Manitoba
MY CHILD IN SCHOOL
MY CHILD IN SCHOOL – Informed Parent, Involved Parent

GRADE 2

OVERVIEW

In Grade 2, children learn by asking questions, solving problems, working with others and using technology. The required subject areas are: arts education, English language arts, mathematics, physical education/health education, science, and social studies. Your child will have the chance to learn in many different ways — by themselves, with teachers and with other children.

ARTS EDUCATION: Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts

Kindergarten to Grade 2 children experiment with ways to express themselves creatively and begin to develop skills and knowledge in one or more of the arts. They explore the questions “who”, “where”, “when”, and “why” related to the arts. They think about the importance and meaning of the arts in their own lives, and in the lives of their families and communities. Children learn to think critically and talk about their experiences with learning the arts.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

English language arts learning develops over time and in different situations. Grade 2 is part of the grade band that begins in Kindergarten and ends in Grade 2.

Grade 2 children use language to investigate topics, issues, and questions based on their interests and life experiences, literature, and other curriculum areas. Children use language to talk, ask questions, and think about experiences, stories, and new ideas. They use words, pictures, and their own experiences to understand different kinds of texts such as art, books, objects, websites, the land, and oral stories. They share their ideas with others in different ways such as drawing, writing, telling stories, singing and role-playing. They learn to express personal connections to what they have seen and heard.

FRENCH

Please ask the teacher to find out if your child is learning French in Grade 2. French is not taught in all schools in Grade 2. Grade 2 children learn to understand and communicate simple ideas in French through rhymes, songs, stories and games.

MATHEMATICS

Grade 2 children connect numbers, shapes and time frames to their everyday life. They learn to show, describe and compare quantities to 100 using objects and pictures. They also learn to count to 100 in different ways. They add and subtract numbers to 100 and, in their head, add and subtract facts to 18. Some other important topics include: working with students to remember and recall Grade 2 math facts; recognizing and creating patterns; constructing 2-D shapes and 3-D objects; and using graphs to communicate information.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION/HEALTH EDUCATION

Grade 2 children learn about living an active and healthy lifestyle. They participate in physical activities for fun and fitness and to improve basic movement skills such as skipping, catching and balancing. Children learn about making good choices for their health and safety. They also learn about being responsible and respectful and communicating with others in a positive way.

SCIENCE

Grade 2 children begin to use tools to observe, measure and make objects to solve a problem. They learn about living things by exploring growth and changes in animals. They also learn about solids and liquids and the air around them and about the forms of water in the environment. Studying position and motion helps Grade 2 children to understand the relationship between moving objects and stationary ones.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Communities in Canada

Grade 2 children explore cultural and geographic diversity in Canada. They begin with their own community, past and present, including how people interact with the natural environment. They also learn about an Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) community and one other Canadian community. Children come to understand the concept of community, including differences and similarities among Canadian communities.