Gurwicz Home Page

Mrs. Gurwicz's Second Grade
2010-2011

Classroom Connections/Resources

2010-2011

This year our studies will include:

Community:
Local, Regional, Global
(Regions of the United States, South America, Global Interests)
Soil
Forces
Magnets
Sound
Phases of the Moon
Night Sky

.....Students interact with many interesting adults and peers during the course of a school year. They have access to many wonderful people from our community. Also, our class is constantly making connections to our focus areas using literacy, math, music, movement, and artistic skills.....

Our class will see:

Guest speakers,
2/3 Teachers, Para educators,
and Students in Our Wing
Classroom Teachers from around the school
Health - Kara Cassani, Sue Barry
Student Interns - UVM, Saint Michael's College, Johnson State College and Champlain College
SLIMY Interns - Our Gardens
Reading and Math Assistants
Speech - Melissa Rawson
Art - Miss Susie
Library/Media - Donna Macdonald, Louise Larocque, Judy Gilmartin
Gym - Patrick Bose
Music - Amy Frostman, Cyndy Matthews
Guidance - Carol Wheeler, Aili Beeli
Office - Sue O'Brien/Allyson Yandow
Lunch Staff
Custodial Staff
Principal - Mark Trifilio
Parent Volunteers

Current Focus....

Force and Motion...

Force and Motion Jeopardy

and.....

Phases of the Moon and the Night Sky...
What can we learn about the moon by observing it?

How would you compare the sun and other stars?

What does the earth's rotation every twenty-four hours produce?

What does the orbit of the earth involve?

Why do the patterns of the stars stay the same, although they appear to move across the sky?

Moon Phases
Phases of the Moon Animation
Moon Phases Challenge
Eco Links
NASA Kids Club: Now In Space
NASA Kids
NASA Solar System
Planets
Astronomy for Kids
Views of the Solar System

Multi-cultural Study: Japan

Our studies of Japan include:

Kamishibai Storytelling: Folktales of Japan
(Kidsweb of Japan)

Locating the country of study on maps and globes

Basic human needs (e.g. food, clothing, shelter, and belonging)

Similarities and differences between country of study and local community.

Landforms and landmarks

Habitats

Culture

Climate

Products/economy of the region

Multi-cultural Study: Mexico

Songs in Spanish...De Colores

Estrellita...Twinkle. Twinkle little Star
Itzi, Bizi Arana...Itsy, Bitsy Spider

Spring....Sound
What causes sound?
...Here is a great site to check
your understanding of sound!
Changing Sounds

Winter....Magnetism

How can magnets make some objects move?

What is attracted to a magnet?

SCIENCE CONCEPT: Magnets can move some objects without touching them.

Fall....Soil
How are soils different from one another?

SCIENCE CONCEPTS: Earth materials are solid rocks and soils.

Soils and rocks have properties of color and texture; in addition, some soils retain different amounts of water.

Communities.... Local, Regional, Global

What is a community?

How do communities work together?

Community Workers

U.S. Studies include but are not limited to:

Diversity found in climate, economics, geography, and culture among the states.

Major geographical features (e.g. mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, etc.)

Regions – Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Midwest, Northwest:

Landforms and Landmarks

Habitats

Culture

Climate

Products/Economy of the region

United States

Regions of the United States || National Parks || Rivers || Mississippi River || Everglades || Appalachia || Hawaii || Alaska

Reading: On-line Books

Scholastic Book Flix

Resources We Use Often:

Weather Information

Population Clock

Online Stopwatch

Merriam-Webster Online

For math, writing, reading, and spelling practice:

Math Games

On-line Book For Mrs. G's Students' Use:

Scholastic Book Flix

Spelling City
A great place to enter your spelling words each week and practice through games and check-ins!!!

How Do I Write A Friendly Letter?

Friendly Letters

Letter Generator

For Parents: Family Matters...All About Reading K-2 & 3-5

Curriculum Links:
Grade 2
Grade 3

How To Make....

Bibliographies:
Citation Maker

Assessments:
Rubric Makers

Instant Poetry Forms

Postcard Creator

On Line Rhyming Dictionary

Outline Maker

Scholastic News

National Geographic
Kids

Smithsonian
Kids

2009-2010

This year our studies will include:

Native Americans
Explorers
Life Cycles
Solar System
Force and Motion
Human Body

.....Students interact with many interesting adults and peers during the course of a school year. They have access to many wonderful people from our community. Also, our class is constantly making connections to our focus areas using literacy, math, music, movement, and artistic skills.....

Our class will see:

Guest speakers,
2/3 Teachers, Para educators,
and Students in Our Wing
Classroom Teachers from around the school
Health - Kara Cassani, Sue Barry
Student Interns - UVM, Saint Michael's College, Johnson State College and Champlain College
SLIMY Interns - Our Gardens
Reading and Math Assistance - Sue Hoffer
Speech - Melissa Rawson
Art - Miss Susie
Library/Media - Donna Macdonald, Louise Larocque, Judy Gilmartin
Gym - Michelle Soules
Music - Amy Frostman
Guidance - Carol Wheeler
Office - Sue O'Brien/Allyson Yandow
Lunch Staff
Custodial Staff
Principal - Mark Trifilio
Parent Volunteers

Current Focus Area:

Human Body:

Nutrition...

