Click link below to view MN State Standards for Science.
2nd grade standards can be found on pages 5-7.
mn_standards.pdf | |
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During our 2nd grade school year, children will be doing many hands and inquiry based experiments. 2nd grade students will learn and use the engineering design process to find solutions to design challenges. They will learn how to make observations, ask testable questions, and conduct investigations.
Children will also learn about the following areas of technology:
>Technology and how to use it in every curriculum area
>Using computers to help prepare them to live in a technology-rich society.
>How to access teacher approved websites
>How to read and follow onscreen computer prompts
>Save and retrieve files
>Print (use menu and keyboard shortcuts)
>Click and drag text and graphic
>Highlighting text to speech
>Use existing spreadsheets to analyze information
>Correct posture for keyboarding
>Locate and use keys: shift, delete...
>Use arrow keys to move around in text
>Multimedia interaction
Children will also learn about the following areas of technology:
>Technology and how to use it in every curriculum area
>Using computers to help prepare them to live in a technology-rich society.
>How to access teacher approved websites
>How to read and follow onscreen computer prompts
>Save and retrieve files
>Print (use menu and keyboard shortcuts)
>Click and drag text and graphic
>Highlighting text to speech
>Use existing spreadsheets to analyze information
>Correct posture for keyboarding
>Locate and use keys: shift, delete...
>Use arrow keys to move around in text
>Multimedia interaction
Science Unit: Plants
Second graders will describe and sort plants based on their physical characteristics. They will explore and describe how a plant changes during its life cycle. Children will conduct experiments to prove that plants need air, space, light, and water to survive and be able to discuss how the plant environment can affect these needs. They will ask questions about the plants they experiment on, then observe, record, and share what happens when they interact with the plants
What families can do at home to help:
- Observe plants around your home, both indoor and outdoor. Talk about the differences between the plants you see. Compare the differences between their leaves, stems, flowers, fruit/seeds.
- Plant a garden.
- Visit a zoo or botanical garden
Science Unit: States of Matter
Second graders will observe and describe objects in terms of the materials they are made of and their physical properties. Children will observe, record and recognize that physical properties can be changed but not all materials respond the same way to what is done to them. They will learn about, and work with solids, liquids, and gases and observe changes of state, as well as describe solids, liquids, and gases in terms of color, size, shape, weight, texture, flexibility, and strength.
What families can do at home to help:
- With your child, bake a cake or muffins. Talk about the liquids or solids ingredients and observe the changes after baking.
- Blow up balloons and let your child deflate them, feeling the air movement on their face. Observe the changes that happen to the solid, plastic part of the balloon as an invisible gas (air/breath) is pushed inside.
- Let your child pour water and sand or beans into different sized containers to see that liquids don't hold their shape, but solids keep their shapes.
Science Unit: Weather
In 2nd grade, students will measure, record and describe weather conditions using common tools.
What families can do at home to help:
- Take a walk in the late fall or early winter to observe water in its different forms.
- Take a walk to a nearby pond, river or stream in different seasons throughout the year. Observe the changes that happen.
Science Unit: Motion
In 2nd grade, children will demonstrate the motion of an object and describe the motion by a change in its position over time and relative to other objects in the background. They will explore and describe how force such as a push or a pull can change the motion of an object, including gravity. In addition, children will identify a need or problem and construct an object to meet that need or solve the problem. They will explain why some materials might be better or worse than others for making their objects and other objects in the world. Students will be able to explain how items made by people effect everyday life.
What families can do at home to help:
- Give your child opportunities to take things apart. Let them try to figure out how things work.
- Visit the library to learn more about the topics your child is studying in science.
- Visit a science museum to learn more about the science concepts your child is studying in 2nd grade. Your county library has information on free passes.
- Design & make a model car or toy at home.
- Build a boat, car, truck, or guy with Legos, Tinker Toys, or Kinnexs.
Health Unit
In 2nd Grade, children will learn about:
How to express emotions in a healthy way by:
Demonstrating an understanding of individual differences.
How to express emotions in a healthy way by:
Demonstrating an understanding of individual differences.
- Knowing conflict resolution skills.
- Knowing how friends and family influence health.
- The attributes of having good character.
- Age appropriate personal safety strategies such as:
- Bus safety
- Playground safety
- Bike safety
- Fire safety
- Personal safety.