Second Grade Student Skills
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP
- Encourage reading by having newspapers, magazines and books around your home
- Read aloud to your child to build vocabulary and listening skills.
- Share and discuss books and stories at home to motivate your child to read.
- Writing at home can be encouraged by leaving notes for your child around the house.
- Have pens, pencils and paper around for writing.
- Help your child develop an understanding of time by creating a schedule for the day.
- Discuss how much time should be allotted for each event of the day.
- Take a walk and have your child observe the environment. Talk about the living and non living things he/she sees or hears.
- Interview an older relative with your child and discuss traditions and customs that are unique to your heritage.
Language Arts
The second grade student will:
Listening, Viewing and Speaking
- follow multi step oral directions
- read aloud with fluency and expression and answer questions about the story
- use appropriate language to ask questions, make comments and convey a message
- speak for different purposes (relating personal experiences, giving information)
- state the main idea after viewing nonprint media (pictures, symbols, video, film, artwork)
- recognize how multimedia affects thoughts and feelings
Decoding and Vocabulary
- apply knowledge of consonant sounds and vowel sounds when decoding
- use visual, structural and meaning cues to read unfamiliar words (letter patterns, structure of the sentence, other words and pictures)
- identify plurals, contractions and compound words
- apply knowledge of prefixes (un , re , pre , mis) and suffixes ( er, est, ful) to determine the meaning of words
- apply context clues to identify the meaning of words including multiple meaning words
- recognize synonyms and antonyms of words
Reading
- make predictions about a selection using prior knowledge, illustrations and text
- recall specific details and information from literary and informational texts
- identify the main idea and determine the sequence of events
- recognize cause and effect relationships in literary text
- compare and contrast similarities and differences in texts
- draw conclusions and predict logical outcomes
- identify familiar literary genres (nonfiction, poetry, fables, legends, myths, etc.)
- identify the setting, main characters, problems and solutions in literary texts
- use a variety of strategies to comprehend text (predicting, self monitoring, retelling, discussing)
Reference
- use appropriate resources to determine word meaning
- use reference materials to obtain information
- use strategies to clarify the accuracy of a text (discussion, checking other sources)
Writing
- generate and organize ideas for writing
- use an organizational structure in writing
- express separate ideas in writing using paragraphs
- use support to develop ideas in writing (elaborates upon an idea, uses specific word choice, uses reasons or examples)
- use transition words in writing to sequence or relate ideas
- examine personal writing to check for meaning
- reread and revise writing by adding or substituting ideas and details edit writing for punctuation, capitalization and sentence structure
- write a story that includes story elements (character, setting, problem, resolution)
- write informational text (instructions, observations, reports)
- write for personal purposes (journal entries, reading response)
Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling, Handwriting
- use present and past tense of verbs use correct capitalization and punctuation
- write legibly in manuscript
Mathematics
The second grade student will:
Number Sense
- count, read, compare, order and write numbers to 1000
- demonstrate an understanding of place value to 1000
- recall basic addition and subtraction facts to 18
- find sums and differences of whole numbers up to three digits with or without regrouping
- demonstrate the concept of multiplication and division
- solve word problems involving the addition and subtraction of whole numbers using a variety of strategies
- represent fractions (halves, thirds, fourths, eighths) as parts of a whole and parts of a set
- compare fractions in real world situations
- add and subtract money
Measurement
- identify the appropriate standard tool for measuring length, weight, capacity and temperature
- identify the time shown on an analog and digital clock, including hour, half hour, quarter hour and five minute intervals
- identify the amount of time elapsed between two given times
- determine the value of a set of coins to one dollar
- read and interpret the temperature shown on a thermometer
- estimate the quantity of a group of objects to 50 and justify the estimate
- use non standard, U.S. customary and metric units to measure a given length
- measure weight and volume/capacity
Geometry
- recognize and use geometric vocabulary to describe two and three dimensional figures (vertices, faces, angles) Classify and compare two and three dimensional figures
- identify the reflection of a two dimensional shape
- identify shapes that are symmetrical and congruent
Algebraic Thinking
- create a pattern involving the change in one or two attributes
- extend a numerical, geometric or real world pattern using concrete objects or pictures
- identify the rule that describes the relationship of a numerical or real world pattern
- write and solve number sentences
- solve a real world problem using an equation that contains one variable
- locate and identify points on a coordinate grid
Data Analysis and Probability
- organize, display and interpret information presented on graphs
- predict outcomes using data
Problem Solving
- formulate problems from real word and mathematical situations
- make reasonable or logical conclusions about a specified problem situation
- apply an appropriate method to solve a real world problem
Science
The second grade student will:
The Nature of Matter
- list examples of solids, liquids and gases and identify their observable properties
- identify changes that occur in matter and their causes
- group objects according to similarities or differences in their physical characteristics
Energy
- identify ways that heat can be produced (burning, friction, solar, electric, nuclear) recognize the relationship of food to the need for daily energy
- distinguish between a material that transmits light and one that blocks light
Force and Motion
- recognize the amount and direction of a force exerted on an object
- demonstrate how objects may be moved by being pushed and pulled with magnets
- distinguish how pitch and loudness can be altered by changing the sound source
- compare the movement of sound through different media
Processes that Shape the Earth
- list and describe a variety of solid materials that compose earth's surface (rocks, pebbles, sand, dirt)
- identify characteristics of the formation of clouds
- recognize seasonal and daily changes in weather
Earth and Space
- recognize that the earth rotates once around its axis every 24 hours
- recognize that the moon moves around (orbits) the earth and that both the earth and the moon move (revolve) around the sun once a year
- recognize that the stars and planets are always in the sky, even during the day
- explain that the moon is visible because it reflects the sun's light
Process of Life
- identify factors that affect the growth of living things (amount and types of food, soil, shelter, light, water)
- identify characteristics of the vertebrate groups (mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish)
- identify functions of the main parts of plants
- identify the growth sequence for a given plant or animal
Ecology
- recognize ways animals and plants are adapted for survival in different environments
- describe a food web showing the interdependence of plants and animals
- explain why it is important to conserve resources that are used by people for water, food and shelter
The Nature of Science
- participate in groups to conduct experiments and solve problems
- use tools to observe, measure, analyze and predict changes in size, mass, temperature, color, position, quantity, sound and movement
- explain ideas using sketches and diagrams
- keep science records or a journal pertaining to observations
Social Studies
The second grade student will:
Focusing Skills and Knowledge
- use map legends, coordinates, key symbols and cardinal directions to read simple maps
- classify regions according to physical and human criteria
- describe ways climate, location and physical surroundings affect the way people live
- read and interpret information on timelines and calendars
American Heritage
- recognize characteristics of Native American cultures
- recognize that immigration brings about change
- recognize the significant aspects of the lives and accomplishments of selected men and women in United States history
- recognize American symbols
- understand the historical significance of national holidays
History
- explore historical people from before the Renaissance
- recognize the historical significance of communication and transportation and their effects on the present
- recognize changes in community life over time
Rights and Responsibilities
- define the U.S. Constitution as a written document that outlines the rights and responsibilities of all citizens of the country
- identify the characteristics of good citizenship
- recognize major elected officials (president, vice president, governor)
Economics
- classify goods and services
- differentiate between a consumer and a producer
- identify ways human, natural and capital resources are used to produce goods and services
- identify requirements of various jobs and characteristics of a job well performed
- recognize that work provides income to purchase goods and services