Paper-Based 2nd Grade Curriculum & School Options

Not every family wants 2nd grade to happen on a screen. Many homeschool programs use printed books, workbooks, teacher guides, manipulatives, literature, crafts, and hands-on activities as the primary method of instruction.

Accredited Paper-Based & Print-Heavy Second Grade Programs

Seton Home Study School

Type: Accredited Catholic distance school
Format: Printed textbooks, workbooks, lesson plans, readers, and parent-led instruction

Seton's second-grade program is strongly paper-based and includes:

Reading • Phonics • English • Spelling • Handwriting • Mathematics • Science • History/Geography • Art • Music • Religion

Full enrollment includes the books needed for the grade level along with lesson plans, grading, recordkeeping, academic counseling, and other school services.

Seton is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

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Kolbe Academy

Type: Accredited Catholic classical academy
Format: Traditional books, printed course plans, workbooks, literature, and parent instruction

Kolbe offers a traditional homeschool option in which parents teach using physical books and detailed course plans.

Second-grade course options include areas such as:

Religion • English Grammar • Phonics • Reading & Literature • Spelling • Geography • Mathematics • Science

Kolbe's elementary course plans are generally arranged in a daily format and can be adapted to a student's needs.

Kolbe Academy is accredited by Cognia and the National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools (NAPCIS).

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Mother of Divine Grace School

Type: Accredited Catholic classical school
Format: Paper syllabus, traditional books, workbooks, literature, and parent-led instruction

Mother of Divine Grace offers a detailed second-grade course of study using traditional physical materials.

Second-grade recommendations include:

Religion • Mathematics • Reading • Writing • Science • History • Geography • Poetry • Art • Music

Its program uses resources such as Arithmetic 2, Sound Beginnings, handwriting materials, biographies, geography work, nature study, literature, music, and art.

Paper copies of the syllabus are available, while individual books are purchased separately.

Mother of Divine Grace School is accredited by ACS WASC.

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Oak Meadow School

Type: Accredited secular distance school
Format: Print-based, experiential, literature-rich, and hands-on

Oak Meadow specifically describes its second-grade curriculum as secular and print-based.

The physical second-grade package uses coursebooks, literature, nature study, crafts, music, and hands-on projects. Subjects include:

Language Arts • Mathematics • Science • Social Studies • Art • Crafts • Music • Health

Activities include writing and illustrating poetry, making books, performing puppet plays, growing plants, making crafts, and studying animals and nature.

Families can either purchase Oak Meadow curriculum independently or formally enroll in Oak Meadow School.

Oak Meadow School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Oak Meadow specifically clarifies that its school is accredited while independently purchased curriculum is not itself accredited.

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Bridgeway Academy

Type: Accredited personalized homeschool academy
Format: Textbook, worktext, online, or blended options

Bridgeway allows families to build a second-grade program using printed textbooks and workbooks rather than requiring a fully online curriculum.

Its textbook options can include:

• Physical student materials

• Textbooks and worktexts

• Instructor guides

• Parent-led instruction

• Printed assignments

• Customized curriculum selections

Bridgeway specifically offers completely offline textbook options as well as blended alternatives.

Families enrolled in Bridgeway's accredited programs receive academic oversight, records, advising, and grading support. Its current enrollment programs include accredited options for Grades 1–12.

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Independent / Non-Accredited Paper-Based Second Grade Curricula

These options provide curriculum rather than enrollment in an accredited school.

Abeka Homeschool

Type: Christian traditional curriculum
Format: Textbooks, workbooks, readers, flashcards, teacher guides, and hands-on materials

Abeka's second-grade materials can be purchased and taught independently without enrolling in Abeka Academy.

The traditional curriculum typically covers areas such as:

Phonics • Reading • Language • Spelling • Handwriting • Mathematics • Science • Health • History

Families who use the books independently remain responsible for their homeschool records and grading.

