Winter and the Canadian Arctic


 The Canadian Arctic

Over the course of the year in grade 2 we are learning about the different regions of Canada. We are starting a unit on the Canadian arctic. We will be doing research on several arctic animals, learning about their habitats, food sources and about the number of offspring as well as whether or not the babies resemble the adults. 

We will also be learning about the Inuit, traditional ways of transportation and traditional shelters. We will also listen to some throat singing and drumming. 



Place Value and Numbers to 100

We are continuing to practice math facts during the first 30 minutes of the day. The children are playing games such as Face Off, Salute and Rolling the Addition. The goal continues to be that the children have  addition facts to 20 memorized.

We are also counting and working with amounts to 100. The students are counting amounts of items up to 75 at this point. They then label the amounts with 10's and 1's and write the number on a number line. This  learning is establishing the foundation for adding double digit numbers which we will begin in February. 

Writing

Our focus for writing this month is to write a sequence of events. We are talking about beginning, middle and end of the read aloud stories that I read. The children are using writing prompts to write about personal experiences. They are also generating their own topics to write about. This picture was one of our writing prompts.


Home Reading

The kids have started borrowing books to read at home. They are very excited to share favourite books that they can read. Thank you for filling in the comments section on the reading log. If your child is bring home books that they read confidently, this in not a concern as I continue to monitor their reading and prompt them to read books that support them to take risks and grow their reading skills.

Things you can do at home:

  • play games with dice and dominos and encourage your child to add without counting when possible. 
  • play games like Snakes and Ladders which reinforces numbers to 100 and how they are related. 
  • play Monopoly which supports counting, counting up to add, and subtraction when making change. 
  • listen to your child read their home reading books.

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