2nd Grade Curriculum Guide for Homeschoolers
Looking for a 2nd Grade Curriculum Guide that doesn’t take all day, but covers what your child needs to succeed? I am going to share with you what worked for us and how we got there.
The 2nd Grade Curriculum Guide is exactly that… a guide. I will lay out how we tackle each subject and to what degree. Whether you choose a similar route or one that is grossly different, hopefully, you will find some ideas about how you would like to tackle 2nd grade. For the record, our learning philosophy is that learning happens all the time and is a part of life. We hold to an eclectic learning environment. However, we do make use of traditional tools enmeshed with a myriad of supplemental resources. Happy homeschooling!
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2nd Grade Curriculum Guide
Let me reiterate that this 2nd Grade Curriculum Guide is what works for us. I am not going to supply time frames or even necessarily how often because there are no exacts. In our home, we have a general schedule that we follow, but we live life as it happens and things are always subject to change. We have followed the below 2nd grade guideline for 2 children with another one using this program for 2021-2022.
For those wanting to see the exact learning standards for each grade for your state, I would advise you to search your state’s name along with the words, “state learning standards.” For example, Ohio state learning standards. You should be able to locate them this way.
For Georgia, the state standards are located here.
Do you have to follow the state standards? No. I do not follow, but merely refer to them. However, if you plan to homeschool temporarily, it may be more helpful to you. In 2nd grade, my student takes a substantial step up in workload from the previous year. Let’s have a look!
English & Language Arts
Phonics and Language 2 Workbook from Abeka
This workbook will give your child a solid foundation in the English language. Sentence structure, language development, and grammar are all areas of focus in the Phonics and Language 2 Abeka workbook . The book also features special sounds, otherwise known as blends and digraphs. Activities, puzzles, and word challenges will help increase vocabulary and sharpen your child’s reading skills.
Benefits: As a busy mom of six, the ability to order a pre-printed workbook that is ready to go is a lifesaver. Furthermore, Abeka has been around for a long time, which gives me confidence in knowing that my child is getting a tried and true language curriculum that is thorough.
How many pages a day do we cover? We do one page front and back a day. There are 354 pages in the workbook.
2nd Grade Spelling Tasks Pack
The Spelling Tasks Pack is a set of daily tasks that my second grader completes Monday through Friday. You can read more about it and download your own printable 2nd Grade Spelling Tasks Pack here. Each of the 36 weeks of spelling has a list of 16 words that focus on sight words and word family sets. I love the Spelling Tasks Pack because it focuses on so many of the goals we strive towards in 2nd grade: phonics, sight words, and writing.
Writing
Manuscript or Cursive Practice
In 2nd grade, some of my students are still working on writing their letters neatly. So, if needed, purchase an inexpensive manuscript book. There are also tons of free alphabet and number printables online that you can use with your child to perfect their writing. Softschools.com offers a wide variety for you to choose from. Print out what you want to use and have them ready to go when the time is right!
Draw & Write Sheets
Since my students start using Draw & Write sheets in 1st grade, my 2nd grader is familiar with them. Draw & Write sheets have the ability to grow with a writer. Most of our Draw & Write sheet sets are for early learners, but to accommodate an advancing writer you can download our blank Draw & Write Sheets. These sheets allow for more detailed writing and less room for illustrations. To see how we incorporate DRAW & WRITE SHEETS into our homeschool, click here.
Creative / Journal Writing
2nd grade is our last year using Primary Composition books. By now, my student is used to writing creative stories in their writing book. Just like the Draw & Write sheets, the composition books feature an area on top to draw and then space below for writing. These books become great keepsakes.
Read more about how we include writing into our homeschool here at Elementary Writing.
4 Square Graphic Organizers
This is the year graphic organizers are introduced to help our students organize information that they read. My favorite is the 4 Squares Graphic Organizer. It makes arranging information easy for young learners. When students are asked to summarize a story, article, or event, they can become overwhelmed and not know how to arrange information. Graphic organizers help students break down what they read into smaller pieces. This makes the idea of summarizing a story or book more accessible to a student who struggles processing information.
These graphic organizers are presented to my students during the 2nd half of the year. It is during this time that my student is encouraged to use these as a “Beginner’s Book Report Breakdown.” One of the 4 -Square Organizers helps students identify the 5 W’s- who, what, when, where, and why. Another organizer breaks down a book’s main characters, setting, problem, and solution. The last organizer encourages students to focus on a story’s characters, beginning, middle, and ending.
