Social Studies — Grade 2

The migration of the monarch butterfly

The students will listen to and discuss books about butterflies and the migration of monarch butterflies to Mexico in order to integrate science, social studies, and language arts.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Development, Science, and Social Studies)

By Martha H. Dobson and Margaret Monds.

Landform adventure

This lesson will enable students to learn the types of landforms and bodies of water. Then they will use geographic terms to describe landforms and bodies of water in Mexico. Activities in this lesson can be taught during a period of 2-3 days.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Beth Edmonds.

Resources on the web

What is a tornado?

Students will learn about how tornadoes are formed and why most tornadoes occur in “tornado alley.” Students will create a tornado in a bottle and review basic safety information about what to do in a tornado. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K and 2 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Under the deep blue sea

In this lesson, students have the opportunity to explore oceans and ocean life. Through creative writing and research projects, students will learn about the ocean and the creatures that live there. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: EDSITEment

To build an island

Students gain a basic overview of the geography of islands. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Native American cultures across the U.S.

Students discuss the differences between five Native American tribes within the U.S. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Endowment for the Humanities

The Middle East region: Flags and facts

Students will learn basic facts about the Middle East by exploring maps of the region. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Marco Polo takes a trip

Students learn about the travels of Venetian adventurer Marco Polo. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Endowment for the Humanities

Life on the rivers of Asia

In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore the Asian rivers—the Ganges, Yangtze, and Mekong, and consider the immediate influence of the rivers in the lives of the people who live along them, as well as the larger influence of the rivers on the regions... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Social Studies)

Provided by: Xpeditions

How's the weather today?

Students examine maps, record temperatures, and draw pictures showing different weather conditions as an introduction to weather and temperature trends in different latitudes of the United States. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K and 2 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Geography skills and your town

In this Xpeditions lesson, students relate the five themes of geography (location, place, human/environment interaction, movement, and regions) to their own home town. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Explore your state with maps

In this Xpeditions lesson, students create maps of their state using information from National Geographic's MapMachine. They then make their own maps from memory after studying the original maps they created. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

El Niño: More Than Just Hot Air?

Students are introduced to the El Niño phenomenon by doing a brief experiment and looking at pictures of El Niño. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Big island pool: Igneous rocks and the anatomy of a volcano

Students will learn about the rocks that are formed when a volcano erupts: igneous rocks. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Beautiful Blue Nile

Students learn about the Blue Nile and compare it to a river in the United States. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

The active earth

Students investigate natural disasters and create a poster showing “The Active Earth.” (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic