2nd Grade for ME - Unit 2 | Department of Education

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Unit 2 highlights science through a study of how wind and water shape and reshape the land. It invites students to question the stability of the ground beneath us and to recognize that, across the world, Earth’s surface is constantly changing. In this unit, students investigate the effects of wind and water on land and explore how people adapt to and interact with these natural forces.

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Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8

Week 1: At-a-Glance
Weekly Question: What are landforms?

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Vocabulary and Language	Introduce Weekly Words: area, cause, feature, raised, steep, surface, surround, wear Weekly Words Slides		Compound Words Compound Words Slides	Compound Words	Making & Using New Words Worksheet
Text Talk	Horseshoe Bend Horseshoe Bend Photo Writing Station Response	Earth's Landforms & Bodies of Water (Read 1) Informational Text Features	Earth's Landforms & Bodies of Water (Read 2) Text Excerpts	Earth's Landforms & Bodies of Water (Read 3)	Yangtze River Yangze River Slides
Stations	Lesson Plan Guided Independent Reading Listening & Speaking: Listen & Respond (Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace) Science Literacy: What landforms or bodies of water do you notice outside of our classroom? Vocabulary: Image \| Sheet Word Work: Read It, Write It, Mark It \| Work Work: New Words \| Word Work: Look, Cover, Write, Check Writing: Follows from Text Talk Week 1, Day 1 and 4 - Writing Station Response
Science and Engineering	Lesson 1: Earth's Systems Lesson 2: Physical Geography - Landforms & Bodies of Water Maps of Maine Slides Science Vocabulary
Studios	Children explore and represent places and landforms, using familiar materials Studios Studio Prompts Art Studio Building Studio Research Studio Writing & Storytelling Math Studio
Writing Basics	Deconstruction: Procedure Purpose Procedure Mentor Texts 1 Procedure Mentor Texts 2 Procedure Mentor Text Images	Deconstruction: Procedure Stages Bear Breath Slides River of Ice	Deconstruction: Images; Joint Construction: Soil Experiment Building Mentor Texts	Deconstruction: Verbs; Joint Construction: Steps Verbs Slides	Deconstruction: Verbs; Joint Construction: Steps Anchor Chart Image

Week 2: At-a-Glance
Weekly Question: What can we learn about land?

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Vocabulary and Language	Introduce Weekly Words: decompose, layer, nutrient, organic, prevent, transport, value, vital Weekly Words Weekly Words Slides		Adverbs Adverbs Slides	Verbs & Adverbs	Answering the Weekly Question Answering the Weekly Question Worksheet
Text Talk	Dirt: The Scoop on Soil (Read 1)	Dirt: The Scoop on Soil (Read 2)	Dirt: The Scoop on Soil (Read 3) and How to Prevent it Soil Erosion and How to Prevent it Excerpt Soil Erosion and How to Prevent it Slides	Popham Beach Slides Popham Beach Photograph	Breakers Poem Breakers Poem Text Key Writing Activity
Stations	Lesson Plan Guided Independent Reading Listening & Speaking: Listen & Respond (Earth's Landforms & Bodies of Water) Science Literacy: How do scientists use maps? Vocabulary: Talk About It Sheet \| Talk About It Images Word Work: Name It, Write It, Mark It \| Word Work: Read It, Write It, Mark It Writing: Follows from Text Talk Week 2, Day 1 and Week 2, Day 3
Science and Engineering	Lesson 1: Physical geography of Maine / United States - Maine Map Slides Lesson 2: Physical geography of the North American continent - USA Map Slides
Studios	Experiences continue from Week 1. In the Research Studio, the lens widens to global maps Studios Studio Prompts Building Landscapes Discovery Puzzle Discovery Puzzle Checklist Discovery World Map Math Line Plots Research Continents Research Countries
Writing Basics	Deconstruction: Adjectives; Joint Construction: Materials Adjectives Slides Anchor Chart Images	Deconstruction and Joint Construction: Title, Goal, & Final Comment; Joint Construction: Verbs	Writing Procedure: Individual Construction Vertical Procedure Paper Yoga Card Procedure Observation Tool	Individual Construction; Assessment; individual/small group/whole group lessons, as needed

Week 3: At-a-Glance
Weekly Question: How can water change land, and why does it matter?

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Vocabulary and Language	Introduce Weekly Words: carve, fill, flow, impact, plunge, stream (n), stream (v), wear Weekly Words Weekly Words Slides		Words with Multiple Meanings Words with Multiple Meanings Slides	Words with Multiple Meanings	Making & Using New Words Making & Using New Words Worksheet
Text Talk	Water Rolls, Water Rises (Read 1) Water Rolls, Water Rises Slides Writing Response	Water Rolls, Water Rises (Read 2) Water Rolls, Water Rises Excerpt	Soil Erosion and How to Prevent It (Read 2) Soil Erosion and How to Prevent It Slides Writing Response	Erosion: Changing Earth's Surface (Read 1) Erosion: Changing Earth's Surface Excerpt	Erosion: Changing Earth's Surface (Read 2)
Stations	Lesson Plan Guided Independent Reading Listening & Speaking: Listen & Respond (Dirt: The Scoop on Soil) Science Literacy: What can we learn about an area of land by drawing a map? Vocabulary: Image \| Vocabulary: Sheet Word Work: Make New Words \| Word Work: Look, Cover, Write, Check Writing: Follows from Text Talk Week 1, Days 1 and 3 - Writing Station
Science and Engineering	Lesson 1: Quadrat Study 3 Lesson 2: The Forces of Water on Land - Slides
Studios	Exploring impacts of water: Watercolor paints and stream table experiments continue; in addition, children follow K’NEX procedures and write introductions for classroom books Watercolor Info Watercolor Paintings Discovery Math Spinner Math Gameboard Research Fiction Research Information
Writing Basics	Peer-to-Peer Feedback Procedure Feedback Sheet	Introduction to and Beginning Revising and Publishing	Revising & Publishing	Individual Construction: Title & Goal; Publishing	Presentation & Celebration

Week 4: At-a-Glance
Weekly Question: What is your relationship with water?

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Vocabulary and Language	Introduce Weekly Words: approach (n), approach (v), barrier, deposit, fertile, relationship, sediment, suitable Weekly Words Weekly Words Slides		Capitalization Day 3 Capitalization Slides	Capitalization Day 4	Answering a Weekly Question Answering a Weekly Question Worksheet
Text Talk	I Know the River Loves Me (Read 1) I Know the River Loves Me Slides	I Know the River Loves Me (Read 2) I Know the River Loves Me Text	Natural Erosion Can Be Good Natural Erosion Can Be Good Text	Erosion at the Nile River Erosion at the Nile River Slides	The Changing Mississippi River The Changing Mississippi River Slides
Stations	Lesson Plan Guided Independent Reading Listening & Speaking: Listen & Respond (Water Rolls, Water Rises) Science Literacy: How can water change the shape of land? Vocabulary: Image \| Vocabulary: Sheet Word Work: Make New Words \| Word Work: Name It, Write It, Mark It Writing: Follows from Text Talk Week 1, Days 1 and 3
Science and Engineering	Lesson 1: The Forces of Water on Land Lesson 2: The Forces of Water on Land: Discussion - Runoff Slide
Studios	Children use materials in each studio to try out the procedures their classmates have written Studios Studio Prompts Spinners Math Studio Gameboard
Writing Basics	Deconstruction: Introduction to Report Report Intro Landform Images Slides	Choosing and Researching Landforms Landform Images Caption Template Landform Research Packet Keeping Track of Landforms	Deconstruction and Joint Construction: Adjectives & Research Report Anchor Chart Images Grand Canyon Caption Slides	Joint Construction, Individual Construction	Feedback and Revision Caption Feedback

Week 5: At-a-Glance
Weekly Question: How can wind change land, and why does it matter?

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Vocabulary and Language	Introduce Weekly Words: batter, destroy, grind, particle, transform, warn, weather, weathering Weekly Words Weekly Words Slides		Prefixes Day 3 Prefixes Slides	Prefixes Day 4	Making and Using New Words Making and Using New Words Worksheet
Text Talk	Hurricanes Hurricanes Text Mid-Unit Assessment Slides	Soil Erosion and How to Prevent It & How Do Wind and Water Change Earth Soil Erosion Slides Wind and Water Excerpt Partner Read & Discussion	Erosion: Changing Earth's Surface Arches Slides	Dunes Dunes Poem Dunes Writing Activity Dunes Slides	Moving Away from the Edge Moving Away from the Edge Text Moving Away from the Edge Slides
Stations	Lesson Plan Guided Independent Reading Listening & Speaking: Listen & Respond (I Know the River Loves Me) Science Literacy: How can wind change the shape of land? Vocabulary: Image \| Vocabulary: Sheet Word Work: Read It, Write It, Mark It Writing: Mid-Unit Assessment; Follows from Text Talk Day 4 - Responses \| Rubric
Science and Engineering	Lesson 1: The Forces of Wind on Land Lesson 2: The Forces of Wind on Land
Studios	Children represent wind with art media and tell stories involving wind, construct water-based landscapes and simulate erosion, and review classroom resources to consolidate knowledge Studios Studio Prompts Art Illustrations Discovery Landform Images Math Recording Sheet
Writing Basics	Pre-Assessment Rio Patagonia Slide Pre-Assessment Sheet Explanation Rubric Pre-Assessment Reflection	Deconstruction: Explanation Purpose: Deconstruction: Posters Explanation Mentor Text Covers Sample Posters Slides	Deconstruction: Explanation Stages Explanation Stages Images	Joint Construction & Individual Construction: Illustrating Explanations Illustrating Explanations Packets	Joint Construction Phenomenon Statement Explanation Steps Sheet Popham Beach Image

Week 6: At-a-Glance
Weekly Question: How do people interact with the land?

