Second Grade
Language Arts
SRA Open Court Reading
D’Nealian Handwriting
Everyday Spelling and Phonics
Through many different forms of reading, writing, discussion, and dramatic presentation, students explore and practice print awareness, reading and speaking skills, alphabetic principles, verbal fluency, reading comprehension strategies, spelling accuracy, research, technical and creative writing, and parts of speech. Students also master manuscript and cursive letter formation in second grade at Aiken Preparatory School.
Mathematics
Wright Group/McGraw-Hill Everyday Math
The second grade math program at Aiken Preparatory School consists of many hands-on explorations along with practical applications of numerical operations, mental math, estimation, data organization, probability, statistics, addition, subtraction, metric and standard measurement, identifying and counting money and telling time - all with a focus on thinking skills and problem solving. These concepts are applied using a spiraling curriculum, which allows for skills to be revisited and reviewed regularly assuring mastery.
Science and Social Studies
Through in-depth units of study that are integrated into the curriculum, students read about, write about, play games with, and participate in hands-on activities and field trips to learn about and explore life and the world around them. Units of study include the following: maps (with a focus on continents with a progression down to the city of Aiken), space, weather and electricity, animals (with a focus on polar animals, ocean animals and dinosaurs), rocks and volcanoes, simple machines and magnets, and democracy (with a focus on the United States government).
Computer Technology
2nd graders make use of educational programs including Mathblaster and Jumpstart 2nd Grade. They are also introduced to keyboarding with Read, Write, and Type and Type 2 Learn and will explore Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
Music
2nd grade students enjoy a variety of musical experiences with an emphasis on singing, playing instruments, rhythm, and performance. Students develop their singing skills in the Lower School Chorus and begin to play the recorder in addition to xylophones, color-coded hand bells and boomwackers. Music theory includes rhythm and pitch notation on the staff. The instrument families of the orchestra are studied along with selected composers. There are performances for Grandparents’ Day, Christmas, and the Spring Concert.
Spanish
In Second grade, more in depth Spanish vocabulary is practiced orally through
songs, finger play, books, videos and games. Children learn greetings, numbers,
the alphabet, colors, parts of the body, clothing, animals, transportation,
classroom terms, family, food, household terms, directional and question words.
We use a workbook to read and write Spanish words. Simple verb conjugation
begins in second grade. Computer programs provide a more interactive
experience. A visit to a Mexican restaurant is one of the highlights of our
unique Spanish program!
songs, finger play, books, videos and games. Children learn greetings, numbers,
the alphabet, colors, parts of the body, clothing, animals, transportation,
classroom terms, family, food, household terms, directional and question words.
We use a workbook to read and write Spanish words. Simple verb conjugation
begins in second grade. Computer programs provide a more interactive
experience. A visit to a Mexican restaurant is one of the highlights of our
unique Spanish program!
Library Storytime
Listening and viewing skills; story discussion; introduction to periodicals, reference materials, and card catalog; care and organization of library materials; library etiquette; weekly book check out.