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BJU Press Homeschool

Type: Christian traditional curriculum
Format: Printed textbooks, worktexts, teacher editions, and hands-on activities

BJU Press offers a Grade 2 Textbook Kit as an alternative to its online video courses.

Its print-based homeschool materials allow the parent to teach the lessons directly using textbooks, student worktexts, teacher editions, and activities. BJU currently continues to offer textbook kits alongside its video options.

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Gather ’Round Homeschool

Type: Christian family-style unit-study curriculum
Format: Printed or digital teacher guides, leveled student notebooks, projects, and hands-on activities

Gather ’Round Homeschool is designed to allow multiple children to study the same central topic together while completing assignments at their individual learning levels.

The curriculum typically integrates areas such as:

Language Arts • Science • History • Geography • Bible • Writing • Research • Art

Families can choose printed materials or digital files to print at home. Mathematics is offered separately from the main unit-study curriculum.

Gather ’Round Homeschool is not an accredited school. Families who use the curriculum independently remain responsible for homeschool instruction, grading, and recordkeeping.

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Sonlight

Type: Christian literature-based curriculum
Format: Physical books, Instructor's Guides, workbooks, manipulatives, and projects

Sonlight is a strong option for families who want a book-heavy rather than workbook-heavy homeschool.

Its All-Subjects Packages provide a complete year and can include:

History • Geography • Bible • Literature • Read-Alouds • Readers • Language Arts • Handwriting • Spelling • Mathematics • Science

Sonlight's Instructor's Guides provide 36 weeks of planned instruction, and the curriculum is built extensively around physical literature and nonfiction books.

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BookShark

Type: Secular literature-based curriculum
Format: Physical books, Instructor's Guides, student materials, manipulatives, and hands-on activities

BookShark is particularly useful for families who like Sonlight's literature-based model but prefer a secular curriculum.

Its Level C program is specifically marketed for approximately second grade and ages 7–9.

Available subjects include:

History • Geography • Literature • Language Arts • Handwriting • Mathematics • Science

A complete All-Subject Package is available.

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Memoria Press

Type: Classical Christian curriculum
Format: Printed books, workbooks, teacher guides, flashcards, literature, and curriculum manual

Memoria Press offers a structured second-grade classical curriculum.

Materials include areas such as:

Reading • Literature • Phonics • Spelling • Mathematics • Cursive • Grammar/Latin Foundations • Science • Art • Music • Memory Work

The program uses a Second Grade Curriculum Manual to organize the school year along with student and teacher books.

This is a particularly structured option for families who want traditional books, memorization, handwriting, classical literature, and systematic skill development.

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Master Books

Type: Christian homeschool curriculum
Format: Full-color physical books and workbooks

Master Books currently offers a Grade 2 Basic 4 Subject Set containing 36 weeks of instruction in:

Mathematics • Language Arts • Science • History

The physical package includes instruction, student work, suggested schedules, worksheets, quizzes, and answer keys.

Families can also purchase additional Bible, art, handwriting, and elective materials.

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My Father's World

Type: Christian unit-study curriculum
Format: Teacher guide, books, student sheets, notebooks, activities, timelines, science experiments, art, and music

For a second grader who is the oldest child in the homeschool, My Father's World recommends Adventures in U.S. History for approximately Grades 2–3.

The program integrates:

Bible • U.S. History • Geography • Science • Literature • Art • Music • Read-Alouds

Lessons use physical books, notebooks, timelines, nature activities, projects, and hands-on science.

Families generally select mathematics and language arts materials separately according to the child's skill level.

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Timberdoodle

Type: Eclectic customizable homeschool curriculum kit
Format: Books, workbooks, manipulatives, STEM materials, games, art materials, and hands-on learning

Timberdoodle offers a current 2026 Second-Grade Curriculum Kit for approximately ages 7–8.

Families can choose among different package levels and customize the contents.

