Mrs. Curtiss' Second Grade

GOTCHA ASSEMBLY

2011-12-06T12:21:00.000-08:00

We had a fantastic RESPONSIBILITY assembly on Friday. We won prizes, sang songs and played games! While we will continue to be responsible, our next character trait we focus on will be CARING.

Here are some pictures of the FUN we had on Friday !

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2011-11-22T14:44:00.000-08:00

Today we made Pinecone Turkey Thanksgiving Centerpieces. The kids had a blast putting all the feathers on their pinecone, we have some very fluffy turkeys! We also learned about the Pilgrims and the Indians at the first Thanksgiving and compared some of the foods they ate to the foods we eat today. We learned that being a Pilgrim would have been hard and it was a good thing they had the Indians to help them get through their first hard winter.

Our class is Thankful for:

Fallon-family
Sean-being nice
Anna-my pets
Wyatt-God
Chase-my dogs
Victoria-food
Sam-relatives
Darla-my whole family
Josh-God
Lexie-friends
Jeremiah-Bently, my dog.
Colton-relatives, family and God
Ashton-God
Mrs. Curtiss-My loving family and my wonderful class!

Guess Whooooo dissected owl pellets?

2011-11-08T14:54:00.000-08:00

That's right, second grade! We had fourth grade helpers too! Here are some pictures of our dissection experience with some words the kids used to describe it:

AWESOME X 4

THE BEST

FUN

AMAZING

REALLY COOL X 2

WICKED

RADICAL

SUPER SUPER COOL

NEAT

oooh OWL BARF

INTERESTING

SUPER AWESOME

ROCKED

COOL EXPERIENCE

FACINATING

THE BEST DAY EVER!!!!

GREAT

OWL BARF

Character Education Assembly

2011-10-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

For the month of October and part of November the Helix Grizzlies K-4 will be focusing on the character trait RESPONSIBILITY. We will be working towards demonstrating responsible behaviors here at school: in the classroom, lunchroom, on the playground, hallways and everywhere in between. We had a great assembly! The high school drama class came and acted out a few ways we can be responsible. Then we got necklaces with a green responsibility charm. We also talked about ways to earn "gotcha tickets" and be entered into a drawing for prizes. Then we switched gears and played Minute to Win It-Chocolate Unicorn. Ask your child about watching the contestants compete against the clock to stack 5 Ding Dongs on their head in one minute.

Learning about responsibility....

High school kids show us the "DOs" and "Don'ts"

Stacking 5 Ding Dongs may look easy,

it is not easy to do.

Victoria from our class was chosen to try the Chocolate Unicorn!

In the end , Mr. Curtiss was the only successful Chocolate Unicorn!

CROCODILE ROCK!

2011-10-10T15:09:00.001-07:00

Thank you for watching our video!!!

Crocodile Projects Underway

2011-10-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

We are learning all about crocodiles.

We know all kinds of croc facts.

Ask us about these toothy reptiles and we

will be happy to share what we have learned!

2011-09-22T14:23:00.000-07:00

COMPUTER LAB TIME!

Concentrating hard on spelling words.

Look at all those workers!

Sean shows off his score!

Sam gets Serious about Spelling!

"YES, I spelled because right!!!"

"I like SPELLING CITY!"

SHARING OUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY BOOKS

WITH EACH OTHER!

We wrote these stories and got to read them to our friends.

Practice makes perfect! Tomorrow
we are reading our books
aloud to our class.

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!

2011-09-02T14:31:00.001-07:00

Look at this great bunch of KIDS!!! We are having a fun time in second grade and are already learning lots. We have learned how to go online and visit Mrs. Curtiss's Blog and access Spelling City for our new spelling words. It is an exciting way to practice spelling and can be done from anywhere that has internet connection! Keep checking our blog for more fun stuff! ~Mrs. Curtiss

BUGGY BUGS WEB QUEST

2011-05-23T15:58:00.000-07:00

You have been chosen to be an insect expert at the World Famous Insect Museum. You will be giving a speech on your insect choice, but first you must gather information. Have FUN!!!

Please do ALL these Activities:

Study insects by looking at parts of their bodies.

Look at some pictures of the insect you are researching. Draw and color a picture of the insect you have chosen.

Be able to tell where insects live.

What does this insect eat? Write it in your insect journal.

How does this insect grow (complete or incomplete metamorphosis)? Printout this insect and put it in your insect journal.

What do all insects have in common? Watch the BrainPOP video and write the answer in your journal.

Watch some insect videos and get to know this insect better.

Make an insect using clay and recycled material from around the classroom.

