2nd Grade exploring animals and their Environments

Scope and sequence

Suggested Time Frame: 2nd Grade Science Curriculum Map

• 3rd Nine Weeks- Consult the 2nd Grade Science Curriculum Map for specific details.

The 2nd Grade Science Curriculum Map outlines the following information:

• 1. Recommended pacing, scope, and sequence for each unit.

  2. Alignment with standards, conceptual understandings, and performance indicators

  3. Links to Unit Concept Storyboard Maps, Content and SEP Support Documents, and Curriculum Guides

  4. Details for Evidence of Understanding, Essential Learning Experiences, and Suggested Learning Engagements

  5. Where appropriate, alignment with specific FOSS, DSM, GEMS, and STC kit Activities and Investigations

Learning goals, skills, and concepts

Learning Goals

• Students will gather information from various sources to classify animals based on their physical characteristics.

• Students will use data from observations and other sources to:

  • construct explanations for how different physical adaptations allow animals to survive and meet their needs.

  • describe how animals change as they grow.

• Students will use data from observations and other sources to:

  • construct explanations for how different physical adaptations allow animals to survive and meet their needs.

  • describe how an animal’s environment affects its growth and behavior

  • describe and compare how animals interact with organisms in their environment.

  • describe how animals respond to changes in their environments.

  • support claims for how the actions of animals can change their own environments.

• Students will use information from their various observations and research to develop models to illustrate how the characteristics of animals allow them to survive in their distinct environments. Models can include:

  • 3-D models

  • Dioramas

  • Illustrations

  • Charts

  • Drawings

Skills and Concepts

• Analyze and Interpret Data- SEP Support Document

• Develop and Use Models- SEP Support Document

• Obtain and Communicate Information- SEP Support Document

• Construct Explanations- SEP Support Document

• Construct Arguments- SEP Support Document

• Classifying Animals- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Animal Adaptations- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Animal Development- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Animal Interactions- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Animal Habitats- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• How Animals Respond to Change- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• How Animals Change their Habitats- Essential Knowledge Support Document

Science Concept Storyboard

This link will take you to a print-friendly version of the science concept storyboard.

Lessons and activities

Animals Unit Planning Support Doc.

Potential Instructional Strategies/Lessons/Examples

• The Life Cycle of Butterflies (STC Kit) All Investigations

• Pearson SC Interactive Science Textbook:

  • Chapter 4, Inquiry Warm-Up pg. 138 (2.L.5A.3; 2.S.1A.6)

  • Chapter 4, Lesson 1 pp. 140-147; Quick Lab pg. 141 (2.L.5A.2; 2.S.1A.2, 2.S.1A.6)

  • Chapter 4, Lesson 2 pp. 148-153; Quick Lab pg. 149 (2.S.1A.2)

  • Chapter 4, Lesson 3 pp. 154-159; Quick Lab pg. 155 (2.L.5A.2; 2.S.1A.2, 2.S.1A.6)

  • Chapter 4, Lesson 4 pp. 160-169; Quick Lab pg. 161 (2.L.5A.3; 2.S.1A.6)

  • Chapter 4 Lab Investigation pg. 170 (2.L.5A.3; 2.S.1A.3, 2.S.1A.6)

  • Chapter 5 Inquiry Warm-Up pg. 184 (2.L.5B.1; 2.S.1A.8)

  • Chapter 5, Lesson 1 pp. 186-193; Quick Lab pg. 187 (2.S.1A.3)

  • Chapter 5, Lesson 2 pp. 194-203; Quick Lab pg. 195 (2.L.5B.1; 2.S.1A.8)

  • Chapter 5, Lesson 3 pp. 204-211; Quick Lab pg. 205 (2.L.5B.2; 2.S.1A.2, 2.S.1A.8)

  • Chapter 5, Lesson 4 pp. 212-221; Quick Lab pg. 213 (2.L.5B.3; 2.S.1A.4)

• AIMS Activities: 2005 SC Science AIMS 2nd Grade

  • Mammals on My Mind

  • A Frog’s Life

  • Silk Worms

  • Under Cover

  • Paste Up Habitats

  • A Walk in the Pack

  • What’s Eating You?

  • A Place to Call Home

  • Where Can Animals Live?

  • Shrinking Supplies

• Specialized for the Sea (2.L.5A.2, 2.L.5B.2)

  • Students will use pictures and make a mural to investigate how ocean animals are adapted to certain parts of their environment.

    • Variation- in addition to looking at pictures and inferring adaptations, students can look at video clips of animals in their natural habitats to see how they behave and make inferences about adaptations and survival from the video observations.

