Community is second grade’s year long theme, with the goal of learning to work together. Students are taught a common language and problem solving strategies to use to resolve differences. The class also learns about different kinds of communities in the world, practices geography skills using globes, the almanac, and the atlas, and learns about different cultures and holidays. In the final unit of the year - "The Recycled Community” - students use critical thinking and problem solving skills to construct a model community in the classroom using everyday, recycled products.