Reading
Individual Reading Time
By 2nd grade, my student is independently reading or on their way. Even though my student is moving forward in their ability to decipher new words and read familiar ones, we still sit together for reading time together. Sometimes this entails my student reading solely to me out loud. Other times, we read together in tandem taking turns. The books we read depend a lot on my individual kid. Oftentimes, I let them pick a book out. However, sometimes the best route is to give them options to pick from. That way we aren’t reading books that are too advanced or too easy.
As the year progresses, I encourage them to start reading chapter books on their own. Some of mine went in that direction without being coaxed while others needed more time to get to that point. Even though my first three all learned to read using the same general steps on the road to reading, they all learned to read at different rates. To read more about how we tackled learning to read, take a look at our ROAD TO READING or How To Encourage your Child to Read.
Group Read Aloud
Now, group read alouds are a little different. We all participate, young and old. All of us huddle around the living room piling in on couches and chairs (dog too) as I read a chapter or two of an engaging tale. We sometimes read fiction and other times books based on an historical account. Science and history can easily be hit upon during this time through the books we read. For example, you might read a book set during colonial times or read an adventure that revolves around an erupting volcano! My second grader may not like all of the books we read, but they are present and taking it all in… one book at a time. This is a great time to incorporate audio books too. We really enjoy the I Survived Series and Great Illustrated Classics.
Reading Comprehension Workbook
I didn’t use this book with all my kids, but with one of mine, we took advantage of the 36 reading selections. Each story features a fun activity to encourage higher level thinking. Reading comprehension is developed with the use of these selections throughout the year.
Math
Arithmetic 2 Workbook from Abeka
You can order this booklet and others bound or loose leaf. For organization purposes, we order the bound copy. The level of math in this workbook is challenging. Abeka curriculum features a spiral style of learning meaning that math concepts will continue to pop up even after a student’s mastery. This enables content to solidify and truly be mastered long term. Consequently, if the curriculum offers 10 of the same type of problem, I may ask my student to complete only 5 of the 10. We also do not complete all of the homework or additional practice problems at the back of the book unless my student needs the practice.
We focus on 1 page front and back at a time.
Science & Health
Enjoying God's World
Our 2nd grade curriculum guide wouldn’t be complete without science. We use Abeka’s Enjoying God’s World. It covers various science topics such as the 5 Senses, parts of a plant, animal habitats, energy, and more! This is the first year that my student has a spiral notebook that accompanies their science book. My student will use this notebook to answer the science comprehension questions within the book. You may prefer to talk through the questions and answers. Not only do we complete the Enjoying God’s World science reader, but we also include educational videos, labs, science slideshows, hands-on activities, and science unit studies that coincide with our reading. You can also combine writing with science using our Science Draw & Write sheets.
Health, Safety, & Manners 2
Abeka’s Health, Safety, & Manners 2 reader is an effective tool to use that reinforces what it is that we already teach our kids at home daily. It is refreshing to have a reader restate in greater detail basic hygiene, safety, and manners that you hope your child would learn. My student is encouraged to read small sections and then answer the comprehension questions in a spiral notebook dedicated to Health. Some of my students were not ready to read it on their own. In that case, we read it together and then discussed the questions and answers.
Additional Science Resources
When planning for second grade science and health, I like to look over the topics covered in their readers. This will give you ideas about how you could supplement with videos, labs, or hands-on activities. For second grade, we might include 5 Senses, Properties of Magnets, Water Cycle, Scientific Method, All About Me Scientific Investigation, and other science topics that interest them individually. Check out our Science Unit Studies to find fun interactive science investigations and resources!
Social Studies
Our America
During 2nd grade, we use the Abeka history reader, “Our America.” Similar to their science and health readers, my students have a spiral notebook that accompanies their history book. In this notebook, they answer comprehension questions. This is great practice for reading comprehension and making sure they grasped what they read. We supplement with educational videos, Historical Figures Draw & Write Sheets, and unit studies such as American Flag Unit, Pilgrims and the Mayflower, and Where in the World am I.
Fine Arts
Our 2nd Grade curriculum guide would not be complete without fine arts. Fine Arts is all about experiences, exposure, and opportunity. Taking a field trip to a local play or museum, watching and listening to different types of music, affording a child the chance to try different instruments, are all aspects of providing fine art exposure and experience. If time allows, this may be a great time to join the Christmas choir at church or try a dance class. Many colleges, churches, and universities offer free fine art opportunities for their communities.
Sometimes we don’t have the opportunity to visit or see fine arts in person. This is the perfect opportunity to think outside the box. Watch a ballet, hip hop, tap dancing, or waltz competition online. We spent a week watching different fiddlers on YouTube, while another week we viewed mini-documentaries on famous artists and musicians. Many of the most famous museums around the world can be toured online also.
Consider these Fine Arts teaching tools...
