English Language Arts — Grade 2

African Masks (Pre-Visit)

This lesson will observe and describe several masks from different parts of Africa housed in the Smithsonian Institute (National Museum of African Art) Washington, D.C. Students will use the internet to view the Smithsonian's virtual exhibits. There are two lessons to follow this pre-visit. In the first, the students will explore African masks at the Ackland Art museum in Chapel Hill. In a culminating activity the students will make their own masks with some personal materials brought from home. (Post-visit activity)

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

By Debra Johnson-Morse.

Character Education - Honesty

This lesson will focus on two character education traits - honesty and friendship. During this lesson the students will conduct a character analysis and link prior knowledge to help understand the story.


Summary of story:
Horace the main character tells a fib when he finds a toy truck and claims it as his own. His conscience bothers him but the toy is too irrestible to admit the truth. He experiences turmoil from holding on to his terrible secret. He lies to his teacher, mother, and even the doctor (he pretends to be sick). Walter is the owner of the truck and he knows Horace has it. Walter writes Horace a get-well letter. Read the story to find out how the story ends.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts)

By LaTina Robinson.

Economic Resources Using Thinking Maps

This lesson uses several literature selections in order to identify and classify natural, human, and capital resources. Students will work together in small groups to gather information and individually complete a Thinking Map. The assessment includes completing a Tree Map individually and sharing group information with the rest of the class. This lesson will take two days.

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

By Robin Campbell.

Features of Print

In this lesson, the teacher introduces the concept of gathering information from chapter headings, bold type and other organizational features of print (such as tables of contents) in non-fiction texts in print and online.

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

By Gail Goodling, Susan Lovett, and Sue Versenyi.

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.

An integrated lesson comparing the butterfly and frog life cycles

Students will build on their prior knowledge about the butterfly life cycle to compare and contrast the life cycles of butterflies and frogs. Students will locate butterflies on the school grounds and create pictographs and models of fractions to explain their findings mathematically. Students will also use a variety of resources to read about and study the food, space and air needed by butterflies and frogs to grow. They will create visual and written products to demonstrate their findings.

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

By Martha Dobson and Margaret Monds.

The Key to a Map

The students will use a map of the classroom to strengthen their map reading skills. They will work in groups and use a prepared map of the classroom to find hidden messages.

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

By Melissa Lasher.

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.

Rules and Reasons

Through active participation in a game without rules, students will discover the reason for rules and laws in our neighborhood and community. They will design a poster and write a story about rules.

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

By Jeannette Renas.

Splitting Bears

Students will learn sequencing (beginning, middle, end) by using a bear pattern.

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

By Kendra Sisk.

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.

Twas the night before Christmas: Retelling through thinking maps

After reading and discussing “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” students will work together to create a Flow Map. Each student will then use the map they created individually to retell the story in his/her own words.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts and Computer Technology 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.

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.

What Does Your Name Mean?

This lesson will enable the students to investigate the meaning of their names and discuss with their parents how they decided on their name.

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

By Pam Purifoy.

Lesson plans on the web

Catching the bug for reading through interactive read-alouds

Helps students learn reading strategies and how to prevent the spread of germs in their classroom. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts and Healthful Living Education)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Collaborating on a class book: Exploring before-during-after sequences

Students and the teacher produce a class book through a group-writing activity focusing on a basic before-during-after sequence of events. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Collaborative stories 1: Prewriting and drafting

Students engage in prewriting activities that include writing the beginning of a story and brainstorming ideas using an online, interactive story map. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Collaborative stories 2: Revising

Engages students in a group-revising activity. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

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

In this lesson, students explore similarities and differences among various versions of “Little Red Riding Hood.” (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE