2nd grade Social Studies Curriculum

Teaching social studies is more important than ever.  But creating effective, engaging lessons can be a challenge, not to mention time consuming for teachers who are already stretched too thin. 

Curriculum that comes from big publishers or from teacher websites often contain too much or not enough. Where can you find a content-focused, user-friendly social studies curriculum that is effortless for you to plan and engaging and meaningful for your students?

If this sounds like what you need, this post is for you.

Little 2nd grade Social Studies Thinkers is the continuation of the best-selling, top-rated social studies curriculum for teachers, Little Social Studies Thinkers. This all-new version is specifically for second grade teachers and students. 

First let’s look at the topics you’d expect to teach in 2nd grade social studies.

2nd grade social studies topics typically include:
– Government (rules and laws, principles of citizenship, functions of governments, public officials and elections )
 History (time and chronology, primary and secondary sources, life in the past vs. life today, examining and interpreting historical data)
– Communities & Culture (types of communities, how the environment affects where people settle, significance of various cultural celebrations, traditions and holidays)
– Economics (producers and consumers, trade, goods and services, scarcity, role of banks)
Geography (physical and political maps, identifying geographic locations)


The unit featured in this post focuses on Government and Civics.
(Click HERE to see our Government and Civics unit)
Here is the format of the unit:

2nd grade social studies lesson
2nd grade social studies curriculum components

1. Print and use complete lesson plans with a full teacher guide.
Each four-week unit is meant to be taught three times per week with 30-minute lessons. I know that your time is valuable and you need to make the most of every minute, so each lesson is jam packed with content and engagement.

The lessons are quick-pacedwritten in teacher language, and primary-friendly. You could give these plans to a sub or student teacher, and there would be no question as to what they need to do! It’s all there for you.

2nd grade social studies lesson components
Components of the 2nd grade social studies unit

2. SEVEN, nonfiction read aloud texts in both a printable and projectable format.

3. A PowerPoint to guide each and every lesson.
Use the PowerPoint to project the learning targets, books, activities, and workbook pages. It guides your teaching each lesson and can be easily formatted to Google Slides. 

2nd grade learning targets
2nd grade social studies curriculum features

4. Vocabulary Cards to extend your students’ social studies vocabulary.

5. Essential Question and Learning Target posters in both a printable and projectable format. 

2nd grade social studies anchor charts
2nd grade social studies curriculum features

6. Anchor chart examples for you to follow.

7. Student Workbook that allows for independent practice and progress monitoring.

2nd grade social studies assessment
2nd grade social studies curriculum features

8. Systematic and Explicit instruction utilizing best practices in primary instruction. 
Lessons follow this format: Guiding Question, Learning Target, Mini-Lesson with Explicit Instruction, Guided Practice/Activity, Independent Practice then Quick Assessment. 

2nd grade social studies lessons
2nd grade social studies curriculum components

UNIT 1: GOVERNMENT & CIVICS 
introduces your students to the basics of government in a community. 
It includes instruction on these topics:

Rules and laws in our home, school, and community
Rights and responsibilities
Why people form governments
Levels of government
Services provided by governments
Roles of public officials
Taxes
Community Service

LESSONS IN UNIT 1: GOVERNMENT AND CIVICS

Lesson 1: RULES AND LAWS
Lesson 2: PRINCIPLES OF CITIZENSHIP
Lesson 3: RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Lesson 4: PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT
Lesson 5: LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
Lesson 6: GOVERNMENT SERVICES
Lesson 7: ROLES OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS
Lesson 8: INTERDEPENDENCE: FOOD CHAINS
Lesson 9: TAXES
Lesson 10: PARTICIPATING IN GOVERNMENT
Lesson 11: COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT
Lesson 12: REVIEW
Lesson 13: ASSESSMENT

Ready to transform your SOCIAL STUDIES block….? 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OR
PURCHASE THIS UNIT

on TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OR PURCHASE THIS UNIT on  MRSJONESSCLASS.COM
As always, let me know if you have any questions.
-Karen-