Your child can also enter a myriad of contests. One website that is worth looking into for its list of potential art contests and wealth of FREE resources including art lessons is Samantha’s Bell. Great for older kids too. Another site that my youngest boy loves is The Art Hub featured on YouTube. My son started a portfolio that year to feature all of the art he created through their tutorials.
Don’t be scared to try something artsy or crafty… paint like Picasso, try your hand at pottery, or create unique nature art! We also make instruments, which is always an engaging activity. You can use all kinds of recycled objects to create instruments such as drums with large coffee cans, shakers with rice in bottles, string instruments with rubber bands and shoe boxes. Have fun with it!
Enrichment Ideas
It is truly mind boggling how many enrichment activities your child could potentially participate in. This part of your child’s education can really become custom to their gifts and strengths. Enrichment for your family may include lots of crafts, models, games, and hands-on labs. For another, gardening or caring for animals takes center stage. And yet, when I scroll homeschool groups across the nation I read about second languages being mastered or students learning computer skills that top my own. Sewing and cooking come into play as well. Oh, don’t forget activities like gymnastics, chess competitions, carving and even archery! The list of enrichment ideas goes on to include instruments of all kinds, sports of all kinds, LEGO construction, wood working, painting, embroidery, and so much more!
Before you get overwhelmed… stop. Don’t do what myself and other moms often do… compare your homeschool. We read about what other moms say on social media and we are convinced that we aren’t providing our child with enough opportunity. Bologne. We are all different and our family situations are too. It is important for us to remember that the homeschool environment we create for our kids is our own. It isn’t meant to look like someone else’s. What a shame if it did. So, with that being said, don’t compare your children and don’t compare your homeschool. Remind yourself that God is sovereign and knows more than you do about what you and your family needs.
Physical Education
The kids spend plenty of time outdoors walking, playing, running, jumping, climbing, etc. Our kids have always been fortunate enough to be able to play in some sort of county rec sport. They enjoy playing basketball and baseball with their friends at the park too. In our area, there are classes available called Homeschool PE which may be of interest to you.
For us, learning about who created us and how we should care for our body is essential to physical education. During the early years, we study God’s creation and how He made us each special in His image. Furthermore, we talk about keeping our bodies healthy in a unit we call Keep Clean Hygiene mixed with another unit called What can we do to keep from getting sick? We also cover food groups and where our food comes from in the Farm Unit along with the Fruits & Vegetables Unit. The child learns that healthy foods produce a healthy body.
Bible
We do Bible time together as a group. We read, discuss, watch videos, and do crafts related to Bible truths. Being active in our church is also important to us. The kids participate in as many activities available to them at our church as possible for our family. If you would like to learn more about how we incorporate God’s word into our homeschool, check out Bible Truths.
Supportive Programs & More
FREE EDUCATIONAL ONLINE GAMES
This is a compilation of educational games that we have used over the years. Many of the gaming sites featured are educational, fun, and engaging. This is a tool to keep in your teacher’s bag for that rainy day! Skip the math workbook and reward your student with math games that focus on addition facts as a nice change of pace. Check out the games that we have tried and enjoyed at FREE EDUCATIONAL ONLINE GAMES!
RECOMMENDED EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS
If your student is a visual learner, it will be important to add videos to your homeschool. My kids love the opportunity to watch videos that pertain to whatever it is we are reading about in our science and history books. Explore RECOMMENDED EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS where you will discover a large list of videos that we have used and abused!
What about Socialization?
Many new homeschooling families are concerned about their child’s socialization. I would encourage you to rethink your perception of what socialization is and how children acquire it. There are plenty of opportunities for your child to meet others and develop social graces. Social interactions take place at church, co-ops, sports programs, farmer’s market, and even the grocery store.
Over the years, my children have developed relationships with people of all ages. We have participated in everything from soccer to Awanas to co-ops to Tae Kwon Do. I have a friend who serves the homeless making lunches while another visits elderly homes singing and ministering to them. More families take classes at the local homeschool co-ops. And still other families travel more than they are home!
Some things to keep in mind...
What we do may not work for you. This 2nd Grade curriculum guide isn’t meant to give you an exact plan for your homeschool, but to give you a general idea of what may work for you… or not. Hopefully, it will help you to take one step at a time to pave your own path. I encourage you to take advantage of the benefits of homeschooling. There is no set time frame for learning. Nor does learning require a room with 4 walls. This will take time for those of you who come from a traditional public school setting to process. Sometimes the sheer amount of freedom is overwhelming. So, stop, take it in. Breathe. Enjoy the process.
You and yours are free to go explore new ventures. There is a freedom to homeschooling that is hard to understand until you are in it. Just remember that you are blessed. Happy Homeschooling!
Check out these other FREE resources
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:4