Depending on the package, subjects include:

Language Arts • Mathematics • Thinking Skills • History/Social Studies • Geography • Science • STEM • Emotional Intelligence • Art

Both faith-based and nonreligious options are available.

This is one of the more hands-on choices for families who want more than textbooks and worksheets.

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The Good and the Beautiful

Type: Parent-led homeschool curriculum
Format: Full-color printed course books, reading materials, manipulatives, and optional digital components

The Good and the Beautiful offers a Level 2 Basic Bundle intended for second grade.

It includes:

Language Arts • Reading • Handwriting • Mathematics

Language Arts incorporates phonics, spelling, writing, literature, grammar, punctuation, geography, and art.

Science and additional subjects can be added separately.

Physical course books are available, although some optional games and supplemental resources are digital.

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Christian Light

Type: Christian workbook-based curriculum
Format: LightUnit workbooks, readers, teacher guides, and flashcards

Christian Light is one of the strongest options for families specifically looking for traditional paper workbook instruction.

Its Grade 2 curriculum includes:

Reading • Language Arts • Mathematics • Science • Social Studies • Bible

Reading uses ten LightUnit workbooks and physical readers. Language Arts integrates grammar, spelling, penmanship, phonics, punctuation, and creative writing. Mathematics uses ten workbooks and teaches addition/subtraction, time, money, fractions, measurement, graphs, and introductory multiplication.

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Beyond the Page

Type: Secular literature- and project-based curriculum
Format: Books, parent materials, student activity books, experiments, and projects

Beyond the Page's Age 6–8 curriculum can work well for many second-grade students.

It integrates subjects through thematic units and literature, including:

Language Arts • Science • Social Studies • Mathematics

The program offers structured multi-day schedules and emphasizes projects, discussion, critical thinking, and hands-on learning.

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Heart of Dakota

Type: Christian literature-based curriculum
Format: Physical books, teacher guides, notebooks, workbooks, experiments, and hands-on activities

Heart of Dakota organizes curriculum primarily by developmental readiness rather than strict grade level.

For many second graders, possible placements include:

Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory

Suggested Ages: Approximately 6–8

or

Bigger Hearts for His Glory

Suggested Ages: Approximately 7–9

Programs integrate areas such as:

Bible • History • Literature • Science • Geography • Poetry • Art • Narration • Hands-On Activities

Families add appropriate mathematics and language arts selections according to placement.

Website Button: Visit Heart of Dakota →

Printable Paper-Based Option

Build Your Library — Level 2

Type: Secular literature-based curriculum
Format: Printable lesson plans used with physical books

Build Your Library offers Level 2: The Medieval World, designed for approximately Grade 2 / ages 7–9.

The 36-week program includes:

Literature • History • Geography • Earth & Space Science • Art • Poetry • Research • Mapwork • Narration • Copywork

The curriculum guide itself is sold as a downloadable PDF, which families print. Most of the actual instruction then takes place through physical books, reading, discussion, worksheets, maps, and projects.

Families should note that Build Your Library is not a single boxed all-subject curriculum. A separate mathematics program and, depending on the child, additional systematic language-arts or spelling instruction may be needed.

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Math with Confidence

Material Favorites

Writing Without Tears

All About Reading

A Note for Parents

This is a guide, not a test.

Children develop at different rates. A child may be advanced in one area while still developing skills in another. Use this resource to guide instruction and observe growth rather than as a pass-or-fail assessment.

Illinois Learning Standards establish expectations for what students should know and be able to do at each grade level, but the standards themselves are not intended to prescribe one particular curriculum or teaching method.

Reading & Language Arts

Reading Foundations

By the end of second grade, a child should be developing the ability to:

• Distinguish long and short vowel sounds when reading regularly spelled one-syllable words.

• Apply grade-level phonics and word-analysis skills when decoding unfamiliar words.

• Use spelling-sound relationships for additional common vowel teams.

