Bridge Building - Day 2

We had another great day working as Second Grade Engineers! Our bridges are all taking shape!! 

Do Plants Need Soil to Grow?

I think that not all plants need soil to grow because seaweed doesn't have soil. - Kaden D.
I think that plants don't need soil to grow because seaweed and moss don't grow in soil. Moss gets its nutrients from the sun. - Tucker  F.
Sometimes seaweed can be upside down with the leaves in the sand and the roots in the water. I think the sand is kind of like the soil. It doesn't need the sun it pretty much needs water. - Sawyer A.
I think all plants do not need soil because there is this really cool thing called hydroponics where you don't need soil you just need water and fish. The fish produce the food and it is good for the environment and for nature. - Summer L.

Folk Tales and Fairy Tales

We are currently studying folk tales and fairy tales! So far we have identified key characteristics of these types of books as well as traits that make them different from other books. We are also learning that folk tales are passed down from generation to generation and often have many different versions. Last week we discovered how many different versions there are of The Three Little Pigs. We had a great time exploring different points of view by reading The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. Stay tuned to see which folk tales or fairy tales we study next!

^ PicCollage Credit: Gwenyth L.

^ PicCollage Credit: Kaitlyn M.

Do all plants have roots?

I think that some plants have roots and some don't. I think this because I saw a plant that didn't have roots before and I have seen a plant with roots before. - Nicole

I think all plants can have roots and can not have roots. I think this because I have seen them with and without roots. - Bradyn

I think that some plants have no roots because they are from different countries and they grow in different ways. All plants can grow from other different kinds of plants. - Angie

I think that plants can and can't have roots because they are like trees and they grow differently because there are different types of plants. - Hailey

I think that all plants can and can't have roots because I went to Lowes and I saw venus flytraps that said "Do not put any soil in it." - Kaden

I think some plants don't have roots like grass and some plants do have roots like trees. If you go to places with flowers you can learn more about them and see if they have roots. You can tell if it has roots if it has a big long space that the flower is put in. - Tucker

Why Mystery Skype?

What do we like about Mystery Skyping?

• I like Number Mystery Skypes because they are fun and you get to work with a partner. - Nicole
• I like Mystery Skyping because I like how you see other countries and other states. - Natalie
• I like at the end of the Skype when we share interesting facts about others states and we get to learn what different states are famous for and what famous people were born there. - Selena
• I like Mystery Skyping because you get to see other classes and other states. Sometimes they have accents and sound different than us. - Morgan
• I like Mystery Skyping because I like to meet new people and see new faces and learn more education about where they are from. - Summer

What advice do you have for other classes who are starting to Mystery Skype?

• It always helps to have maps of the United States or if it's a different country - maps of the world. Having a map for students to write on helps too. - Tucker
• It helps to have a marker to write on your map and to listen so you don't have to ask other people what the question or answer was. - Nicholas
• It helps to know what your question is going to be ahead of time so when you get up to the ipad or computer you are ready to ask. - Kaden
• It always helps for a teacher to show what to cross off or not on a map. So the class can follow along. - Josh L.
• You should always listen to the questions that the other class is asking and then you have to think about it so you can answer the question or ask someone what they think. You could ask them a question too and they will think about it. - Angie
• It always helps to draw in the Mississippi River and the directions (North, East, South, West) before the Skype. - Thorsten

What have you learned from our Mystery Skypes?

• I learned from the Mystery Skypes that the Wright Brother were from North Carolina. - Bradyn
• I learned that Michael Jordan was from North Carolina and that he was the best basketball player ever. - Ryan
• I learned that George Bush is from Texas. - Josh D.
• I learned that Mystery Skypes aren't only about finding out where the other class is but it's also about having fun! - Hailey
• I learned that Mystery Skyping is teamwork with your partner and yourself. - Nicole
• I learned that Barrack Obama lives in Illinois. - Josh L. 

Biography Reports!

This week the students have been busy researching for their biography reports! We are using internet and print sources to find information about important Americans. Each student has selected an important American to create a report about. The students have been working hard collecting information and we are all very excited to see the final products come together!