Science - 2nd Grade

Content Overview:

Science in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade is focused on a central theme.  Students in the K-2 grade band will be exploring the science theme Observations of the Environment. This theme focuses on helping students develop the skills for systematic discovery to understand the science of the physical world around them in greater depth by using scientific inquiry. In the elementary years, all students work to become proficient in the use of the scientific processes to construct their knowledge and understanding in all science content areas. Second grade students will be studying Weather, Force and Motion, and Habitats and will be engaged in various investigations to further explore the concepts within those topics.

Textbooks:

Variety of authentic literature

Assessments:

Formative and summative classroom assessments

 

Standards/Learning Goals

Ohio’s Learning Standards in Science are comprised of 3 strands: Earth and Space Science, Life Science, and Physical Science. The content statements listed below state what students should learn and understand in each discipline.

1st Quarter - Life Science - Interactions within Habitats

  • This topic focuses on how ecosystems work by observations of simple interactions between the biotic/ living and abiotic/nonliving parts of an ecosystem. Just as living things impact the environment in which they live, the environment impacts living things.
    • Living things cause changes on Earth
    • Some kinds of individuals that once lived on Earth have completely disappeared, although they were something like others that are alive today

3rd Quarter - Physical Science - Changes in Motion

  • This topic focuses on observing the relationship between forces and motion.
    • Forces change the motion of an object

4th Quarter - Earth and Space Science - The Atmosphere

  • This topic focuses on air and water as they relate to weather and weather changes that can be observed and measured.
    • The atmosphere is made up of air
    • Water is present in the air
    • Long- and short-term weather changes occur due to changes in energy