Grade 2

The Second Grader begins to experience the polarities in life, and the story curriculum addresses this inner experience through presenting these polarities as characterized in fables and saints.   Second Graders can be extremely noble, altruistic and honest, as well as callous and hurtful toward each other. Through these stories, the students are taught to strive for balance. Similar to first grade, a basic lesson includes a review of the previous day’s academic lesson, the presentation of new material, an artistic rendering of the material through drawing, beeswax or acting, and then creating a written composition and an artistic drawing in their Main Lesson Books.

In Math, the students gain greater familiarity with the rhythmical order of the times tables, one through twelve, and the students continue to work with each of the four mathematical processes.  In addition to math blocks and frequent work sheets, the students perform oral math problems in order to keep the numbers mentally alive and fluid.  Place value is introduced which creates the foundation for carrying and borrowing numbers

In Language Arts, the year begins with the introduction of lower case letters in preparation for reading printed texts.  Phonics instruction is intensified, and the students continue writing short compositions modeled by the teacher. Their capacity for reading grows through writing and reading what they have written. Students progress from the reading of their own handwriting to the reading of “real books” in small reading groups.
The Science Curriculum strives to develop a reverence for the natural world.  The students are encouraged to sharpen their observational skills as they learn the habits of the animals and the nature of the plants where they live.  They also become more familiar with the seasons and how the seasons impact the animal and plant world.

The students continue to learn German, Spanish, Handwork, Form Drawing, Games, and Eurythmy.