Social Studies and Science Integration and Torah Exploration

Social Studies and Science

Over the past few weeks we have been integrating different subjects and learning how what we learn in one subject can connect to what we are learning in other subjects. In science we have been learning about mixtures and how mixtures change when adding a solid, liquid, or gas. In social studies we have been learning about different land forms and reading nonfiction books to learn more information on how the names of different land forms and how they are formed. We combined both these topics by creating a mixture of flour, water, and salt to create a thick dough. Using this dough we then chose a land form we have learned about and tried to create a model of it. Second graders chose land forms like valleys, mountains, volcanoes, and islands to sculpt. We had a blast making this mixture and then using it to create a land forms!

At home, talk about land forms you have seen either where you live or on vacation. If you have a picture of a land form you have visited send it to Jessica and we’ll show it in class!

Math

In math we have been regrouping machines! We were able to add numbers such as 438 + 149=?  We know that when your sum is greater than 9 or 99 we must carry or regroup the ones or the tens. So far we have regrouped in the ones, in the tens, and even in the hundreds. Some of us were challenged with numbers in the thousands! We reviewed the concept that if the sum of a number is more than 9, a two digit number, we must regroup. Next week we will be starting subtraction with regrouping.

If you want to help your child get a head start, practice subtraction facts from 0-20 this weekend!

Torah Exploration

After celebrating Simchat Torah last week, we took a closer look at the real Sefer Torah in our school.

What does a Torah look like up close? What is it made of? How is a Sefer Torah different than the Torah in our classroom? This up close exploration of the Torah will help prepare us to start studying Chumash, Torah study.

We also watched this video about how a scribe writes a Torah.

Art with Iviva

We had a special art class this week in our classrooms instead of in the art room to make up for some of the holidays when we weren’t at school this month. Iviva showed us images of paintings by Alma Thomas. We talked about the term “abstract” and what it means in art. We then used oil pastels to make our own abstract drawings inspired by Alma Thomas. Below are our works in progress.