English Language Arts — Grade 2

Using Venn diagrams to compare and contrast

In order to be able to compare and contrast weather in other places around the country and the world, the students will learn how to use a graphic organizer (Venn diagram) to visualize likeness and differences between two things.

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

By Kelly Sharpe, Kathleen Hughes, Ruffin Priest, Sondra Walker, and Sandra McKee.

Snails: Fact and fiction

This lesson on snails integrates Science, Language Arts, Technology and Math. Teacher will share a fictitious snail story with students. Students will complete a K-W-L chart on snails with the help of the internet. As a related activity, students will take a poll on snail preferences and graph it.

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

By Jody Shaughnessy.

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)

How much is that doggy in the window?

Using internet sources, students will explore information associated with owning a dog. Students will access a controlled collection of websites regarding owning a dog within the scavenger hunt.

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

By Kathy Beck.

Resources on the web

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

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

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

Let's build a snowman

This ReadWriteThink lesson suggests building a snowman as one way to provide food for birds and animals during the winter. Students read fiction and nonfiction books and access the Internet to gain information about how animals survive during the winter.... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Investigating animals: Using nonfiction for inquiry-based research

In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students research animals with nonfiction and informational material. Through their research they will learn how to document their discoveries. They will work together to question, research, investigate, and share their findings.... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

I wonder: Writing scientific explanations with students

Students learn about scientific inquiry in this lesson that focuses on reading and writing. After students have collected items that relate to trees participated in several activities based on trees, they ask questions or “wonderings” about... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

How does my garden grow? Writing in science field journals

Students learn about their environment in this lesson that challenges them to plan, plant, and observe the changes in a class gardening project. Once the teacher has completed a read-aloud of a book about a garden, students brainstorm terms and information... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

From fact to fiction: Drawing and writing stories

Getting children to use their imaginations when writing a story can sometimes be difficult. Drawing, however, can create a bridge between the ideas in a child's head and the blank piece of paper on the desk. In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students use factual... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

The frog beyond the fairy tale character: Searching informational texts

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students consider their prior knowledge about frogs by predicting whether eight statements are true or false. Students verify their predictions through the guided use of the website The Somewhat Amusing World of... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Computer/Technology Skills and English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Digging up details on worms: Using the language of science in an inquiry study

This integrated lesson invites students to research worms in order to create a classroom habitat. Students participate in specific activities in the areas of math and science in order to learn to read and write across the content areas. After brainstorming... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Creating question and answer books through guided research

This ReadWriteThink lesson focuses on a “learn by doing” series of reading and writing activities designed to teach research strategies. The activity uses KWL charts and interactive writing as key components of organizing information. One topic... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Animal study: From fiction to facts

This lesson from ReadWriteThink, describes how to use selected fiction and nonfiction literature and careful questioning techniques to help students identify factual information about animals. Children identify possible factual information, and then confirm... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Adventures in nonfiction: A guided inquiry journey

The activities in this ReadWriteThink lesson provide a foundation for using nonfiction resources for developing and answering questions about gathered information. Using a wide variety of nonfiction literature, students learn to sort and categorize books... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink