Curriculum Mapping: Integrating Magnet Theme with Ongoing Units
Johnson Magnet School for STEM
2nd Grade Date: February 8, 2010
Literacy
Essential Statement: Johnson STEM students will become life long learners in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. These disciplines will be integrated into all content areas through investigation, problem solving
and inquiry-based learning. Our goal is to inspire students to continue their education at institutions of higher learning and pursue STEM careers.
Unit 1: Lay the Course:
Navigating Through Nonfiction
Text
Unit 2: What We Know About
Stories: Making Meaning of
Fictional Text and Poetry
Unit 3: Knowledge is Power:
Gathering and Interpreting
Information
Use knowledge of text
structures, features, and
language to anticipate the
reading task and understand the
main idea(s) in
nonfiction text.
 Integrate information from
running text, text features, and
prior knowledge to determine
and support the main ideas in
nonfiction text.
 Question, interpret, and
clearly articulate understanding
of nonfiction text and author’s
intent.
Apply understanding of story
elements through analysis and
discussion.
 Analyze the ideas/themes
within and across text, and form
and defend perspectives about
ideas.
 Apply their understanding of
poetry through an analysis of
ideas and structure.
Gather and compare information
across text to form an
understanding/interpretation.
 Determine what
information/details are relevant
to the main idea(s) of the text
and author’s purpose.
 Ask clarifying questions and
pose/investigate plausible
answers.
 Use text features and
structures to support
understanding of nonfiction text.
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Science
Process, product, and materials
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Time for Kids (Magnet
Themed Resources)
Houghton Mifflin (Magnet
Themed Resources)
Proquest Visual Literacty
(Magnet Themed
Database)
United Streaming (Magnet
Themed Resources)
BrainPOP (Magnet
Themed Resources)
Nonfiction feature book
(Magnet Themed
Resources)
Ex. Text Structure/
Sequence: “How
Amphibians Grow and
Change”
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Time for Kids (Magnet
Themed Resources)
Houghton Mifflin (Magnet
Themed Resources)
Proquest Visual Literacty
(Magnet Themed Database)
United Streaming (Magnet
Themed Resources)
BrainPOP (Magnet Themed
Resources)
Friendly Letters were
written using Net Books.
Ex. Poetry /Math: Number
Families (Addition &
Subtraction)
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Time for Kids (Magnet
Themed Resources)
Houghton Mifflin (Magnet
Themed Resources)
Proquest Visual Literacty
(Magnet Themed Database)
United Streaming (Magnet
Themed Resources)
BrainPOP (Magnet Themed
Resources)
Students wrote a response
to an expository text using
Net books.
Ex. Time for Kids: “Girls
Need Their Own Computer
Games” .
Pebbles, Sand and Silt
The Pebbles, Sand and Silt Module consists of four sequential investigations,
each designed to introduce concepts in earth science. The investigations provide
experiences that heighten students’ awareness of rocks as earth materials,
natural resources, and fossils. They will come to know rocks by many names
and in a variety of sizes. Pebbles, sand, and silt are the same material—just
different in size.
Unit 4: Characters: What are
They All About? How They
Help Us Understand Stories and
Life
Unit 5: Exploring Why Authors
Write and How They Convey
Their Message (fiction,
nonfiction)
Explore and discuss character
traits, actions, words, and others’
comments to support
understanding of theme in a
variety of
narrative text.
 Explore and analyze the
impact of plot, setting, and
character on the resolution of the
story.
Explore and discuss how authors
convey their point of
view/viewpoint.
 Explore and discuss the
impact of the author’s decisions
on the reader.
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Time for Kids (Magnet
Themed Resources)
Houghton Mifflin (Magnet
Themed Resources)
Proquest Visual Literacty
(Magnet Themed Database)
United Streaming (Magnet
Themed Resources)
BrainPOP (Magnet Themed
Resources)
Ex. Magic School Bus &
Magic Tree House
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Time for Kids (Magnet
Themed Resources)
Houghton Mifflin (Magnet
Themed Resources)
Proquest Visual Literacty
(Magnet Themed Database)
United Streaming (Magnet
Themed Resources)
BrainPOP (Magnet Themed
Resources)
Ex. Author’s Viewpoint:
“Going Wild: Zookeepers
add a little zing to animals’
lives”
Balance and Motion
We live in a dynamic world where everything is in motion, or so it
seems. But not everything is moving the same way. Some things move from one
place to another. Other things go around and around in a rotational motion. Still
other things are stationary, stable for a time, balanced on a thin line between stop
and go. These are the global phenomena that students experience in the Balance
and Motion Module.
Unit 6: The Soil of Stories:
Exploring the Influence of
Culture on Traditional Literature
Unit 7: He Said, She Said, I
Said: Sharing My Message With
the World
Explore the similarities and
differences of traditional
literature from a variety of
cultures.
 Explore, analyze, and discuss
common themes, plots, settings,
and characters to understand
traditional literature from a
variety
of cultures.
Explore, analyze, and interpret
nonfiction text and determine the
author’s purpose.
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Time for Kids (Magnet
Themed Resources)
Houghton Mifflin (Magnet
Themed Resources)
Proquest Visual Literacty
(Magnet Themed Database)
United Streaming (Magnet
Themed Resources)
BrainPOP (Magnet Themed
Resources)
Proquest Culture Grams
Online Database
 Compare information from
multiple sources to clarify
thinking on a topic or issue.
 Support inferences and
conclusions with textual
evidence and prior knowledge.
 Pose questions and seek
answers by connecting prior
knowledge to information from
multiple sources.
