Boise Schools Curriculum

Science - Second Grade

District Course #212

Course Description

Science at the elementary level will explore concepts in three main areas: earth science, physical science, and life science. The scientific method and measurement concepts will be incorporated in all three areas, and coordinated with laboratory activities. Unit Zero is not to be taught as a separate unit. Unit Zero has been added to the scope of the course in order to outline major concepts that will be used in units throughout the year. State standards are imbedded throughout the course and guide its instructional objectives. While each standard is expressed through specific instructional objectives, instructors should seek opportunities to apply standards throughout the course.

Adopted Materials

Title: Discover the Wonder
Publisher: Scott Forseman

Hands on Science Laboratory Kits

STC Changes
STC The Life Cycles of Butterflies
STC Balancing and Weighing
FOSS Air and Weather

Copyright Resources

Appendix - Bibliography

Course Scope

Unit 0	Unifying Concepts	Ongoing
Unit 1	Physical Science: Matter	8-12 Weeks
Unit 2	Earth Science: Weather	4-6 Weeks
Unit 3	Life Science: Animals	4-6 Weeks

Unit 0 Unifying Concepts Scientific Inquiry, Technology, Communication
Unit 1 Physical Science Recognize, identify, and classify states of matter (solids, liquids, gases) Position/ motion of objects	Unit 2 Earth Science Four seasons Characteristics of weather Evaporation & precipitation Properties of air Recycling	Unit 3 Life Science Animal Growth & Development Animal habitats

Assessment Correlation acronyms key

For specific Standard References please see: Idaho State Assessment Standards
Download this curriculum and standards documentation as a "Printer Friendly" pdf file

Unit 0

Unifying Concepts, Scientific Inquiry, Technology, and Communication

Ongoing

Instructional Objective 212.00 Know the Unifying Concepts and Skills that direct science, activate technology and provide historical and social perspectives.			Standard Reference 2.S.1
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Explore & use models to explain how theories work	Discover the Wonder by ScottForesman STC Kits FOSS Kits
02	Measure in standard and/or metric units
03	Understand the concepts of past, present, and future
04	Understand & utilize the scientific method
05	Use scientific inquiry to develop critical thinking skills
06	Understand the relationship between science and technology
07	Use available technology to assist in solving problems
08	Understand the importance of working in teams to solve scientific problems
09	Identify the contributions of notable scientists

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Unit 1	Matter & Motion	8-12 weeks

Instructional Objective 212.01 Know that objects have combinations of properties.			Standard Reference 2.S.2
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Identify a property of a form of matter.	STC Kit "Changes"		TMA
Instructional Objective 212.02 Recognize and classify matter as a solid, liquid, or gas.			Standard Reference 2.S.2.1.1
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Classify and compare matter based on properties.	STC Kit "Changes" Trade Books		TMA
02	Give examples of a solid, a liquid, and a gas.	STC Kit "Changes" Trade Books		TMA
Instructional Objective 212.03 Recognize that matter can change states (solid, liquid, gas).			Standard Reference 2.S.2
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Identify changes that occur in matter.	STC Kit "Changes"		TMA
02	Show how water can change states.			TMA
03	Create an experiment by dissolving a solid in a liquid and then make observations.			TMA
04	Observe and describe how a liquid in a covered and an uncovered dish differ in the evaporation process.			TMA
Instructional Objective 212.04 Explore the position and motion of objects.			Standard Reference 2.S.2
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Locate the position of an object relative to another object or the background.	STC Kit "Balancing and Weighing" Lessons 2-5 Trade Books Multimedia Source		TO
02	Record changes in the position of an object and describe the resulting motion.			TO
03	Explore and create a structure that balances.			TMA
04	Relate ways balance and weight are used in everyday life.			TMA
05	Investigate a beam balance and the position of the fulcrum.			TMA
06	Research people who have used balance and weight in their occupation.			TMA
07	Investigate balance and motion through the use of mobiles.			TMA

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Unit 2	Weather	4-6 weeks

Instructional Objective 212.05 Identify the four seasons and their characteristics.			Standard Reference 2.S.4
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Draw an outdoor scene that depicts typical weather for each season.	Trade Books		TMA
Instructional Objective 212.06 Understand the characteristics of different weather conditions.			Standard Reference 2.S.4.1.1
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Identify a fact pertaining to the characteristics or the formation of clouds.	FOSS Kit "Air and Weather		TO
02	Identify different types of clouds.			TMA
03	Know how warm air rises to form clouds.			TMA
04	Observe and describe patterns of weather and temperature.			TMA
05	Chart the early morning weather conditions, make a prediction for the day�s weather based on charted conditions, and compare his or her predictions to actual conditions at the end of the day.			TMA
06	Become familiar with instruments that monitor weather conditions.			TMA
Instructional Objective 212.07 Explore evaporation and precipitation.			Standard Reference 2.S.4
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Identify a specific stage of the water cycle.	FOSS Kit "Air and Weather STC Kit "Changes" Lesson. 3		TO
02	Conduct an investigation to demonstrate the water cycle.	FOSS Kit "Air and Weather STC Kit "Changes" Lesson. 3		TMA
Instructional Objective 212.08 Know the properties of air and its effect on weather.			Standard Reference District
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Demonstrate that air is invisible and takes up space.	FOSS Kit "Air and Weather ScottForesman Ch. 3 D54		TMA
02	Investigate the movement of air.			TMA
03	Design and construct a project that uses air to make it move.			TMA
Instructional Objective 212.09 Identify the characteristics of the local environment.			Standard Reference 2.S.5
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Analyze the importance of resources (i.e. rocks, water, plants, soil).	Trade Books McGraw-Hill Health ScottForesman Ch. 3 B50-B54 Fish & Game, Idaho Power, BFI, Parks and Recreation, BLM		TMA
02	Know how changes in the environment affect living things.			TMA
03	Identify social issues of the local environment through guest speakers and social action activities.			TO
Instructional Objective 212.10 Understand the concept of recycling.			Standard Reference 2.S.5
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Explain recycling and material conservation methods.	McGraw-Hill Health, Lessons 35, 36		TMA
02	Understand the relationship between recycling and water, air, and land pollution.			TMA
03	Explore ways people can prevent pollution.			TMA
Instructional Objective 212.11 Understand the conservation of natural resources.			Standard Reference 2.S.5
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Investigate ways people can conserve natural resources through recycling efforts.	McGraw-Hill Health, Lesson 35 Trade Books Multimedia Sources		TMA
02	Research ways conservation of natural resources has changed over time.			TMA

