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Environmental Stewardship Earth as Our Home	Second Grade Science at Swain Swain's second graders participate in two 30 to 40 minute science classes per week. Our class periods are filled with interactive, hands-on experiences that promote natural curiosity, interest and discovery found in young learners. In second grade we begin learning the details of the scientific method (creating experiments, taking data, looking at results and making conclusions). In September, second graders at Swain learn the importance of Reusing, Recycling and Reducing as part of our Environmental Stewardship Unit. We complete worksheets on 'To Live I Need', do a 'reduce the weight of your lunch' experiment, and go on a trip to a landfill and a MERF facility. We gain a deeper understanding that we live in a throw away society and we can all contribute to make a difference. We also develop an understanding that people's wants are unlimited but resources are limited, therefore choices have to be made. In October, we begin to clasify and sort the surroundings in which we live in a more scientific and thoughtful manner. We walk about the school grounds and identify living, non-living and dead things. We broaden our understanding of natural and man-made. We also go over the basic laws of matter and identify solids, liquids and gases. We complete experiments to show us physical and chemical changes. In November, we complete fun experiments with foods and discuss safety as part of our health and wellness unit. I hope to incorporate a guest lecture from a nutritionist this year. In December, we complete our unit on Animals of Long Ago. We explore life dinosaurs as herbivores and carnivores, define the various Mesozoic Periods, develop lots of science vocabulary, consider the theories of extinction, and idenitfy causes of endangerment for plants and animals. A paleontologist team will be hopefully be visiting Swain again! This time with a discussion on fossils that pre-date Mr. Nixon (the tricerotops we met last year). Each child will dig for their own fossil, identify it and keep it! Also, the team will bring real dinosaur fossils as part of their presentation. The children will begin to understand Earth's timeline and 'daisy world' principles that the Earth is constantly changing and the species that thrive on the Earth are constantly changing. January will focus on Water, Water Everywhere! We will discuss the history of water, importance of water, uses of water, different types of waterbodies and distribution of water. We will learn about groundwater and begin learning about watersheds. Our activities will include creating a 'pool of ideas' about water, experimenting with polluted water and making aquabodies. In February we will concentrate on heat and light. We will identify heat and light as energy; classify which objects give off light and/or heat; understand concepts of translucent, transparent and opaque; compare heat conductivity of various materials; use a thermometer to measure temperature; and experiment with prisms to begin our exploration into how light travels. March will focus on magnetics. We will identify different kinds of magnets, recognize natural and man-made magnets, identify materials that attract to magnets via scientific experiments, magnetize objects and much more. We will expand out unit to understand that Earth's magnetic field protects us from many threats, affects the tides, etc. We use magnets for transportation and in many other ways. April will include work on animals and plants. We will use outdoor exploration, models and 'construction' labs to learn about habitats. We will be building dioramas and making presentations about habitats. We will be out exploring and planting in the gardens as soon as weather permits this month! Our goal in this unit is to understand that the world is made up of many types of habitats. Connections that these habitats are part of is what makes human life possible. In May, we will study plants in hopes of developing a love of learning about nature. We will discuss the life cycle of the plant and SEE the life cycle in action. We will spend many of our classes outside in the organic garden, native plant garden, and grounds surrounding the school. Cultivation of plants and experimentation with cultivars will be used to experiment with soil erosion, develop an understanding of how plants are used to make perfumes and medicines and how plants are being engineered to feed the world. In June, the children will vote on a subject related to science...and Mrs. Bardman will create a curriculum based on the children's desires! ***ASSIGNMENTS - I will be sending homework home on an as needed basis. When it comes home it is expected that there will be little parental assistance, unless otherwise noted. I will also send home papers about events and information related to the subjects we are studying in science - these are not required items - they are for enrichment only. Please direct any questions or comments to me at cbardman@swain.org. YOUR CHILDREN ARE A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH! THANK YOU FOR SHARING THEM WITH ME!! Back to Mrs. Bardman's Homepage Back to Miss Christensen Back to Mrs Scerbo Back to Mrs. Garten
Things in OUR World
Health and Wellness
Animals of Long Ago
Water, Water Everywhere
Heat and Light
Magnets
Where Animals and Plants Live and How Plants Grow

Environmental Stewardship

Earth as Our Home

Second Grade Science at Swain

Swain's second graders participate in two 30 to 40 minute science classes per week. Our class periods are filled with interactive, hands-on experiences that promote natural curiosity, interest and discovery found in young learners. In second grade we begin learning the details of the scientific method (creating experiments, taking data, looking at results and making conclusions).

