Bible
Second graders begin learning about bible characters in two and three-week units, focusing on character traits demonstrated throughout the Bible. Through the year, students study thirty-six Biblical character traits and how to emulate these traits in their daily lives. Beside character traits, other life issues are addressed in the ACSI curriculum. Being honest, selfishness, feeling that others are unfair, and self-esteem comprise some of the issues discussed. Seven repeated themes also weave throughout the lessons both directly and indirectly. Students also learn about a missions family in Central America and have many opportunities for exciting, challenging daily activities. We visit a local senior village as our community service. The children distribute homemade cards and present skits and songs to bring cheer to the residents.
Mathematics
The ABeka arithmetic curriculum is used in all second grade classrooms. This mathematics curriculum provides the student with an approach that is traditional, structured, and organized. This program promotes absolute truth as created by God. The students memorize facts and at the same time learn problem solving skills. The program lays a strong foundation in math that will be very beneficial to the student as they progress in school. The curriculum is supplemented by charts, games, visuals, and flashcards. Students are given both a weekly written test and timed speed drills which encourage instantaneous recall of the basic math facts. This helps to ensure that our students will be able to apply their math knowledge into every day life.
Language Arts
Our second grade language arts curriculum as been carefully selected to provide learning skills in spelling, reading, grammar, phonics, vocabulary, penmanship, and creative writing. The backbone of our grammar, phonics, and spelling comes from ABeka Book Publications. Second graders mature in their reading ability and develop a deep love for books through our varied reading material choices through BJU Press and ABeka Book along with other resources. Reading comprehension and critical thinking skills are constantly being cultivated. One of the highlights of second grade is participation in The Accelerated Reader Program. This is an independent reading curriculum introducing the students to numerous reading categories. This goal-setting reading reward program is a very positive activity for all second graders.
Our final language arts puzzle piece is spelling, vocabulary and poetry. The students master up to 28 words a week, with a portion of them being vocabulary words. All of our teachers integrate games, puzzles, and supportive work pages to assist in the complete learning process for spelling and vocabulary. Students gain familiarity with new word usage and putting spelling into practice through writing in journals.
Science
Throughout the textbook “Science” and supplements, the students explore the wonders of God’s creation. The children will study life science (the bean plant, birds, insects, amphibians, people), earth science (the planets, geology, weather). The students will also do a unit on health and safety. As second graders, the children are encouraged to discover God’s truth through hands-on experiments and projects. For example, through observing a bean plant the students will keep a record to discover how many days it takes the young plant to appear and how many inches it grows in two weeks.
History
The goal of the history curriculum is to instill a love of history and a desire to be loyal to his/her country as an American citizen. The students will see how God guides in the building of our country. The curriculum is divided into three sections: America, Our Home; The People Who Built America; and Tomorrow’s America. The students will do hand-on activities with each unit they study.
Penmanship
Two forms of handwriting are used: manuscript or printing, and cursive or connected writing. Students will review manuscript handwriting and numeral formations at the beginning of the school year before learning cursive writing. They will practice correct posture and pencil position. Students will begin with the lower case cursive formation followed by capital letters. The students will combine consonants and vowels correctly and eventually begin writing words and sentences in cursive.