Grade 2 Curriculum Summary

GRADE TWO CURRICULUM SUMMARY

Reading/Language Arts

The Scott Foresman Reading Street program provides a comprehensive research-based approach to reading and language arts instruction. The program draws from children’s literature organized around six themes: 1) Exploration 2) Working Together 3) Creative Ideas 4) Our Changing World 5) Responsibility 6) Traditions. There are equal numbers of fiction and nonfiction selections, and informational text supports both science and social studies. Skill instruction focuses on five core areas—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Student progress is monitored regularly and instruction is differentiated according to student needs. Key components of Reading Street include writing, spelling, grammar, and study skills.

The writing component of Reading Street is used in conjunction with the Empowering Writers Program. Empowering Writers builds awareness of writing through reading experiences. The Empowering Writers Program encourages students to look with author's eyes at the elements in a story. Students begin to write simple narrative stories with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Elaborate Detail is developed as writing progresses.
Lively Letters, a phonics curriculum, provides powerful mnemonics (memory aids) through the combined use of pictures and imagery, humorous stories, hand cues and oral kinesthetic (mouth movement) cues. This is a fun, dynamic, teacher and student-friendly program that uses lively letter characters with personalities that are embedded directly into the letter shapes.
Handwriting Without Tears is a research-based writing program that teaches writing in a developmentally appropriate, sequential format. Children master easier letters first and progress to the more difficult letters.

Fundations is a multisensory and systematic phonic program in place from K-3.  Students learn the sound symbol relationships and apply them to reading and spelling.

Mathematics

Bridges Math Program

Science

The Scott Foresman Science curriculum has been adopted to teach science concepts, vocabulary, and reading skills. Students progress through three levels of the inquiry process: developing process skills, participating in teacher-guided activities, and conducting hands-on experiments. As scientists, the children are called upon to make observations, record data, form hypotheses, and draw conclusions. Instruction focuses on fundamental concepts of life science, physical science, earth and space science, and technology/engineering. The children explore units of study that include weather, seasons, the water cycle, living things, the life cycle, and properties of matter. 

Technology

Students receive technology instruction in the computer lab setting each week. Activities are designed to allow children to become familiar with the keyboard, engage in writing, drawing, and projects that are connected to classroom themes. All computers in the lab are Internet connected and topic searches are supervised. Technology is also integrated in the classroom to support learning. 

Library/Information Literacy

A weekly library program offers initial exposure to library materials, authors, and resources. Children’s literature is selected from a variety of genres and supports and extends classroom topics. Research skills are introduced and applied to classroom projects. Students begin learning the Dewey Decimal system for classifying and locating library resources.

Social Studies

The Scott Foresman Social Studies program is designed to extend the reading curriculum. Reading instruction and content are combined in units of study entitled Where We Live, Our Earth, Our Country Today, Our Country Long Ago, and People and Places in History. Geography is a major unit of study and mapping skills are developed throughout the year. Children Discovering Justice is a literacy-based civics education program that teaches social studies and history through reading and discussion of high quality children’s literature. The second grade curriculum focuses on our country’s promise of equality and justice for all. Concepts of freedom, liberty, and equality are presented in the context of historical events and through fiction and nonfiction selections.

Music

Music instruction includes singing a varied repertoire of music, reading and notation, and playing instruments. Activities provide opportunities for children to improvise, compose, and arrange music and students use music vocabulary to describe, analyze, and interpret music. Students enjoy performing for parents during the school year.

Art

Students are encouraged to express their ideas and feelings through a variety of media, materials, and techniques. Children use visual arts vocabulary to interpret art and learn about the role of artists in history and culture. Learning experiences are connected to classroom curriculum themes.

Physical Education

A developmental approach incorporates age-appropriate skills and knowledge in the areas of games, dance, gymnastics, and health-related fitness. An equal emphasis is placed on each child’s personal and social development.