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Social Studies Curriculum Social Studies - 2nd Grade (2024)
Lesson Plans

Strand 2: Geography

Students develop an understanding of the relationship between people and their physical environment using geographic tools, technology, and map skills.

Compelling Questions:

  • Why do people use maps?
  • How is learning to read a map similar to and different from learning to read a story?
  • What are different ways our natural environment helps meet human needs of living, working, and playing?
  • What relationships do you, your family, and your community have with the vegetation, animal life, and physical features of your region?


Standard 2.2.2

Interpret and construct physical maps using the title, key, symbols, 8-point compass rose, cardinal directions, and alphanumeric grids.
  • 2nd Grade - Act. 21: Me On the Map
    After reading Joan Sweeney's book "Me On the Map", students will create a map of their bedroom and of their house.
  • 2nd Grade Lesson Ideas: Ozobots
    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.
  • Legend of the Sleeping Ute: A Ute Mountain Ute Tale
    Our earth has so many different intersting facts about land formations and the impact of those landforms on our communities. Students will practice identifying different landforms and focus on one landform through a Native American story - "The Legend of the Sleeping Ute: A Ute Mountain Ute Tale"The Ute Mountain Ute people are one of three Ute tribes living in southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado. The Ute Mountain Ute tribal headquarters are located at Towaoc, Colorado.
  • Maps
    In this Nearpod lesson on the map reading, students will learn about about the components of a map and cardinal direction.
  • Tortoise and Hare Races
    Using the The Tortoise and the Hare fable students will learn basic map skills.
  • Welcome to My World!
    This activity will incrase students' knowledge of using maps and how it is important in their lives.
  • Why Do We Need Maps?
    This resource is a Private i History Detectives unit from iCivics, consisting of four lessons. It is from iCivics, Grade 2, Unit 2. Description: This inquiry-based unit puts kids on the map! Key vocabulary and primary source information allow kids to study different map projections and learn how maps have changed over time. The 1904 World?s Fair Map will be the guide to practice their newly acquired map skills.


UEN logo 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 - Robert  Austin and see the Social Studies 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.