Second Grade Key Learning Targets

Clarkston School District (CSD) strives to provide opportunities for students to meet their full potential. Students must develop the ability to be independent thinkers. They must learn to solve real-life problems and keep up with latest developments. This curriculum summary identifies key learning targets that represent the skills and knowledge required in each classroom to meet the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements at this grade level.

We encourage you to contact any of our elementary schools if you would like additional information.

Character Education

CSD believes that values education is central to the personal growth and development of its students. It helps prepare them to meet the complex challenges of a rapidly changing world. The district further believes the following common values are essential to the character of an educated person. The school must model, teach and reinforce these values:

• Respect
• Self Discipline
• Honesty
• Work Ethic
• Responsibility
• Citizenship

Communication

Communication develops at different rates and is used in all aspects of life.  The second grade student in CSD works on using listening and observation skills.

• Focuses attention.
• Listens for information.
• Checks for understanding through questioning and paraphrasing.

The second grade student in CSD works on communicating ideas clearly and effectively to a variety of audiences.

• Develops content and ideas.
• Uses effective speech, language and style.
• Presents effectively using action, sound, or images.

The student in CSD works on using communication strategies and skills to work effectively with others.

• Works cooperatively as a member of a group.
• Seeks agreement through discussion.

The student in CSD sets goals for better communication.

• Assesses own and others communication strengths and works to improve.
• Seeks and offers feedback.

Reading

The second grade student in the CSD strives to understand and use different strategies and skills to read fluently.

• Uses text to read unknown words.
• Uses phonic patterns.
• Identifies and reads basic sight words.
• Reads aloud with fluency and expression.
• Alphabetizes to the second letter.
• Reads common nouns and verbs.

The second grade student in the CSD strives to understand the meaning of what is read.

• Summarizes the sequence of a story.
• Compares story plots, setting and character.
• Identifies problem, solution, and main idea of a selection.
• Reads simple text independently.
• Predicts what will happen next in a story.

The second grade student in the CSD works on reading different materials for various purposes.

• Reads and follows written directions.
• Creates questions about what he/she has read.
• Reads silently for at least 15 minutes.
• Uses graphs, maps and tables to locate information.
• Uses table of contents.
• Recognizes different types of written texts: folk tales, legends, plays, articles, narrative.
• Locates reference materials needed.

The second grade student in the CSD works on setting goals and evaluating progress to improve reading at home and school.

• Shares reading experiences.
• Assesses own strengths and works to improve.
• Learns some basic strategies for taking tests.

Written Language

Learning to write brings the learner into the literate community as an active participant.
The second grade student in the CSD works on writing clearly and effectively.

• Recognizes and writes nouns, verbs and adjectives.
• Writes words with long and short vowel combinations.
• Writes words with s, ing, ed, y.
• Writes words with vowel combinations of oi/oy, au/aw, and ou.
• Writes words with r-controlled vowels (ar, ur, er, ir, or).
• Knows and uses basic required sight words.
• Demonstrates proper use of sentence end marks and commas.
• Writes ideas clearly and with detail.

The second grade student in the CSD works toward writing in a variety of forms for different audiences and purposes.

• Reads and writes directions.
• Writes in a variety of forms.
• Uses story elements in writing (plot, setting, characters).
• Writes for a variety of readers.
• Continues to analyze, compare, contrast and synthesize.
• Views technology as a useful writing tool.

The second grade student in the CSD works toward understanding and using the steps of the writing process.

• Demonstrates neat and legible handwriting.
• Organizes final drafts.
• Edits and demonstrates use of capitilization of proper nouns.
• Begins using paragraphing skills.
• Edits spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Varies sentence structure, lengths and beginnings.
• Communicates effectively with others.

The second grade student in the CSD works toward analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of written work.

• Uses the assessment process for self and peers using common standards.
• Seeks and uses feedback to improve writing skills.
• Prints legibly.

Mathematics

The second grade student in the CSD understands and applies the concepts and procedures of mathematics.

Number Sense

• Uses objects to demonstrate and identify the relationship between ones, tens and 100’s.
• Counts forward and backward by tens and hundreds to 1000.
• Reads and writes numerals to 1000.
• Creates, uses, and describes strategies to add and subtract (i.e. doubles, doubles plus one).
• Adds and subtracts two-digit numbers.
• Describes and justifies reasonableness of addition or subtraction problems.
• Easily recalls addition facts to 18.
• Easily recalls subtraction facts to 18.
• Skip counts by 3’s and 4’s to 100 from any number.
• Shows the relationship between addition and multiplication.
• Recognizes and labels fractional parts in halves, thirds, and fourths.

Measurement

• Selects, estimates, and uses standard units (in, ft, yd, cm, m), liquid (cup, pint, quart, gallon, liter).
• Estimates and measures area and perimeter of regular two-dimensional figures.
• Recognizes money, its value and notation of coins and counts its total value.
• Tells time to 5 minutes.
• Makes change from one dollar.
• Selects appropriate tools to measure length, area, weight/mass, and capacity/volume.

Geometric Sense

• Uses objects or drawings to show geometric transformations such as rotations and reflections.
• Identifies and graphs ordered pairs of whole numbers on a coordinate.
• Can use attributes to identify, name, and sort cubes, spheres, cylinders, cones, pyramids, rectangular prisms.