• Decode regularly spelled two-syllable words with long vowel sounds.

• Decode words with common prefixes.

• Decode words with common suffixes.

• Identify words that have inconsistent but common spelling-sound relationships.

• Recognize and read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words.

• Read second-grade text with purpose and understanding.

• Read second-grade text aloud with increasing accuracy.

• Read orally at an appropriate rate for understanding.

• Read aloud with expression that supports meaning.

• Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition.

• Reread when needed to improve accuracy or comprehension.

Illinois Grade 2 foundational-reading standards specifically address vowel patterns, two-syllable words, prefixes and suffixes, irregular spellings, and increasingly accurate and fluent grade-level reading.

Reading Literature

A second grader should be developing the ability to:

• Ask who, what, where, when, why, and how questions about key details in a story.

• Answer those questions to demonstrate understanding.

• Recount stories in an organized way.

• Recount fables and folktales from diverse cultures.

• Determine the central message, lesson, or moral of a story.

• Describe how a character responds to a major event.

• Describe how a character responds to a challenge.

• Explain how words or phrases add rhythm or meaning to a story, poem, or song.

• Recognize features such as rhyme, repeated lines, alliteration, or regular beats.

• Describe how the beginning of a story introduces the story.

• Describe how the ending concludes the action.

• Recognize differences in the points of view of characters.

• Use different voices when reading character dialogue when appropriate.

• Use information from both illustrations and words to understand characters.

• Use information from both illustrations and words to understand setting.

• Use information from both illustrations and words to understand plot.

• Compare two or more versions of the same story.

• Notice similarities and differences in versions of a story from different authors or cultures.

• Read and comprehend second-grade literature with increasing independence.

Illinois Grade 2 literature standards include story questioning, fables and folktales, lessons or morals, character responses, story structure, point of view, illustrations, and comparing versions of stories.

Reading Informational Text

By the end of second grade, a child should be developing the ability to:

• Ask who, what, where, when, why, and how questions about an informational text.

• Answer questions about important details.

• Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text.

• Identify the focus of individual paragraphs.

• Describe connections between historical events.

• Describe connections between scientific ideas or concepts.

• Describe connections between steps in a technical procedure.

• Determine the meaning of words and phrases related to a second-grade topic.

• Use captions to locate or understand information.

• Use bold print and subheadings.

• Use glossaries.

• Use indexes.

• Use electronic menus or icons when appropriate.

• Identify the main purpose of an informational text.

• Explain whether an author is mainly answering, explaining, or describing something.

• Explain how an image or diagram contributes to and clarifies a text.

• Describe how reasons support specific points an author makes.

• Compare important points in two texts about the same topic.

• Contrast important points in two texts about the same topic.

• Read second-grade informational texts with increasing independence.

Illinois Grade 2 informational-reading standards specifically include multiparagraph main topics, text features, author's purpose, diagrams and images, supporting reasons, and comparing two texts.

Writing

A second grader should be developing the ability to:

• Write an opinion piece about a topic or book.

• Introduce the topic or book.

• Clearly state an opinion.

• Supply more than one reason supporting the opinion.

• Use linking words such as because, and, and also.

• Provide a concluding statement or section.

• Write an informative or explanatory text.

• Introduce an informational topic.

• Use facts to develop points.

• Use definitions to develop points.

• Provide a concluding statement or section.

• Write a narrative about a well-developed event or short sequence of events.

• Include details describing actions.

• Include details describing thoughts.

• Include details describing feelings.

• Use temporal words to show event order.

• Provide a sense of closure.

• Stay focused on a topic.

• Revise writing to improve ideas.

• Edit writing for conventions and readability.

• Use age-appropriate digital tools to produce or publish writing with support.

• Collaborate with others on writing when appropriate.

• Participate in shared research projects.

• Recall information from experiences to answer questions.

• Gather information from provided sources to answer questions.