Share your bug research with your classmates. REMEMBER you are the insect expert. Use your notes from your journal to give a speech.

Lastly, you and your classmates will go on a bug hunt.

Dinosaur Mural and more....

2011-05-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

We have been learning all about these fascinating creatures from long ago. For instance, we can tell you which dinosaurs were bipedal and which dinosaurs were quadrupedal. We can tell you the difference between a carnivore and an herbivore. We can also tell you what a sauropod is and what paleontologists study. Ask a second grader to educate you about these extinct animals!

We worked so hard on this mural, we are ver proud of it!

Flat Stanley is in the mail!!

2011-04-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

There are many more books in the Flat Stanley series.
They are a lot of fun to read!!!

We have read Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, made our own "Stanley", collected addresses, and written letters to host families. Yesterday we said, "goodbye" to Stanley as we walked him to the post office to be mailed. The second graders have chosen host families for two of their own Flat Stanleys. Stanley will be traveling to some exciting places in the United States this year! We can't wait to get him back to see and hear about all the places he travels. We will keep track of his mileage and learn something about each place he visits!

Dr. Seuss Day

2011-03-03T11:18:00.000-08:00

WACKY WEDNESDAY!!!

We dressed Wacky!

The Cat in the Hat came to visit.

We listened to Dr. Seuss books.

We made rhyming words.

We smiled:)

The Junior High kids wore silly hats and read to us too.

We listened carefully!

We ate one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish.
We had pink ink to drink.

The snacks were yummy for our tummy!

and I will read in a house and I will read with a mouse....
and I will read here or there and I will read ANYWHERE!

It was a Super Silly Day!

AT HOME SPACE PROJECTS

2011-03-02T09:50:00.000-08:00

WAY TO GO SECOND GRADERS, YOU DID AN AWESOME JOB ON ALL OF YOUR PROJECTS! THANK YOU PARENTS FOR HELPING THEM OUT!!!

Hannah with the sun and 9 planets.

Malikai and his solar system.

Ruger with Jupiter, a few of its moons, a satellite, and an astroid.

Mackenzie and her recycled NASA Satellite.

Ryann with giant Jupiter and its great Red Spot.

Fun with Fairy Tales

2011-01-27T13:39:00.001-08:00

Fairy Tales

2011-01-24T15:52:00.000-08:00

We are working on Fairy Tales in second grade. The kids have even been creating their own online on http://www.storyjumper.com/. They are having a lot of fun with it! Stay tuned for more fairy tale updates and pictures.

WE LOVE GRAMMAR!

2010-12-10T14:18:00.000-08:00

This is a weekly grammar activity. Each week we make corrections to sentences or paragraphs and work together as a team to find them all. Then we compete against Mrs. Curtiss and if we win, we earn 2 letters on a secret word puzzle. Once the word puzzle has all of the letters, the kids get whatever is spelled. Last month it was "Have a Snack". This friday they earned more 2 letters on the new puzzle--they still need quite a few more letters before they figure out their secret message and earn their reward. Can you figure it out?
__ __ __          __ __ __ __ __
                 with
      __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Minute to Win It!

2010-12-08T14:28:00.000-08:00

DEAR SANTA,

2010-12-01T13:37:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa,

How is Mrs. Claus? Do you have a dog? Do you have a child? How are the elves doing?

I think I deserve gifts because I did the dishes and I unloaded the dishwasher. I want egg nog, a horse, a saddle, reins, a cell phone, a smoothy maker, a laptop, and Zhu Zhu Pets, please!

Love,

Ryann

Dear Santa,
For Christmas I want a stuffed penguin with a candy cane, a Zhu Zhu Pet, a scooter, and a blow up with the animals decorating the tree. I carry the groceries for my mom and grandma and have been good this year. Do you have a dog and a cat? How do the reindeer fly? How is Rudolph? How many elves do you have? How is Mrs. Claus? How many presents did the elves make?
Love,
Hannah

Dear Santa,
This is my list, how about a phone or a puppy or a laptop? I probably deserve them because I am a good girl. I have a few questions for you. How is Rudolph? Is his nose still bright? How is Mrs. Claus?
Your Friend,
Mackenzie

Dear Santa,
For Christmas I want a bike and I want a laptop and I want a phone and a Zhu Zhu pet. I took out the trash and I helped my mom bring the groceries in. When something gets stuck in the trees I help get it out. How is Mrs. Claus? How can Reindeer fly?
Your friend,
MaliKai

Dear Santa,
I have been good. I take out the trash and I bring in the groceries. How do Reindeer fly? How is Mrs. Claus? Do you have dog? How old are you? How many elves do you have? I want Reindeer seed, RMC, DSI, DS games, clothes, a hunting knife and gun, a laptop, phone, and Zhu Zhu Pets.
From,
Ruger

Dear Santa,
For christmas can I please have a violet DS and horses and some Zhu Zhu pets too? I have been a really good girl this year. I think I deserve presents this year because I play with my little sister and brother and help my mom do dishes and carry in groceries.
Your friend,
Makayla

2010-10-29T14:58:00.000-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had a fantastic Halloween party. Thank you to all of our party parents for the yummy treats and fun games!!! The kids had a spooktacular time:)

Munchkin, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Glenda the Good Witch,
The wicked Witch of the West, and Dorothy

Spooky and Sweet

So many treats, such little time!

Bean bag toss.

Candy Corn Relay.

Yummm!

Spider Cupcakes

What's in the box? Snakes, spiders, lizards...

I don't even need lunch now, haha.

2010-10-28T15:58:00.000-07:00

PUMPKIN PATCH COMES TO HELIX

Ryann Picks a Pumpkin

Having fun on a hay ride!

5 little pumpkins.......

Frankenstein Pumpkin

Relay Race

Snack Time

Yummy! Yummy!

Face painting

Makayla gets a cool white pumpkin.

Mackenzie's Pumpin

Hannah draws a Halloween Mural

MaliKai's ghost.

Rockin' Crocodile Facts

2010-10-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

Watch the short video made by second grade--highlighting crocodile facts!

Rockin' Crocodile Facts

2010-10-01T19:37:00.000-07:00

Coming Soon! Sorry kids I couldn't get this uploaded today.....I was having some computer problems. I will work on it as soon as I can. You all did a great job today, thanks for all of your hard work. See you on Monday.

Second Grade Personal Introductions

2010-09-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

Our Six Second Graders!

2010-09-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

We are back into the swing of things here at school. This year our second grade has six students. We are a very enthusiastic bunch and are already having fun getting down to business!

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!

2010-08-26T14:21:00.001-07:00

Dinosaurs, Flat Stanley, Robert Munsch

2010-04-16T08:14:00.000-07:00

Click on the picture for a photostory!

FLAT STANLEY

2010-04-09T15:25:00.001-07:00

http://www.flatstanleymovie.com/FLAT_STANLEY/Home.html

SPACE PROJECTS

2010-02-28T20:37:00.000-08:00

Here are the amazing space projects the kids created at home!

SPACE UNIT

2010-02-20T17:34:00.000-08:00

We are so busy in second grade learning about space. We have really been working hard to get our space reports done.

Construction is Underway!

2010-01-21T15:03:00.000-08:00

We have been listening to the ripping and tearing out of the concrete pad that was once home to tetherball and 4-square (at the end of our hallway) all week. Yesterday, the concrete was finally torn out and dirt was being removed. Trucks have been coming and going taking away all the concrete and dirt that is being dug up. The hallway doors between Mrs. Harper and Mrs. Hansell's class are chained so that kids/adults don't use those doors by accident and a fence has been installed all around the construction site. We are all very excited to see construction beginning! A new Kindergarten and Special Ed. will be a great asset to our school.

Chicken Soup with Rice

2010-01-20T13:32:00.001-08:00

2010-01-07T08:49:00.000-08:00

Learning to regroup is fun!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2010-01-04T15:11:00.001-08:00

We're back to school in 2010! I hope everyone had a fantastic break! The kids seemed to be eager to be back but tired. By 2:00 I noticed some heads starting to rest on desks (I have to admit I'm tired today too:)
We are working on addition with regrouping. When I was in school the teachers called this carrying. I felt very confident with this class today as I led them through some activities with blocks to teach the fundamentals of regrouping.
Today we also started reading The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner. This is an exciting chapter book about four children without parents.
This week's spelling words are posted on spellingcity.com.

Winner Store

2009-12-18T08:52:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of the famous "Winner Store". Kids save up their points for 2months before they get to spend them. We earn Winner Store points by reading at home, so keep reading!

2009-12-11T15:11:00.000-08:00

2009-12-11T08:57:00.000-08:00

We are starting to get our tree decorated! We have some fun homemade decorations in the works. Next week is the last week of school before Christmas break. The class is getting excited!

Making Christmas Stained Glass

2009-12-08T20:13:00.002-08:00

Christmas 2009

2009-12-07T09:46:00.000-08:00

We are working on lots of different things for Christmas. We have written letters to Santa for the Christmas Eve E.O. paper, made paper ornaments, and read several stories. We will be making several crafts in the next two weeks.