Narrative and Rationale: The three bundles in this Grade 2 model are characterized by the overarching theme that a “variety of objects, organisms, and systems are made up of parts”—an idea that applies to the physical, life, and Earth and space sciences, as well as engineering. Each of the three bundles also uses an engineering-related question to drive instruction.

The grade 2 Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) in physical science focus on different kinds of matter and their observable properties and that some changes caused by heating and cooling can be reversed and some cannot. In Earth and space sciences, the DCI emphases are on wind and water, their roles in shaping the Earth’s surface, and how humans can limit their effects. Students also learn that some events on Earth occur very quickly, while others can occur very slowly. In the life sciences, the grade 2 DCIs emphasize the needs of plants, how they depend on animals for seed dispersal and pollination, and the diversity of life found in different habitats.

Alternatively, view the 2nd Grade TOPICS Model.

Narrative and Rationale: The topic model in Grade 2 is divided into three bundles that build in complexity in terms of both disciplinary and crosscutting content, as well as the application of science and engineering practices across the year.

In Bundle 1, students can examine patterns of where water is found on the Earth in both solid and liquid forms, and patterns of where different kinds of plants and animals live on the land and in the water. In Bundle 2, students can examine how the land can change slowly or quickly by wind or water, and how different design solutions can affect these changes. In Bundle 3, students can explore the needs of plants and how animals and designed solutions can help meet plants’ needs.

What is the Thematic Model? In the thematic model, bundles are created to support a given theme.  The theme increases in depth and complexity throughout the school year.

What is the Topic Model? In the topic model, each bundle has a separate but related topic.

The example bundles are not intended to represent the only ways to organize courses, but rather to provide some well thought out, concrete examples of what bundles might look like.

From NGSS:

For each grade, two different examples are provided to motivate users to compare the different examples and think about what works in their local context:

• For each grade K-5, an example is provided that organizes the bundles based on the Topics arrangement of the NGSS and one that focuses on a particular theme that builds across each year.