Project Work Presentations are frequently prepared and given to various audiences as a culmination of project work. These presentations come in many formats. Social Studies Project Approach learning drives the social studies curriculum in second grade. Students record prior knowledge by documenting what they think they know about a topic. Strategies are used to help students develop questions about what they want to know and beginning research skills are taught to investigate the questions. Topics vary year to year based upon the interests of the students. In recent years the students have investigated: • School community • Holidays, cultures, and traditions • Types of communities (rural, urban, suburban) • Where we are in the world (city, state, nation) Second grade geography work focuses on “Changes,” allowing students to learn how the world changes over time. Students will focus on learning how technology shows geographical changes to better understand what our surroundings were like long ago in order to learn how the environment is changing and the impact that people have had in the United States. Using Nystrom’s Encompass program, which focuses on hands-on geography to increase engagement, students will work cooperatively and analyze primary and secondary sources in order to explore our world. Music Second grade students expand their musical independence and creativity by composing and performing 4- and 8-beat ostinati on classroom instruments. They explore pentatonic melodies on barred instruments and transition into reading and writing rhythms using standard notation. Movement becomes more intentional as students create and perform simple group choreography using basic dance vocabulary. Pitch literacy deepens as students sight- sing sol–mi–la patterns with solfege and hand signs. Through elemental forms, students begin composing short musical pieces, learning how repetition and contrast shape musical structure. Physical Education The second grade physical education program offers a diverse range of activities designed to develop well-rounded student-athletes. Students focus on mastering fundamental skills like throwing, catching, striking, kicking, and dribbling, preparing them for participation in various sports. Students refine their locomotor skills – running, jumping, skipping, sliding
– and conquer challenging obstacle courses that test their agility and balance. Students are then introduced to different games and activities that promote teamwork and sportsmanship both in the gymnasium and on the school’s eight turf fields. Students also practice jump rope routines, master basic stunts and tumbling routines, and explore and practice on the Cook Road gymnasium’s rock climbing wall and ladder challenges. Students utilize the expansive facilities at our disposal. Students also continue to develop their ice skating skills through lessons on the ice at the McCann Ice Arena. Science Second graders work on planning and simple investigations. They work on measurements using tools, such as rulers to collect information, classify and sequence objects and events, and identify patterns. Experiences and topics in the classroom are guided by student interest. The curriculum builds on the skills of the prior grade and is developed through inquiry-based learning that involves projects and hands-on activities. First Lego League Explore continues in second grade. This program introduces science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to children through authentic learning. Participants gain real-world problem solving experience through a guided, global robotics program, helping today’s students and teachers build a better future together. This level focuses on the fundamentals of engineering and the exploration of real-world issues. Students learn to design, code, and create solutions with the use of Lego robotics. Visual Art Art studio time is longer in second grade, lending itself to more in depth, multi-step projects. Students continue to expand their knowledge of art techniques and art materials. Students study self-portraiture, explore an introduction to the color wheel, and practice using organic and geometric shapes through projects. A second grade project might include, but is not limited to, a self-portrait drawing using pattern and design elements to personalize it. Built to Thrive The Built to Thrive program meets twice a month for all second grade students. This program enhances social-emotional intelligence through literature, play, and reflection. Built to Thrive provides thoughtful activities to practice students’ social-emotional learning, develop empathy for others, and practice problem-solving skills. Children also work on identifying and managing their own and others’ emotions.
Second Grade
Literacy The second grade reading curriculum is designed to develop skill, confidence, independence and enjoyment while reading. Through a variety of reading experiences, students engage with and practice reading strategies to help them analyze and understand fiction and informational text. Second graders read decodable texts, leveled readers, and books of choice independently and with the teacher with the goal of building their comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and stamina. Curriculum related non-fiction materials (books, internet resources, magazine articles) are also used as students read for information related to project-based work in the classroom. Phonemic Awareness In second grade, phonemic awareness involves isolating, identifying, blending, and segmenting sounds. Word Study Second grade students build on the basic skills that they learned in kindergarten and first grade and progress further into the study of word structure. Students practice decoding and encoding through phonics studies. Skills focused on at this level are reading, spelling, and identifying CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant) words with blends and digraphs, one syllable and multisyllabic words that include closed syllables, consonant vowel “e” syllables, r-controlled syllables, open syllables, and double
vowel syllables. Students also continue their study of the first 200 high-frequency words. Writing There are numerous opportunities for creative and expository writing, documentation of research writing, as well as frequent journal writing. Second graders continue to develop their use of sentence structure, language, vocabulary, and punctuation. Handwriting and building writing stamina are also emphasized. Mathematics In second grade, the Singapore Math approach is utilized through the Math in Focus curriculum. The concrete-pictorial-abstract methodology of introducing topics and skills allows students to gain an understanding of concepts through researched based discovery with an emphasis on fact fluency, place value, mental math and geometry concepts. Topics studied include place value in base ten, addition and subtraction with regrouping to 1,000, introduction to multiplication and division, measurement, representing data using charts and graphs, and utilizing concepts learned by solving real-world problems. In addition to the Math in Focus curriculum, number talks and games are incorporated regularly to help second grade mathematicians to become flexible thinkers and problem solvers.
2026-2027 ULS Curriculum Guide
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Lower School | Second Grade
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