Unit of Inquiry
Students were acquainted with the new unit on ‘Life cycles’
Transdisciplinary Theme: How the World works
Central Idea: All living things go through a process of change
The key concepts that will drive the unit have been identified as form, change and causation and related concepts of pattern, sequence, transformation and growth.
Students have begun to inquire into:
- Comparison between living & non-living beings
- How living things change over their lifetime
- Effects of environmental change on living things
Students unpacked the central idea by reading the story of, ‘A Very Hungry Caterpillar’ thus setting the scene for inquiry and provoking curiosity. Students observed the process of transformation of the caterpillar into a butterfly. They were encouraged to write and illustrate their understanding of the story using the story wheel visual thinking routine. Furthermore, they brainstormed the keywords of the central idea in a meaningful and effective way.
Students worked collaboratively to sort pictures of living and non–living things. Using their thinking skills, students were able to compare the two on a Venn diagram.
Students were encouraged to write their initial understanding about classification of animals, their responses were recorded and displayed on the development continuum.
A class discussion helped the students to understand about the distinguishing features of animals under the categories of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and birds. Later, they categorized pictures of various animals under their respective subheads.
Making the inquiry more student centered, students were provided the choice to select a life cycle from various categories like mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and birds. Later, they researched and inquired into the different stages of the chosen life cycle and recorded their observations.
English
During language lessons, students were introduced to ‘language portrait’, which encouraged them to visualize linguistic repertoire using the outline of a body silhouette. Students enthusiastically participated in this activity thereby displaying all they knew and the ones they wish to learn.
Students read the poem ‘The butterfly song’ wherein they learned about the life cycle of a butterfly.
English lessons were integrated with the ongoing unit where students extended their understanding of the life cycles by participating in a group activity and showcasing their understanding with the help of a role play, illustrations or story writing. Students engaged in narrative writing to describe the chosen life cycle.
To enhance their reading skills, students progressed with the subsequent chapters of the novel, ‘Getting Granny’s Glasses’. They expressed their thoughts and reviewed it by writing a summary of the chapter using ‘think, predict and compare’ strategy.
Hindi
During their Hindi classes, students revised grammar concepts using a ‘magic wand activity’. They read the story ‘Illee Ke Joote’ in groups and framed relevant questions from it. Further, as a class activity, they discussed answers to those questions.
Students also picked up new vocabulary words and were able to form simple and meaningful sentences.
Math
The concept of subtraction was introduced with the story, ‘Magical Subtraction’ wherein students used their thinking skills to answers questions related to the story. A self-assessment checklist was created. Later, with the help of a mind map, they listed down all the subtraction keywords occurring in the story. Students strengthened their subtraction concepts by using various manipulatives like abacus, place value mat and short bead frame. Students worked in pairs to solve subtraction sums on the open number line. Further, they practiced solving 3-digit subtraction sums without borrowing in their journals.
ICT
This week in ICT students revisited the essential agreements. They were then introduced to different input and output devices. Students learned to differentiate between the two by using various examples.
Music
Music lessons focused around the form and structure of a keyboard, students learned about the notes on a keyboard and how to locate different notes on it.
Students also sang the song “Maa Tujhe Salaam” by A.R Rahman.
ART
Students were introduced to the art of portraiture via the works of Cubist painter Pablo Picasso. They were introduced to past influences from the naturalist classical painters like Michelangelo Caravaggio onwards to post-impressionist Paul Cezanne and how these influenced Cubism. They drew impressions about each other as preliminary exercises.
Physical education
Students developed their basic motor skills with the help of different lead-up activities and recreational games, which included jumping, running and hopping. Students have begun to learn new skills in athletics and march past.
Skating lessons were focused on practicing walking, balancing, and speed on skates.
Dance
Dance lessons focused on body isolations with repetitive steps, balance and coordination were introduced along with the understanding of musicality ( how dancers hear, interpret and dance to music). Students practiced large isolated steps with hand and leg movement.
Jazz style was also introduced.
Library
Students were excited to be back to the library after their winter break. The essential agreements were reiterated with the students during library lessons.
This week students were given a choice to select two genres of books to read during this week.
Grade 2C 