2nd Grade
Social Studies
GRADE LEVEL STANDARDS/DOK
PERFORMANCE ESSENTIAL
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES/
INDICATORS
QUESTIONS
ASSESSMENTS
CONTENT/TERMS
GRADING
PERIOD
GOVERNMENT & CIVICS
The study of government and civics equips students to understand the nature of government and the unique characteristics of representative democracy in the United States,
including its fundamental principles, structure and the role of citizens. Understanding the historical development of structures of power, authority and governance and their
evolving functions in contemporary U.S. society and other parts of the world is essential for developing civic competence. An understanding of civic ideals and practices of
citizenship is critical to full participation in society and is a central purpose of the social studies.
Formation of Governments
3
SS-EP-1.1.1
Know basic functions
Describe how public
Invite local service workers, mayors, council
members to talk as guest speakers.
Students will identify the basic purposes of local
of local government
servants help us.
government (to establish order, provide security
local service workers,
Kentucky Learns Links
and accomplish common goals); give examples of
and how those services
Identify
services local governments provide (e.g., police
are paid for.
Community helpers,
(Local Government Laws & Rules)
and fire protection roads and snow removal,
(police, fire protection,
garbage pick-up,) and identify how they pay for
snow removal, garbage
these services taxes).
pick-up, city parks, life
guard) and explain their
roles
Know rules of school
Discuss why school and
1
SS-EP-1.1.2
and classroom.
class rules are
Students will identify and explain the purpose
important.
of rules within organizations (e.g., school,
clubs, teams) and compare rules with laws.
Demonstrate
DOK 2
appropriate behavior.
Why do we have rules?
School, clubs, teams,
laws, community
Constitutional Principles
SS-EP-1.2.1
Students will describe how their local government
is structured (e.g., mayor, city council, judgeexecutive, fiscal court, local courts) and compare
their local government to other community
governments in Kentucky
Know why we have a
mayor and local
government.
Local leaders as
Bold – State Assessment Content Statement
Italics – Supporting Content Statement
*Performance Indicators represent skills from Program of Studies
List local government
workers (mayor, city
council, court system,
judges) and explain
how local government
works.
Invite local leaders as guest speakers.
4
Kentucky Learns Links
(Local Government Laws & Rules)
1
updated 1/11/07
2nd Grade
Social Studies
GRADE LEVEL STANDARDS/DOK
PERFORMANCE ESSENTIAL
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES/
INDICATORS
QUESTIONS
ASSESSMENTS
CONTENT/TERMS
GRADING
PERIOD
speakers.
Rights and Responsibilities
SS-EP-1.3.1
Students will define basic democratic ideas (e.g.,
liberty, justice, equality, rights, responsibility)
and explain why they are important today..
SS-EP-1.3.2
Students will identify and give examples of
good citizenship at home, at school and in the
community (e.g., helping with chores, obeying
rules, participating in community service
projects such as recycling, conserving natural
resources, donating food/supplies) and explain
why civic engagement in the community is
important.
DOK 2
Know why we have
school rules and
consequences.
Know how and why we
can perform classroom
duties and jobs.
-Can drives
-Toy drives
-Sponsoring a needy
child at Christmas
-Collaborating
periodically with other
grade levels
-Pen Pals
-Donating Canned
goods
-Month long recycling
projects
Bold – State Assessment Content Statement
Italics – Supporting Content Statement
*Performance Indicators represent skills from Program of Studies
Define what democracy
is and how it works.
Give examples.
Liberty, justice,
equality, rights,
responsibility
Martin Luther King,
Civil Rights
Describe traits of a
responsible citizen in
the neighborhood.
Kentucky Learns Links
(Democracy & Citizenship)
4
Kentucky Learns Links
(Democracy & Citizenship)
4
Demonstrate chores at
home, school, etc.
Demonstrate
responsible behavior
concerning
environment and
natural resources.
Good citizenship,
helping others,
recycling, trash pick-up,
donations, food drives
2
updated 1/11/07
2nd Grade
Social Studies
GRADE LEVEL STANDARDS/DOK
PERFORMANCE ESSENTIAL
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES/
INDICATORS
QUESTIONS
ASSESSMENTS
CONTENT/TERMS
GRADING
PERIOD
Cultures & Societies
Culture is the way of life shared by a group of people, including their ideas and traditions. Cultures reflect the values and beliefs of groups in different ways (e.g., art, music,
literature, religion); however, there are universals (e.g., food, clothing, shelter, communication) connecting all cultures. Culture influences viewpoints, rules and institutions in a
global society. Students should understand that people form cultural groups throughout the United States and the World, and that issues and challenges unite and divide them.
