2nd Grade NGSS Earth Science Earths Shape and Processes Unit

This NGSS-aligned unit addresses quick and slow processes on Earth, landforms, erosion, water on Earth and how these are represented on maps. It incorporates reading, writing, math, science, and art for a cross-curricular unit that will take 5-6 weeks.

Resources for Input:

- Unit essential question

- Inquiry chart printable

- 6 pages of observation chart photos

- Printable CCD and teacher samples

- The Important Book About Processes that Shape the Earth (1 title page, 1 header/footer page, 5 content pages, 5 pages of pictures)

- PPT version of the big book

- Super Scientist Awards

- 4 pictorial and/or comparative input charts to project and trace. Titles are:

• Earth's Layers
• Quick and Slow Changes
• Solutions for Erosion
• Maps as Models

- 3 chants

- Printable sentence pattern chart and teacher sample (2 options)

- Landforms Expert Groups (set of 6) with mind map graphic organizer and process grid

- Continents Expert Groups (set of 7) with mind map graphic organizer and process grid

- 3 writing prompts (narrative, informational, and opinion) and writing paper

Close Reading

- 3 leveled close reading sets, each with 3 printable question sets aligned to CCSS and 2 journal prompts

- Each text is available at a beginning, middle, and end of second grade reading level
- Each text is available in reader or article format

Titles:

• The Hawaiian Islands//Mt. St. Helens
• Pangaea: The Supercontinent
• Water World

These close readings are available digitally as Google Slides presentations. Each leveled text and its applicable questions are organized into a pre-made presentation, for a total of 9 presentations.

Note that these are the same close readings that are in the 2nd Grade Earth's Shape and Processes Close Reading packet and the NGSS 2nd Grade Close Reading Bundle.

Math Activities

- 4 math activities

Titles:

• Landform Line Plot (2 versions; measure and make a line plot)
• Around the World (comparing numbers game; 2 versions)
• Measurements on Earth (task card puzzles)
• Share the Planet (fraction sort)

Science Labs

- 6 science labs with teacher directions and printable recording sheets

Titles:

• Pangaea Puzzle (digital option included)
• Landforms and Bodies of Water Puzzles
• Events on Earth Exploration (multimedia text set; available digitally only)
• Erosion Investigation
• Where is our Water? (model)
• Earth Models (work collaboratively to make a globe or map that shows the shapes of the Earth and where water is located)

Art Integration

• Printables of 5 works of art
• Guiding Questions to connect art and science
• 1 Art Lesson

Assessment

• 1 Assessment (16 Questions)
• Answer Key

Note: This assessment is available separately here.

Check out the 2nd Grade Earth Science DIGITAL Packet with 30 additional activities to complement this unit!

2nd Grade NGSS Unit Bundle

2nd Grade Matter Unit

2nd Grade Ecosystems Unit

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