Second Grade Literature Overview

2^nd Grade Literature Year Overview

 

Quarter One

A.     Introduction of the subject:

a.      Make Literature title page for notebook.

b.      Literature definition, purpose, and standards (doc). Notes

c.      Literature definition, purpose, and standards (doc). Quiz

B.     Heidi

a.      Make Heidi title page

b.      Author introduction: Johannes Spyri

c.      Switzerland’s Individuality

                                                              i.     Map study

                                                             ii.     Contributions to liberty (Story of Liberty) including reformation heroes and Geneva Bible

                                                            iii.     Character of the people as described in S of L

                                                            iv.     Optional Goat Lapbook, if desired.  This connects Science, Art, and Bible.

d.      Record elements of Literature: Define and give examples of setting, plot, characters, theme, and style (Style as a literary element doc: Dr. Suess vs. Peter Rabbit)

                              e. Theme of sowing and reaping

f. Theme of Forgiveness and the prodigal son.

g. Special Day: Heidi Day

Quarter Two

               A.  Christmas Poetry

                              a.  Make poetry title page

b.  Prose and Poetry definitions

B.     Children’s Classics: Benjamin West and his Cat Grimalkin

 

 

Quarter Three

C.      Biography: Pocahontas by D’Aulaire

a.      Make Pocahontas title page.

D.     Children’s Poets: “Hiawatha” by Longfellow

a.      Memorize a portion of the Prologue, “Hiawatha’s childhood”

b.      Notes on picture pages of Hiawatha’s childhood, marriage and lamentation.

c.       Marriage coloring page and/or drawing.

 

Quarter Four

A.     Biography: Benjamin Franklin by D’Aulaire

B.     Literary Types definitions (doc): fiction, non-fiction, drama, and letters with Biblical examples.

C.      William Shakespeare—Bard of the Bible title page

a.       “The Comedy of Errors”

D.     Emily Dickinson

a.      Memorize “The Bee” and “To Make a Prairie”

E.      Poetry of the Bible: The Psalms.  Read 23^rd Psalm

 

1st Quarter

2nd

3rd

4th

Lit

Heidi

14 c.'s

14 lessons of 1c each

Christmas Poetry

3 poems

3 lessons of 1 poem each

Pocahontas

45 pgs

4 lessons of 11p each

Ben Franklin

48 pgs.

4 lessons of 12 p. each

Benjamin West

147 pgs.

15 lessons of 10p each

Hiawatha

22 c.'s/10 min.

2 c./day=11 lessons

Comedy of Errors

7 pgs.

4 lessons of 2 p. each

4 intro lessons

3 intro lessons

Dickinson

3 poems

3 lessons of 1 poem each

Psalms

1 psalm

1 lesson

6 intro lessons

 

 

Free Reading book list on goats:

Animal Tales (ISBN 0-7853-6999-6) “Goat Kids” by Catherine McCafferty

A Baby Goat for You by Walter Chandoha
A photographic journey follows two kids through the farmyard.

Beatrice’s Goat by Page McBrier
Beatrice is a young girl from the small African village of Kisinga in western Uganda.  This is the story about how goats enabled her to go to the United States to school. 

Friendship Saves the Day by Karen Ravn
Lanie Lamb is upset with Gallagher Goat after he eats her precious curtains. This is a story of friendship and forgiveness.

G is For Goat, by Patricia Polacco
An excellent alphabet book that teaches about goats.  Beautiful pictures.

The Goat in the Rug by Charles L. Blood and Martin Link
Geraldine is a goat, and Glenmae is a Navajo weaver. One day, Glenmae decides to weave Geraldine into a rug.  The reader learns, along with Geraldine, about the care and pride that goes into making a rug.

The Goat Lady by Jane Bregoli
Two children meet the lady next door and learn a lot about goats, tolerance, thankfulness and love.

Gregory The Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat and Jose Aruego
Gregory the goat eats nutritious food and his parents are alarmed!  They try to teach him to eat “junk” food, but finally accept him as he is.
Gregory Lapbook Components

The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Janet Stevens
Updated folktale.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff/Just a Friendly Old Troll (Another Point of View) by Alvin Granowsky 
Read the traditional story of The Billy Goats Gruff.  Then turn the book over and read the story from the troll’s point of view.