Probability/Statistics

• Describes possible outcomes in a simple experiment where equal outcomes are not likely.
• Construct, organize, and interpret graphs, charts, and diagrams.

Algebraic Sense

• Creates and predicts 2-dimensional patterns.

Science

Our science curriculum is under review. We are updating goals and choosing materials to teach the following concepts at this grade level.

Clarkston’s Science Program focuses on Earth, Life and Physical Sciences at each grade level. Through the study of specific topics at each grade level, students will gain a breadth of knowledge and develop abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.

The following topics have been selected at this grade level.

Light and Shadows, Habitats: Plants and Animals in Rainforests and Deserts, Animal Life Cycles, Air, Seasons, Sun’s Power, Patterns in the Sky, Rocks and Soils.

Social Studies

Social studies provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to participate as responsible and effective citizens in an increasingly complex world.

The second grade student in CSD begins to develop a stronger sense of neighborhood and appreciation of neighborhood structures through cultural awareness.

• Understands that culture shapes neighborhoods.
• Recognizes similarities and differences among neighborhoods.
• Identifies reasons for neighborhoods traditions, celebrations and ceremonies.
• Shows respect for contributions of different cultural neighborhoods throughout the world.

The second grade student in CSD begins to develop a stronger sense of the impact of the environment on neighborhood choices.

• Recognizes the impact of environment on how they live.
• Shows responsibility in caring for the neighborhood environment.
• Identifies how technology impacts neighborhoods.

The second grade student in CSD continues to develop an understanding of the influences of continuity and change.

• Understands that neighborhoods are always growing and changing.
• Recognizes neighborhood changes influence choices.
• Identifies how past and present choices influence a neighborhood’s future.

The second grade student in CSD begins to understand how people participate in making decisions for neighborhoods (Civics).

• Recognizes there are civic symbols, songs, and celebrations (i.e. block watch, parks and schools).
• Practices appropriate processes and responsibilities of good citizenship.
• Understands that rules impact safety, order, and harmony in neighborhood life.

The second grade student in CSD begins to understand the principles of economics.

• Continues to develop an understanding that work is rewarding.
• Develops a greater understanding of our economic system.
• Expands their understanding that economic choices involve costs and consequences.
• Identifies the impact of various occupations on neighborhoods.

The second grade student in CSD continues to develop an understanding of geographical concepts.

• Identifies areas of a map or globe (i.e. islands, countries, capitals)
• Creates maps of neighborhoods.
• Expands geographic vocabulary (i.e. map legend, borders/boundaries).
• Uses geographic tools (compass rose, map legends & globes).
• Begins to develop an understanding of states, capitals and major cities.

Music

Music is an essential part of the curriculum of the Clarkston School District. The objective of music education is to provide each student with meaningful knowledge and skills to empower them to be involved in music throughout their life.

The major goals of music education in CSD include:

• to develop self-discipline and a positive self-image.
• to broaden student’s sensitivity to their own and other cultural heritages.
• learn appropriate social behavior in group situations.
• provide students with knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in music.
• provide an opportunity for students to display their musical knowledge and skills through performances.

Health & Wellness

The second grade student acquires the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain a healthy, active life: movement, physical fitness, and nutrition.

Understands you must take care of your own health.

• Knows symptoms which you should tell to parents and teachers.
• Takes care of your teeth.
• Knows how good health, fitness, and nutrition help you.
• Makes a plan for good health, fitness, and nutrition.

Is able to keep safe in many places.

• Knows safety rules for school, play, in the car, on a bike, in the home, and when home alone.
• Knows why safety rules are important in each place or situation.
• Follows safety rules and helps others follow safety rules.
• Discusses issues of personal safety.

Understands that good habits help prevent health problems.

• Knows about addiction to drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
• Begins to understand the dangers of using tobacco, alcohol and drugs.
• Knows common rules for taking medicines (dose, time, person giving).
• Knows who you can go to with personal or family problems in school and elsewhere.
• Knows habits which help keep you healthy and prevention of communicable diseases.
• Knows importance of diet, rest, exercise, and immunizations.
• Knows ways of showing care and concern for sick people.
• Knows how to prevent and take care of head lice.

Physical Education

Applies physical education to life.

• Works to have better coordination, endurance, and a good attitude.
• Knows why you want to be active and is able to follow important safety rules when you are active.
• Is a good winner and loser and encourages others.
• Knows why you should practice skills many times.
• Takes care of sports equipment.
• Moves in many ways alone, with a partner, or in a group.
• Walks, slides, hops, gallops, runs, leaps, jumps, cariocas, and skips.
• Does many stretching exercises.
• Controls your body and parts of your body (perceptual motor proficiency).
• Controls several body parts at once.
• Stays balanced in many positions on the floor.
• Stays balanced while doing many movements on the floor.
• Throws and catches different-sized balls at a target both overhand and underhand.
• Bounces different-sized ball with either hand.
• Kicks and traps a slowly rolling ball.
• Gets stronger and better at moving.
• Does individual jump rope skills with a short jump rope.
• Does warm-up exercises, jumping jacks, pushups, and situps.
• Plays many group games.
• Moves to different rhythms and experiments with dance movements.

Technology

The district strives to provide access to technology to all students. Age-appropriate curriculum is being developed in these areas:

The second grade student understands and uses:

• Basic Computer Operation
• Word processing, drawing and painting software
• Presentation and communication software