Ideas for Second Grade Teachers

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Integration Ideas for Second Grade Teachers

Click on any of the underlined unit topics in the right hand column below to link to some curriculum integration ideas using a variety of technology tools. Use the grey arrow buttons to link to integration ideas at other grade levels or to return to the main menu.

Literacy Component	Unit/Topic
Modeled / Shared Reading	Poetry: Shape Poems
Modeled / Shared Reading	Reading Non-Fiction: Penguins
Guided Reading	Reading Fiction & Non-Fiction: Bats
Guided Reading	Character / Author Study
Guided Reading	Famous American Women
Collaborative / Independent Reading and Writing	Magic Tree House Series / Mysteries
Collaborative / Independent Reading and Writing	Most Important Autobiographies

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Unit Integration Ideas

Second Grade: Modeled/Shared Reading Poetry
Resource	Task / Purpose
Trade Books: Doodle Dandies: Poems Take Shape, by J. Patrick Lewis Little Dog Poems, by Kristine O'Connell George	Share poems out loud with students, reading first without showing picture and then while showing picture. Discuss how illustrations add to message conveyed. Encourage students to imagine shapes as you introduce new objects. Read selected shape poems from Little Dog Poems. More background for the teacher provided in this Shape Poems lesson
Computer Software New Kid on the Block: Jack Prelutsky's Poems (see screen shot) (Broderbund)	Explore and interact with poetry through visual imagry, animation and voice. Listen to model readers and practice along with them. Select a favorite poem to read out loud to the class.
Productivity Tool Kid Pix Studio	Use drawing tools and text tools feature to create an original shape poem. Add animation if desired or record your voice reading poem. Prepare a "readable" version of the poem to share with others as well, as demonstrated in the last Internet link below.
Internet Web Sites Poetry Pals K-12 Publishing Project Shape Poem Drawings Shape Poems displayed uniquely online Another more literal take on Shape Poems Magnetic Poetry Tiles	Explore various poem formats; create your own poems, publish online and exchange with other classes through telecollaborative projects; be inspired by online samples of shape poems and explore two variations on shape poems.
Screenshots and Templates for Shape Poetry Unit

Second Grade: Modeled/Shared Reading Reading Non-Fiction: Penguins
Resource	Task / Purpose
Trade Books The Penguin, Animal Close-Ups, by Beatrice Fontanel Penguins, by Gail Gibbons Antarctic Antics, A Book of Penguin Poems, by Judy Sierra A Penguin Year, by Susan Bonners Puffins Climb, Pengiuns Rhyme, by Bruce McMillan Penguin Day, by Victorian Windteringham Tacky the Penguin, by Helen Lester	Share stories out loud with students. Discuss non-fiction versus poetry genres. Encourage students to notice how penguin poems include facts. Call attention to how information can be gotten from photographs and their captions in non-fiction books. Encourage small groups of students to revisit books and focus on certain topical areas for further study. Learn about the differences between penguins and puffins from Bruce McMillan's book.
Computer Software Amazing Animals (Dorling Kindersley) (see screen shot)	Explore animals through interactive games, videos, sounds, pictures and fact books. Complete treasure hunt activity sheet guiding exploration.
Productivity Tool Kid Pix Studio or PowerPoint (see screen shot)	Use drawing tools in Kid Pix Studio or import photographs from the Internet into PowerPoint. Choose a certain topic of study about penguins with a small group of students and write a paragraph summarizing what you've learned. Be prepared to share your slide (or slide show) orally with the rest of the class.
Internet Web Sites Penguins Around the World Jeffreys Bay Penguin Rehabilitation	Learn lots more about penguins from websites created by students and teachers. Find out how penguins in danger in South Africa. To get an idea of what second graders can produce, check out Perfectly Puzzling Penguins
Screenshotes and Templates for Penguin Unit

