2nd Grade Curriculum Outline (Words Only)

Parent-facing planning outline. For DBM’s full scope & sequence, visit: https://www.dbmlearningacademy.com/compliance/general/compliance/curriculum.php

English Language Arts

Reading Fluency

• Read on-level texts with accuracy, phrasing, and expression; self-correct when meaning breaks.
• Use context and morphology (prefix/suffix) to decode unfamiliar words.

Paragraph Writing

• Write a focused paragraph: topic sentence, 3 supporting details, concluding sentence.
• Use transition words (first, next, then, finally; because, also, but) to connect ideas.

Story Structure

• Identify problem/solution, sequence events, and describe character motivation and change.
• Compare two versions of the same story or two texts on the same topic.

Grammar & Conventions

• Nouns, verbs (present/past/future), adjectives, adverbs; correct subject–verb agreement.
• Capitals for names, places, titles; commas in letters/series; apostrophes in contractions/possessives (intro).
• Spelling patterns: long vowels (CVCe, vowel teams), r-controlled vowels, common homophones (to/too/two).

Phonics & Word Families (continued)

• Two-syllable words with common patterns: open/closed syllables, consonant-le endings.
• Common prefixes/suffixes (un-, re-, pre-, -ful, -less, -ly, -er/-est) and how they shift meaning.

Poetry & Rhyme

• Identify rhythm, rhyme, alliteration; write short poems (couplets, acrostics, list poems).
• Introduce figurative language: simile and onomatopoeia.

Handwriting & Cursive (Level 2)

• Review print legibility; maintain consistent size and spacing on lines.
• Cursive progression: complete lowercase set; introduce uppercase families by shape.
• Fluent letter connections in common words; weekly cursive sentences for muscle memory.

Keyboarding & Digital Citizenship (light)

• Home-row awareness; type short sentences with proper spacing and basic punctuation.
• Ask before clicking links or sharing; recognize trusted adults and safe sites.

Mathematics

Addition & Subtraction

• Fluency within 20; add/subtract within 100 using strategies (make ten, decomposing, number line).
• Two-step word problems with unknowns in all positions; justify solutions with drawings/equations.

Place Value

• Understand 3-digit numbers as hundreds, tens, ones; compose/decompose with place-value models.
• Compare numbers using <, >, =; round to nearest 10 (intro, optional by readiness).

Time & Money

• Tell time to 5 minutes; am/pm and elapsed time in simple contexts.
• Count mixed coins/bills; make change to $1.00 using efficient strategies.

Multiplication Foundations

• Repeated addition, arrays, and equal groups; skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s, 10s.
• Relate arrays to rectangle area (conceptual, not formal formulas).

Shapes & Fractions

• Classify polygons by attributes; recognize right angles and lines of symmetry (intro).
• Partition shapes into halves/thirds/quarters; use unit fraction language (½, ⅓, ¼).

Data & Graphs (add-on)

• Collect/organize data with tallies; make picture and bar graphs; answer “how many more/fewer.”

Science

Life Cycles

• Observe plant and animal life cycles; compare stages and needs across species.

Properties of Matter

• Classify solids/liquids/gases by observable properties; changes by heating/cooling (reversible vs. not).

Habitats & Ecosystems

• Deserts, forests, oceans, wetlands; how organisms depend on one another and their environment.

Weather Patterns

• Track daily weather; identify patterns across weeks; simple tools (thermometer, rain gauge).

Engineering & Design

• Use the design cycle: ask → imagine → plan → create → test → improve.
• Build simple devices (bridges, sails, parachutes) and record test results.

Science Journals (add-on)

• Record observations with drawings/labels, simple tables, and reflection sentences.

Social Studies

Communities & Citizenship

• Roles in local communities; responsibilities, fairness, and helping behaviors.

Maps & Landforms

• Read map keys, scale (intro), and compass directions; identify landforms and bodies of water.

Historical Figures

• Biographies of diverse figures; contributions and character traits (perseverance, creativity, service).

Rules & Government

• Purpose of rules and laws; local/state/national government basics; symbols and holidays.

Cultures & Traditions

• Compare family traditions, foods, stories, and celebrations with respect and curiosity.

Economics (add-on)

• Goods/services; needs vs. wants; producers/consumers; saving for a goal.

Logic, Problem-Solving & Projects

• Weekly logic puzzles (patterns, analogies, sudoku-style); explain reasoning aloud.
• Monthly project: research a creature, build an array garden, design a weather station, etc.

For DBM’s complete scope and samples across grades, visit: https://www.dbmlearningacademy.com/compliance/general/compliance/curriculum.php