Our new theme, Imagine That!, celebrates the power of imagination. The five stories in this theme will help children learn how imagination and creativity help people solve problems, express ideas, and find surprises everywhere.

The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash, by Trinka Hakes Noble, is a wonderful beginning for the new theme. This imaginative tale describes an typical class trip to a farm, but the trip becomes anything but ordinary when a little girl with a big imagination describes the day's events to her mother.

Your child can review and practice the vocabulary words and definitions for The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash by clicking the Java Games link in the Quia activities section. It may be helpful to print out the list of terms (vocabulary words and meanings) from the game choices page so your child can refer to them as needed during practice. Once your child can easily match the words and definitions, have him/her try playing the Columns Game where vocabulary words are used in the context of sentences.

Have some fun with the Useful links section at the bottom of the Class Page. It features hyperlinks to other sites that contain background materials and enrichment activities that go along with this week's story. These links are provided as an extra opportunity for fun and learning for you and your second grader.

Bonus Activity: Print out and complete one of the Word Search Puzzles (The Farm or Snakes) you will find in the Useful links section below. When you show it to Ms. Pellarin she will give you a small prize.