The 2nd grade Environmental Focus Topic is the life cycle of insects. Our lessons support topics we learn, such as the characteristics of an insect, complete and incomplete metamorphosis, harmful and helpful insects, and observations of insect life cycles. Our field trips include the Valley Branch Nature Center, the Minnesota Children's Museum and the Como Park Planetarium.

The following are some of our learning goals:

Reading

• Learn and use new vocabularyS
• Speak clearly and tell ideas
• Listen and respond appropriately
• Decode unfamiliar words
• Read out loud, self correcting when appropriate
• Understand what is read
• Respond to literature orally and in writing

Writing

• Plan, draft and make changes to improve writing
• Create different types of writing, including personal narrative, procedural, report/informational and poetry
• Use author's craft to engage the reader
• Use standard grammar, punctuation, spelling

Math

• Use many ways to solve problems and explain thinking
• Rename, compare and order numbers
• Understand and use addition and subtraction
• Understand and use multiplication
• Understand place value
• Name and understand fractions
• Understand and use estimation
• Describe and complete number and other patterns
• Record and interpret information/data
• Predict and describe probability
• Identify and describe 2D and 3D shapes
• Develop concepts of time and money
• Estimate and measure using correct tools for standard units