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The second-grade social studies curriculum continues the theme of community. Students extend their study beyond their families, schools, and neighborhoods to include their state and country. They learn about their immigrant ancestors' journeys to the United States, and the cultures that they left behind. In geography lessons, students learn the names and locations of the 50 states, find oceans and continents on a map and a globe, and use map symbols to understand the geography of their town, state, and country. Second-grade social-studies textbooks emphasize landforms, such as mountains, plains, and plateaus, and the different climates people experience across the country. Students compare and contrast life in urban, suburban, and rural communities, and learn how people in various communities use natural resources. Later in the year, the focus shifts to the U.S. Constitution and government. Second-graders learn how the country's leaders, lawmakers, and judges work together to protect individual rights and promote the common good. Teachers discuss the characteristics and responsibilities of citizenship throughout the year, and several classroom activities center on understanding rules, taking responsibility, and resolving conflicts peacefully. Your grandchildren will develop an understanding of how citizens must make choices about their laws when they vote, and why voting is an important component of the U.S. government.
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Warming Trend. Global warming is a critical issue in both science and social studies classrooms. As science teachers discuss the ways global warming may be affecting Earth's environment, social studies teachers will examine the tradeoffs and hard decisions that citizens and political leaders must make to address the problem.
* Second-graders are reading more on their own, but they are still young and enjoy a good read-aloud. Share with your grandchildren books with social-studies themes, like Patricia Maclachlan's
All the Places to Love (Joanna Cotler, 1994), Susanna Davidson's
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse (Usborne, 2007), and David Catrow's
We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States (Puffin, 2005).
* Benjamin Franklin will lead you and your grandchildren on a tour of the U.S. government, its workings, and its history, at Ben's Guide, the federal government's social-studies website for young children.
Red, White, and Blue Food. Grandchildren can learn about social studies well beyond the walls of the classroom — in your kitchen. Don an apron and let children help you make patriotic or historic recipes from Joan D'Amico and Karen Eich Drummond's
The United States Cookbook: Fabulous Foods and Fascinating Facts From All 50 States (Wiley, 2000)
or The U.S. History Cookbook: Delicious Recipes and Exciting Events from the Past (Wiley, 2003)
Tackling Quarter Backs. The U.S. Mint has almost completed its unveiling of commemorative quarters representing each state. Work with your grandchildren to collect a complete set of the quarters. Which do your grandchildren like best? Which images offer the most information about their states? What kind of alternative design would they suggest for their home-state's quarter? Can they place every quarter on a map of the U.S.?
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