ELA Curriculum Map
Essential Questions
Readers: How are ideas,
events, and information
presented in a text? RI.2.5
Writers: How do writers
develop ideas with facts
and definitions? W.2.2
Big Idea
Challenges and Change
Enduring Understandings
Readers understand ideas and
information are connected in
informational texts. RI.2.3
Writers understand that
informational writing is
supported by
facts and definitions. W.2.2
Learners explore content to
understand that change can
happen quickly and create
challenges.
Goals
Readers will identify and
describe the connection
between two
2nd Grade ~ Unit 4B~2014-15
Vocabulary
Anchor
Benchmark
Vocabulary
rocket
layer
atmosphere
ocean
shining
scrape
quake
island
formed
wreck
destroy
destructible
magnitude
level
grind
collapse
steep
loose
By the Way
Words
Content & Skills
1. Teacher’s Guide, pp. 162–171
READ Trade Book Planet Earth
READING FOCUS Readers
understand ideas and information
are connected in informational texts.
WRITING FOCUS Write an
informative piece about the
challenge of living on Earth. Include
an introduction, facts, details, and a
concluding statement.
2. Teacher’s Guide, pp. 172–181
READ Trade Book Planet Earth
READING FOCUS Writers
understand that informational
writing is supported by facts and
definitions.
WRITING FOCUS Write an
informative piece about planet Earth
that provides facts and definitions.
3. Teacher’s Guide, pp. 182–191
READ Trade Book Planet Earth
READING FOCUS Writers
understand that informational
writing is supported by facts and
definitions.
WRITING FOCUS Do research and
write an informative piece about
something that lives on Earth.
Include facts, definitions, and
descriptive details.
Time Frame: 3 weeks
Assessments
Formative Writing Activities
Lesson 6
Have children choose two
earthquakes from the text to compare. Children will flag text
evidence that gives specific information about each quake.
Then, on a separate sheet of paper, children will write an
informative paragraph that uses key ideas and details to
compare the two earthquakes. Children will turn to p. 229 in
the Reader’s and Writer’s Journal to review the writing task.
Have children:
1. introduce the topic.
2. use key ideas and facts to develop points.
3. provide a concluding statement.
Remind children to return to Danger! Earthquakes to find text
evidence that will support their comparison.
Lesson 11
Have children revisit Planet Earth or Danger! Earthquakes to
write a newspaper article based on an event from one of these
texts. Children will plan and draft their article on a separate sheet
of paper. They will do research as needed to answer the
questions who, what, where, when, and why. Then they will turn
to p. 239 in the Reader’s and Writer’s Journal to write their
newspaper articles. Have children:
1. choose an event.
2. research the event to answer the questions who, what, where,
when, and why.
3. write a first draft of their article.
Remind children that their newspaper article should include a
headline that clearly states the event they are writing about.
Lesson 12
Have children revisit the article they drafted in the previous
lesson. Children will revise and edit their article. Then they will
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ELA Curriculum Map
ideas and pieces of
information in a text. RI.2.3
Writers will support and
connect writing with facts
and definitions. W.2.2
Learners will explore
content to understand
changes on Earth.
2nd Grade ~ Unit 4B~2014-15
Time Frame: 3 weeks
4. Teacher’s Guide, pp. 192–201
READ Trade Book Planet Earth
READING FOCUS Learners
understand that change can happen
quickly and create challenges.
WRITING FOCUS Do research and
write an informative piece about
how the land changes on Earth.
Include a diagram that illustrates
facts.
turn to p. 240 in the Reader’s and Writer’s Journal to write their
final draft. Have children:
1. revise their article to make the information clearer or
easier to understand.
2. edit their revised draft to check their spelling, capitalization,
and punctuation.
3. write a final copy of their article.
Remind children to make sure their final articles answer the
questions who, what, where, and when.
5. Teacher’s Guide, pp. 202–211
READ Trade Book Planet Earth
READING FOCUS Readers
understand ideas and information
are connected in informational texts.
WRITING FOCUS Write a summary
using key details of the main idea in
the text.
Questions: (Accountable Independent Reading)
Literal
Key Ideas and Details
• How do the characters in the text respond to major events and
challenges?
• Retell the story. What is the central message of the story?
Craft and Structure
• What happens in the beginning, middle, and end of the text?
• How do two characters in the story have different points of
view? List evidence from the text to support your thinking.
Integration of Ideas
• How do the illustrations help you understand events or ideas?
• How are the characters or themes in this text similar to or
different from those in another text you’ve read?
6. Teacher’s Guide, pp. 212–221
READ Text Collection Danger!
