By LAURA BROOKHART / Community Columnist

There is nothing boring about second grade, I learned recently, when visiting Helena Elementary School and meeting these very enthusiastic, well-spoken students.

“I like science because we are learning all about amphibians, mammals, birds and reptiles,” Tanner James said, “and about migration.

“We did a little flower experiment with food coloring,” he said. “In math we do math word problems and follow the steps. We read it, reread it, create a title and draw it out.

“Second grade also has fun new computer math games like Math Blaster,” Tanner noted.

Jaynie Turner said they get to play new (learning) games and “even though some are hard, that’s the fun of it.”

“We made some salt crystals. You take some water and put salt in and stick a popsicle stick in it. After a few days, crystals grow on the stick.”

Olivia Flynn likes writing workshop. “I am writing about my little sister Addison. She is 4, and I love her a lot. She can be very annoying, but she is also a lot of fun. Her hair is pretty long, and I am learning how to braid it.

“I have written six pages and it’s going to go on and on because I like to add a lot of detail. If I add too much detail it may never end!”

Olivia said, “I am a huge fan of Dr. Seuss books. I like ‘Because a Little Bug Went Ka-Choo.’”

Tanner is reading a Star Wars book from the library. “I am definitely a big Stars Wars fan. My favorite character is Boba Fett — he is a bounty hunter.”

Now I have to include Tanner’s very funny tale. “I have a dog named Jake and if you saw him, you would go ‘oooh how cute’ just like everyone else in my neighborhood.

“He’s a Maltese-Shih-tzu mix. When I come home from visiting my friend, he sniffs me because he smells another dog on me.

“Me and him have a little dance move where he lays down on his side and I lay down on my side across from him and we shake our paws/hands. We call it the Paw-Paw!”

 

Laura Brookhart can be reached by email at labro16@yahoo.com.