Changes in the Air

The air moving around us affects the weather. Weather is the day to day conditions where you live. The temperature tells how warm or cold the air is. We can feel hot and cold air as the temperature changes.

A weather report tells us about the weather outside. The report tells if it is warm or cold. It tells how windy or cloudy it is. It also tells if the air is dry or wet.

Experiment: Make a Wind Sock

A wind sock tells us which direction the wind is blowing from. Hang a wind sock where it catches the wind.

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What You Need:

- a large piece of construction paper to roll into a cylinder

- glue

- scissors

- streamers (tissue paper, party streamers, paper cut into strips)

- strong string, yarn, or rope

- decorations (crayons, paint, stickers, google eyes)

What to Do:

- decorate the construction paper as you wish (bright colours, into a fish or other animal)

- roll paper into a cylinder and tape or staple 

- glue streamers around the bottom edge of the cylinder

- make a handle out of the rope/yarn/string

Hang your wind sock and test it. How well did your wind sock work? Tell why you think so.

Air Moves

Wind is air that is moving. Have you been outside on a windy day? Did you feel the air moving around you? Read theses facts about wind:

- wind cools us down when we are warm
- wind makes flying a kite fun
- wind helps sailboats move
- wind spins a windmill to make electricity
- wind blows seeds and new plants will grow where the seeds land

We use moving air at home. Read these facts about moving air at home:

- a hair dryer uses moving air to dry hair
- a dryer uses moving air to dry clothes
- a vacuum cleaner uses moving air to suck up dirt
- a fan keeps air moving and makes us feel cooler
- an air conditioner blows cool air to cool your home
- a furnace blows warm air to warm your house

Draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper. Put these headings at the top of each row: Air Moves Outside/ Air Moves at Home. List at least three ways we use wind and at least three ways we use moving air at home.

Experiment: Does Air Take Up Space?

Remember: We cannot see air but air is all around us. Try this experiment to find out whether air takes up space.

What You Need:
- a clear plastic container
- water
- a plastic cup (shorter than the container)
- a piece of paper towel

What You Do:
1. Fill the container nearly to the top with water.
2. Crunch up the paper towel. Push it down to the bottom of the cup.
3. Turn the cup over. Push the cup into the water. Do NOT tilt the cup.
4. Pull the cup straight out of the water. Check the paper towel.

Was the paper towel wet or dry?
What kept the towel dry?

What is Air?

Read the following facts about air and then complete a fact list:

We cannot see air but air is all around us. The layer of air that surrounds Earth is called the atmosphere.

Air has no colour. It has no taste. Air has no odour (you can not smell air). We might see dust in the air. We might smell a skunk in the air. What we see and smell is not actually air. We are seeing and smelling things that the air is carrying.

On a piece of paper, make a list of five facts you learned about air.

Don't forget about our virtual class meeting tomorrow on MS Teams at 11:00 am!

We Need Air!

We are going to have a closer look at air and water on Earth. The Grade 2 Science curriculum includes a strand called "Air and Water in the Environment". It is important to know that air and water are a major part of the Earth's environment. All living things need air and water to survive and any changes to air and water affect both living things and the environment. Our actions most certainly affect the quality of the air and water on Earth.

Read the following facts about air and then answer the fill in the blank questions:

Air is made of gases. The gas we breathe in is oxygen and the gas we breathe out is called carbon dioxide. Most animals do this. Did you know that the root and leaves of a plant or tree can take in air? Plants and trees do the opposite of what you do! They take in carbon dioxide. This gas is in the air. Plants and trees release oxygen back into the air. Plants and trees and humans need each other!

______________ is all around us.

No plants or animals can live without ____________________.

Air is made of  _______________________.

The gas we take in is called _____________________.

When we breathe out, we release _________________________.

Plants and trees need to take in ______________________ from the air.

Plants and trees release ___________________________ back into the air.

