Want to prepare for the next school year? Keep the learning going over the summer. Below are suggestions of skills families might explore together during the school break. Physical Health and Wellness With parent/caregiver support...) Knows the difference between right and wrong (conscience mostly developed) Shows basic problem-solving skills in social situations Begins to work together well in small groups Begins to focus and tune out distractions Has skills to move through space with confidence; is working on throwing, catching, dribbling with hands and feet, volleying, striking, jumping rope Uses movements in games and activities; changes speed, height, direction, and type of movement (skips, slides, etc.) Participates in safe and vigorous physical activity daily; understands that moving quickly increases heart rate and breathing Follows directions alone and in a group; respects self and others during physical activity Understands that physical activity is good for health, fun, challenge, self-expression, and/ or social interaction Understands concepts that improve health (ex. handwashing) Explores influence of family, friends, and media on health behaviors Uses decision-making skills to improve health Sets goals to improve health English Language Arts With parent/caregiver support...) Knows who is telling a story in a text Knows the main idea and can retell main parts of a text Reads 1st grade texts and poems Writes about experiences in his/her own words using different resources (picture dictionaries, Internet, books) and strategies Describes familiar people, places, things, and events; expresses ideas and feelings Speaks in complete sentences Begins to use standard grammar (capitalization, punctuation, spelling) when writing; knows common spelling rules and understands that some words do not follow the rules Uses words and phrases learned through conversations and books (read alone and read-to) Participates in shared research and writing; uses a variety of resources (uses a few "howto" books on a topic to write instructions) For activity ideas to practice these skills, go to gpb.org/learn. Getting Ready for 2nd Grade Page 2 Mathematics Social Studies With parent/caregiver support... Uses addition and subtraction to solve word problems Uses properties of operations (commutative, associative) to use for addition and subtraction problems within 20 (ex. if 8+3 = 11 is known, then 3 + 8 = 11 is also known) Adds and subtracts within 20 (the sums of numbers in problem are less than 20) Uses equations to solve addition and subtraction problems; knows which of the following equations are true and which are false: 6 = 6, 7 = 8 1, 5 + 2 = 2 + 5, 4 + 1 = 5 + 2 Counts to 120 starting at any number less than 120 Understands that the two digits of a two-digit number represent the amounts of tens and ones Uses place value and properties of operations to solve addition and subtraction problems Measures objects by comparing the length to another object used as a measuring tool (ex. measures how long a piece of paper is by using paper clips) With parent/caregiver support... Talks about how their choices can help or harm others; talks about how historic figures* improved the lives of others Explains why people like historic figures* make choices based on where and when they live Explains ways that life in the past is different from life today; tells you how their lives are similar to and different from the lives of historic figures* Explains the meaning of patriotic words and songs (liberty, freedom, pride, My Country `Tis of Thee, America the Beautiful); shows respect for others and their environment Explains why they have to make choices when resources are limited *Historic figures: Thomas Jefferson, Ruby Bridges, Lewis and Clark with Sacagawea, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington Carver, Theodore Roosevelt Science With parent/caregiver support... Observes weather, records observations, and uses data to identify patterns of weather Observes how light is required to make objects visible; compares light sources; investigates shadows; explores how vibrating materials make sound and that sound can make materials vibrate Uses knowledge of light and sound to design an emergency signal to communicate over distance Describes how magnets are used in everyday life; understands how magnets interact with other magnets and other objects Names parts of a plant; knows the basic needs of animals and plants; compares and contrasts the needs of plants and animals These skills were identified by the Georgia Department of Education's division of curriculum and instruction based on the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE). This list is not required, and students won't be expected to know all of the information part of a teacher's job is meeting all students where they are at the beginning of the school year. For activity ideas to practice these skills at home, go to gpb.org/learn.