Select a Department
Second Grade
Art
Students manipulate a variety of materials to execute their creative ideas. Sculpting 3D construction is one example of how students examine spatial relationships in abstract artwork. Concepts such as positive and negative space, foreground, middleground and background are also other topics stressed. Students begin to learn how art history plays a role in why and how art was created in the past.
Counseling
Focus is on work habits and character, goal-setting, cooperation, and friendship skills.
Language
Encompassed are: reading, vocabulary, grammar, phonics, spelling, penmanship, and student writing. We review and expand many of the skills introduced in the previous grades. The goal in grammar is to teach principle rules and mechanics of the English language, giving students the tools they need to write effectively. There is a strong focus on improving student writing with an emphasis on revision, elaboration, word choice, and sentence fluency. Reading and phonetic skills taught in first grade, and as well as the move is more toward comprehension skills. This is done through stories in the basal reader, as well as several novel studies. Handwriting is fine-tuned as the students’ fine motor skills continue to develop.
Math
Children learn to master their addition and subtraction facts with repetition and speed drills. They are expected to do two-digit and three-digit addition and subtraction. Mastery of basic math facts will be essential to their academic success. Students review knowing place value and ordinal numbers, telling time, counting money, and becoming familiar with word problems. They begin to learn fractions, such as the concept of a half, a third, a quarter, and an eighth. Second graders move beyond recognizing shapes to becoming fluent with the language of geometry so they can use terms, such as curves, vertices, edges, faces, and angles, to describe the attributes of two- and three-dimensional shapes. By the end of second grade, students are able to apply knowledge in new situations, to solve problems by generating new ideas, and to make connections between what they learn in class to the world around them.
Physical Education
Many different games are introduced to students, such as game strategies, team building, and fair play. Students start to learn how to throw different shaped objects like football and Frisbee. Badminton is also introduced. Students participate in DA Runners every Wednesday in the spring semester, preparing for the ING Kids Rock Marathon.
Science
Children learn by using hands-on, inquiry-based approaches. Science consists of a way of thinking and investigating, as well as a growing body of knowledge about the natural world. Students raise questions about the world around them and seek answers by making observations and exploring. They observe changes in plants and animals as they grow and develop, as well as the changing patterns of the moon and stars. They form ideas as to whether the changes are natural or manipulated.
Spanish
Students begin writing small paragraphs in the target language. Some topics connect with other disciplines for enrichment purposes. Age-appropriate praise songs, prayers, and Bible verses are taught throughout the academic year.
Technology
Students continue to develop skills in using graphics. They include original computer art to illustrate their writing, as well as creating slideshows using their art. They continue to develop word processing skills as they write, proofread, spell check, save, open, and print their stories. Students learn to research topics on the internet and report their findings using a variety of tools (word processing, graphics, graphic organizers, slideshows, or spreadsheets.) Safe access to the internet is emphasized through a series of lessons on internet safety. Second graders participate in keyboarding readiness exercises using Type to Learn Jr.
Students manipulate a variety of materials to execute their creative ideas. Sculpting 3D construction is one example of how students examine spatial relationships in abstract artwork. Concepts such as positive and negative space, foreground, middleground and background are also other topics stressed. Students begin to learn how art history plays a role in why and how art was created in the past.
Counseling
Focus is on work habits and character, goal-setting, cooperation, and friendship skills.
Language
Encompassed are: reading, vocabulary, grammar, phonics, spelling, penmanship, and student writing. We review and expand many of the skills introduced in the previous grades. The goal in grammar is to teach principle rules and mechanics of the English language, giving students the tools they need to write effectively. There is a strong focus on improving student writing with an emphasis on revision, elaboration, word choice, and sentence fluency. Reading and phonetic skills taught in first grade, and as well as the move is more toward comprehension skills. This is done through stories in the basal reader, as well as several novel studies. Handwriting is fine-tuned as the students’ fine motor skills continue to develop.
Math
Children learn to master their addition and subtraction facts with repetition and speed drills. They are expected to do two-digit and three-digit addition and subtraction. Mastery of basic math facts will be essential to their academic success. Students review knowing place value and ordinal numbers, telling time, counting money, and becoming familiar with word problems. They begin to learn fractions, such as the concept of a half, a third, a quarter, and an eighth. Second graders move beyond recognizing shapes to becoming fluent with the language of geometry so they can use terms, such as curves, vertices, edges, faces, and angles, to describe the attributes of two- and three-dimensional shapes. By the end of second grade, students are able to apply knowledge in new situations, to solve problems by generating new ideas, and to make connections between what they learn in class to the world around them.
Physical Education
Many different games are introduced to students, such as game strategies, team building, and fair play. Students start to learn how to throw different shaped objects like football and Frisbee. Badminton is also introduced. Students participate in DA Runners every Wednesday in the spring semester, preparing for the ING Kids Rock Marathon.
Science
Children learn by using hands-on, inquiry-based approaches. Science consists of a way of thinking and investigating, as well as a growing body of knowledge about the natural world. Students raise questions about the world around them and seek answers by making observations and exploring. They observe changes in plants and animals as they grow and develop, as well as the changing patterns of the moon and stars. They form ideas as to whether the changes are natural or manipulated.
Spanish
Students begin writing small paragraphs in the target language. Some topics connect with other disciplines for enrichment purposes. Age-appropriate praise songs, prayers, and Bible verses are taught throughout the academic year.
Technology
Students continue to develop skills in using graphics. They include original computer art to illustrate their writing, as well as creating slideshows using their art. They continue to develop word processing skills as they write, proofread, spell check, save, open, and print their stories. Students learn to research topics on the internet and report their findings using a variety of tools (word processing, graphics, graphic organizers, slideshows, or spreadsheets.) Safe access to the internet is emphasized through a series of lessons on internet safety. Second graders participate in keyboarding readiness exercises using Type to Learn Jr.
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Rebecca Reynolds
Davidson Academy
