English Language Arts — Grade 2

Moravian migration: Before a visit to Bethabara

Students investigate NCECHO site to "read all about" the 1753 Moravian settlement of Bethabara within our social studies curriculum topic on Life Long Ago. The Historic Bethabara Park website has historic background in narrative and diary form. After reading and discussing this information in teams with the teacher, student teams present information to classmates in some visual product in one of five categories. Students also will visit the photos on NCECHO and answer analytical questions to increase understanding of the past as compared to today.

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

Inside and outside: Paradox of the box

This lesson serves to introduce students to symbolism (the box), to the literary element paradox, and to the abstract notion of ambiguity (freedom vs. confinement). It is designed for 2nd and 3rd graders, but may be adapted for use with upper elementary or early middle school grades.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–3 English Language Arts)

By Edie McDowell.

Directed reading lesson: Dear Mr. Blueberry

This plan is a directed reading/thinking activity for the book Dear Mr. Blueberry with questioning and a follow-up written activity that focuses on the story elements. Another activity involves discussing facts about whales in the story and, then, finding other facts about whales that are used for a writing activity.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts)

By Candace Hall.

Butterfly cycle

Students will understand the life cycle of the butterfly and create various art activities that would model metamorphosis.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Science)

By Becky Woolard.

Resources on the web

Word study with "Henry and Mudge"

Applying aspects of the small-group differentiated reading model to a systematic word study of the past tense marker –ed, this lesson helps students identify both base words and suffixes. After introducing students to Henry and... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

The wonder of Leo Lionni: Increasing comprehension with prediction statements

This lesson uses picture books by Leo Lionni to engage students in predicting and questioning text. The teacher introduces Swimmy by Leo Lionni and models how to make “I wonder” prediction statements about the text.... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

What's the difference? Beginning writers compare e-mail with letter writing

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students explore the differences between e-mail and letter writing by contrasting and identifying different forms, and experimenting with their own e-mail and letter compositions. This lesson incorporates an “E-Mail... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Weather: A journey in nonfiction

This ReadWriteThink research project is designed for primary students to engage in nonfiction text, in both print and digital format. Students begin by formulating questions on a subject (in this case, weather). They then classify questions into topic areas.... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Using web-based bookmarks to conduct Internet research

Students listen and respond to a read-aloud of The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown, and then use the structure of her writing to write poems describing “important things” about classmates. The teacher introduces... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–3 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

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

A Trip to Wonderland: The Nursery "Alice"

This lesson, found on the EDSITEment website, is part of a unit that explores elements of wonder, distortion, fantasy, and whimsy in The Nursery “Alice,” Lewis Carroll's adaptation for younger readers of his beloved classic Alice's... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: EDSITEment

Text Talk: "Julius, the Baby of the World"

This lesson from ReadWritethink helps young readers interact with and interpret text using Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes. The text talk strategy provides students with open-ended questions, which allow them to interpret the... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Shhh! Bear's sleeping: learning about nonfiction and fiction using read-alouds

The teacher introduces students to many different genres of literature in this lesson that explores the differences between fiction and nonfiction. After reading “Big Paws,” the teacher engages students in a discussion about bears and creates... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Reading informational texts using the 3-2-1 strategy

After teacher modeling, students read a magazine article independently and use the 3-2-1 strategy to comprehend what they read. As an introduction to this lesson, the teacher engages students in a brainstorming activity that challenges them to list things... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Reading and writing about whales using fiction and nonfiction texts

This lesson from ReadWriteThink teaches students how to formulate research questions and write letters. The lesson uses the nonfiction picture book Big Blue Whale by Nicola Davies to present factual information about blue whales and the fiction... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Predicting and gathering information with nonfiction texts

This ReadWriteThink lesson supports second-grade teachers in introducing nonfiction to their students and using it for informational purposes. Nonfiction is being recognized by the reading community to be vital to early learners. Students develop an understanding... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Poetry portfolios: Using poetry to teach reading and writing

Students learn to read and write when they have an active interest in what they are reading and writing about. This ReadWriteThink lesson supports students' exploration of language and writing skills as they read and dissect poetry. Through a weekly poem,... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Navajo weaving

In this ARTSEDGE lesson, students explore various aspects of Native American cultures and Navajo weavings. Using the patterns on the Navajo Rugs, they devise dance patterns and perform a traveling pattern based on Navajo weavings. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–3 Visual Arts Education, Dance Arts Education, and English Language Arts)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Listen, look, and learn: An information-gathering process

In this lesson, primary students will work together as a class to seek information on the sloth. A variety of resources and formats will be used with notes recorded on an information wheel graphic organizer. Guiding the listening, looking, and learning... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts and Information Skills)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Junie B. Jones introduces literacy mystery boxes

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, the teacher reads aloud the Junie B. Jones selection Junie B., First Grader (at last!). Students discuss the text with a partner, and then individually record key events from the story. Each student also... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink