2nd These DAYS!

Science, centers, and collaborative learning!

Geology Rocks! 2nd Graders Explore Minerals!

The 2nd graders dove into geology with a trip to Taos Gems and Minerals and cracking open geodes!   Pam of Taos Gems and Minerals welcomed our class with a tour of her beautiful store.  She had the kids explore the amazing array of rocks and crystals and find one that they loved.  She challenged them to remember its shape and color to draw later.  At the end of our visit she gave everyone a special mineral to keep.  

Earlier that day, the 2nd graders each govto find outvwhat was hiding inside of a geodes!

Geology Rocks! Layers of the Earth in 2nd

Magma, minerals, and playdough... it was fun creating the layers of the earth in playdough!

Making Playdough for Spelling in 2nd!

What happens when you give a group of 2nd graders a recipe, some flour, salt, and (gulp) food coloring?  They make playdough without a hitch!  I was so impressed with how each group worked together and followed the recipe on their own.  Now we have playdough to make spelling and sight word practice hands on and fun.

Art Inspired by Pipi Longstocking

Both the boys and the girls have been fascinated by this story of a girl with superhuman strength who lives alone.  At one point, Pipi paints a picture on the wallpaper in her parlor.  The painting is of a lady in a red dress and a black hat.  She holds a yellow flower in one hand and a dead rat in the other.  One of the kids pointed out that she symbolizes life and death.  Pretty deep kiddos we have on 2nd!

Experiments in Buoyancy: STEAM in 2nd!

On a hot afternoon, a little experimentation in buoyancy can hit the spot.  After reading "What This Story Needs is a Pig in a Wig" (a story that piles more and more things and creatures on a boat), we talked about buoyancy.  The kids then got a piece of foil and were given the challenge to make it be able to float as many glass beads as possible.  

Counting and tallying were a part of the process...