Grade Two Curriculum Picks
Note: These Grade Two Picks can be purchased from Homeschool Canada (order using the HCOS Curriculum Order Form). Some options may also be available to borrow from the Learning Commons Search Portal and/or via the OverDrive virtual eBook library.
Vendor websites are pick-and-choose and some optional or alternate suggestions may be listed, so select your items with care.
Overview Of Grade 2 Curriculum Picks
Here is an overview of the curriculum picks that we suggest for Grade 2. Please note that some subjects provide more than one option. For more information about the curriculum, please refer to the information under Detailed Information for Grade 2 Curriculum Picks.
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English Language Arts (three options) |
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Mathematics (two options) |
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Science (multiple options) |
General Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Earth/Space
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Social Studies |
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Bible/Christian Studies |
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Optional Resources (not detailed below) |
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Detailed Information for Grade 2Curriculum Picks
English Language Arts
Language Lessons for a Living Education 2 with 101 Favorite Stories from the Bible
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Type of Resource: workbook Description: students will move beyond pages of text to make real-world connections as this exciting new series guides your young learner toward mastery of reading, grammar, and vocabulary, as well as the mechanics of communication and writing. Utilizing phonics, observation, and reading comprehension through poems, stories, and real books as the foundation, your student will start forming basic sentences. This story-based approach focused on young students Claire and Micah, uses Charlotte Mason ideas for the modern homeschool student with character-building themes. Each quarter has five stories, two picture studies (one of which is Bible-based), and two poems (one of which is a Psalm). Using the spelling words and the Dictionary Worksheets student will create their very own dictionary as they move week by week through the material. This curriculum incorporates picture study, memorization, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, observation, poems, psalms, letters, and practical application through creative writing – all working towards the mastery of reading and grammar, as well as the mechanics of communication and writing. Equivalent to a second-grade level. Developing early reading and narration skills, by the end of the course, students should be able to comfortably write up to three sentences at a time. The additional resource, 101 Favorite Stories from the Bible by Ura Miller is a required supplement to this program.
Other Optional or Supplementary Resources Table of Contents (under "Product Description")
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Stone Soup Picture Book with Literature Kit (or another grade-appropriate book)
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Type of Resource: a fiction picture book and workbook Description: Students use their brainstorming skills as they think of reasons why the villagers would hide their food from the soldiers. Find the vocabulary words from the story that have short i and long i sound. Match words to their synonyms from the novel. Put events from the story in the order that they happened when the soup was being made. Students draw a picture of their favourite soup. Then, make a list of ingredients and directions on how to make this soup. Explore the story with the sense of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch in a graphic organizer. Written to Bloom's Taxonomy; additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included. Other options for picture book literature kits can be found here. PDF Samples (are available on their website) |
Printing Power Student Workbook
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Type of Resource: workbook Description: second-grade students, or those working at that level, master printing with advanced paragraphs, poems, and language arts activities. Features practice pages for advanced printing on a single line.
Supplementary Resources
Additional Support (free demos, research, how-to videos, and all of our free online resources available) |
Mathematics
Singapore Math Standards Edition edition is not mentioned here because as the grades progress, it is more difficult to "jump in" to this method of learning. It is still a strong option and can be considered for students looking for an academically rigorous curriculum. A placement test is strongly recommended before selecting a level.
Math U See is not mentioned here simply because it is not available from our Curriculum Pick provider(s), although it is a strong option, especially in the primary grades. Math-U-See can be ordered directly from the Canadian Distributor, Math Canda. Place an order by Phone: 250-590-6761 or Toll-Free: 1-888-854-6284.
Option 1: Math Lessons for a Living Education 2
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Type of Resource: workbook Description: teaches math through a blend of stories, copy work, oral narration and hands-on activities, showing how math is used in "real life"---just like a living math book! Thirty-six weeks of instruction guide students through the content, story, and hands-on activities using inexpensive manipulatives provided/made by the parent. This book is written to be used by teachers and students together. It includes a suggested weekly schedule (30 minutes per lesson, 5 days per week, 36 weeks) with easy-to-manage lessons that include reading, worksheets, and assessments. Pages are perforated and three-hole-punched so that parents can easily tear out, hand-out, and store pages. Students will read the pages in the book and complete the corresponding section provided by the teacher. Assessments are given at regular intervals. Answer keys are available online. This second-grade resource features the continuing story of twins Charlie and Charlotte, who are learning that life is full of learning opportunities! As students read, they'll be drawn into an adventure that teaches them about numbers, shapes, place value, adding, and subtracting, as well as the seasons, geography, and the love of family. The first 30 lessons have a story about the twins, followed by a lesson taught by Mom or Dad that features hands-on learning. Covering one year of 2nd-grade math, by the end of the course students will have reviewed addition and subtraction and basic numbers up to 100, and will have learned about word problems, skip counting, money, time, bar & line graphs, basic measurement, place value, regrouping, and more.
