Second Grade Curriculum Language Arts In second grade, students understand the basic concepts and skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking - using their own unique talents and gifts. Students practice fluency and vocabulary by reading a variety of literature from many different cultures and styles. Students use a variety of comprehension strategies to generate and respond to essential questions, make predictions, and compare information from multiple sources. Students write clear and coherent sentences and learn paragraph development. Students also write personal narratives, factual reports, and friendly letters. The students learn to edit and continually refine their writing.
		Social Studies Second grade social studies students engage in many community-based activities. They write about their families as well as explore the diversity of peoples locally and internationally. Students learn about the physical geography and local institutions of their own community by taking regular walks and trips around the school. Members of the San Mateo community visit students to share and discuss their roles and jobs within the community. Students discuss and record their experiences using maps, pictures, and stories. They publish and share the results. Students learn that individual and collective action can make a difference in the lives of others and in the life of their community. Math Students produce their own math journals to develop an appreciation for mathematical concepts while building basic skills. Students count, read, and write whole numbers up to 1000 and identify place values. Students compare and learn to order numbers. Addition and subtraction skills are mastered with three digit numbers. Students begin the study of the concepts related to multiplication by creating models. In addition, they learn to do simple multiplication problems using repeated addition and by using concrete examples. Fractions are introduced with an emphasis on understanding the part/whole relationship that can be represented visually. Students study measurement, geometry, and graphing along with concepts of money and time. Science Students in second grade learn through hands on research in science. Students produce their own science journals as they deepen their understanding of physical, earth, and life sciences. They learn and develop an understanding of the ways objects move and how movement can be observed and measured. Students explore and develop an understanding of the life cycle of plants and animals. The children demonstrate an understanding of the sequential stages of life cycles of different animals. They learn about germination, growth, and development of the earth's flora and fauna. The interrelationship between the earth and physical sciences is explored as students come to recognize that the earth is made of distinct materials; materials that can provide natural resources. Students compare the physical properties of different kinds of rocks and demonstrate that rocks are made up of different combinations of minerals. Kindergarten :: First Grade :: Second Grade :: Third Grade :: Fourth Grade :: Fifth Grade