Earthquakes
READING FOCUS Readers
understand ideas and information
are connected in informational texts.
WRITING FOCUS Write an
informative paragraph that
compares two earthquakes with
details that support the comparison.
7. Teacher’s Guide, pp. 222–231
READ Text Collection Danger!
Earthquakes
READING FOCUS Writers
Informational
Key Ideas and Details
• What is the main idea of the text? How do key details support
the main idea?
• How are the events or concepts in the text connected to each
other?
Craft and Structure
• What text features are used in the text? How do they help you
locate information?
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ELA Curriculum Map
2nd Grade ~ Unit 4B~2014-15
understand that informational
writing is supported by facts and
definitions.
WRITING FOCUS Write questions
and answers about earthquakes
based on the maps in the text.
8. Teacher’s Guide, pp. 232–241
READ Text Collection Danger!
Earthquakes
READING FOCUS Learners
understand that change can happen
quickly and create challenges.
WRITING FOCUS Write an
explanatory paragraph about a
newspaper article that describes a
natural disaster.
9. Teacher’s Guide, pp. 242–251
READ Text Collection Danger!
Earthquakes
READING FOCUS Learners
understand that change can happen
quickly and create challenges.
WRITING FOCUS Write an opinion
supported by specific reasons and
details about the information in
the text.
Time Frame: 3 weeks
• What is the author’s purpose for the text? What does the
author want to answer, explain, or describe?
Integration of Ideas
• How do the illustrations help you understand the text?
• How do reasons support specific points the author makes?
Performance Task
Task: In the News
Planet Earth is in a constant state of change. Children will use
information they have learned from anchor and supporting
texts to write an informative newspaper article reporting on
a natural event that causes planet change. Children can do
additional research as necessary to report on their chosen
natural event.
Writing Wrap Ups
End of Unit (Module B)
Homework Assignments
10. Teacher’s Guide, pp. 252–261
READ Text Collection “Who Could
Somersault the San Andreas Fault?”
READING FOCUS Learners
understand that change can happen
quickly and create challenges.
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ELA Curriculum Map
2nd Grade ~ Unit 4B~2014-15
Time Frame: 3 weeks
WRITING FOCUS Write a few lines
of poetry that reveal facts about
earthquakes.
11. COMPARE
• Planet Earth
• Danger! Earthquakes
READING FOCUS Readers
understand ideas and information
are connected in informational texts.
WRITING FOCUS Plan and draft
a newspaper article based on an
event from one of the two texts.
12. COMPARE
• Planet Earth
• Danger! Earthquakes
READING FOCUS Readers
understand ideas and information
are connected in informational texts.
WRITING FOCUS Revise and edit
the draft of the newspaper article.
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ELA Curriculum Map
2nd Grade ~ Unit 4B~2014-15
Interdisciplinary
Options
Resources
Anchor Text (Trade Book): Informational Text
Planet Earth by Mike Goldsmith 480L
Supporting Text (Text Collection): Informational Text
Danger! Earthquakes by Seymour Simon 710L
Poetry
“Who Could Somersault the San Andreas Fault?”
by J. Patrick Lewis
Sleuth
Reader’s Writer’s Journal
Scaffolded Strategies Handbook
Time Frame: 3 weeks
Common Core Learning Standards
Reading: Informational Text
RI.2.1, RI.2.2, RI.2.3, RI.2.4, RI.2.5, RI.2.6, RI.2.7, RI.2.8, RI.2.9,
RI.2.10
Reading: Foundational Skills
RF.2.4, RF.2.4.b
Writing
W.2.2, W.2.5, W.2.6, W.2.7, W.2.8
Speaking and Listening
SL.2.1, SL.2.1.a, SL.2.1.b, SL.2.2, SL.2.5
Language
L.2.1, L.2.1.e, L.2.2, L.2.3, L.2.3.a, L.2.4, L.2.4.a, L.2.4.d, L.2.4.e,
L.2.5, L.2.6
Additional Texts
Flash, Crash, Rumble, and Roll
by Franklyn M. Branley Informational Text Lexile 200L
Planet Earth
by Leonie Pratt Informational Text Lexile 290L
Hurricanes!
by Gail Gibbons Informational Text Lexile 310L
Danger! Volcanoes
by Seymour Simon Informational Text Lexile 790L
Earthquakes and Tsunamis
by Emily Bone Informational Text Lexile 400L
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ELA Curriculum Map
2nd Grade ~ Unit 4B~2014-15
Time Frame: 3 weeks
Natural Disasters
by Diana Noonan Informational Text Lexile 700L
Technology
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