English Language Arts — Grade 2

Arachnid anatomy!

This lesson is part of a science unit entitled “Spiders: Fact and Fiction.” During this lesson, learning will focus on specific body anatomy, functions and distinguishing characteristics of spiders.

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

By Susan Sharples.

Asian action I: Character details

Students will use drawing and writing to study characters in Asian art, focusing on the potential stories hinted at by the many details depicted in the art examples. This lesson draws on the richly detailed and expressive human and animal characters depicted in the arts of Asia. Is there a reason why Durga has so many arms? What about Ganesha and that elephant head?

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

By Brian Fricks.

The Bear Who Wouldn't Sleep

Intermediate-level ESL students will apply facts from a content-based reading passage to create a short story about a bear who doesn't hibernate with his family.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts)

By Donna Kauffman.

Beginning Biography Research

Encyclopedia research skills will be taught using biographies of famous people. This is one lesson in a collaborative unit taught by both the classroom teacher and library media coordinator

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

By Joan Milliken.

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.

Discovering how to take care of our natural resources

This lesson focuses on our natural resources and the effect our actions have on them. Students explore this concept through discussion, matching, literature, cause and effect, and writing.

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

By Jennifer Hicks and Alison Short.

Does your House Measure Up?

This lesson is intended to be used as a final assessment of a student's understanding of an inch, foot, and yard. It will also assess their ability to use a yardstick, follow written directions, and work with a partner to draw a house on the school blacktop as part of a class neighborhood.

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

By Cathy Searcey.

Geography centers

A geography unit in which students investigate and compare their hometowns and other cities. The unit incorporates nine centers: math, science, social studies, reading, writing, computers, puzzles and games, art, and listening. They all have activities that are integrated with the geography unit.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts, Visual Arts Education, Social Studies, Mathematics, Computer Technology Skills, and Science)

By Laurie Perry.

Geometry and Art: Art Museum Post-Visit

Geometry and Art: Art Museum Post-Visit is the third lesson of a three-part unit integrating math, writing and visual arts. In this integrated lesson, students apply their knowledge of geometry by organizing and displaying information in graphs with correct labeling. Students then compare and analyze graphs. Finally, with this information students create a geometric design.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts, Visual Arts Education, and Mathematics)

By Loretta Hopper.

Geometry and Art: Art Museum Visit

Geometry and Art: Art Museum Visit is the second lesson of a three-part unit integrating math, writing and visual arts. In this lesson students apply their knowledge of geometry by sorting, classifying and counting plane geometric figures during a visit to the art museum to look at and compare twentieth- century paintings. Students then collect data and share what they observe.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts, Visual Arts Education, and Mathematics)

By Loretta Hopper.

Getting to know spiders

This lesson is useful for helping students understand the differences between spiders and insects. They will also learn about a spider's particular body parts. Live spiders will be observed over the course of a few days to see how sound, light, and movement affect the spiders.

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

By Bree Welmaker.

Let's hear it for sound!

This lesson will help students build an understanding of the concepts of sound (vibration, pitch) through participation in a variety of hands-on experiments. By observing, predicting, and analyzing results, students can actively investigate the science of sound.

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

By Carol Helms.

Making “Oobleck”

The students will discuss what they think will happen when mixing specific ingredients to create an unknown substance labeled “Oobleck.” Next, the students will work together in small groups of four or five to create this substance. Finally, the students will individually illustrate and write one to three sentences describing the results.

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

By Paige Hoffman.

Making Equal Shares

This activity is designed to connect literature and math. The students will use manipulatives and literature to reinforce the concept of equal sharing.

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

By Tara Almeida.

Measurement Mania

Measurement Mania is a series of lessons that will actively involve students in several measurement activities. Students will gain hands-on practice while working within the classroom environment in small groups.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts, Visual Arts Education, and Mathematics)

By Christy Brown.

Surprise Box Descriptions

Students will learn to give oral definitions and descriptions. Each student will take a turn describing the contents of a plastic egg with a category plus attribute format. Other members in the group will have an opprtunity to guess the contents of the egg after listening to the description.

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

By Susan Karcher.

Using K-W-L to confirm what you know

Students will learn to use a K-W-L to activate their prior knowledge and help them set a purpose for reading and recording what they learned. They will also extend their K-W-L chart to confirm the accuracy of their prior knowledge and of what they learn.

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

By Kathleen Neff.

Visit to Ackland Art Museum (African Masks Exhibit)

This lesson will focus on the different African masks at the Ackland Art Museum. Students will discuss the different moods and facial expressions of the masks.

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

By Debra Johnson-Morse.

Who's Theodor Seuss Geisel? Meet The Real Dr. Seuss

Students will search internet resources, print and multimedia encyclopedias to research information on Dr. Seuss. Students will use a "Biography" template to document information, site resources, and write a simple biography report.

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

By Amy Rhyne, Paulette Keys, and Sarah Carson.

Lesson plans on the web

Acrostic poems: All about me and my favorite things

Introduces students to acrostic poetry. They create poems using their names as a starting point for writing about themselves. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE