Math Strategies

Most of us grew up with the belief that there was one way to add and one way to subtract large numbers - regrouping. It may seem silly to some that students are now taught several different ways to solve a problem. In order to help students become fluent mathematicians, we now teach mathematics conceptually. This helps students to build an understanding and make connections. At the beginning of the year, we worked hard to build a firm foundation of number sense .

At this point of the year, students should feel more confident with their conceptual strategies and departing from less efficient ways to solve problems (such as tally marks). If you were unable to attend our Parent Math Night, you can download the math strategy sheet on our Second Grade Parent Wiki. There is a link on the right side of the blog and you can search "math strategies" on the wiki.

Changes in Matter

For the past week, we have been exploring changes in matter. We completed A Race For Change lab. Students had to predict what the quickest way to melt an ice cube would be only using themselves. Students then tested their theory and timed the results. Students discovered that applying heat and breaking the ice into smaller pieces melted the fastest.

We also made lava lamps! Here are the instructions to make a lava lamp at home:

1. Fill a bottle 3/4 of the way full with vegetable oil (the cheaper, the better).

2. Fill the bottle the rest of the way full with water.

3. Add ten drops of food coloring.

4. Drop half of an Alka-Seltzer tablet into the bottle and watch it bubble!

In a previous lab, students explored liquids to conclude that water is more dense than oil, causing the water to sink to the bottom and oil to rise to the top. The food coloring mixed with the water, making it easier to view the bubbling when the Alka-Seltzer tablet was placed in the liquid. When the tablet (solid) was placed in the liquid mixture, it caused the solid to change to a gas (carbon dioxide) causing the bubbles to rise and become a "lava lamp."

Persuasive Commercials

To end our unit on persuasive writing, students worked in groups to come up with an idea or product that they could persuade their audience with. Below are the students commercials:

Persuasive Commercials from Julia Lewis on Vimeo.