Students are introduced to the joy of writing first by making creative use of the parts of speech they are learning in Grammar and then by composing sentences and paragraphs about topics of high interest to a second grader. The emphasis is on building our “writing muscles” through putting pencil to paper in many engaging ways. Texts: Institutes for Excellence in Writing (IEW), The Nile River Book, The Biggest Bear, Mr. Popper's Penguins, Tacky the Penguin, Madeline, Corduroy, The Z was Zapped, The Three Little Pig, Tacky and the Winter Games.

This is the only year at ACTS where Grammar is formally taught in the classroom as a separate subject. An interactive classroom atmosphere utilizes the jingles and sentence labeling techniques taught in Shurley English Level 2. This promotes competitive accountability amid fun, as the foundation for composition, grammar, and Latin is laid for the coming years. Texts: Shurley English Level 2

Using Veritas Press History Cards, Old Testament & Ancient Egypt, students journey from the very beginning of all human history at Creation through the primal events of the Fall, and the flood, to the emergence of the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt, while tracing the history of God’s chosen nation Israel. Students gain greater familiarity with many biblical events and see how they fit into the larger picture of cultures and people groups in human history. Students learn through singing, reading, writing, games, drama, and creating “timeline projects” that correlate to each historical event they study. Their History studies come alive through special craft days, feast days, and the occasional field trip. Texts: Veritas Press History Cards Old Testament & Ancient Egypt, King Tut: Lost … and Found, Secret of the Scrolls, Volume 3, Story of the World Volume 1

“It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s an insect!” Using Apologia Young Explorer Series: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day, students discover the similarities and differences among the insect species as well as those of the feathered fowl. By capitalizing on their natural curiosity, students’ observation skills are developed through activities such as collecting insects, watching birds, and nature journaling. Activities foster a greater understanding of the structure of these amazing airborne creatures as well as their habitats and characteristics. Text: Apologia Young Explorer Series: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day