The Raptor Center of Minnesota came to visit Kennedy! We were able to meet a red-tailed hawk, great horned owl, and kestrel and learn a little about these amazing birds! The Carpenter Nature Center is hosting a Raptor Release this weekend! Second Graders learned about to play the game Garbage in math this week!
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We had a treat this week! Our principal, Mr. Latch, came to our classroom to share a book. He read How Full Is Your Bucket for Kids by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer. Mr. Latch spent time explaining how important it is that we all work to fill each others buckets by doing kind things, saying kind words, and working together. He related the book to our school wide "Above the Line" behavior policy. He also talked about what can happen when we dip into each others buckets by being unkind or using unkind words and related that to "Below the Line" and "Bottom Line" behaviors. We really enjoyed having Mr. Latch visit and used his wise words with some follow up activities. After the visit our class sorted cards with different behaviors into hula hoops for "Bucket Fillers" and "Bucket Dippers". We had fun sound effects to go with our choices. :) After the sort, students selected a way that they could be bucket fillers and created a page for a classroom book. We clearly have a kind hearted, bucket filling group of second graders this year!
Last Friday we decided to have some silly fun...and work on our teamwork! First we worked together as a class to create at web of yarn. As we tossed the yarn to one another, each child shared something he/she is good at. As the yarn went around we created a beautiful web. We discussed how important it is that we all do our part to keep our web (classroom) strong. After the web, desk teams were given a package of uncooked spaghetti noodles and a half bag of mini marshmallows. Teams were challenged to work together to create the tallest structure. Second graders worked their way through frustration, excitement, problem solving, giggles, and laughter to create some pretty impressive sculptures.
Students finished creating their Hopes and Dreams last week, and this week we created our classroom agreement. We worked together to come up with the agreement after thinking about what we would like our classroom to be like. After coming up with the agreement we discussed consequences and celebrations for behavior. The second graders have been wonderful citizens in our classroom and are creating a wonderful environment of friendship, cooperation, and learning. I am proud at how much they have accomplished these first two weeks of school.
The beginning of the school year is an important time to set the tone for the rest of the school year. We began the week reading stories to help us get started with thinking about what our "Hopes and Dreams" for 2nd Grade might be. We read Uncle Jed's Barbershop and Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum. Students brainstormed their thoughts about what our classroom should be like and what their personal goals are for the school year. From there students created their own Hopes and Dreams on stars, which will be displayed until the end of the school year, or if they think they are ready for new one. Check back next week for a photo of the completed display!
We read First Day Jitters and discussed our own feelings about the first day of school. We chased the jitters with a littler "jitter juice" and read a fun poem, too. Students entered the room on Tuesday to find Play-Doh on their desks. It was a great first day activity to create! We will keep our Play-Doh at school to use for brain breaks, indoor recess, and the occasional reading or math response!
With all of the business we had to take care of this week with routines, procedures, and rules we made sure to take a little time to have some fun, get to know one another, and be silly!
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