second grade

Scofield Christian School exists to "provide children with an academically excellent education that is well-balanced, comprehensive, and integrated with Biblical truths and principles within a nurturing, Christ-centered environment." In keeping with the school’s mission, the second grade curriculum includes a well-balanced and comprehensive program of both workbooks and hands-on learning activities integrated with Biblical truths and principles. Literature, writing, and special projects are incorporated into every subject area. Content in various subject areas is integrated and coordinated for optimal learning experiences. Highlights of the second grade program and curriculum follow:

BIBLE - Second grade Bible includes Bible truths, Bible memory, Bible study skills, prayer, Christian character qualities, and missions. Second graders will focus on Bible characters in the Old and New Testament such as Moses, Ruth, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Character studies are divided into two and three week units. As students focus on these men and women of the Bible, they will study thirty-six character traits including humility, courage, diligence, and others. Second graders will practice applying these traits in their daily lives through real life experiences, such as through a yearly community outreach project. They will also learn of a various missionaries and have numerous opportunities for exciting activities. The ACSI Bible Curriculum is used for Bible.

LANGUAGE ARTS - In language arts second graders will focus on reading, writing, language, speaking, listening, and spelling. Students will continue in more complex phonics analysis, fine-tune their fluency, and apply comprehension skills with special emphasis on vocabulary development. They will practice finding context clues and drawing conclusions. Phonics reinforcement through more rigorous spelling instruction is given with dictation. Second graders will progress in learning how to identify common/proper nouns, pronouns, action/linking verbs, subjects/predicates, and adjectives. They will practice writing descriptive and narrative paragraphs, a friendly letter, summaries, three book reports, and creative stories. During the second nine weeks, students will learn cursive writing. Through out the year, second graders are afforded numerous hands-on opportunities to develop listening and speaking skills through chapels, programs, the ACSI Speech Meet, and other activities. Two novel studies enrich the reading program: The Courage of Sarah Noble and Helen Keller. Open Court Reading, Modern Curriculum Phonics, D'Nealian Handwriting, McGraw Hill Basic Goals in Spelling, quality literature, and other supplements are used for curriculum in the language arts.

MATH - Second grade math will cover whole numbers, time and money, measurement, geometry, fractions, and problem solving. In addition and subtraction students will work with both two and three digit numbers, memorize facts up to 20 and use real money to solve problems. They will practice regularly with timed tests to reinforce basic skills and recall. Second graders are introduced to new concepts, like multiplication and division, through the use of manipulatives and will learn their multiplication facts for 2's, 5's, and 10's. Students will learn to find perimeter, tell time, read and write fractions, and round to the 1000's place. Second graders are provided with numerous opportunities to solve problems using logic and critical thinking skills. "Brain Gymnastics" is exciting field trip second graders will take that reinforces the math objectives taught during the year. The Harcourt Math Curriculum, Mountain Math, and a SCS created Spiral Review Booklet are used.

SCIENCE - Although certain areas of earth and physical science are included at this grade level, the study of plants, parts of plants, adaptations and seed stages are a major emphasis in second grade science. A major unit for second graders is a thorough study of the rainforest where the water cycle, products important to God's world, and other important concepts related to the environment are discussed. Plant and animal adaptations at the different layers of the rainforest become real when second graders build a mock rainforest in their classrooms. Students will gain new understandings of plant life when they take a field trip to the Dallas World Aquarium where they will observe, learn scientific concepts, and identify a variety of rainforest plants. The dinosaur unit is another major unit in second grade science. Students will begin with the Bible to see how God's Creation included dinosaurs and how the flood of Noah changed climatic conditions on the earth. Through hands-on activities, students not only learn important facts about dinosaurs, but also about other creatures as well. Aspects of the solar system, magnets, weather, nutrition and the earth are also units of study for the second grader. Students begin exploring science for themselves by demonstrating and explaining two experiments that they have completed at home. The curriculum used in science is Scott Foresman Science Curriculum.

CITIZENSHIP/HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY - For the second grader citizenship/history classes include units on the Community/Neighborhood, America, Indians/Pilgrims, Colonial Days, and The Westward Expansion of America. Students will enjoy a number of hands-on activities when studying various community services and helpers and when learning about the responsibilities of good citizenship. The unit on communities and other lessons on the origin of the American flag, patriotic holidays, the Indians/Pilgrims, and learning the 50 states encourage students to be good citizens and to be thankful for their American heritage. Along with these patriotic studies, second graders will participate in a special book report project to read a biography about a famous American. The unit on Colonial Days comes alive when history and reading are combined through a class novel study entitled, The Courage of Sarah Noble. The Westward Expansion study is culminated with a Pioneer Trail Day where the students walk the Oregon Trail, eat food cooked over an open fire, and explore other aspects of traveling in a Conestoga wagon. Map skills are coordinated and reinforced during each unit and creative and expository writing are integrated in this subject area throughout the year. The Bob Jones Heritage Studies Curriculum, A Beka History Curriculum, and Steck-Vaughn Map Skills B are major resources.

ENRICHMENT "SPECIALS" - Every day second graders also enjoy participating in special classes, which provide extra enrichment. Weekly “specials” include music, library, computer, art, and Spanish. Physical education classes are scheduled every day. Second graders will take a P.E. field trip to a roller skating rink to learn how to skate backwards, practice balancing/coordination skills, and play roller skating games. Visits to the Downtown Dallas library, ASI Gymnastics (a math based field trip), and the Dallas World Aquarium highly complement the second grade curriculum.