Top of the Heap by Cynthia A. DiTaranto.  
Although change is inevitable, what counts is how you deal with it.   In this book, a trip to a local goat farm helps a child make the transition from city to country life.  Join Maggie and Montie as they find their way, like Blackie, to claim the Top Of The Heap!

The Usborne Book of Farm Animals by Felicity Everett
This book takes young children on a farmyard tour, introducing each animal in turn and showing how it lives, feeds, and rears its young.

The Kingfisher First Animal Encyclopedia by Jon Kirkwood
Brief description of various goats with illustrations.

 

 

 

What does Christian education look like anyways?

Why should you consider Christian elementary school?  Many christian parents think that primary school is neutral.  How is it so different than public school?  Here's an example of handwriting practice that teaches christian values:

"Thankful to God for his many blessings" and "Rejoice in the Lord"

"Trust in the Lord"

Imagine if every class in school underlined, enhanced, and explained the christian teaching you hold so dear to your heart?  

Christian schools teach reading with truth-filled literature, "My joy is in his law all the day."  Imagine your first grader using that passage in his reading class!  The above lesson is on spelling Long O sounds.  Back in the day all over the nation kids would read this poem in their lesson from the Blue Back Speller.

Here's another awesome sample of Christian Education.  History class for first grade begins like this.   This excerpt found here:

History for Little Pilgrims

A mini review of this series explains how history at this age can be taught with a Christian viewpoint: 

"Designed to give children a providential view of history, this colorful and engaging book covers world history in an age appropriate manner, always careful to point out how God was at work during each age. Seamlessly weaving together vocabulary, world history, the Bible and geography, this integrated reader is filled with eye catching photos and illustrations to catch little ones' eyes, and the engaging text will keep older children engrossed. 

https://archive.org/details/americanspelling00webs/page/42

On Safari

Aziza and I read Water Hole Waiting 



today... a story of an African water hole and all the animals that visited there.  They referenced a live safari webcam where we hope to spot an Elephant!!

Kids Start Page

Aziza
2016-2017

Nessy

History; Veritas Press login is azizakimball

Educational Games for Thomas and Aziza:

Starfall

Sheppard Software

Murb Games

Typing game

Math U See Drills

Worldbook Dictionary


Thomas' Piano note practice

Level 1A, A, & B

1. Key Recognition 

2. C Position 

3. G Position 

Level 1B, C, & D

1. Middle C Position 

2. New G Position 

3. Middle D Position 

Level 2, E, & F

1. All Notes Within the Staff 

2. G major 

3. D major 

Level 3

1. F major 

2. Notes Within AND Outside the Staff 

The christian theme removed from the classic children's book, Heidi

Another reason I love homeschooling...choosing books that drive home truths you can live by... Bethan has been reading Heidi. Heidi is a translation.  Unbelievably, some versions haved edited out the best theme in the book: redemption. However the "Children's Classics" version is good in that it preserves the Christianity of the original text. Bethan's copywork today comes from part of Heidi's conversation with the doctor. It is a lesson she learned through experience with the guidance of Grandmama: 

 "But if it is God Himself who has sent the trouble, what can we say to Him then?" Heidi sat thinking for a while. "Then we must wait," she said, "and keep on saying to ourselves, "God certainly knows of some happiness for us which He is going to bring out of the trouble, only we must have patience and not run away."

_______________________________________________________________________________

Generations.org has released an unedited version here.  From Kevin Swanson's Generations.org website:

"Over the years, much of the Christian content was removed from modern English editions of Heidi. The goal of this landmark republication was to restore all of the original Christian content, some of which was restored from the original German edition of 1881."

Girls skate first time!

  I found a free rink in Hyde Park, "Midway Plaisance, " and enjoyed watching my girls skate for the first time. We thrifted their skates a few weeks back because we are reading, "Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates"and I was intent on them at least trying. I rented some skates today for $6 and loved skating to Christmas R&B. EVERYONE was falling down, too which was hilarious!

Aprons of Virtue

Got this idea for dish towel aprons that taught character traits. My friend Christina, her girls, and another friend jumped on the idea with us. The girls are ready for Christmas baking!