• Butterfly Life Cycle (2.L.5A.3)

  • This lesson guides students through the life cycle of a butterfly. Through text, observation, and discussion students can go on a journey through the life cycle from caterpillar to butterfly.

• Animal Adaptation Lesson (2.L.5B.2)

  • This lesson expands students’ knowledge of animal features and behaviors that can help or hinder their survival in a particular habitat.

Additional Resources

• Pearson Interactive Science STEM Activity Book

• Pearson Interactive Science Content Leveled Readers

• Pearson Interactive Science REALIZE Online component

  • NBC Learn Videos https://www.pearsonrealize.com/community/nbclearn/brows

    • Adaptation of Butterflies (2.L.5B.3)

    • Melting Ice Threatens Polar Bears Survival (2.L.5B.3)

    • Survival of Penguins at Stake as Antarctic Ice Disappears (2.L.5B.3)

    • Exploring Habitats (2.L.5B.1)

    • Organisms in Ecosystems (2.L.5B.2)

• BrainPop Jr.

  • Butterflies

  • Fish

  • Frogs

  • Insects

  • Camouflage

  • Food Chain

  • Arctic Habitat

  • Desert

  • Forests

  • Freshwater Habitats

  • Ocean

  • Rainforests

• PebbleGo (requires a subscription)

• The Butterfly Website http://butterflywebsite.com/gallery/index.cfm

  • This website provides close-up images of many different butterflies. These can be used for observation if a field study is not possible.

• Kid Territory at the San Diego Zoo www.sandiegozoo.org/kids/index.html

  • This site answers questions about animals and includes information on careers with animals.

• Interactive activities:http://www.prometheanplanet.com/en-US/Search/Resources/?keywords=animal%20needs

  • See prometheanplanet.com and Type in Animal Needs in the search bar once at the site if the above link does not take you too the resources. (Smartboard Lessons)

• Field Study Ideas

  • Riverbanks Zoo

  • Congaree National Park

  • SC Aquarium

  • EdVenture-Beautiful Butterflies http://www.edventure.org/media/1058/edv_sgg201516_lo.pdf

• Live Animals Cams

  • Explore Live Cams of Animals and Habitats: this site is home to several dozen live cams of many different animals and habitats.

    • http://explore.org/live-cams/player/alligator-spoonbill-swamp-cam

  • This is the link to the San Diego Zoo which has tons of animal links and Live cam experiences for the students to see. (Thanks Robert Carswell for the share!)

    • https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org

• Interactive Animals of the World http://www.kidscom.com/games/animal/animal.html

  • Students can use this tool to learn about animals and their habitats by playing games about mammals, insects and arachnids, reptiles and amphibians, birds and fish. This site could be used independently or in a whole or small group setting.

• Interactive activities: www.prometheanplanet.com/en-US/Search/Resources/?keywords=animal%20needs

• Habitat song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_CSlLIuVZs (2.L.5B)

  • This YouTube song is an introduction to different animals and their habitats.

• Books

  • An Earthworm’s Life. John Himmelman. Children’s Press (2001).

  • A Log’s Life. Wendy Pfeffer. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (1997).

  • Mouths and Teeth. Elizabeth Miles. Heinemann (2002).

  • Tale of a Tadpole. Karen Wallace. DK Publishing (1998).

  • Turtle Watch. Saviour Pirotta. Farrar Straus & Giroux (1997).

  • A Butterfly is Patient. Dianna Hutts Aston. Chronicle Books (2011).

  • Brilliant Bees. Linda Glaser. Millbrook Press (2003).

  • Little Penguin: the Emperor of Antarctica. Jonathan London. Marshall Cavendish (2011).

  • I am a Shark: The Life of a Hammerhead Shark. Darlene R. Stille. Picture Window Books (2005).

  • What is a Life Cycle? Bobbie Kalman. Crabtree (1998).

  • Animals in Winter. Henrietta Bancroft. HarperTrophy (1997).

  • Ducks Don’t Get Wet. Augusta Goldin. HarperTrophy (1999).

  • Guess Where I Live. Anni Axworthy. Candlewick Press (1999).

  • Hello, Fish! Visiting the Coral Reef. Sylvia A. Earle. National Geographic (1999).

  • How Do Animals Adapt? Bobbie Kalman. Crabtree (2000).

  • A Swim Through the Sea. Kristin Joy Pratt. Dawn Publications (1994).

  • Unbeatable Beaks. Stephen R. Swinburne. Henry Holt and Company, Inc. (1999).

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Eric Carle.

  • What are Food Chains and Webs? Bobbie Kalman. Crabtree (1998).

  • What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You? Steve Jenkins. Houghton Mifflin (2001).

• National Geographic Video Resource:

  • As with any video resource, teachers should carefully preview and vet any videos before showing them to students.