Second grade students author butterfly adventures to mix writing and scientific  research

Every spring, second grade students at Watervliet Elementary School learn about the  stages of the butterfly life cycle, also known as metamorphosis. The life cycle  includes four stages, beginning with the egg, which then hatches into a caterpillar  (the larva). The third stage is called the pupa or chrysalis during which the  caterpillar’s body is enclosed in a cocoon while it transforms into the final,  adult stage – the butterfly.

This year, teachers integrated literacy strategies into the science curriculum by  having students write stories to connect and reflect what they learned during their  research of the butterfly and its life cycle. Students from each second grade class  authored a story about the small winged insects that were compiled into a butterfly  anthology.

“My class wrote mostly non-fiction stories about various species of butterfly that  students researched,” said teacher Kim Tallmadge. Some second graders wrote fact-based narratives, others spread their creative wings to write fiction based on  facts they learned about butterflies.

The process

Whether writing fact or fiction, one takeaway second-grade teachers wanted their  students to learn from the butterfly book project is that writing is similar to metamorphosis, in a way.

“Writing is a process,” said teacher Rachel Manning, whose students wrote and  published a book last year about their class mascot, Cannoneer Bear. “There are  different steps you need to take when writing.”

“We want to help students understand that more often than not when writing an  essay, a paper or a story, you have to go back and revisit your work,” added  teacher Adrienne Todd. “It’s not a one and done. You write, then you read and you  revise.”

The writing process follows stages. Before even putting pen or pencil to paper,  student writers brainstormed topics and organized their ideas. Next, they wrote  their story. Then, they read and made changes to their stories, by adding or  removing information. After their revisions were made, students and teachers  proofread their stories for grammar, punctuation and spelling.

The teachers agree it is important for their students to leave the second grade with certain writing skills.

“We want our students to be able to write a complete sentence, and then a series of  sentences forming a paragraph about a topic,” Lori Sand said. “If they are writing  opinions, we want them to be able to give solid reasons to support their opinions  with evidence.”

Second-graders had practice with opinion writing that involved another insect – an  ant – earlier in the year.

“After we read the book, ‘Hey Little Ant’ students wrote persuasive essays answering the question whether or not they would squish the ant,” Mrs. Tallmadge  said. “Some said they would, most said they wouldn’t but all supported their  decisions with information from the book.”

Teachers say for students taking ownership of their writing, setting goals for themselves and celebrating the process is important.

“We are really proud of our students because they have been working on reading and  writing and we are seeing overall improvement,” said Courtney Mills. “We don’t  expect their writing to be perfect; more importantly, we want them to like writing  and to develop their voice for writing.”

A butterfly book celebration is being planned in June for the young authors to share their stories with family and friends.

Learn more about the second grade team

Want to know what career second grade teachers dreamed of pursuing when they were  in elementary school? To learn the answer to that and a few other questions, click  on the staff member’s name to reveal a short Q&A.

PHOTO

Adrienne Todd

Plain or peanut M&M’s? Peanut.

What is your favorite thing about teaching second grade? I really enjoy the age  because they’re still young enough to be curious and full of wonder. When they make  connections and discover things they are very excited, but they are also old enough  to have reached a specific level of independence, which is nice.

Favorite book read in with second-graders? The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.  The only other chapter books we’ve read aloud have been the Humphries series books,  which the students also like, but they are really engaged in that story (Tulane)  right now.

Coffee or tea? Tea.

When you were in kindergarten, what did you dream of being when you grew up? A  teacher. I’m the oldest of all my siblings and I used to play teacher with them  when we were little.

Lori Sand

Plain or peanut M&M’s? Peanut.

What is your favorite thing about teaching second grade? Our annual butterfly science unit, because every year I do it, it’s amazing to see the whole metamorphosis. It never gets old.

Favorite book read in with second-graders? The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane  by Kate DiCamillo.

Coffee or tea? Coffee.

When you were in kindergarten, what did you dream of being when you grew up? I  wasn’t sure. I either wanted to be a medical technologist, a nurse or a teacher.

Rachel Manning

Plain or peanut M&M’s? Plain.

What is your favorite thing about teaching second grade? The age. I love their age  because they still are extremely motivated to learn, but they can also be very  independent.

Favorite book read in with second-graders? I have two: The Miraculous Journey of  Edward Tulane, and The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.

Coffee or tea? Coffee.

When you were in kindergarten, what did you dream of being when you grew up? A  teacher.

Courtney Mills

Plain or peanut M&M’s? Neither. I don’t like chocolate.

What is your favorite thing about teaching second grade? I like the age. They are  becoming independent but still very excited to learn.

Favorite book read in with second-graders? I like reading the Magic Tree House  series.

Coffee or tea? Coffee.

When you were in kindergarten, what did you dream of being when you grew up? A  pediatrician.

Kim Tallmadge

Plain or peanut M&M’s? Plain.

What is your favorite thing about teaching second grade? I like the creative aspect that we have in second grade, like the hall displays and class projects. Because in 6th grade there is much more of an academic focus, which left little  room for creativity.

Favorite book read in with second-graders? The One and Only Ivan.

Coffee or tea? Neither. I have never had a hot drink in my life, give me a Coke
instead.

When you were in kindergarten, what did you dream of being when you grew up? I  either wanted to work for Make-A-Wish, or be a gym teacher.