Taiga

The Taiga biome is also known as the Coniferous Forest or Boreal Forest. It is the world's largest land biome. Coniferous forests are made from the type of trees that have needle-like leaves. Watch the video link below and answer these questions: Name three kinds of coniferous trees found in the Taiga biome. The Taiga has a harsh climate. Where are these forests found in the world?

Here is the link:
https://safeYouTube.net/w/ulQF

Only certain kinds of plants and animals can live in the harsh climate of the Taiga biome. Draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper. On one side print Plants at the top and on the other side print Animals at the top. Make a list of the plants and animals found in the Taiga.

Savanna

The Savanna is a hotter grassland than the temperate grasslands. This biome is located closer to the equator. The Savanna has warm temperatures year round with a wet and dry season. These grasslands have trees, shrubs, and large animals. Watch the video below and answer these questions: What do the trees and shrubs have (adaptations) that protect them from the hot, dry season? Why are fires important in the Savanna grasslands?

Here is the video link:

https://safeYouTube.net/w/KxKE

After watching this video, draw a tree or shrub from the Savanna grasslands. Be sure to add the adaptions these trees and shrubs have for the hot, dry season. Label these adaptions.

Please keep an eye on your emails today as I am sending a letter regarding an opportunity to have a class meeting next week.

Temperate Grasslands

Large areas covered with grass are called grasslands. Temperate grasslands are cooler and farther away from the equator. Tropical grasslands are closer to the equator and are typically called the Savanna. Watch the video on temperate grasslands and answer the following questions: There are few trees and shrubs in the temperate grasslands. What are some of the few things that grow there? What is the difference between Prairie grasslands and Steppes grasslands?

Here is the video link to the Temperate grasslands video:

https://safeYouTube.net/w/tpKE

After watching the video, list the many different animals found in the grasslands. 

Desert Biome: May 19

Our next biome to investigate is the desert. Deserts can be found on every continent of the world. Some deserts are hot and some deserts are cold. Watch the link below to find out more about deserts. The video is set to music with text. A reading partner might be needed for some students. Discuss the following question: How do animals survive the extreme heat or extreme cold of a desert? If you were going to live in a desert, would you rather live in a hot desert or a cold desert? Why?

Here is the link to the "Desert Biome":

https://safeYouTube.net/w/UIJD

Make a list of 5 desert facts. Chose one fact to print on a separate sheet of paper and draw an illustration. 

Rainforest

Our next biome to investigate is the rainforest. Watch the link below to the "Explore the Rainforest!" video. Discuss the following questions: How many types of rainforests are there? What part of the world are the rainforests found? How are they different?


"Explore the Rainforest!" video link:

https://safeyoutube.net/w/b6ID

List some kinds of animals and trees found in the warm rainforests (tropical) and the cool rainforests (temperate). Which rainforest would you rather visit?

What are Tundras?

We are going to have a closer look today at one of the world's biomes: tundras. Remember biomes are large areas on Earth that have very different plants, animals and weather. Tundras are among the world's biggest and harshest biomes. After viewing the 2 minute video, discuss the following questions. Here is the video link:

https://safeyoutube.net/w/nvID

What are the two different types of tundras? Why can't trees grow in the Arctic tundra? What is negatively changing the Arctic tundra? Why?

Biomes

Around the world, there are large areas on Earth that have very different plants, animals, and weather. These areas with varying environments are called "biomes". Some biomes include the desert, forest, grasslands, tundra, and rainforest. The link below has beautiful visuals of a variety of biomes found around the world. The 3 minute video is set to music with some written facts. Watch the link below:

Introduction to Biomes

Could you name some of the biomes that you saw? List some ways that make each biome different. What is the type of animal found at the very end of the video that tips right over? In the next few days we will have a closer look at some different biomes found around the world. 

Urban, Suburban, Rural

Let's take a closer look at the three types of communities: urban, suburban, and rural. During the video, listen for some Pros (good/positive reasons) and Cons (not good/negative reasons) of living in each type of community. Here is the video link:

Second Grade: Types of Communities

After watching the video, make a Pro/Con list for each type of community. For example, print "Rural" at the top of your paper. Now, on one side print Pro and on the other side print Con. Think of what you learned in the video that shows a good reason to live in a rural community (fresh air, space). Add these dot jots to your Pro side. Now think of the not so good reasons to live in a rural community (long distance to stores, other family members live far away). Add these dot jots to your Con side.

After you have made a Pro/Con list for the three types of communities, decide where you would want to live. Why?

Monday, May 11

We will continue our exploration of maps and the world by looking closer at different kinds of communities. The link below provides a lesson on three types of communities: urban, suburban, and rural. Watch the link below:

Your Community: Types of Communities

What type of community do you live in? Do you have family members that live in a different kind of community? What do you think some of the challenges would be to live in a rural community? An urban community?

Colour to Cope with COVID 19

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (May 4-10). Thank you to Ashlyn's Mom for passing on this information.

Underwater Colour Bursts/Go Noodle

Happy Friday! Enjoy some fun activities for the weekend. First, explore at home with liquids and colour. This experiment can be conducted in your kitchen or simply watch the video to experience the investigation. If conducting the experiment and you don't have a medicine dropper, a small spoon can be used to make food colouring droplets. Watch the link below:

Underwater Colour Bursts

Now, switch gears and get your body moving by watching this Go Noodle link:

Indoor Recess: Moose on the Loose

Lastly, relax for the rest of the weekend. Calm your body and mind with the Go Noodle activity called Melting- Flow.

 Melting- Flow

How to Make a Map

Read along with this RedCat Reading video and learn more about maps. At the end of the video learn how to make a map of your bedroom. You will need paper (graph paper is best), a ruler, a pencil, and crayons. Here is the link below:

How to Make a Map Video

Learning About Canada

From the West Coast across to the East Coast and up to the Northern Territories, we live in a very diverse, beautiful country! Take a tour across Canada and find out what makes each province and territory so special.

If you have difficulty viewing the video, it is called "Map of Canada: Part 2 Learn the Canadian Provinces". The running time is 6 minutes and 30 seconds. It can be Googled.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ4qBWz6o4Q

We live in Ontario. What facts did you learn about Ontario? What city in Ontario is Canada's capital?

STEM Challenge/Crazy Hair

Pop Pom Drop STEM Challenge:

Get your kids thinking critically and developing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) skills with just some simple items from around the house! Watch the link below to see how some pom poms, tape, and toilet paper rolls become a STEM challenge.

Pom Pom Drop

Crazy Hair Art

With all of the hair salons closed for months, many people are getting some crazy hairdos! We explored with Crazy Hair Art in the fall. Watch the video link below to revisit this fun activity!

Crazy Hair Art Video

Week of May 4-8

The students will take a closer look at the parts of a map (title, symbols, key, compass rose) by viewing the video link below:

My Map Movie Digital Story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNcF53AEPeQ

Use the symbols in the key and the compass rose on the "My Neighbourhood" map to complete the questions. Enjoy looking at a map of Canada's Wonderland from 2008. What rides have you been on? What new rides are not included in this 2008 map?

Cardboard Box Marble Maze

Here is a weekend project:


Cardboard Box Marble Maze

Here is what you need to make one:

 - a cardboard box
- scissors or a utility knife (with parent supervision)
- craft sticks/popsicle sticks (the wide kind is best)
- hot glue gun (with parent supervision)
- a nickel
- a pencil

Start with a box with a lid and cut the lid off (e.g. a pizza box). Make the track by cutting craft sticks and hot gluing them to the box. Build the track a little at a time so that you can test it out.Trace a nickel (the perfect size) and cut out the circles with scissors or a utility knife with parent supervision. Place your marble into the box and play with your new labyrinth game!