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Vocabulary and Language	Introduce Weekly Words: determine, expose, interact, preserve, remove, shape (v), soak, uninhabited Weekly Words Weekly Words Slides		General Nouns Day 3 General Nouns Slides	General Nouns Day 4	Answering a Weekly Question Answering a Weekly Question Worksheet
Text Talk	Teacher Choice	A Problem on Popham Beach A Problem on Popham Beach Slides	Erosion: Changing Earth's Surface & Soil Erosion and How to Prevent It Comparing Erosion Excerpts Comparing Erosion Excerpts Slides Key Activity Writing	What Can Grass Do? What Can Grass Do? Slides Key Activity Drawing	Soil Erosion and How to Prevent It Soil Erosion Slides
Stations	Lesson Plan Guided Independent Reading Listening & Speaking: Listen & Respond (How Do Wind and Water Change Earth?) Science Literacy: How did water and wind change my quadrant? Vocabulary: Image \| Vocabulary: Sheet Word Work: Look, Cover, Write, Check \| Word Work: Add on to Base Words Writing: Follows from Text Talk Days 1 and 3
Science and Engineering	Lesson 1: Quadrat Study 4 Lesson 2: Testing Approaches to Slowing and Preventing Erosion: Barriers and Planting Erosion Control Slides
Studios	Popham Beach Project Children use materials to begin to explore their ideas about slowing erosion. Specific work in studios will depend on projects taken on by individuals and small groups Studios Studio Prompts Planning Prompts Math Target Numbers
Writing Basics	Feedback and Revision: Explanation Steps Explanation Feedback Sheet	Deconstruction and Revision: Verbs	Deconstruction and Revision: Nouns and Adjectives Explanation Language Images	Individual Construction: Completing Captions and Phenomenon Statements Phenomenon Worksheet	Individual Construction Explanation Observation Tool

Week 7: At-a-Glance
Weekly Question: How can people prevent or slow erosion?

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Vocabulary and Language	Introduce Weekly Words: evaluate, intervene, propose, protect, recommend, recommendation, respond, restore Weekly Words Weekly Words Slides		Shades of Meaning: Verbs Day 3 Shades of Meaning Slides	Shades of Meaning: Verbs Day 4	Making New Words Making New Words Worksheet
Text Talk	Erosion and Soil Erosion Terracing Slides Writing Station Response	The Muddy River The Muddy River Slides The Muddy River Sheets	Taking a Stand Taking a Stand Slides Taking a Stand Resource	Taking a Stand Discussion	Choosing a Recommendation for Popham Beach
Stations	Lesson Plan Guided Independent Reading Listening & Speaking: Listen & Respond (What Can Grass Do?) Science Literacy: How do scientists and engineers work together to solve problems (like slowing or preventing erosion)? Vocabulary: Image \| Vocabulary: Sheet Word Work: Look, Cover, Write, Check \| Word Work: Read It, Write It, Mark It Writing: Follows from Text Talk Day 1 and 3 - Writing Station Response
Science and Engineering	Lesson 1: Testing approaches to slowing and preventing erosion: walls, windbreaks, and terracing - Erosion Control Slides Lesson 2: Testing approaches to slowing and preventing erosion: walls, windbreaks, and terracing Lesson 3: Presenting investigations about slowing and preventing erosion Lesson 4: Testing approaches to slowing and preventing erosion: walls, windbreaks, and terracing
Studios	Continue work from the previous week Children plan and record next steps for erosion investigations
Writing Basics	Individual Construction; Thinking and Feedback; Explanation Assessment; Individual / Small Group / Whole Group Instruction				Peer-to-Peer Feedback Explanation Feedback

Week 8: At-a-Glance
Weekly Question: How do scientists share their ideas?

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Vocabulary and Language	Review selected weekly words Weekly Words Slides				Answering the Weekly Question Answering the Weekly Question Worksheet
Text Talk	End of Unit Assessment Assessment Text Assessment Questions Assessment Slides Assessment Rubric Assessment Exemplars	Off to Class: Water, Water Everywhere Off to Class Slides	Could It Work Here, Too? Erosion Examples Prompts Worksheet	Soil Erosion and How to Prevent It Soil Erosion Slides	Synthesis of Unit Ideas and Celebrating Our Learning (Combined with Studios)
Stations	Lesson Plan Guided Independent Reading Listening & Speaking: Listen & Respond (Erosion: Changing Earth's Surface) Science Literacy: What is the most effective way of slowing or preventing erosion? How did you figure that out? Vocabulary: Image \| Vocabulary: Sheet Word Work: Look, Cover, Write, Check \| Work Work: Read It, Write It, Mark It Writing: End of Unit Assessment
Science and Engineering	Lesson 1: Communicating a recommendation for Thompson Island - Recommendation Packet Lesson 2: Communicating a recommendation for Thompson Island
Studios	Children interview each other to learn about each other’s work, clarify their own ideas, and plan next steps. They work toward completion and presentation of their projects Studios Project Interview Questions Math Center Gameboard
Writing Basics	Introduction to and Beginning Revising and Publishing Caption Template Phenomenon Statement	Revising and Publishing Day 2	Publishing	Post-Assessment Wellfleet, Cape Cod Slides Post-Assessment Sheet Explanation Rubric	Presentation and Celebrating

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2nd Grade for ME - Unit 2