Inside the Food Pyramid

My Pyramid Blast Off Game

Heredity....

What Makes You You and Me Me?

What's the Big idea About Genetics?

Whooooose life Is It Anyway?

Body Systems....

A Look Inside the Human Body

All Systems Are Go Game

Healthy Habits....

Time for Bed

Be A Fit Kid

Taking Care of Your Teeth

Experiments...

Try this out!

Native American Studies:

Winter Count

What were/are the customs, beliefs, and practices of tribes from the various cultural regions...
Eastern Woodlands, Southeast, Southwest, Plains, and Northwest?

How did landforms and climate help determine how native people lived?

2008-2009

Guest Speakers/Instructors:
Students interact with many interesting adults and peers during the course of a school year. They engage in Explore Time throughout our wing, take part in Third Grade Science Workshop Rotations weekly, and have access to many wonderful people throughout our community.

This year, our class has seen:

Kimberly Sargent, Sonographer
Jullia Larrow, R.N.
Dr. Jill Rinehart, Pediatrician
UVM Physics Professor ...Force and Motion - Doc O
Traveling Troubadour - Matt Witten
French Voyager - Jean Pierre
Sing Along Parent - Deb Noel
Bookbinding Artist - Linda Lembke
2/3 Teachers, Paraeducators,
and Students in Our Wing
Classroom Teachers from around the school
Health - Kara Cassani, Julie Larrow
Student Interns - UVM, Saint Michael's College, Johnson State College and Champlain College
SLIMY Interns - Our Gardens
Reading and Math Assistance - Charles Quavlin
Speech - Melissa Rawson
Art - Miss Susie
Library/Media - Donna Macdonald, Louise Larocque, Judy Gilmartin
Gym - Michelle Soules
Music - Amy Frostman
Guidance - Carol Wheeler
Office - Sue O'Brien/Allyson Yandow
Lunch Staff
Custodial Staff
Principal - Rick Ebel
Parent Volunteers

Current Focus: Spring 2009

Human Body Systems:
Science Rotation: Heredity
What Makes You You and Me Me?

What's the Big idea About Genetics?

Whooooose life Is It Anyway?

Solar System

Native Americans:
Our Native American Photo Story Projects

Our Native American Project Rubric

Explorers:
Meet Jean Pierre, Our French Voyageur

Life Cycles:
Look at Our Class Explorations of Life Cycles!

See How We Assembled Our Life Cycle Books

Author Study:

Judy Blume Books

Reading: On-line Books

Raz Kids.com

Scholastic Book Flix

Favorite Class Songs:
Chipmunk Rap

Farewell Nova Scotia:
Cape Cod Girls

Third Grade Projects/ Areas of Study
Human Body: Learn about Nutrition... Inside the Food Pyramid My Pyramid Blast Off Game Heredity.... What Makes You You and Me Me? What's the Big idea About Genetics? Whooooose life Is It Anyway? Body Systems.... A Look Inside the Human Body	Native American Studies: Winter Count What were/are the customs, beliefs, and practices of tribes from the various cultural regions... Eastern Woodlands, Southeast, Southwest, Plains, and Northwest? How did landforms and climate help determine how native people lived?
Washington, D.C.: See a webcam photo Google Map: Washington, D.C. Go up and down the direction bar to view Washington from up close and far away! Find important places on the map!	Brain Pop: Geography: Reading a Map
Structures of Life: How does an organism's structures help it to survive? How are the stages of the life cycles of different organisms alike and different? How do species depend on one another and the environment for survival? Interesting Sites: Biology of Plants Plants....Watch It Grow! Meet the Plant Parts Plant Parts Shopping List What is a Crustacean? This question came up as we conducted investigations about crayfish. Let's find out more.... Bird Adaptations: Beaks I Adaptation in Bird Beaks II The Autobiography of Squirmin' Herman the Worm	Universe, Earth, Environment: What can we learn about the moon by observing it? (Review) How would you compare the sun and other stars? What does the earth's rotation every twenty-four hours produce? What does the orbit of the earth involve? What are the planets in order from the sun? Why do the patterns of the stars stay the same, although they appear to move across the sky? Phases of the Moon Animation Phases of the Moon Moon Phases Challenge Eco Links NASA Kids Club: Now In Space NASA Kids NASA Solar System Planets Astronomy for Kids Views of the Solar System
Native Americans: Their Lives and the Land Around Them...Interesting Webquest ...We will include other tribes in our research as well as those listed for this webquest President Obama Gets Advice, Letters from Young Navajos

2007-2008

Guest Speakers/Instructors:
Students interact with many interesting adults and peers during the course of a school year. They engage in Explore Time daily throughout our wing and have access to many wonderful people throughout our community.
For example:

Guest Speakers/Presenters:
Tom Messner.....WPTZ Meteorologist
Ted Calcagni.....Reading to End Racism, College Student, and Former Student of Mrs. Gurwicz
Deb Noel.....Folk Songs
Dr. Eustis...Veterinarian
Michael Dabroski...Math and Music
Dr. Kurt Oughstun.....Geometry of Optics
Second Grade Team....Social Skills, Sing Along, and Academic Areas
2/3 Teachers, Paraeducators,
and Students in Our Wing
Classroom Teachers from around the school,
Kara Cassani, Julie Larrow....Health
Student Interns in our class from UVM, Saint Michael's College, Johnson State College and Champlain College
SLIMY Interns ...Our Gardens
Steph Stec...Visualize and Verbalize
Sue Hoffer...Reading Assistance
Miss Susie...Art
Donna Macdonald, Louise Larocque, Judy Gilmartin...Library/Media
Michelle Soules...Gym
Amy Frostman...Music
Carol Wheeler...Guidance/Lunch Bunches/
Special Topics
Sue O'Brien, Office
Lunch Staff
Custodial Staff
Rick Ebel....Principal
Parent Volunteers

Current Focus: May-June 2008

The Southwest States of the U. S.
The Mountain and Pacific States

Country: Mexico

Magnetism

Sound:
We are wrapping up our study of sound. Students are completing HyperStudio presentations on important aspects of sound. Students have created cards on vibrations, volume, echo, pitch, sound waves, and more. Children have learned to add sound effects during transitions and to add wav files and add buttons. Some people have included dolphin sounds by creating invisible buttons over pictures of dolphins! Everyone is recording their own voices for at least one page of the presentation. Very exciting work!

2nd Grade Student Projects:

Lighthouses of New England
Listen to students read their original poems about the lighthouses they painted.

Animals of New England
Learn more about the animals of New England by reading student reports.

Dr. Eustis, Veterinarian, Community Helper
See photos of our team with our guest speaker.

Reading: On-line Books

Raz Kids.com

Scholastic Book Flix

Favorite Class Songs:
Chipmunk Rap
Farewell Nova Scotia: Cape Cod Girls

Second Grade Projects/ Areas of Study
Lighthouse Project Rubric	Animal Research Packet
Sound: What causes sound? ...Here is a great site to check your understanding of sound! Changing Sounds	Frog and Toad Are Friends Webquest
Interesting Sites: Plants....Watch It Grow!	Judy Blume Books Eric Carle...The Grouchy Ladybug Webquest
Meet the Plant Parts Plant Parts Shopping List	Words and Pictures: Poem Pack and More!
Community Workers	Animals of New England: What's for Dinner?
The Water Cycle Story Water Cycle Animation Water Cycle: Clouds Webquest	Washington, D.C.: See a webcam photo Google Map: Washington, D.C. Go up and down the direction bar to view Washington from up close and far away! Find important places on the map!
Weather Channel: National Forecast Latest Forecast for Severe Storms Video...Thunderstorms and Pet Anxiety Protecting Your Pet in Cold Weather Weather Watchers	Everglades: Everglades Critters Everglades eField Trip Scholastic Quest: Everglades National Park

Page created by Deb Gurwicz, Orchard School Faculty Member
To the People and Projects
Comments? Email Mrs. Gurwicz
Last Updated: 05/17/11

Mrs. Gurwicz's Second Grade 2010-2011

.....Students interact with many interesting adults and peers during the course of a school year. They have access to many wonderful people from our community. Also, our class is constantly making connections to our focus areas using literacy, math, music, movement, and artistic skills.....

.....Students interact with many interesting adults and peers during the course of a school year. They have access to many wonderful people from our community. Also, our class is constantly making connections to our focus areas using literacy, math, music, movement, and artistic skills.....

Guest Speakers/Instructors: Students interact with many interesting adults and peers during the course of a school year. They engage in Explore Time throughout our wing, take part in Third Grade Science Workshop Rotations weekly, and have access to many wonderful people throughout our community.

This year, our class has seen:

Guest Speakers/Instructors: Students interact with many interesting adults and peers during the course of a school year. They engage in Explore Time daily throughout our wing and have access to many wonderful people throughout our community. For example:

2nd Grade Student Projects: Lighthouses of New England Listen to students read their original poems about the lighthouses they painted. Animals of New England Learn more about the animals of New England by reading student reports.

Mrs. Gurwicz's Second Grade
2010-2011

Guest Speakers/Instructors:
Students interact with many interesting adults and peers during the course of a school year. They engage in Explore Time throughout our wing, take part in Third Grade Science Workshop Rotations weekly, and have access to many wonderful people throughout our community.

Guest Speakers/Instructors:
Students interact with many interesting adults and peers during the course of a school year. They engage in Explore Time daily throughout our wing and have access to many wonderful people throughout our community.
For example:

2nd Grade Student Projects:

Lighthouses of New England
Listen to students read their original poems about the lighthouses they painted.

Animals of New England
Learn more about the animals of New England by reading student reports.