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Time for Kids (Magnet
Themed Resources)
Houghton Mifflin (Magnet
Themed Resources)
Proquest Visual Literacty
(Magnet Themed Database)
United Streaming (Magnet
Themed Resources)
BrainPOP (Magnet Themed
Resources)
Oral Presentation on STEM
themed subject (using
MCAT)
Ex. Unit on Sound: “What
Makes Sound?” & “Sounds
All Around”
“Franklin’s Fantastic Feats”
Insects and Plants
The Insects and Plants Module provides experiences that heighten
students’ awareness of the living world. They come to know firsthand the life
sequences of a number of insects. Four investigations introduce an insect and
students observe structures and behaviors, discuss their findings, and record
observations over time. Students see the life cycle of insects unfold and compare
the stages of metamorphosis exhibited by each species. At the same time,
students grow a plant from seeds and observe brassica go through its life cycle to
produce new seeds. Students relate these firsthand experiences to information
they gather from reading about life cycles of other plants and animals.
Process, product, and materials
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FOSS California Kits (Magnet Themed Resources)
FOSS California Science Resources Book (Magnet Themed
Resources)
FOSS California Web (Magnet Themed Resources)
United Streaming (Magnet Themed Resources
BrainPOPJr. (Magnet Themed Resources)
Space Day Project (Habitat on the Moon) integrating the MCAT, Net
books, and digital camera
Space Day Project (Spud Rovers) integrating the MCAT, Net books,
and digital camera
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Social Studies
Our Parents, Grandparents, and Ancestors from Long Ago/People From Many Cultures, Now and Long Ago
Students begin to understand their role as consumers in the
economy by examining food production. Lessons are
developed with the support of concrete visuals such
as maps, charts, and globes to show the interdependence among
consumers, producers, processors, and distributors. Students learn
about the role geography plays in a region’s economic development.
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Process, product, and
materials
Math
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FOSS California Kits (Magnet Themed Resources)
FOSS California Science Resources Book (Magnet Themed
Resources)
FOSS California Web (Magnet Themed Resources)
United Streaming (Magnet Themed Resources
BrainPOPJr. (Magnet Themed Resources)
Show the life cycle of and insect or plant using Pixie
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People Who Supply Our Needs
Process, product, and materials
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FOSS California Kits (Magnet Themed Resources)
FOSS California Science Resources Book (Magnet Themed
Resources)
FOSS California Web (Magnet Themed Resources)
United Streaming (Magnet Themed Resources
BrainPOPJr. (Magnet Themed Resources)
Space Day Project (Spud Rovers)
MSAP Project (Drag Racers) using imovie
Students learn about influential people, both past and present, who affect the way we live. Family history is explored to examine diversity among
classmates along with studies about people, ordinary and extraordinary, who have shaped the lives of students today. Biographies, folktales, myths,
legends, and stories from many cultures support students’ understanding of the role people played in our national and world communities.
Ex. (STEM themed biographies i.e. Mae Jemison)
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Harcourt People We Know (Magnet Themed Resources)
United Streaming (Magnet Themed Resources)
BrainaPOPJr. (Magnet Themed Resources)
Culture Grams Online Database (Magnet Themed Resources)
School Wide Career Fair
Students will research a STEM themed career
Harcourt People We Know (Magnet Themed Resources)
United Streaming (Magnet Themed Resources)
BrainaPOPJr. (Magnet Themed Resources)
Culture Grams Online Database (Magnet Themed Resources
Black History Gallery Walk
Hispanic Gallery Walk
Students create classroom poster on various influential people (STEM
themed) using Comic Life
Module 1: Addition
and Subtraction
Strategies and Facts,
Place Value, and
Graphing
Module 2: Geometry
Module 3 & 11:
Money and Time
Module 4 &6:
2-Digit Addition &
Subtraction
Module 5:
Measurement
Module 7: Number
Sense and Functions
Module 8:
Multiplication and
Division
Module 9:
3-Digit Addition &
Subtraction
Module 12:
3-Digit Addition &
Subtraction
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Harcourt Math
Modules
BrainPOPJr.
Math
Manipulatives
(Base Ten Blocks,
Hundred Chart,
Number line, Wrap
Around Game)
Mind Research
(Math Computer
Program)
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Harcourt Math
Modules
BrainPOPJr.
Math
Manipulatives
(Solid Figures)
Mind Research
(Math Computer
Program)
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Harcourt Math
Modules
BrainPOPJr.
Math
Manipulatives
(Play money,
clocks, Money &
Time listening
centers, Money &
time Bingo, Wrap
Around Game)
Mind Research
(Math Computer
Program)
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Harcourt Math
Modules
BrainPOPJr.
Math Manipulatives
(Base Ten Blocks,
Hundred Chart,
Number line, Race
for a Flat Game)
Mind Research
(Math Computer
Program)
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Harcourt Math
Modules
BrainPOPJr.
Math
Manipulatives
(Rulers, meter tape,
measuring cups,
pints, quarts, liters,
thermometers,
Measurement
listening center)
Mind Research
(Math Computer
Program)
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Harcourt Math
Modules
BrainPOPJr.
Math
Manipulatives
(Sentence Strip
Fraction Bars,
Fraction Circles,
Fraction Bars,
Pizza Fraction
Game)
Mind Research
(Math Computer
Program)
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Harcourt Math
Modules
BrainPOPJr.
Math
Manipulatives
(Two-Sided
Counters)
Mind Research
(Math Computer
Program)
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Harcourt Math
Modules
BrainPOPJr.
Math
Manipulatives
(Base Ten Blocks,
Race to Zero
Game)
Mind Research
(Math Computer
Program)
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Harcourt Math
Modules
BrainPOPJr.
Math
Manipulatives
(Base Ten Blocks,
Race to a Flat,
Race to Zero
Games using base
ten blocks)
Mind Research
(Math Computer
Program)