Hungry Hungry Hippos

This week we read a fictional story named "The Surprise" and a non-fiction article called "Hippos" and learned a lot of new facts about hippos.  We completed a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the stories, a step-up to writing outline as we read the article, a parallel-task on both selections, and answered a blog question.

During Reading...

Review the Following Day...

Skype an Orinthologist

Today we Skyped with Mr. Griffith.  He is a bird expert because he has learned a lot about birds from books, as well as taking care of them and being a good observer.  Each group had an opportunity to ask him questions about the bird they are studying.  Students enjoyed learning more about their birds and seeing the pictures shared through the screen share option in Skype.  Thank you Mr. Griffith for visiting our classroom virtually.  After the call, students left comments on a post on our class Kidblog and worked together in groups to complete their Step-Up to Writing outlines based on what they learned from the call. 

Meet Mr. Griffith....

 Meet the Mallard Ducks....

 Meet the Canada Geese....

  
Meet the Baltimore Orioles...

 Meet the Hummingbirds....

Skype's Screen Share

(so we could view Mr. Griffith's Computer Screen)



A Peek at Learning Centers

Here's a quick peek at our learning centers today!  They change every day depending on what we are learning and studying about.
Teacher Table - Read & Summarize
SMARTboard - Airliner Spelling
Write & Wipe - B, M, E, L & Fact web
Techie Time - Tumblebooks
Tiny Table - 3-digit addition "game"

Making Connections: Mixbook

Mr. Kauffman, a third grade teacher in Indiana, shared his student's acrostic nature poems with us through Skype's share feature.  His class also asked us to collaborate on a Mixbook, an online digital scrapbook.  We used the strategy of visualizing to create a mental image of their poems.  Next, we learned the basic components of Mixbook.  Last, each student added their illustration and choose a coordinating background while practicing skills on the SMARTboard.  Here's the final product.

| View Sample Photo Books | Create your own Photo Book

Spelling: Word Work

We've been sorting our spelling words using a variety of tools including SMARTnotebook "games", magnets, mini-dry erase boards, Spelling City, and online magnetic letters.  During centers, students need to work together to accomplish the goal.  This week, an Airliner was introduced.  Here's a screen shot of one of the groups' work.

Strategy: Predict

Before and during reading Mrs. Brown Went to Town by Wong Herbert Yee, we made sure to THINK & PREDICT!  Below are some of our predictions. 

Making Connections: Falling 4 Skype

Mrs. Thomas 1st grade class and our 2nd grade class had three Skype calls this week.  Skype is a online tool that allows you to use a webcam and microphone to communicate and collaborate with others.  On Monday, classes met and introduced themselves.  On Wednesday, our class taught the 1st graders about sunflowers based on books we read in class.  On Friday, we were the audience as Mrs. Thomas' class taught us about an apple tree's journey through the seasons.  We look forward to using Skype a lot this year.  This was a wonderful way to start!  

Skill: Realism vs. Fantasy

We read another silly story, Julius by Angela Johnson.  But, we also learned about real pigs and what they do.  Here's our first VoiceThread on the different elements of the story - things that could happen and things that could never really happen.


If you'd leave us on comment right on the VoiceThread, we'd love it!

Strategy: Summarize

Our first Glog of the Year! 
After lots of laughs, we enjoyed summarizing Dragon Gets By by Dav Pilkey with three simple letters...B, M, E. 

Love 4 Learning

We love learning...check out our Wordle of what we learned this summer and what we'd like to learn in second grade!



Click on the Wordle to view a larger image.

LET US KNOW...
What did YOU learn this summer and what would YOU like to learn this year?