Other Optional or Supplementary Resources Table of Contents: found on this page under "Description" |
Option 2: Jump Math New Canadian Edition 2.1 and 2.2 Student Assessment & Practice (AP) Book 2 (Parts 1 and 2)
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Type of Resource: workbooks Description: in conjunction with the New Canadian Edition of JUMP Math's teacher resources, Student Assessment & Practice (AP) Book 2 is designed to cover the curriculum for Grade 2 mathematics, with units on:
The New Canadian edition of AP Book 2 is printed in two parts, Book 2.1 and Book 2.2. In order to cover the full curriculum, students will need both parts. Please visit our samples page to view the table of contents of AP Book 2.
Teacher Resource/Lesson Plans (free when you register online) Other Optional or Supplementary Resources
Sample Pages
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Science
The Elementary Teacher's Book of Graphic Organizers, K-5
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100 ready-to-use graphic organizers that help elementary students learn Type of Resource: workbook Description: graphic organizers are a powerful metacognitive teaching and learning tool. These graphic organizers can be used before learning, during learning, or after learning activities. This resource provides tools to help students understand relationships between facts, terms, and ideas.
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Biology
A Butterfly's Life Cycle (Capstone Press)
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This unit should be done in May when the butterfly larvae are available. Use this book with one of the "Graphic Organizers" resources mentioned on this page to assist with learning and reinforcing key concepts. Type of Resource: nonfiction picture book Description: the process of a new life starting is fascinating! Watch a butterfly grow from an egg to an insect. Young readers will learn about the stages in a butterfly's life. From a tiny egg to a chrysalis and, finally, a brightly-coloured butterfly! The life cycle of a butterfly is a beautiful thing to see. Live Butterfly KitLive Painted Lady Butterflies can be ordered in March for May delivery. Watch as the butterfly larvae grow through their stages to full-grown butterflies. Available from Homeschool Canada or Canadian Home Education Resources |
Salmon Stream (Carol Reed-Jones)
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Use this book with one of the "Graphic Organizers" resources mentioned on this page to assist with learning and reinforcing key concepts. Type of Resource: nonfiction picture book Description: a poetic yet accurate description of the life cycle of salmon. Fast-paced prose and brilliant illustrations follow the salmon from their form as eggs in a stream to the wide ocean, eventually making a hazardous journey home to their stream of origin. At the back is a section on salmon facts and what makes a good habitat for them, teaching the basics of ecology and why clean streams and waters are so important.
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Chemistry
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This unit will make up at least half of the overall workload for Grade 2 Science. The other branches of science addressing the other big ideas and content competencies are purposefully not addressed to the same level of depth. Matter & Materials by On the Mark Press (Grades 1-3)Type of Resource: A workbook designed for classroom instruction so some activities may need to be adapted slightly for a home setting. Description: What is the world made of? Through hands-on activities and experiments, students will enjoy exploring the world around them as they practise science skills like observing and concluding. Games like "Simon Says" bring the realm of atoms and particles to life, as well as demonstrating solids, liquids, and gases. Students will learn to explain the magic of ice sculptures, gas-powered rockets, and invention.
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Physics
ScienceWiz Physics Kit
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Includes a 40-page science book with materials*. Concepts are covered with time-tested experiments and highly visual illustrations. This kit includes a balance scale for measuring mass and a jet car that really zooms. 24 activities that include:
*Also requires common household items. |
Earth/Space
A Drop Around the World by Barbara Shaw McKinney
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Use this book with one of the "Graphic Organizers" resources mentioned on this page to assist with learning and reinforcing key concepts. Type of Resource: nonfiction picture book Description: This book engagingly leads readers around the world following a drop of water-whether as steam or snow, inside a plant or animal, or underground-teaching the wonders and importance of the water cycle. Four pages about the qualities of water are included.
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Social Studies
Option 1: Canada, My Country
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Type of Resource: softcover text/workbook Description: This easy to use, read-aloud text is a delight for both students and teacher. Lessons require minimal preparation but are packed with content, games and activities. Students will grasp the basics of Canadian geography, both physical and political. Chapters on national symbols, government and Canadian freedoms provide the groundwork for future study. Each lesson includes a reproducible activity worksheet.
This study requires photos of Canadian landscapes and a physical map.
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Option 2: Global Communities (On the Mark Press)
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Type of Resource: workbook designed for classroom instruction so some activities may need to be adapted slightly for a home setting. Description: goals of this resource include having students identify a number of global issues and recognizing the role that Canada and Canadian citizens have played in these issues; using the social studies inquiry process to investigate a variety of responses to the global issues identified and promoting an understanding of the impact on identified regions of the world of Canada's actions and inactions. Includes 19 activities, 9 extension activities, teacher guide and assessments.
Table of Contents and Sample Pages
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Bible/Christian Studies
Finding God's Promises Student Manual
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Type of Resource: workbook Description: encourage the study of God’s Word with this full-colour workbook filled with approachable exercises that teach biblical truth and apply what is taught. The Student Manual includes:
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