Second grade is a terrific age of learners, explorers, and researchers. Keep them interested now and each year gets easier.
Child development activity ideas for second graders
Second grade is a super age to try new and exciting activities for all interests. This is usually when students begin to write in cursive. Many stores contain practice books for home. There are a variety of types of books, but make sure to ask the teacher about the school writing style. Another practice technique at home includes writing sentences with proper grammar and punctuation. It doesn't have to be very technical, but review nouns, action words, and adjectives to start. Different sentences have different punctuation marks like question marks, exclamation points, periods, and commas. Again, there are many books out there with this information, but try language arts lessons on Scholastic.com or lessonpages.com for internet resources.
MathBlaster, an older computer game, has a new twist on math practice for ages 6-14 that includes various leveled addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. The graphics and music are fairly modern and it's rather user-friendly. If your children haven't already seen it, they won't have any troubles using it.
Second graders have science projects that require more tools, ingredients, and higher-order thinking skills. The best way for interested students to practice at home is by looking in your pantry. You can build a volcano with flowing lava (vinegar added to baking soda with food coloring). Kids love to make slimy and gross experiments, too, and there are several special recipes with cornstarch, flour, and water. The exact recipes can be derived from internet pages that are specific to kid's slimy and gross experiments. Don't forget about the naturalist in your family by planting flowers, herbs, and vegetables inside and out throughout the year. Discuss what to grow in your region with maps and an almanac, how the weather or seasons change the rate of growth, and make charts that show any progress of height, amount of produce, and temperature.
Social studies and current events are also very important in the second grade. Children are beginning to understand articles in the newspaper, kid's magazines, and local news. Hopefully, the second grader knows his home address, telephone number, and important emergency numbers. The child should also be able to write their address with little help and label an envelope appropriately. You can make lines on envelopes and postcards for practice, but also send mail when going on a trip for recognition of address and postage. Hang local, national, and international maps and place globes around the house for hands-on and visual experience. Keep a corkboard or specific area where clippings of articles can be displayed on a weekly or monthly basis. Finally, second grade is an excellent time to start community service projects from recycling in the home or attending a clean up in the park or your church.
Whenever your second grader feels the need to try something new, look in their school or library books for what interests them. Be aware of what your child needs and desires. Take initiative to speak with your second grader about what they like or dislike. Make a list and then do research together on the internet, look to resource books for parents of second graders, and ask other parents who have older or same aged children for more information.