Illinois Grade 2 writing standards include opinion, informational, and narrative writing as well as revising, editing, research, and supported digital publishing.

Speaking & Listening

By the end of second grade, a child should be developing the ability to:

• Participate in discussions about second-grade topics and texts.

• Participate in both small and larger groups.

• Follow agreed-upon discussion rules.

• Listen carefully to other speakers.

• Wait for an appropriate turn to speak.

• Link comments to ideas shared by someone else.

• Ask for clarification.

• Ask for additional explanation.

• Recount key ideas from a text read aloud.

• Describe information presented orally or through media.

• Ask questions about what a speaker says.

• Answer questions about information presented by a speaker.

• Ask questions to gather additional information.

• Ask questions to deepen understanding.

• Tell a story or recount an experience using appropriate facts.

• Include relevant descriptive details when speaking.

• Speak audibly.

• Speak in coherent sentences.

• Create simple audio recordings of stories or poems when appropriate.

• Add drawings or visual displays when they help clarify information.

• Use complete sentences to provide detail or clarification.

Illinois Grade 2 speaking and listening standards emphasize collaborative discussion, clarification, recounting information, questioning speakers, storytelling, visual displays, and complete sentences.

Language, Grammar & Vocabulary

A second grader should be developing the ability to:

• Use collective nouns such as team, group, or class.

• Form irregular plural nouns such as children, feet, teeth, mice, and fish.

• Use reflexive pronouns such as myself, yourself, ourselves, and themselves.

• Form and use common irregular past-tense verbs.

• Use adjectives correctly.

• Use adverbs correctly.

• Choose between an adjective and an adverb based on what is being described.

• Produce complete simple sentences.

• Produce complete compound sentences.

• Expand sentences by adding meaningful details.

• Rearrange sentence parts while preserving complete meaning.

• Capitalize holidays.

• Capitalize product names.

• Capitalize geographic names.

• Use commas in letter greetings.

• Use commas in letter closings.

• Use apostrophes in contractions.

• Use apostrophes in frequently occurring possessives.

• Apply known spelling patterns to unfamiliar words.

• Use beginning dictionaries or other reference materials to check spelling.

• Recognize differences between formal and informal English.

• Use sentence context to determine an unfamiliar word's meaning.

• Use context to determine the appropriate meaning of a multiple-meaning word.

• Use familiar prefixes to determine word meaning.

• Use familiar root words to determine the meaning of related words.

• Use individual words to predict the meaning of compound words.

• Use glossaries.

• Use beginning dictionaries.

• Make real-life connections between vocabulary words and their uses.

• Distinguish shades of meaning among closely related verbs.

• Distinguish shades of meaning among closely related adjectives.

• Use vocabulary acquired through conversations, reading, and read-alouds.

• Use adjectives and adverbs to create more precise descriptions.

These expectations reflect Illinois Grade 2 grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, reference-tool, vocabulary, root-word, prefix, compound-word, and word-relationship standards.

Mathematics

Operations & Place Value

By the end of second grade, a child should be developing the ability to:

• Solve one-step addition word problems within 100.

• Solve one-step subtraction word problems within 100.

• Solve two-step addition and subtraction word problems within 100.

• Solve adding-to problems.

• Solve taking-from problems.

• Solve putting-together problems.

• Solve taking-apart problems.

• Solve comparison problems.

• Solve problems with an unknown in different positions.

• Represent word problems using drawings.

• Represent problems using equations.

• Fluently add within 20 using mental strategies.

• Fluently subtract within 20 using mental strategies.

• Know sums of two one-digit numbers from memory by the end of second grade.

• Determine whether a group of up to 20 objects is odd or even.

• Use pairing or counting by twos to identify odd and even groups.

• Express an even number as two equal addends.

• Use repeated addition to find totals in rectangular arrays.

• Write an addition equation representing equal rows or columns.

• Understand hundreds, tens, and ones.

• Understand that 100 is ten tens.

