Blog #16- October 4th, 2019 📦 🌎

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Grade 2- Blog #16- September 30th- October 4th, 2019
Students participate in "Inktober", a month-long drawing contest.
LOOKING BACK
In UOI this week, we turned our attention to space! We inquired about the different ways humans (and robots!) have explored space, including space flight, the moon, and mars. We thought carefully about the reasons why people explore, the different outcomes that have happened (both positive and negative), and generated ideas of places or things that are still left to explore! We spent a day studying A.I. and robotics, a different kinds of exploration. We even practiced the "Turing Test", by seeing if we could tell the difference between a human and a robot's answers to various questions.
Students pair up to find answers to their questions about space exploration!
In math, started the week learning about symmetry, and what it means for a shape to be symmetrical. Then, we transitioned into 3D shapes! We learned about faces, edges, and vertices, and practiced counting these features on many different shapes. We also began to learn the names of these shapes. Each pair of students became an expert on one of these shapes, and taught the rest of the class all about it!
The group shares about pyramids.
This group teaches us about cylinders!
For English, students have continued working hard to finish their first teaching books! They made sure to include at least four different chapters about their expert topic. We also created a list of things they should do to EDIT their writing, including checking for spelling errors, correct punctuation, capitalization and grammar.

VIP of the Week
This week our VIP was Riko! She brought in some photos to share, some of her favorite books from home, and even showed us her favorite stuffed animal, a rabbit from Disneyland! Thanks for sharing, Riko!

LOOKING AHEAD
Grade 2 teachers Kinder buddies how to make "Surprise Folding Drawings"
Next week in UOI, we will begin to learn about a very different type of exploration that has happened in the past, and we will be sure to learn about it from multiple perspectives... including the perspective of the indigenous/ local people who were already there.

For math, we will move into our next topic: area and perimeter! We will learn how to calculate area and perimeter of 2D shapes, using grid paper to help us figure out the answer.

Practicing drawing 3D shapes!
In English, students will continue writing their All About Books, editing them for mistakes, and publishing them for others to read. They will be preparing for our Publishing Party (see more information below) where they will have a chance to read their books to parents and family members!

Ryosei and his brother work on their drawings together.
LOOK OUT
(Announcements and Important Dates)
*Friday, October 11- Sports Day (at the Edion Arena in Namba)
*Monday, October 14- No School (National Holiday)
*Friday, October 18- Grade 2 Publishing Party! (All parents and families are welcome to join from 8:30- 8:50 as students share their published All About Books!)

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