2nd Grade Social Studies – Communities Near and Far
Local, state, and world communities with integrated geography and ELA literacy.
Standards at a Glance
Course Focus
2.1 Local and State Communities
2.2 Regions, Land, and Maps
2.3 Cultures, Traditions, and Diversity
2.4 Economics and Choices in Our Community
Overview
2nd Grade Standards at a Glance – Communities Near and Far
A quick view of how 2nd graders compare local, state, and world communities; explore land and regions; celebrate cultures and traditions; and begin to understand basic economics—while strengthening geography and literacy skills.
2.1 Local and State Communities
Social Studies Focus
- Identify their town/city and state as communities they belong to.
- Recognize government buildings and services in their state.
- Connect community life at local and state levels.
Geography Skills
- Locate their community and state on simple maps.
- Use map symbols and keys to identify important places.
ELA Integration
- Reading: informational texts about their state and local area.
- Writing: simple descriptions of “where I live” and “my state.”
- Speaking/Listening: share facts about their town and state with classmates.
2.2 Regions, Land, and Maps
Social Studies Focus
- Identify basic landforms, bodies of water, and regions.
- Understand that places can be grouped into regions by features.
- Compare simple characteristics of regions near and far.
Geography Skills
- Read and create basic maps with symbols, keys, and simple compass directions.
- Use maps and globes to distinguish land and water and locate familiar places.
ELA Integration
- Reading: texts and diagrams about landforms and regions.
- Writing: labeled diagrams and short explanations of a region.
- Speaking/Listening: describe maps and landforms using clear, simple language.
2.3 Cultures, Traditions, and Diversity
Social Studies Focus
- Recognize that people in different communities may have different cultures and traditions.
- Identify holidays, celebrations, and customs in their community.
- Show respect for similarities and differences among people.
Geography Skills
- Connect cultures to places on a map (local and world maps).
- Recognize that people adapt to their environments in different ways.
ELA Integration
- Reading: stories and informational texts about cultures, holidays, and traditions.
- Writing: short pieces comparing their own traditions with those of others.
- Speaking/Listening: share cultural traditions from home or text-based examples.
2.4 Economics and Choices in Our Community
Social Studies Focus
- Understand basic needs and wants.
- Recognize jobs, goods, and services in the community.
- Explore simple economic choices and saving/spending.
Geography Skills
- Connect where goods are made or grown to locations on maps.
- Notice how natural resources affect jobs and products.
ELA Integration
- Reading: texts about workers, markets, and money choices.
- Writing: simple opinion or explanatory pieces about choices and needs.
- Speaking/Listening: discuss real-life purchasing and saving decisions.
Course Focus
2nd Grade Social Studies – Communities Near and Far
In 2nd grade, students move beyond their immediate neighborhood to explore how communities work at the local, state, and world levels. They learn about landforms and regions, cultures and traditions, and basic economic ideas like needs, wants, goods, services, and choices.
Throughout the year, students develop stronger geography skills by reading and creating maps, using symbols and simple compass directions, and connecting places to the people and activities found there. They also deepen ELA literacy by reading stories and informational texts, writing short descriptions and explanations, and speaking and listening in discussions that compare communities, cultures, and choices near and far.
Content Focus: Students recognize that they belong to local and state communities and that government and services help those communities function.
Social Studies Indicators
- 2.1.1.SS – Identify their town/city and state by name and recognize them as communities they belong to.
- 2.1.2.SS – Describe examples of public places and services in their community (parks, schools, libraries, roads).
- 2.1.3.SS – Identify basic government buildings (such as city hall, state capitol) and explain that leaders work there to make decisions and provide services.
- 2.1.4.SS – Explain how they, as children, can care for their local and state communities (following rules, caring for public spaces, participating in school activities).
Geography Integration
- Locate their town/city and state on a simple map of their state and on a map of the United States.
- Use map symbols and legends to identify key community and state locations (schools, parks, capitol, major roads).
- Recognize that communities can be part of larger regions (town → county → state → country).
- Create simple map posters showing important local and state places, labeled with names and basic symbols.
ELA Literacy Integration
- Reading: Read or listen to informational texts and brochures about their town/city and state, identifying key facts and details.
- Writing: Write short descriptive paragraphs or labeled booklets about “Where I Live,” including important community and state features.