Elements of Culture
Know the importance
Describe why culture
Kentucky Learns Links
2
SS-EP-2.1.1
of culture.
and tradition are
(Elements of Culture)
Students will describe cultural elements (e.g.,
important.
beliefs, traditions, languages, skills, literature,
OR – Good Luck Gold
the arts).
Compare and contrast
DOK 1
different cultures.
SS-EP-2.1.2
Students will study a variety of diverse cultures
locally and in the world today and explain the
importance of appreciating and understanding
other cultures.
Social Institutions
SS-EP-2.2.1
Students will identify social institutions
(government, economy, education, religion,
family) and explain how they help the community.
Culture, customs,
traditions
Be able to discuss a
culture that is different
from our own.
Know and identify the
social institutions.
Explain how
government helps us.
Kentucky Learns Links
(Elements of Culture)
Kentucky Learns Links
(Social Institutions)
4
Choose several social
institutions and discuss
how they provide help
in our community.
Government, education,
school, economy,
religion, church, family,
resource center
Interactions Among Individuals and Groups
Bold – State Assessment Content Statement
Italics – Supporting Content Statement
*Performance Indicators represent skills from Program of Studies
3
updated 1/11/07
2nd Grade
Social Studies
GRADE LEVEL STANDARDS/DOK
PERFORMANCE ESSENTIAL
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES/
INDICATORS
QUESTIONS
ASSESSMENTS
CONTENT/TERMS
SS-EP-2.3.1
Students will describe various forms of
interactions (compromise, cooperation,
conflict, competition) that occur between
individuals/ groups at home and at school.
DOK 2
SS-EP-2.3.2 Students will identify appropriate
conflict resolution strategies (e.g., compromise,
cooperation, communication).
Discuss several
examples of acceptable
social behavior.
Kentucky Learns Links
(Understand the Family and Relationships)
GRADING
PERIOD
3
Group organizations,
recreation, cooperation
Explain why we have
different behavioral
expectations for
different situations. Be
able to give examples.
Economics
Economics includes the study of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. Students need to understand how their economic decisions affect them, others,
the nation and the world. The purpose of economic education is to enable individuals to function effectively both in their own personal lives and as citizens and participants in an
increasingly connected world economy. Students need to understand the benefits and costs of economic interaction and interdependence among people, societies and
governments.
Scarcity
Know the difference
Give examples of
Econ and Me.
3
SS-EP-3.1.1
between wants and
scarcity that has
Students will define basic economic terms
needs.
affected you or your
related to scarcity (e.g., opportunity cost,
Tops and Bottoms
family.
wants and needs, limited productive resourcesnatural, human, capital) and explain that
Kentucky Learns Links
Wants, needs, jobs,
scarcity requires people to make economic
(Economics)
resources, opportunity
choices and incur opportunity costs.
costs.
DOK 2
Economic Systems and Institutions
SS-EP-3.2.1
Know why we have
Banks
3
Students will identify and give examples of
banks.
economic institutions (banks) and explain how
Bank officer visit classroom
they help people deal with the problem of scarcity
(e.g., loan money, save money) in today’s market
economy.
Markets
Bold – State Assessment Content Statement
Italics – Supporting Content Statement
*Performance Indicators represent skills from Program of Studies
4
updated 1/11/07
2nd Grade
Social Studies
GRADE LEVEL STANDARDS/DOK
PERFORMANCE ESSENTIAL
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES/
INDICATORS
QUESTIONS
ASSESSMENTS
CONTENT/TERMS
GRADING
PERIOD
SS-EP-3.3.1
Students will identify basic economic terms
related to markets (e.g., goods, services, profit,
consumer, producer, supply, demand, buyers,
sellers, barter).
DOK 1
Know about supply and
demand.
3
SS-EP-3.3.2
Students will explain different ways that people
acquire goods and services (by trading/bartering
goods and services for other goods and services
or by using money).
Production, Distribution, and Consumption.
Bold – State Assessment Content Statement
Italics – Supporting Content Statement
*Performance Indicators represent skills from Program of Studies
Explain why we need
goods, services, and
taxes.
Econ and Me
Kentucky Learns Links
(Economics)
Give examples of how
bartering and trading
were used in the past.
