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Sam Placentino School
Grade 2 Learning Standards

 

Table of Contents
ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS
MATHEMATICS
SCIENCE
SOCIAL STUDIES
HEALTH EDUCATION
ART
MUSIC
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
FOREIGN LANGUAGE

ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS

Second grade children are expanding their reading strategies to become more independent and fluent readers. Through exposure to a rich variety of children’s literature, they learn to combine increased phonetic awareness and growing sight vocabulary with contextual cues to read more challenging text. Comprehension and critical thinking skills are emphasized at this level. Writing is integrated across many curriculum areas, providing children with the opportunity to write for a variety of purposes. Students are encouraged to transition from inventive spelling to more traditional conventions of spelling and grammar.

 

READING

Decoding/Vocabulary
Uses meaning, sentence structure, letter/sound relationships (phonics), and letter patterns.
Uses syllabication skills (word parts) to read multi-syllable words.
Applies strategies to self-monitor and self-correct when reading.
Reads high frequency words and sight words.
Acquires and uses new vocabulary.
Identifies and uses multiple meaning words, synonyms, antonyms, and comparative words.
Comprehension
Identifies the characteristics of non-fiction .
Recognizes the characteristics of fiction .
Understands story elements (setting, characters, problem, resolution)
Retells and summarizes the plot of a story using the elements of problem, character, setting, and resolution.
Makes predictions and draws conclusions based on information from the text and prior knowledge/experience.
Compares and contrasts common forms of poetry.
Makes comparisons between stories read or viewed.
Learns about different cultures through literature.
Enjoyment of Books
Begins to develop a personal appreciation of books and favorite authors and illustrators.
Begins to select and read a variety of texts including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
 
WRITING
Writing Process
Selects a topic and organizes ideas before writing.
Includes appropriate facts and details to support a topic.
Writes for different audiences and purposes, such as journal writing, report writing, and friendly letter writing.
Writes a story with basic story elements (characters, setting, problem, resolution).
Edits for meaning, organization, content, mechanics, and spelling.
Self selects best work and explains the reason for the choice.
Publishes, shares, and displays written work.
Writing Conventions
Applies rules for capitalization.
Uses periods, question marks, and exclamation points appropriately.
Begins to use commas appropriately.
Writes a simple paragraph with a topic sentence and supporting details.
Edits for capitalization, correct spacing, grammar, and end marks.
Begins to revise own writing based on specific criteria.
Spelling
Spells core words correctly in all writing.
Applies spelling strategies presented in class to all writing.
Uses phonic skills (letter/sound) and letter patterns to write new words.
Uses classroom resources to spell words correctly (Word Wall, Quick Word, Writing Dictionary).
Handwriting
Prints using correct D’Nealian manuscript letter formation.
Begins to use correct D’Nealian cursive letter formation.
Consistently writes clearly and legibly.
 
SPEAKING
Uses proper eye contact, expression, and intonation.
Uses agreed upon rules for informal group discussion.
Makes oral presentations including reciting poems, role-playing characters from stories, and retelling stories.
Maintains focus on a topic.
Speaks clearly using correct sentence structure and word endings (plural and past tense).
 
LISTENING
Uses active listening skills (eye contact, sits appropriately).
Listens for specific information.

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MATHEMATICS

 

Utilizing a variety of materials and methods, the second grade math curriculum focuses on
strengthening computational skills and increasing conceptual understanding and problem-
solving strategies. By exploring with manipulatives, children develop a concrete understanding
before moving to abstract concepts.
PROCEDURES
Number Sense
Reads, writes, counts, and orders whole numbers to 1,000.
Performs skip counting by 2, 5, and 10.
Identifies the place value of numbers through hundreds.
Identifies ordinal position (first, second, third) of objects to twenty.
Compares numbers using the <, > , and = signs.
Identifies odd and even numbers.
Identifies dollars and coins, their values and how they relate in trading values, i.e., five nickels equals one quarter.
Identifies whole, halves, thirds, fourths, and fifths of an object or shape.
Computation
Knows addition facts, sums through 18.
Performs two- and three-digit addition without and with regrouping.
Knows subtraction facts, minuends through 18.
Performs two- and three-digit subtraction without and with regrouping.
Knows multiplication tables from 0 - 5.
Uses estimation to solve and check reasonableness of sums and differences with two-digit numbers.
Algebraic Thinking: Patterns
Identifies, describes, extends, and creates patterns of shape, color, and numbers.
Constructs and solves open sentences that have variables, e.g., 12 -¨ = 8.
Sees the multiplication facts as a pattern of repeated addition.
Geometry and Spatial Sense
Identifies, describes, and compares two-dimensional shapes: triangle, square, rectangle, circle, pentagon, and hexagon.
Identifies, describes, and compares three-dimensional shapes: sphere, cone, cylinder, pyramid, cube, rectangular prism, and triangular prism.
Knows geometric terms: line segments, perimeter, sides, corners, and faces.
Describes the features and parts of two- and three-dimensional shapes, such as the number of sides, corners, edges, and faces.
Identifies symmetry in two-dimensional shapes.
Recognizes congruent shapes.
Describes the relative position of objects that have been rotated and flipped.
Measurement
Identifies parts of the calendar (day, week, and month).
Tells time to 5 minute intervals, estimates time, and determines elapsed time in hours.
Measures linear whole units using inches, feet, yards, centimeters, and meters.
Measures liquids using cups, pints, quarts, gallons, and liters.
Measures weight using ounces, pounds, and grams.
Reads thermometer to determine temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
Data Analysis
Organizes, classifies, and represents data using tallies, charts, tables, bar graphs, and pictographs.
Recognizes which outcome is the most likely.
Lists and counts the number of possible pairings of objects within a set.
 