- Speaking/Listening: Present simple “community and state reports” to classmates, using maps and visuals to support their ideas.
- Language: Use words such as state, city, town, community, capital, service accurately in speaking and writing.
Content Focus: Students use landforms, bodies of water, and other features to describe and compare regions, while building foundational map skills.
Social Studies Indicators
- 2.2.1.SS – Identify common landforms (mountains, hills, plains, valleys) and bodies of water (lakes, rivers, oceans) in their state and country.
- 2.2.2.SS – Describe how landforms and bodies of water can affect where and how people live and work.
- 2.2.3.SS – Recognize that regions are areas with shared features (such as climate, landforms, or vegetation).
- 2.2.4.SS – Compare simple characteristics of two regions (for example, coastal vs. inland, mountains vs. plains).
Geography Integration
- Use maps and globes to distinguish land and water, and locate major features like oceans and continents in very simple ways.
- Read and create basic maps with titles, symbols, a key/legend, and simple compass directions (north, south, east, west if developmentally appropriate).
- Interpret simple physical maps showing landforms, water, and elevation through color or symbols.
- Create “region maps” that show where certain landforms or features are found and label them clearly.
ELA Literacy Integration
- Reading: Read or listen to informational texts, diagrams, and captioned images about landforms, bodies of water, and regions.
- Writing: Write short explanations describing one landform or region and how people might live or work there.
- Speaking/Listening: Use academic language to describe maps and diagrams, answering questions like “What do you notice?” and “What does this symbol mean?”.
- Language: Use words such as landform, region, mountain, plain, river, ocean, map, compass in context.
Content Focus: Students explore the rich variety of cultures and traditions in their community, state, and world, and practice showing respect for differences.
Social Studies Indicators
- 2.3.1.SS – Describe elements of culture such as language, food, music, clothing, stories, and celebrations.
- 2.3.2.SS – Identify and discuss holidays and traditions observed in their family, school, and community.
- 2.3.3.SS – Recognize that people in different places and communities have different traditions and ways of life.
- 2.3.4.SS – Explain why it is important to show respect and kindness to people from all cultures and backgrounds.
Geography Integration
- Locate on maps or globes the countries or regions connected to stories, holidays, or traditions they study.
- Identify that different environments (hot/cold, coastal/inland) can influence clothing, homes, and foods.
- Create simple “culture maps” that show where certain traditions or holidays are commonly celebrated.
- Use maps to connect classroom diversity to places around the state, country, or world.
ELA Literacy Integration
- Reading: Read or listen to folktales, picture books, and informational texts about cultures and traditions from around the world.
- Writing: Write simple compare/contrast pieces about a tradition in their family and a tradition from a text or another culture.
- Speaking/Listening: Share cultural artifacts, stories, or traditions (when appropriate) and listen respectfully as classmates share.
- Language: Use words such as culture, tradition, holiday, celebrate, respect, diversity in discussions and writing.
Content Focus: Students are introduced to basic economic ideas, including needs and wants, goods and services, jobs, and simple choices about spending and saving.
Social Studies Indicators
- 2.4.1.SS – Distinguish between needs (things people must have to live) and wants (things people would like to have).
- 2.4.2.SS – Identify goods and services in their community and the workers who provide them.
- 2.4.3.SS – Recognize that people make choices about how to spend and save money and that choices have consequences.
- 2.4.4.SS – Describe simple economic decisions they or their families might make (what to buy, what to save for, where to shop).
Geography Integration
- Locate where common goods come from (local farms, factories, other states or countries) using simple maps.
- Recognize that natural resources in different places (farmland, forests, water) affect what goods and jobs are found there.
- Create simple “goods and places” charts that link items (fruit, clothing, toys) to locations on a map.
- Discuss how location can influence prices, availability, and choices in the community.
ELA Literacy Integration
- Reading: Read or listen to texts about jobs, markets, and money, identifying the main idea and key details.
- Writing: Write short opinion or explanatory pieces about a choice (for example, saving for a toy) and give a reason for their decision.
- Speaking/Listening: Participate in discussions and simple role-plays about making choices, buying goods, and providing services.
- Language: Use words such as needs, wants, goods, services, job, money, choice, save in context.
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