5
updated 1/11/07
2nd Grade
Social Studies
GRADE LEVEL STANDARDS/DOK
PERFORMANCE ESSENTIAL
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES/
INDICATORS
QUESTIONS
ASSESSMENTS
CONTENT/TERMS
GRADING
PERIOD
SS-EP-3.4.1
Students will define basic economic terms
related to production, distribution and
consumption (e.g., goods and services, wants
and needs, supply and demand, specialization,
entrepreneur) and describe various ways goods
and services are distributed (e.g., by price,
first-come-first-served, sharing equally).
DOK 2
SS-EP-3.4.2
Students will describe how new knowledge,
technology/tools, and specialization increases
productivity in our community, state, nation and
world.
Know what it means to
make and sell a
product.
4
SS-EP-3.4.3
Students will define interdependence and give
examples of how people in our communities,
states, nation and world depend on each other for
goods and services.
Discuss production,
distribution, and
consumption.
Compare and contrast
production, distribution,
consumption.
Give examples of and
discuss how businesses
use technology in today’s
world.
4
How does our community
depend on other nations to
do business?
Geography
Geography includes the study of the five fundamental themes of location, place, regions, movement and human/environmental interaction. Students need geographic knowledge
to analyze issues and problems to better understand how humans have interacted with their environment over time, how geography has impacted settlement and population, and
how geographic factors influence climate, culture, the economy and world events. A geographic perspective also enables students to better understand the past and present and to
prepare for the future.
The Use of Geographic Tools
Bold – State Assessment Content Statement
Italics – Supporting Content Statement
*Performance Indicators represent skills from Program of Studies
6
updated 1/11/07
2nd Grade
Social Studies
GRADE LEVEL STANDARDS/DOK
PERFORMANCE ESSENTIAL
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES/
INDICATORS
QUESTIONS
ASSESSMENTS
CONTENT/TERMS
GRADING
PERIOD
SS-EP-4.1.1
Students will use geographic tools (e.g., maps,
globes, mental maps, charts, graphs) to locate
and describe familiar places at home, school and
the community.
Know how to use a
map, globe, and graph.
3
SS-EP-4.1.2
Students will use geographic tools to identify
major landforms (e.g., continents, mountain
ranges), bodies of water (e.g., oceans, major
rivers) and natural resources on Earth’s surface
and use relative location.
SS-EP-4.1.3
Students will describe how different factors (e.g.
rivers, mountains) influence where human
activities are located in the community.
Know how to use tools
to identify landforms.
Know major landforms,
bodies of water, &
natural resources.
Identify and demonstrate
map and globe skills in a
community and
neighborhood.
Maps
Kentucky Learns Links
(Maps)
Neighborhoods,
community, map key,
legend, compass rose,
state, country
Demonstrate ability to use
cardinal directions to
identify features on a
map.
Flat Stanley
Discuss why people line
or move to certain areas
of the country.
Kentucky Learns Links
Weekly Reader
Kentucky Learns Links
(Landforms & Bodies of Water)
4
Weekly Reader
3
Nystrom
Landforms, island, valley,
peninsula, canyon,
mountain, ocean, lake,
river, continents, natural
resources, Equator, North
Pole, South Pole
Regions
Bold – State Assessment Content Statement
Italics – Supporting Content Statement
*Performance Indicators represent skills from Program of Studies
7
updated 1/11/07
2nd Grade
Social Studies
GRADE LEVEL STANDARDS/DOK
PERFORMANCE ESSENTIAL
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES/
INDICATORS
QUESTIONS
ASSESSMENTS
CONTENT/TERMS
GRADING
PERIOD
SS-EP-4.2.1
Students will describe places on Earth’s
surface by their physical characteristics (e.g.,
climate, landforms, bodies of water).
Know how to describe a
landform and its
physical characteristics.
Kentucky Learns Links
(Landforms & bodies of Water)
3
Kentucky Learns Links
(Earth – Physical Characteristics)
2
Kentucky Learns Links
(Humans & Movement, Technology &
Environment)
3
Kentucky Learns Links
(Humans & Movement, Technology &
Environment)
3
Kentucky Learns Links
(Humans & Movement, Technology &
Environment)
2
Describe landforms and
explain where you would
find them in the United
States.
Landforms, island, valley,
peninsula, canyon,
mountain, ocean, lake,
river, continents, natural
resources
Patterns
SS-EP-4.3.1
Students will describe patterns of human
settlement in places and regions on Earth’s
surface.