PROBLEM SOLVING
Reasoning
Identifies the central question to be answered.
Uses a variety of strategies to solve problems including: sorting, classifying, drawing, looking for patterns, making graphs/lists/tables, acting-it-out, guess-and-check, and working backward.
Communication
Communicates mathematical understanding orally to describe strategies used to solve problems.

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SCIENCE 

Inquiry
Uses the scientific method to conduct investigations.
Collects and analyzes data using standard measurement.
Uses simple diagrams and written descriptions to communicate experiences in science.
 
Domains of Science
Earth Science: Weather
Understands elements of the water cycle.
Recognizes that the type of precipitation is related to change in temperature.
 
Earth Science: Astronomy
Recognizes that the earth is one of the planets that orbit the sun, and that the moon orbits the earth.
Demonstrates an understanding of the identifying characteristics of the sun, planets, constellations, and the moon.
 
Life Science: Plants and Animals
Identifies the needs of animals as space, water, air, food, proper temperature, and ability to reproduce.
Describers structure, function, and needs of plants.
Describes a representative life cycle of plants and animals.
Describes a simple food chain/web.
Recognizes that living organisms interact with one another in a variety of ways.
Identifies plant and animal features that allow them to survive in their environment.
Uses a variety of terms to classify living organisms.
 
Life Science: Body Systems
Recognizes similarities between children and parents.
Recognizes that heredity and the environment influence all growth and development in all living organisms.
Uses the five senses to make observations.
Recognizes the structure of the eye and the ear as components of the nervous system.
Describes the major structures and function of the circulatory system.
 
Physical Science: Sound
Describes how sound is produced.
Recognizes that sound changes in direction, volume, and pitch.
 
 

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SOCIAL STUDIES
Geography
Uses geographical methods to locate and identify specific locations in the Americas.
Uses cardinal directions to express the location of places.
Identifies features of rainforests, rivers, mountains, temperate forests, swamps, and deserts.
Identifies the location of major Native American regional groups.
History
Describes the motivations and effects of the major explorers on the New World.
Investigates early Viking contacts with North America.
Recognizes the significance of Christopher Columbus’ voyages.
Introduces students to the motivations and effects of the French, Spanish, and English exploration.
Culture/Economics
Explores the origin and travel of early peoples to the Americas.
Describes the cultural characteristics of Native American societies.
Describes North American tribes’ shelters, tools, foods, and crafts.
Recognizes how the surrounding geography and climate affected the cultures of early American societies.
Investigates the early presence of Native American activities within the New England woodlands.
 

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ART
Skills/Literacy
Demonstrates the ability to use basic art tools and materials with increased skill.
Creates artwork in a variety of media.
Expands basic art vocabulary.
Uses elements of design in artwork including color, line, space, shape, texture, and pattern.
Describes similarities and differences in works of art.
Explores general categories of art such as painting, printmaking, sculpture, and collage.
Investigates how artists create works of art.
Participates in informal classroom discussion about art.
Expression
Uses art as a means to communicate ideas and personal feelings.
Presents personal responses to art.
Creates artwork inspired by historical and cultural styles.

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Literacy
Recognizes symbols for half, quarter, and eighth notes and quarter rests.
Performs notated rhythms, which uses quarter and double eighth notes and quarter rests.
Listens attentively to determine adult and child voices, alone or in a group.
Recognizes unison and harmony, simple form, and dynamics of loud and soft.
 
Performance
Memorizes and sings American folk songs and songs from various cultures using proper pitch, rhythm, diction, and dynamics.
Identifies instruments by their sound and perceives the connection between size and sound.
Performs simple dances and spontaneous movements to music.
Improvises and answers to rhythmic and melodic phrases.

 
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HEALTH EDUCATION
Physical Health
Begins to identify body systems including nervous, circulatory, and skin.
Begins to understand how we care for body systems.
Identifies the vegetable group in the Food Guide Pyramid.
Safety and Prevention
Recognizes the rules of water safety and the need for skin protection.
Begins to learn how bodies fight germs and disease naturally, with medicine, and by immunization.
Begins to apply skills to prevent and control the spread of disease, including skills that promote cleanliness.
 

 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Motor Skills/Fitness
Participates in two fitness assessment tests (fall and spring).
 
Cooperative Interaction Skills
Effectively participates in cooperative and competitive games.

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FOREIGN LANGUAGE
French Immersion: Stage 1 Proficiency
Is able to obtain information and knowledge and follow directions through listening to French.
Demonstrates ability to respond to oral prompts in French using grade-appropriate vocabulary regarding a variety of themes and topics.
Is able to spontaneously communicate regarding a variety of topics to express greetings, needs, emotions, opinions, likes, dislikes, agreement, disagreement, and to ask and answer questions.
Is able to write developmentally appropriate messages and short texts using both standard and phonetic spelling.
Demonstrates knowledge of cultures in which French is spoken.
Spanish: Stage 1 Proficiency
Is able to obtain information and knowledge and follow directions through listening to Spanish.
Demonstrates ability to respond to oral prompts in Spanish using selected words, phrases, and expressions regarding a limited number of themes and topics.
Demonstrates limited knowledge of cultures in which Spanish is spoken.

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