Catholic Church have the option of doing their First Reconciliation and First Eucharist preparation and reception of the sacraments at school. This preparation is in addition to the regular grade two religion class and is arranged with the religion teacher.

Art Hide

The study of the visual and performing arts provides the students with opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge of the arts through a sequential, creative, integrated and inclusive program that prepares them for further, more focused study. The arts teach students to participate in society in an intelligent way by encouraging them to "look at things carefully, hear things thoughtfully, feel things sensitively, and understand the role of the arts in the life of the individual and the collective life of [world] culture." The focus for the second grade year is on art from around the world. A second grade student investigates how art reflects culture, religion, and society from different geographical and political regions of the world. He also begins to develop his own ideas about art projects, personal and collective. Specifically, he explores the use of collage by studying pattern, shape, and negative space and creates works of art on a larger scale than that of kindergarten and grade one.

Music Hide

The study of the visual and performing arts provides the students with opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge of the arts through a sequential, creative, integrated and inclusive program that prepares them for further, more focused study. The arts teach students to participate in society in an intelligent way by encouraging them to "look at things carefully, hear things thoughtfully, feel things sensitively, and understand the role of the arts in the life of the individual and the collective life of [world] culture." The second grade year in music allows students to expand their skills in music theory by composing more complex rhythms and note values. The boys learn about the blues and the jazz idiom. They sing and identify jazz and the blues. They learn choral instrumentation and can perform on the autoharp. They are introduced to some strands of classical music and can identify some periods of classical music and composers.

Physical Education Hide

The primary focus of the physical education program is the student's total physical and emotional development. All students learn the motor skills needed in everyday living and in recreational activities. Students develop and maintain sound physiological functions through vigorous muscular activity. The curriculum provides situations for learning to compete so students learn to cooperate with others, treat others with respect and strive for achievement of common goals. Students learn to accept responsibility for their actions. The program provides a life-long sense of responsibility for health and well-being. The physical education curriculum is built upon four strands:

• physical activity
• movement skills and knowledge
• physical fitness and mental wellness
• social development and movement interaction

The second grade student plays simple games, such as parachute play, chasing and fleeing games, such as throwing, catching, bounding and dribbling, and other team activities all of which are lead-up games for team sports, such as soccer, kickball, and basketball. In these activities, he learns object manipulation, loco- and non-locomotor skills as well as proficiency in physical fitness. He develops his physical fitness and mental wellness by participating in testing stations, including the 50 yard dash, running long distance, sit-ups, push-ups, flexed arm hang, and throwing distance. He learns to vary his movements by participating in creative movements that require him to learn to change direction and tempo.

Computer Studies Hide

The computer lab provides an environment in which students, teachers, librarians and lab instructors collaborate on curricular-based projects. Through their years at Stuart Hall, the students explore a variety of hardware, software applications and telecommunications media. Students are introduced to these things at an early age and continually develop their skills. As the field changes, they adapt easily and explore confidently as new technology is incorporated into the curriculum. Critical thinking skills and problem solving strategies are a primary focus. Students will be knowledgeable, independent users of powerful computer applications. The Unkefer instructors, librarians and classroom teachers collaborate to create projects that use open-ended software such as multimedia programs and word processing. Students develop computer skills (copying and pasting, draw tools, etc.) that transfer easily across applications and computer platforms. Changes in hardware, software and curriculum keep the program alive and in a constant flux. The following yearly plans for each grade level are subject to variations depending on classroom teacher input, new products, and changes in technology. Beginning in the first grade and continuing for the next several years, students develop their word processing, multimedia and web skills. They write stories, interviews, and short reports in conjunction with classroom activities and assignments. Students begin to develop interactive multimedia presentations. Projects in the lower grades incorporate basic graphics and text, increasing in scope with grade levels to include digital images, sounds and movies. Students in grades three and four learn basic aspects of desktop publishing and web design. Keyboarding is introduced in the fourth grade via the Herzog Keyboarding Method and the program “Type!” First through fourth grade students also create simple databases and graphs as a means to track and record information. Younger students may use a graphic drawing program to illustrate their findings, while third and fourth graders create more advanced pictographs or use Excel to display results. Beginning in first grade, the computer projects incorporate the basic elements of research and use of reference materials. Each student learns how to cite and evaluate any information they include in their reports. By the fourth grade students have used electronic library and Internet resources to gather information. Students learn how to use these resources appropriately and to critically evaluate their content.