SS-EP-4.3.2
Students will describe how technology helps us
move, settle and interact in the modern world.
Human-Environment Interaction
SS-EP-4.4.1
Students will describe ways people adapt
to/modify the physical environment to meet
their basic needs (food, shelter, clothing).
DOK 1
SS-EP-4.4.2
Students will describe how the physical
environment can both promote and restrict
human activities
Know why human
beings settle in certain
places on Earth.
Know how technology
helps us.
Know what basic needs
are.
Know how the physical
environment can
promote or restrict
human activities.
Bold – State Assessment Content Statement
Italics – Supporting Content Statement
*Performance Indicators represent skills from Program of Studies
Choose a region and
explain why/why not it
would be beneficial to
begin a settlement there.
Change, cities, United
States, regions, countries
Describe how technology
improves transportation as
people move and settle
into new places.
Explain how people might
adapt to their physical
environment. Give an
example.
Food, shelter, clothing
Discuss how resources
influence choice of
settlement.
8
updated 1/11/07
2nd Grade
Social Studies
GRADE LEVEL STANDARDS/DOK
PERFORMANCE ESSENTIAL
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES/
INDICATORS
QUESTIONS
ASSESSMENTS
CONTENT/TERMS
GRADING
PERIOD
Historical Perspective
History is an account of events, people, ideas and their interaction over time that can be interpreted through multiple perspectives. In order for students to understand the present
and plan for the future, they must understand the past. Studying history engages students in the lives, aspirations, struggles, accomplishments and failures of real people. Students
need to think in an historical context in order to understand significant ideas, beliefs, themes, patterns and events, and how individuals and societies have changed over time in
Kentucky, the United States and the World.
The Factual and Interpretive Nature of History
SS-EP-5.1.1
Know timelines of
Create a timeline
Make fossils using Plaster of Paris.
2
Students will use a variety of primary and
students’ lives.
highlighting special
secondary sources (e.g., artifacts, diaries,
events in your life.
Bring in artifacts.
timelines) to interpret the past.
Timelines, artifacts,
Kentucky Learns Links
fossils
(U.S. History Timeline & Sources)
The History of the United States
Bold – State Assessment Content Statement
Italics – Supporting Content Statement
*Performance Indicators represent skills from Program of Studies
9
updated 1/11/07
2nd Grade
Social Studies
GRADE LEVEL STANDARDS/DOK
PERFORMANCE ESSENTIAL
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES/
INDICATORS
QUESTIONS
ASSESSMENTS
CONTENT/TERMS
GRADING
PERIOD
SS-EP-5.2.1
Students will identify significant patriotic and
historical songs, symbols,
monuments/landmarks (e.g., The StarSpangled Banner, the Underground Railroad,
the Statue of Liberty) and patriotic holidays
(e.g., Veteran’s Day, Martin Luther King’s
birthday, Fourth of July) and explain their
historical significance.
DOK 2
Know what it means to
be patriotic.
National holidays
throughout the year.
Pledge
Singing patriotic songs
Poems
Stories
2
SS-EP-5.2.2
Students will identify and compare the early
cultures of diverse groups of Native Americans
(e.g., Northwest, Southwest, Plains, Eastern
Woodlands) and explain why they settled in
what is now the United States.
DOK 2
SS-EP-5.2.3
Students will describe change over time in
communication, technology, transportation and
education in the community.
Know how
communication and
transportation have
changed over time.
Identify and describe
different ways to show
patriotism.
Kentucky Learns Links
(Symbols of the United States)
OR – The American Flag
Monuments, symbols
White House
Lincoln Memorial
Daniel Boone’s grave
Jefferson Davis
monument
Blue Licks Battle Field
Compare two cultures
and explain why those
groups settled in the
United States.
Colony, Explorers,
Pioneers, Native
Americans, pilgrims,
Christopher Columbus,
Trade
Interview an older
person and discuss how
things have changed
since they were your
age.
Kentucky Learns Links
(Native American History & Traditions)
2
Pilgrim Children
3
Share Baskets
Kentucky Learns Links
(Changes in Communication & Transportation)
Communication –
telegraphs, telephones,
cell phones
Transportation –
horse/buggy, train, car,
plane
Bold – State Assessment Content Statement
Italics – Supporting Content Statement
*Performance Indicators represent skills from Program of Studies
10
updated 1/11/07