Second Grade: Modeled/Shared Reading Reading Fiction & Non-Fiction: Bats
Resource	Task / Purpose
Trade Books Stellaluna, by Janell Cannon Bats, by Gail Gibbons Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats, by Ann Early (Read and Find Out, Stage 2) Bats, by Lily Wood Eyes on Nature: Bats, by Celia Bland Beautiful Bats, by Linda Glaser Amazing Bats, by Frank Greenaway	Read Stellaluna out loud with your students and encourage them to review what kinds of things they learned from bats from this fictional text. Then read Lily Wood's Bats (non-fiction easy reader) and compare the types of texts and things learned. Encourage small group exploration of the incredible photographs in the Eyes on Nature book to gather even more facts. Have students participate in some of the Internet activities below to help them compile all the facts they've learned.
Computer Software Stellaluna, by Broderbund	Hear Stellaluna up close and interact within the setting this beautiful story. When you're done, take a bat quiz adjusted on three different levels to find out how much you've learned about bats.
Productivity Tool Kid Pix Studio / HyperStudio / Netscape Composer / Powerpoint (see screen shot)	Use drawing tools in Kid Pix Studio or import photographs from the Internet into PowerPoint. Choose a certain topic of study about bats with a small group of students and write a paragraph summarizing what you've learned. Be prepared to share your slide (or slide show) orally with the rest of the class.
Internet Web Sites SCORE Cyberguide Bat Webquest Ed Tech Project Bat Webquest Stella's Page Bats: Creatures of the Night Bats Thematic Unit Ideas Page Did You Know... Writing Projects The Bat Poetry Page Online Book about Bats	Explore the activities in two webquests for second graders, view the results of a collaborative project about Stellaluna, get background on everything about Bats while you gather some writing / publishing ideas for students.
Sreenshots and templates for Bats Unit

Second Grade: Guided Reading Character Study: Grace, Sheila Rae and Lilly (Author Study: Kevin Henkes)
Resource	Task / Purpose
Trade Books Amazing Grace, by Mary Hoffman Sheila Rae, the Brave, by Kevin Henkes Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, by Kevin Henkes	Share stories during Guided Reading activities and have students identify the techniques that authors use to let us know more about characters. Build a discussion around creating a list of words that describe these particular characers (bold, brave, outgoing, witty, unique, bossy, adventurous, etc). Discuss how the characters are similar and different. Encourage students to read other books by Kevin Henkes that feature characters that are brave and outgoing.
Computer Software Sheila Rae, the Brave, by Kevin Henkes (Living Books by Broderbund)	Explore the interactive storybook about the brave and outgoing main character named Sheila Rae. Play map games and sing along with the popular songs.
Productivity Tool Inspiration, an electronic graphic organizer (see screen shot) Make a slide show with Kid Pix Studio or PowerPoint	Create a character web about the main character; use the web to write a descriptive or persuasive paragraph about that character Create a Venn Diagram that lists similarities and differences between Grace and Sheila Rae and Lilly Create a slide show that communicates a group's opinion about...Who do you think is the bravest character and why? the smartest character? most likely to be a good friend? the funniest character? most like you? etc. Add illustrations and present to audience
Internet Web Sites reviews of books by Kevin Henkes Author Study: Kevin Henkes (Character Development) Topics in Amazing Grace: Make your own Anansi; learn about Joan of Arc; and see a photo of the Wooden Horse at the Gates of Troy	Use the Internet to provide background knowledge about author Kevin Henkes and his development of unique characters. Take time to enhance their vocabulary with a brief discussion about people and events mentioned in Amazing Grace.
Screenshots and Templates for Character Study Unit

Second Grade: Guided Reading Famous American Women in History: Harriet Tubman
Resource	Task / Purpose
Trade Books A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman, by David A. Adler (Read-Aloud) Minty, A Story of Young Harriet Tubman, by Alan Schroeder (Read-Aloud) Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky, by Faith Ringwold Follow the Drinking Gourd, by Jeanette Winter Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, by Deborah Hopkinson	Share the book Minty out loud with students to build background knowledge after creating a K-W-L chart. Read epilogue at end of book too. Fill in K before, W after. Guide students through A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman with purpose of answering W questions. (Use Inspiration tool to help add to K-W-L list). Share Aunt Harriet's Undergroung Railroad, Sweet Clara and the Freedaom Quiltand Follow the Drinking Gourd after to inspire further research about slaves following constellations and then preview websites below.
Computer Software Microsoft Encarta (see screen shot) States-Mania Shareware	Encarta: Use this electronic encyclopedia to introduce students to the process of accessing general information about The Underground Railroad. May need to read the information out loud to students, but task should be focused on a guided search with electronic encyclopedia. States-Mania: Play games that match state outline to state name. Learn facts about states too. Focus on states Harriet Tubman traveled through.
Productivity Tool Inspiration Kid Pix Studio	Using graphic template of eastern coastal states, plot out path of slaves northward through the Underground Railroad. Create a timeline of important events in Harriet Tubman's life. Take time to realize how many years passed between each event. (see examples of activities at Pocantico School's 2nd grade website)
Internet Web Sites Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, by students at Pocantico School Follow the Drinking Gourd images, music and lyrics The Journey from National Geographic's Website What was the Underground Railroad?	Explore many online interactive activities about Harriet Tubman created by second graders. Learn more about The Drinking Gourd, visually follow the journey that many slaves traveled and review information learned about the Underground Railroad.
Screenshots and Templates for Harriet Tubman Unit

Second Grade: Collaborative / Independent Reading and Writing Magic Tree House Series / Mysteries
Resource	Task / Purpose
Trade Books Tonight on the Titanic #17 (part of a wonderful series by Mary Pope Osborne) The Titanic: Lost and Found (Step into Reading Series) by Judy Donnelly	Share The Titanic: Lost and Found out loud with students and have them revisit the book in small groups to build background knowledge and prompt discussion. Encourage discussion about the feelings of the people on board. Read Tonight on the Titanic out loud with your students or have them read it silently over the course of few days. Again, focus on the character's feelings and how it makes you feel to be trapped on the Titanic. Introduce concept of mysteries and discuss examples in this book.
Computer Software (see online virtual tours listed below)	Take a virtual tour abourd the Titanic and explore the setting of the stories first-hand.
Productivity Tool Word Processor / Desktop Publisher HyperStudio, PowerPoint	Using the online account of a 12 year-old girl and Mary Pope Osborne's story as models, pretend to have survived the sinking yourself and write your own "survival" account to share with others. Base your story on facts you learned.
Internet Web Sites Magic Tree House Website 12 year old survivor accounts experiences on the Titanic	Take a virtual tour aboard the Titanic, explore related websites, interact with author Mary Pope Osborne, and read the accounts of a 12-year old girl who survived the sinking of the Titanic.
Screenshots and Templates for Titanic Unit

Second Grade: Collaborative / Independent Reading and Writing Most Important Autobiographies
Resource	Task / Purpose
Trade Books The Important Book, by Margaret Wise Brown	Share The Important Book out loud with students, calling attention to the text patterns in the book as well as the great use of descriptive language.
Computer Software Imagination Express: Neighborhoods by Edmark (See screen shot) Sim-Town by Maxis	Imag. Express: Create a model of your own house and neighborhood and place yourself in the world. (see screen shot). Add animation and your own voice to character stamps and write your own autobiography with the multimedia authoring tools. Sim-Town: Create your own virtual town. Then create personalities and monitor the feelings of the people that live in the town through journal entries and forms.
Productivity Tool Kid Pix Studio, HyperStudio, or Powerpoint Inspiration (or Timeliner by Tom Snyder Productions)	Slide Show: Add text, personal drawings and digital photographs to create a multimedia presentation entitled "The Most Important Things to Know About Me". Inspiration: Use tools to create a timeline that illustrates the most important events in your life. Annotate them with comments created in text boxes around the timeline.(Timeliner creates an automatic timeline; students add labels)
Internet Web Sites Student published examples of What do you think is most important about you? Impt. Things About Objects Gr. 2 Impt. Things About Mothers Gr. 2 Important Things About Insects Gr.4	View some online examples of Important Books that other young children have written. Teachers can also access other ideas through this online All About Me unit. The pattern can even be extended to things other than me, like the website on mothers, objects or insects. You can expand this all about me theme to a descriptive paragraph too.
Screenshots and Templates for Autobiography Unit

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