• Understand multiples of 100 as groups of hundreds.

• Count within 1,000.

• Skip-count by 5s.

• Skip-count by 10s.

• Skip-count by 100s.

• Read numbers through 1,000.

• Write numbers through 1,000 using numerals.

• Write numbers through 1,000 using number names.

• Represent numbers through 1,000 in expanded form.

• Compare three-digit numbers.

• Use >, <, and = with three-digit numbers.

These are central Illinois Grade 2 expectations in operations, early multiplication foundations, and base-ten place value.

Addition & Subtraction

A second grader should also be developing the ability to:

• Fluently add within 100.

• Fluently subtract within 100.

• Use place-value strategies.

• Use properties of operations.

• Use the relationship between addition and subtraction.

• Add up to four two-digit numbers.

• Add within 1,000 using models or drawings.

• Subtract within 1,000 using models or drawings.

• Use place-value strategies with three-digit numbers.

• Relate strategies to a written method.

• Add hundreds to hundreds.

• Add tens to tens.

• Add ones to ones.

• Subtract hundreds from hundreds.

• Subtract tens from tens.

• Subtract ones from ones.

• Compose a new ten when needed.

• Compose a new hundred when needed.

• Decompose a ten when needed.

• Decompose a hundred when needed.

• Mentally add 10.

• Mentally subtract 10.

• Mentally add 100.

• Mentally subtract 100.

• Explain why an addition strategy works.

• Explain why a subtraction strategy works.

• Use drawings or objects to support mathematical explanations.

Illinois Grade 2 standards extend addition and subtraction into three-digit numbers and emphasize explaining strategies through place value and properties of operations.

Measurement, Time, Money, Data & Geometry

A second grader should be developing the ability to:

• Select an appropriate measuring tool.

• Measure using a ruler.

• Measure using a yardstick or meter stick.

• Use a measuring tape when appropriate.

• Measure the same object using different-size units.

• Explain why the numerical measurement changes when unit size changes.

• Estimate lengths in inches.

• Estimate lengths in feet.

• Estimate lengths in centimeters.

• Estimate lengths in meters.

• Determine how much longer one object is than another.

• Solve addition problems involving length.

• Solve subtraction problems involving length.

• Represent whole numbers as lengths on a number line.

• Represent addition on a number line.

• Represent subtraction on a number line.

• Tell time to the nearest five minutes.

• Read analog clocks.

• Read digital clocks.

• Write time to the nearest five minutes.

• Use a.m. and p.m.

• Identify and count dollar bills in age-appropriate problems.

• Count quarters.

• Count dimes.

• Count nickels.

• Count pennies.

• Solve money word problems.

• Use $ and ¢ appropriately.

• Generate measurement data.

• Create or interpret a line plot.

• Draw picture graphs.

• Draw single-unit bar graphs with up to four categories.

• Solve problems using graph data.

• Recognize and draw shapes based on specified attributes.

• Identify triangles.

• Identify quadrilaterals.

• Identify pentagons.

• Identify hexagons.

• Identify cubes.

• Divide a rectangle into rows and columns of equal-size squares.

• Count squares arranged in rows and columns.

• Partition circles and rectangles into two equal shares.

• Partition them into three equal shares.

• Partition them into four equal shares.

• Use halves, thirds, and fourths.

• Describe a whole as two halves, three thirds, or four fourths.

• Recognize that equal shares of identical wholes can have different shapes.

These skills correspond to Illinois Grade 2 measurement, time, money, data, graphing, geometry, arrays, and equal-share standards.

Science

Second-grade science gives children opportunities to investigate materials, study plants and habitats, observe Earth processes, use evidence, create models, and solve simple engineering problems.

By the end of second grade, a child should be developing the ability to:

• Ask scientific questions.

• Conduct simple investigations collaboratively.

• Record observations and data.

• Use observations as evidence.

