English Language Arts — Grade 2

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 English Language Arts and Information Skills)

By Amy Rhyne, Paulette Keys, and Sarah Carson.

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.

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.

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 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies)

By Laurie Perry.

Discovering how to take care of our natural resources

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

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

By Jennifer Hicks and Alison Short.

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 English Language Arts and Information Skills)

By Joan Milliken.

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.

Resources on the web

Literature circles with primary students using self-selected reading

This lesson from ReadWriteThink is a structured guideline for helping students learn to think about the books they read, and to ask questions about books shared by other students. It is especially appropriate for mixed-age and upper primary classes, or... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Comparing Tales through Performance

In this ARTSEDGE lesson, students identify the similarities and differences between a traditional and a contemporary version of The Three Little Pigs. Students act out scenes from each of the stories and are assessed based on how well they... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–4 English Language Arts and Theater Arts Education)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Comparing fiction and nonfiction with "Little Red Riding Hood" text sets

This lesson plan features an example of a cumulative literary experience or “literature unit” structured around a text set made up of conceptually-related fiction and nonfiction for reading aloud and for independent reading. Students... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Building a matrix for Leo Lionni books: An author study

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students listen to four books by author Leo Lionni over the course of four days. Each reading is followed by discussion focusing on literary elements and comparing characters and plots. After discussion, students participate... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

3, 2, 1...Blast off! Vocabulary instruction using a virtual trip to the moon

Students begin this lesson by activating prior knowledge about the moon through an initial writing activity. After the teacher has posted all ideas, students are engaged in discussions, read-alouds, and the creation of a picture dictionary that shows the... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink