This week, we will conclude our unit on Matter and Material Properties.

Our focuses for this week:

• 🔬 What materials might be invented in the future? Early in the week, we will learn how new materials are constantly being invented, and that this makes it possible to solve new problems. In class, students will learn the story of how “Post-it” notes were invented and learn that often new materials get invented before anyone knows exactly what problem they’ll solve. We considered the question, “What materials might people invent in the future?”, then came up with inventions involving a hypothetical new material, “bouncy glass.”
• 🔥 Heating and Cooling (Review)
  • On Wednesday, we will watch the Generation Genius video Heating and Cooling as a review of what we’ve already learned.
  • Students will revisit the idea that some materials change permanently when heated, while others can reverse changes—like water freezing and melting.

Science at Home
At home, you can extend science learning by:

• Talking about everyday items and asking, “What problem does this material help solve?”
• Sharing stories about inventions you remember (like Velcro, microwave ovens, or Post-it Notes).
• Observing foods or household items that change when heated or cooled and discussing whether those changes can be undone.

Service Learning:

There is no service learning this week, since there is no school on Friday.

Service Learning:  

Our service-learning topic for 2nd grade is community appreciation. We will be learning what communities are and working together to support and appreciate them. 

This week in service learning, students will recognize and discuss simple ethical issues such as fairness, respect, and responsibility when giving appreciation to essential workers and community helpers. 

Learning Target for Service Learning: I will learn to make fair and kind choices when helping others.

This week, we will continue exploring our unit on States of Matter. Students will investigate how water and other materials can change form, and how people use materials in everyday life.

Our focuses for this week:

• 🌊 Bodies of Water and the Arctic
• We will explore how different bodies of water are found around the Earth and can exist as liquids or solids.
• We will study the Arctic and observe how animals interact with water in many ways—such as swimming in it, resting on ice, or building homes in snowbanks.
• 🔥 Heating and Cooling Materials
• We will observe what happens when different materials are heated and cooled.
• Students will discover that some materials change permanently, while others can reverse changes—like water moving from solid to liquid and back again.
• At home, families can extend learning by noticing which foods change permanently when cooked (like eggs) and which can change back and forth (like chocolate).
• 🧸 Why Are So Many Toys Made of Plastic?
• We will learn about the history of toy-making and how the invention of plastic made it possible to mass-produce toys.
• Together, we will solve the mystery question, “Why are so many toys made of plastic?”
• To wrap up, students will test the melting properties of different candies to investigate this concept hands-on.

Learning Targets:

• I can explain that water can be a solid or liquid and describe how animals use water in their environment.
• I can observe what happens when materials are heated or cooled and explain which changes can be reversed.
• I can explain why many toys are made of plastic and describe how useful plastic is in everyday life.

Science at Home:
At home, take time to notice everyday materials and how they change. Talk with your child about:

• Bodies of water you see nearby (puddles, ponds, streams) and how people and animals use them.
• Foods you cook — Which ones change permanently (like eggs) and which can change back and forth (like chocolate)?
• Toys in your home — Which ones are made of plastic? Why might plastic be a good material for that toy?

Service Learning:

There will not be a service learning lesson/activity this week, since Friday is a half-day for students.