District 11 Division of Operations & Instruction
Science

Grade 2: Overview of the Year

Overview
Topics in second grade science focus on learning critical science skills and include units on Insects, Air and Weather, Balance and Motion, and Changes. Each unit includes hands-on, minds-on, research-based kits that give students opportunities to "do science" while learning science vocabulary, concepts and skills. Each unit equips students to improve their reading and writing skills with reading resources designed for a range of reading abilities. Science Kits are shared across the district, so students will follow the curriculum scheduled for their particular school. Although the order may differ, all students will receive instruction on the topics listed on the menu to the right. Students that have experienced a deeper, integrated experiences with science concepts and processes demonstrate higher levels of success in secondary science. 

Building Successful Foundations in Science - Elementary science integrates and organizes student scientific knowledge through a foundation made up of 'Bricks" of Big Ideas put together with the "Mortar" of Unifying Concepts.

Standards

Enduring Understandings - important ideas that students should carry with them years beyond the instruction received this year.

  • Constancy and Change: Although most things are in the process of changing, some properties remain constant (i.e. the speed of light). (Earth/Space Science)

  • Weather conditions change over time.  Changes can be organized, compared, and predicted. (Earth/Space Science)
  • Interdependence: Living things interact with one another and their environment for existence and balance. (Life Science)

  • Insects have physical characteristics and structure, undergo changes within life cycles, and interact with each other and their environments. (Life Science)

  • Order and Organization of Systems: A system consists of components/parts that interact. (Physical Science)

  • The stability of a system is dependent upon the position of its components. (Physical Science)

Essential Questions - most important “big picture” questions students should be able to answer after completing learning activities.

Scientific Process

  • What common vocabulary should be used when conducting an investigation?

  • Why are predictions an important part of the scientific process? How can we make better predictions?

  • Why should we follow a plan when conducting an investigation?

  • What tools are available to gather data when conducting an investigation?

  • How does data help us explain our investigation? What are some of the ways we can collect data?

  • How can we communicate the results of our investigation to others? How can we make sure an investigation is done the same way each time? 

Movement

  • How do objects move? How are objects able to roll? How do changes in energy input affect the outcome?

  • How do objects and counterweights interact in a simple system to achieve balance?

  • What happens to the object when it experiences an outside force?

Living Things

  • What is the difference between living and nonliving things? What characteristics are specific to the butterflies, mealworms, crickets, and milkweed bugs? What do insects eat?

  • What is necessary for all organisms to survive?

  • What structures are specific to insects and what differences exist among the insect populations being studied?

  • What are some specific characteristics of the organisms that allow them to adapt and survive in their environments? What characteristics are common to each of these species?

  • What is the life cycle of a meal worm, butterfly, cricket, and milkweed bug?

Weather

  • How does weather affect states of matter: solid, liquid, or gaseous?

  • How does the sun affect weather daily? What are some terms that help us describe the weather?

  • How are daily activities affected by the weather? How do we measure changes in weather?

Technology

  • How can you utilize technology to gain knowledge and, communicate information?

  • What careers use science and technology?

  • How can data accuracy be determined? How does data help make better predictions?

  • How is data gained and how are experiments replicated accurately? How can errors in data be discovered?

  • How can data be visually represented? What is the best type of graph for specific data?

  • How can models help complete a scientific investigation?

Safety

  • What are safe laboratory techniques?

  • What tools are needed to gather the data required, and how are they appropriately used?

Standards 
Highest Frequency Standards High Frequency Standards
Other Standards & E-skills

Standard 1: Students apply the process of scientific investigation and design, conduct, communicate about, and evaluate such investigations.
Standard 1 Benchmarks:     Grades K-2
1. use their senses to make and describe careful observations 
2. ask questions and make predictions 
3. conduct simple experiments using tools and technology (for example: computers, thermometers, magnifiers, rulers, balances)
4. record data, report on findings and explain with reasons   

Standard 2: Physical Science: Student know and understand common properties, forms, and changes in matter and energy. (Focus: Physics and Chemistry)
Standard 2 Benchmarks:      Grades K-2 
1.  solids and liquids (matter) can be identified, compared, sorted/classified by their physical properties  (for example: size, shape, texture, flexibility, temperature, color and patterns)
2.  mixtures can be created and separated based on physical properties (for example: salt and sand, iron filings and soil, oil and water)
3.  the only way to change the motion of an object is by pushing or pulling on it (force)

Standard 3: Life Science: Students know and understand the characteristics and structure of living things, the processes of life, and how living things interact with each other and their environment. (Focus: Biology – anatomy, Physiology, Botany, Zoology, Ecology)
Standard 3 Benchmarks:     Grades K-2
1.  an organism (plant, animal) is a living thing that has physical characteristics that help it to survive 
2.  offspring have characteristics that are similar to but not exactly like their parents 
3.  fossil evidence helps identify organisms that once lived on Earth but have completely disappeared  (for example: dinosaurs, dodo bird, woolly mammoth and saber tooth tiger)
4.  there are similarities and differences in growth and development of organisms (for example: insect, plant, mammal)
5.  organisms interact with each other and with nonliving parts of their habitat to meet their basic needs  (for example: food, water, air, shelter, space)


Standard 4:
Earth and Space Science: Students know and understand the processes and interactions of Earth’s systems and the structure and dynamics of Earth and other objects in space. (Focus: Geology, Meteorology, Astronomy, Oceanography)
Standard 4 Benchmarks:
    Grades K-2
1.  there are different types of Earth’s materials that come in different shapes and sizes (for example: rocks and soil ) 
2.  there are major features of Earth's surface (for example: mountains, rivers, plains, hills, oceans, plateaus)
3.  the Earth’s materials (rocks, soil, water) provide many of the resources that humans use and reuse 
4.  our activities are affected by the daily weather and changing seasons (for example: types of clothing, travel plans, recreational activity)
5.  the Sun is the source of Earth's heat and light 
6.  objects can be readily observed in the daytime and nighttime sky ( for example: the Sun, Moon, stars )   

Standard 5: Students understand that the nature of science involves a particular way of building knowledge and making meaning of the natural world.
Standard 5 Benchmarks:
    Grades K-2
1.  basic observable patterns and changes in the world can help to predict future events based on those patterns (for example: seasonal weather patterns, day/night)

Sample Units

District 11 Diamond Units/Lessons Overview - includes information about the purpose, goals and structure of these sample instructional units:

Unit Science Leveled Readers With Audio
Insects Unit Exoskeleton 
Air & Weather Unit Air is Everywhere   Earth's Land, Air, and Weather  Earth's Weather   Earth's Weather and Seasons   Changing Weather   Climate and Weather
Balance & Motion Unit Exploring Forces and Motion   Forces and Motion   Flying Machines   Forces in Motion
Changes Unit - Optional  
Changes Unit - Optional  

Science Leveled Readers Full Library in online audio format

Parents

According to research conducted by Robert Marzano and the Mid-Continental Research in Education Laboratory (McREL), one of the most effective research-based strategies for learning reading and science is to have students write about their observations or information they have learned. Second graders can write meaningful sentences about their observations and information learned at school.  Leave a note for your child to read when he or she gets home. Ask him or her to write about one specific science thing they remember from the school day. Write a response for your child to read and display your child's written response on the refrigerator or other designated place. To increase verbal communication, leave a message for your child to draw a picture of the most interesting thing learned in science. When you have time to sit together, ask your child to describe the picture and the events it represents. Proudly display your child's work at home.

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