3 Plans - Focus & Test Drive (2nd Grade)

Writing & the Common Core
Nicki Connolly
2nd Grade

1.)  Sound
                     Central Ideas
Content: Sound is caused by vibrating objects.
Reading:
Writing: Write a 5-finger paragraph that is informational.

Focusing Questions: How does sound happen?
Focus:  Sound is caused by vibrations.

Test Drive ---
                              Sound
         What is sound? Sound is a form of energy like light and heat. Sound is caused by something vibrating. Vibrations are invisible sound waves. They can travel through the air, water and even through solids like doors. Sound waves keep going until they lose their energy. To hear sound sound waves vibrate your ear drum when passing through your ear to your brain. To make sound your vocal chords vibrate to create your voice. Without vibrations we would not be able to hear sounds or make sounds.

2.) Mexico and Canada
                              Central Ideas
Content: Neighbors of the United States – Mexico and Canada
     •Demonstrate an understanding of North America as a continent
       made up of different countries with different cultures.
     •Demonstrate an understanding of some of the similarities among
      people of different cultures.
Reading:
Writing: Write an informational text (report) about each neighbor.
             A thesis must be supported with evidence and reasons.

Focusing Questions: How are the cultures of the United States and
     Mexico/Canada the same? How are they different?
Focus: The cultures of the United States and mexico/Canada are the
     same and different.

Test Drives ---
                                     Mexico is our Neighbor
           Mexico is in North America. North America includes the countries of Mexico, the United States and Canada. Mexico is south of the United States. The culture of Mexico is different and the same as our culture.
           Some things in Mexico are different. They celebrate different holidays like the Day of the Dead. On the Day of the Dead they remember family and friends who have died. They eat different kinds of food, especially a lot of beans and rice. They sometimes wear traditional clothes with beautiful embroidery like the Mariachi band players. Those are some of the ways the culture in Mexico is different.
          I also noticed that many things are the same. I noticed that the clothes they wear are a lot like what we wear. They wear t-shirts, jeans and sneakers. Although the official language is Spanish, many people speak English. To have fun, they do a lot like us. Soccer is very popular.
          First I only noticed the differences but now I see some things that are the same. The culture in Mexico is a lot like us but it is also a lot different.

                                      Canada is our Neighbor
            Canada is in North America. North America includes the countries of Mexico, the United States and Canada. Canada is north of the United States. The culture of Canada is different and the same as our culture.
            Some things in Canada are different. They celebrate holidays at different times like Independence Day is on July 1st instead of the 4th and Thanksgiving is in October instead of November. The most popular sports in Canada are ice hockey, lacrosse and football and in the United States it’s football, basketball, baseball and ice hockey. The leader of Canada is called a prime minister instead of a president.
            I also noticed that many things are the same. I noticed they also wear a lot like what we wear. Most Canadians speak English except in Quebec where they speak French. Canada and the United States are the only maple syrup producers in the world.
           At first I thought Canada was just like us but I learned some things are different. The culture in Canada is a lot like us but it is also a lot different.

3.) Canada
                               Central Ideas
Content: Neighbors of the United States – Mexico and Canada
    •Read simple maps (to identify the different Canadian biomes)

Reading: Research a Canadian animal
    •Locate simple information from 2-3 secondary sources.

Writing: Note-taking.
    Write two 5-finger paragraphs, one that is informational
     then again as an opinion piece to see the  difference.

Focusing Questions:
        For Informative: How do (polar bears) survive in the
                                 (fill in biome --- Arctic)?
        For Opinion: What makes (polar bears) amazing?
Focus:
        For Informative: Polar bears don’t need to migrate
            because they have lots of ways to live in the Arctic.
        For Opinion: Polar bears are amazing. (Or student
             could pick a different word than amazing.)

Test Drives ---
1.) Informational paragraph ---from the Class Binder, adapted slightly

                                   Polar Bears
           Polar bears live in the Arctic. This is how polar bears survive in the Arctic. They get fish to eat. They have poor eyesight but their sense of smell helps them get seals. They sneak up on the seals and then they run up really fast. Also they are not so easy to see. Their fur is white, so you can’t get them. The polar bear’s paws have special padding and fur so they will not be so cold. The polar bears don’t need to migrate because they have lots of ways to live in the Arctic.

2.) Opinion paragraph

                         Polar Bears are Amazing
          Polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar bears are amazing animals. They find their food on the sea ice and their white fur camouflages them so they can sneak up on their prey. They swim in the Arctic Ocean and their thick layer of blubber helps them stay warm. They are strong swimmers because their paws help them do the doggie-paddle. Those are the reasons polar bears are amazing. I hope we take care of the Arctic so that polar bears have a place to live.