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Unit 3	Animals	4-6 weeks

Instructional Objective 212.12 Observe and explore the life cycles of plants and animals and their basic needs.			Standard Reference 2.S.3
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Compare living and nonliving things.	MK Nature Trade Books		TMA
02	Analyze the similarities and differences of living things (use a Venn diagram).			TMA
03	Name a part of a living thing and determine its use or benefit.			TMA
04	Describe changes in an organism�s life cycle.			TMA
05	Know four stages of an insect�s life cycle.			TMA
06	Compare and contrast the life cycles of at least two living things.			TMA
Instructional Objective 212.13 Recognize that animals live in different habitats for which they are suited.			Standard Reference 2.S.3
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Relate an animal to its environment (i.e. ocean, desert, forest).	ScottForesman Ch. 2 A24 & A26 Trade Books Ch. 1 A1		TMA
02	Contrast plants and animals that live in different kinds of environments (i.e. hot, cold, wet, dry, sunny, dark).			TMA
03	Describe a model energy system (i.e. terrarium, aquarium).			TMA
04	Know the five elements that all habitats provide: air, water, food, shelter, and space.			TMA
05	Show how color and shape protect an animal in its habitat.			TMA

This Bibliography provides a sampling of books and other resources that complement the various science units. The selections were made from the resource portions of each kit as well as the National Science Teachers Association (http://www.nsta.org). Please visit these areas for more ideas.

Changes

Blume, Judy. Freckle Juice. New York: Four Winds Press, 1985.
     Andrew wants freckles so badly that he buys Sharon's freckle recipe for 50 cents.

Galdone, Paul. The Little Red Hen. New York: Seabury Press, 1973.
     The little red hen finds none of her lazy friends willing to help her plant, harvest, or grind wheat into flour. But all are eager to eat the cake she makes from it.

Sharmat, Marjorie Weinman. Nate the Great. New York: Coward McCann Geoghegan, 1972.
     Nate the Great solves the mystery of the missing picture.

Balancing and Weighing

Fitzpatrick, Julie. Balancing. Illustrated by Diana Bowles. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Silver Burdett Press, 1988.
     This book contains activities that are designed to encourage students to explore balance. It contains illustrations and clear directions for making balance toys and mobiles and creating balances with fulcrums. The text defines terms such as balance, lever, fulcrum, balance point, and mass in simple words.

Jennings, Terry. Balancing. Illustrated by David Anstey. New York: Gloucester Press, 1989.
     This book contains illustrations that show children involved in balancing activities: playing on seesaws, walking on beams, and riding tricycles and bicycles. It also provides simple directions for making balance toys and mobiles.

McCully, Emily Arnold. Mirette on the High Wire. New York: The Putnam Publishing Group, 1992.
     Emily McCully's watercolor illustrations enhance her story about a little girl's friendship with a tightrope walker who has become afraid of walking the high wire. Mirette learns to walk the rope and, in the process, helps "The Great Bellini" rebuild his courage. This book complements the reading selection in Lesson 3 of Balancing and Weighing unit.

The Life Cycle of Butterflies

Kent, Jack. The Caterpillar and the Polliwog. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1982.
     Impressed by the caterpillar's boast that she will turn into a butterfly, a polliwog is determined to watch the caterpillar very carefully and turn into a butterfly, too.

Ryder, Joanne. Where Butterflies Grow. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1989.
     An imaginative tale of metamorphosis and how it must feel to experience it. Excellent illustrations. Provides hints about how to attract butterflies to your garden.

Viorst, Judith. The Tenth Good Thing About Barney. New York: Atheneum, 1971.
     A sensitive story about Barney and how everyone acted and felt when he died. Portrays death as a natural part of life.

Air and Weather

Hiscock, Bruce. The Big Rivers: The Missouri, the Mississippi, and the Ohio. Atheneum. ISBN 0-689-80871-2
This book describes how the Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers produced the Midwest floods of 1993. Watercolor illustrations set the mood for the simple text in picture book format. This is an excellent book on weather phenomena for young children.

Simon, Seymour. Tornadoes. Morrow/HarperCollins. ISBN 0-688-14647-3
Extensive information on tornadoes is provided for readers. More specifically there are explanations of how tornadoes develop, where they occur, how they are tracked, and the dangers associated with them. Through the use of well-illustrated diagrams and real-life photographs, the reader can explore this weather phenomenon.

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