SEEd - Grade 2
Lesson Plans

Strand 2.2: LIVING THINGS AND THEIR HABITATS

Living things (plants and animals, including humans) need water, air, and resources from the land to survive and live in habitats that provide these necessities. The physical characteristics of plants and animals reflect the habitat in which they live. Animals also have modified behaviors that help them survive, grow, and meet their needs. Humans sometimes mimic plant and animal adaptations to survive in their environment.

Standard 2.2.2

Plan and carry out an investigation of the structure and function of plant and animal parts in different habitats. Emphasize how different plants and animals have different structures to survive in their habitat. Examples could include the shallow roots of a cactus in the desert or the seasonal changes in the fur coat of a wolf. (LS1.A, LS4.A, LS4.D)

• 2nd Grade Animal Report
  This is a writing unit on animal adaptations. Students will need to be expert researchers and will be able to dip their toes into the wonderful world of EBSCO! They will research the animal assigned to them using various graphic organizers and research questions to help guide their thinking. Once research is complete, they will fill out the OREO graphic organizer with an introduction, 3 facts with details, and a conclusion. At that point, students will publish their work.  Cover Image: Canva AI Generated 
• 2nd Grade Informative Writing Animal Features of Survival
  Students will learn that animals have parts that are called features, and those features have functions that allow them to survive in their habitat. Students will conduct research on an animal of their choice and write an informative paragraph about that animals features.
• 2nd Grade Lesson Ideas: Code & Go Mouse
  This is a list of potential ideas based off a specific technology. None of these ideas are fully developed lessons. Please make changes and adaptations as necessary for the students in your class.
• A Night in the Life of a Beaver 2.2.2 - Lesson Plan
  By participating in this activity, students will:
  ? understand the concept of structure and function and how it applies to a beaver's ability to create and its adaptations for living in a wetland habitat.
• Animal Features Project
  This lesson plan is for 2nd grade science. Students take or use a photo of an animal and edit it using Adobe or a similar program to add labels of animal features. Students will conduct research about the animal and use notes to create the labels and present their photo to the class and explain the functions of the labeled features to the class.
• Animal Habitats and Survival Adaptations
  This is a lesson plan designed to teach students science standard 2 Standard 2.2.2Plan and carry out an investigation of the structure and function of plant and animal parts in different habitats. Emphasize how different plants and animals have different structures to survive in their habitat. Examples could include the shallow roots of a cactus in the desert or the seasonal changes in the fur coat of a wolf. (LS1.A, LS4.A, LS4.D)Students will demonstrate their knowledge by creating a newsletter using the Apple Pages app. 
• Beaver Puppet 2.2.2 - Lesson Plan
  By participating in this activity, students will:
  ? understand the concept of structure and function and how it applies to a beaver's ability to create and live in a wetland habitat.
  ? make comparisons between their adaptations and the structure and function of a beaver's body for survival in its wetland habitat.
• Beavers: Animal Habitats and Adaptations
  In this lesson, students will reflect briefly on different habitats and adaptations of animals that help them survive in those environments before diving into one specific example of animal adaptation -- the beaver. Students will learn about the behavioral and physical adaptations that help the beaver to survive and thrive in its river environment.  Photo by mana5280 on Unsplash.
• Build a Beaver Dam 2.2.2 & 2.2.4 - Lesson Plan
  By participating in this activity, students will:
  ? understand the benefits and problems with a human-made dam to an ecosystem
  ? understand the benefits and issues with the construction of a beaver-made dam to an ecosystem
  ? understand the adaptations and behavior of beavers in changing habitats
  ? use engineering skills to build a beaver dam
  ? understand the beneficial role beavers play in habitat construction for other animals, including people.
• Creating a digital story of living things and their habitats
  This is a lesson plan to help teach students how to create a digital story using the ipad app "Story Creator" The students will watch some examples of differnt digital stories other students have created. Next, students will use previously learned information on animals and their habitats to fill out a storyboard that will help guide them to creating a digital story. Students will draw pictures and write text to accompany these pictures. The lesson will end with students presenting about their animal they chose and its habitat through means of a digital story. 
• If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Code & Go Mice
  This lesson focuses on breaking down algorithms and introducing animal habitats. It does this by utilizing the story "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" and Code & Go Mice robots. The lesson incorporates Computer Science Standards into the SEEd curriculum. This lesson plan is developed by student educators at Utah Valley University.
• Structure and Function of Plants and Animals
  This lesson plan was designed to aid in teaching second grade students science standard 2.2.2.Standard: Plan and carry out an investigation of the structure and function of plant and animal parts in different habitats. Emphasize how different plants and animals have different structures to survive in their habitat. Examples could include the shallow roots of a cactus in the desert or the seasonal changes in the fur coat of a wolf. (LS1.A, LS4.A, LS4.D)Students will demonstrate their knowledge of this standard by creating a Keynote presentation about a specific species using the Apple Keynote app. Photo by Becca on Unsplash

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http://www.uen.org - in partnership with Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).  Send questions or comments to USBE Specialist - Jennifer  Throndsen and see the Science - Elementary website. For general questions about Utah's Core Standards contact the Director - Jennifer  Throndsen.

These materials have been produced by and for the teachers of the State of Utah. Copies of these materials may be freely reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit should be given to Utah State Board of Education. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of the Utah State Board of Education, 250 East 500 South, PO Box 144200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200.