In September, second graders at Swain learn the importance of Reusing, Recycling and Reducing as part of our Environmental Stewardship Unit. We complete worksheets on 'To Live I Need', do a 'reduce the weight of your lunch' experiment, and go on a trip to a landfill and a MERF facility. We gain a deeper understanding that we live in a throw away society and we can all contribute to make a difference. We also develop an understanding that people's wants are unlimited but resources are limited, therefore choices have to be made.

In October, we begin to clasify and sort the surroundings in which we live in a more scientific and thoughtful manner. We walk about the school grounds and identify living, non-living and dead things. We broaden our understanding of natural and man-made. We also go over the basic laws of matter and identify solids, liquids and gases. We complete experiments to show us physical and chemical changes.

In November, we complete fun experiments with foods and discuss safety as part of our health and wellness unit. I hope to incorporate a guest lecture from a nutritionist this year.

In December, we complete our unit on Animals of Long Ago. We explore life dinosaurs as herbivores and carnivores, define the various Mesozoic Periods, develop lots of science vocabulary, consider the theories of extinction, and idenitfy causes of endangerment for plants and animals. A paleontologist team will be hopefully be visiting Swain again! This time with a discussion on fossils that pre-date Mr. Nixon (the tricerotops we met last year). Each child will dig for their own fossil, identify it and keep it! Also, the team will bring real dinosaur fossils as part of their presentation. The children will begin to understand Earth's timeline and 'daisy world' principles that the Earth is constantly changing and the species that thrive on the Earth are constantly changing.

January will focus on Water, Water Everywhere! We will discuss the history of water, importance of water, uses of water, different types of waterbodies and distribution of water. We will learn about groundwater and begin learning about watersheds. Our activities will include creating a 'pool of ideas' about water, experimenting with polluted water and making aquabodies.

In February we will concentrate on heat and light. We will identify heat and light as energy; classify which objects give off light and/or heat; understand concepts of translucent, transparent and opaque; compare heat conductivity of various materials; use a thermometer to measure temperature; and experiment with prisms to begin our exploration into how light travels.

March will focus on magnetics. We will identify different kinds of magnets, recognize natural and man-made magnets, identify materials that attract to magnets via scientific experiments, magnetize objects and much more. We will expand out unit to understand that Earth's magnetic field protects us from many threats, affects the tides, etc. We use magnets for transportation and in many other ways.

April will include work on animals and plants. We will use outdoor exploration, models and 'construction' labs to learn about habitats. We will be building dioramas and making presentations about habitats. We will be out exploring and planting in the gardens as soon as weather permits this month! Our goal in this unit is to understand that the world is made up of many types of habitats. Connections that these habitats are part of is what makes human life possible.

In May, we will study plants in hopes of developing a love of learning about nature. We will discuss the life cycle of the plant and SEE the life cycle in action. We will spend many of our classes outside in the organic garden, native plant garden, and grounds surrounding the school. Cultivation of plants and experimentation with cultivars will be used to experiment with soil erosion, develop an understanding of how plants are used to make perfumes and medicines and how plants are being engineered to feed the world.

In June, the children will vote on a subject related to science...and Mrs. Bardman will create a curriculum based on the children's desires!

***ASSIGNMENTS - I will be sending homework home on an as needed basis. When it comes home it is expected that there will be little parental assistance, unless otherwise noted. I will also send home papers about events and information related to the subjects we are studying in science - these are not required items - they are for enrichment only.

Please direct any questions or comments to me at cbardman@swain.org.

YOUR CHILDREN ARE A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH!

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THEM WITH ME!!

Back to Mrs. Bardman's Homepage

Back to Miss Christensen

Back to Mrs Scerbo

Back to Mrs. Garten