This week's selection is a photo essay called Helping Out, by George Ancona. The photos and text work together to show ways children can be helpful at home, at school, and in their community.

Your child can review and practice the vocabulary words and definitions for Helping Out 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, try playing the Columns Game where vocabulary words are used in the context of sentences.

The Useful links section at the bottom of the Class Page features hyperlinks to other sites that contain background materials and enrichment activities that go along with this week's story. Your child may want to print and do the word find, make a chore chart, check out a career in photography, or download a coloring sheet. There are links to articles for parents about raising responsible children and what amount of allowance is suitable today. These links are provided as an extra opportunity for fun and learning for you and your second grader.