Grade 2 Explores the Sky Above and Earth Below 

This month, Grade 2 students launched into their third Unit of Inquiry, How the World Works: The Sky Above, the Earth Below: a brand-new unit designed around Core Science standards. Students are investigating the natural patterns and cycles of the sun and moon, exploring how these systems influence life on Earth and help us make predictions about seasons, time, and natural phenomena. 

The unit began with a curiosity-sparking provocation: students rotated through immersive rooms featuring stars, planets, the Milky Way, and more, recording what they saw, thought, and wondered. These student-driven questions have guided the entire inquiry, from researching phases of the moon and the composition of the sun to analyzing solar and lunar cycles. 

To deepen learning, students visited the Beijing Planetarium, where they observed celestial systems up close. But one of the most impactful experiences happened right at WAB. The China Studies department team transformed the ES lobby into an interactive space-science exhibition, complete with hands-on stations that brought abstract concepts to life. 

Students explored rotating constellations, matched moon phases, including the phase on their own birthday, solved planet puzzles, used a “viewfinder” to watch videos on each planet, and even examined ancient Chinese stargazing tools with a visiting specialist. Every station was tactile and highly interactive, ensuring an engaging learning experience for our young learners. 

“These short, focused activities were perfect for Grade 2,” shared G2 Teacher Kathryn Viljoen: “Students were fully engaged, moving, touching, experimenting, and talking about what they were noticing. It gave them a deeper understanding of why space systems matter and how they affect life on Earth.” 

Over the next few weeks, students will choose the celestial system they’re most interested in, sun, moon, or planets, and dive into a focused research project. They’ll create an explanatory writing piece and design a model or visual representation using materials such as clay or stop-motion animation. Their final work will show not just what the system is, but how it impacts daily life on Earth. 

This collaborative learning experience highlights what makes WAB so special: when we work together to build meaningful, hands-on learning, students get to explore big ideas in memorable, and impactful ways.