• Describe materials by color, texture, hardness, flexibility, and other observable properties.

• Classify materials according to their properties.

• Test different materials for a particular purpose.

• Use data to decide which material is most suitable for a purpose.

• Observe that objects can be taken apart into smaller pieces.

• Explain that pieces can sometimes be rearranged to create a different object.

• Identify changes caused by heating.

• Identify changes caused by cooling.

• Determine that some changes caused by heating or cooling can be reversed.

• Determine that some changes cannot be reversed.

• Investigate whether plants need sunlight.

• Investigate whether plants need water.

• Test one variable at a time during a simple investigation.

• Model how animals may spread seeds.

• Model how animals may pollinate plants.

• Observe plants and animals in different habitats.

• Compare the diversity of living things in different habitats.

• Recognize that different living things live on land and in water.

• Use several sources to learn about Earth events.

• Recognize that some Earth events happen quickly.

• Recognize that some Earth changes happen slowly.

• Identify examples such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and erosion.

• Explain that wind and water can change land.

• Compare solutions designed to slow erosion or land changes.

• Create models showing landforms.

• Create models showing bodies of water.

• Identify water in oceans, rivers, lakes, and ponds.

• Recognize that water can be liquid or solid ice.

• Define a simple problem that could be solved by a tool or object.

• Create a sketch or model of a design solution.

• Explain how an object's shape helps it function.

• Test designs.

• Compare the strengths and weaknesses of two solutions.

Illinois Grade 2 science specifically includes properties of matter, reversible and irreversible changes, plant needs, seed dispersal and pollination, biodiversity, quick and slow Earth processes, erosion, land and water models, and K–2 engineering design.

Social Studies

The current Illinois second-grade social studies theme is:

Families, Neighborhoods, and Community

Illinois uses grade-specific elementary social science standards, with inquiry skills combined with civics, geography, economics, financial literacy, and history.

By the end of second grade, a child should be developing the ability to:

• Create questions relevant to a social studies topic.

• Use varied adult-selected resources.

• Locate information that helps answer questions.

• Recognize that useful informational resources should be reliable.

• Distinguish fact from opinion with guidance.

• Gather information from multiple sources.

• Compare information from different sources.

• Share findings with others.

• Reflect on what was learned during an inquiry.

• Identify basic features of government.

• Identify basic functions of government.

• Recognize that governments make and enforce rules or laws.

• Recognize ways governments help communities.

• Describe ways communities collaborate.

• Understand roles and responsibilities involved in community work.

• Recognize the importance of fair outcomes for people in a community.

• Use print maps.

• Use digital maps.

• Use globes and simple geographic models.

• Identify cultural characteristics of places.

• Identify environmental characteristics of places.

• Compare the local community with another place or region.

• Describe connections between physical environments and local economic activities.

• Explain how choices can positively or negatively affect oneself.

• Explain how choices can affect others.

• Explain how money makes exchanging goods and services easier.

• Compare locally produced goods with goods produced elsewhere.

• Compare locally provided services with services provided in other communities.

• Explain that money can be saved.

• Explain that money can be spent on goods.

• Explain that money can be spent on services.

• Identify changes that have occurred in the local community.

• Explain how community changes have affected people.

• Recognize that changes can affect groups differently.

• Examine important historical events from multiple perspectives.

• Recognize that individuals and cultures may experience the same event differently.

Current Illinois Grade 2 standards specifically address government, community collaboration, maps and geographic characteristics, money and saving, local goods and services, community change, and multiple historical perspectives.

Fine Arts

Fine arts should give second graders opportunities to create, perform or present, respond to creative work, and connect the arts with personal experiences and the wider world. Those four artistic processes are central to Illinois Fine Arts Standards.

A second-grade child may work toward skills such as:

• Generate more than one artistic idea.

• Use observation as inspiration.

• Use imagination as inspiration.

• Use personal experiences as inspiration.

• Experiment with different materials and tools.

• Create visual art using line, shape, color, texture, form, pattern, and space.

• Select materials that fit an artistic idea.

• Use art tools safely.

• Care for materials appropriately.

• Revise or refine creative work.

• Explain choices made while creating.

• Select artwork for display or a portfolio.

• Use basic art vocabulary.

• Observe and describe artwork.

• Explain a personal interpretation of artwork.

• Compare characteristics of two works.

• Create simple rhythms or melodies.

• Sing or perform using age-appropriate instruments.

• Maintain a steady beat.

• Respond to rhythm and tempo.

• Use symbols or beginning notation to record music.

• Practice and improve a short musical performance.

• Listen to and describe music.

• Create movement sequences.

• Use movement to express an idea or feeling.

• Work with others to create or perform dance.

• Participate in dramatic play or simple theatre.

• Use voice, movement, and expression to portray characters.

• Identify character, setting, and action.

• Share creative work with an audience.

• Respond respectfully to others' creative work.

• Connect art, music, dance, or theatre to personal experience.

• Recognize that art can reflect cultures, communities, traditions, and perspectives.

Physical Development & Health

Illinois' early-elementary Physical Development and Health benchmarks emphasize fundamental movement skills, spatial awareness, safe movement, fitness, teamwork, and health knowledge.

By the end of second grade, a child should be developing the ability to:

• Demonstrate control during locomotor movement.

• Demonstrate control during non-locomotor movement.

• Improve throwing skills.

• Improve catching skills.

• Improve kicking skills.

• Improve rolling or striking skills.

• Combine basic movement skills.

• Use spatial awareness.

• Change direction safely.

• Change speed appropriately.

• Change level or pathway during movement.

• Demonstrate safe movement individually.

• Demonstrate safe movement with a partner or group.

• Identify basic characteristics of fitness.

• Recognize flexibility as part of fitness.

• Recognize muscular strength as part of fitness.

• Participate in sustained physical activity.

• Recognize increased heart rate during activity.

• Recognize increased breathing during activity.

• Recognize changes in body temperature during activity.

• Identify a realistic personal physical-activity or health goal.

• Follow directions during physical activities.

• Follow familiar safety procedures with increasing independence.

• Work independently for short periods.

• Work cooperatively with others.

• Accept an assigned role during a group activity.

• Respect differences in physical ability.

• Identify major body parts.

• Understand basic functions of some body systems.

• Practice healthy hygiene.

• Explain why handwashing helps prevent germs.

• Practice age-appropriate dental care.

• Recognize habits that help prevent illness.

• Identify healthy food and beverage choices.

• Recognize the importance of sleep.

• Recognize the importance of regular physical activity.

• Obtain health or safety information from trusted adults or reliable sources.

• Follow home safety rules.

• Follow school and playground safety rules.

• Follow street and community safety rules.

• Identify trusted adults and community helpers.

• Know when and how to seek emergency assistance.

• Recognize unsafe situations.

• Report unsafe situations to a trusted adult.

• Recognize positive health choices.

• Recognize choices with negative health or safety consequences.

• Use simple decision-making strategies.

• Communicate respectfully.

• Express feelings appropriately.

• Listen during disagreements.

• Cooperate with others.

• Use peaceful conflict-resolution strategies.

• Treat others with respect.

Remember: Second Grade Builds Greater Independence

By the end of second grade, children are moving beyond many beginning academic skills and learning to apply them with greater independence.

They are learning how to:

Read • Explain • Compare • Write • Research • Calculate • Measure • Investigate • Use Evidence • Make Decisions • Create • Communicate • Cooperate • Solve Problems • Become More Independent

Second grade provides an important bridge between the early foundations of kindergarten and first grade and the increasingly independent academic work expected beginning in third grade.

The Illinois Learning Center does not endorse or guarantee any individual program listed. The directory is provided for educational and informational purposes to help families compare available options.