Unit Plan 34 (Grade 2 Science): Local Environment Study

Focus: Investigate, map, and describe local landforms, bodies of water, plants, animals, and changes over time in the school or neighborhood environment.

Grade Level: 2

Subject Area: Science (Earth Science • Life Science • Local Inquiry)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, students become local environment explorers. They investigate the area around their school or neighborhood, looking for landforms (hills, slopes, flat fields), bodies of water (puddles, streams, ponds, storm drains), and living things (plants and animals) in different spots. Students collect observations and information outdoors and from simple maps or photos, and then create a model map that shows the shapes and kinds of land and water in their study area.

They also compare plant and animal diversity in different micro-habitats (e.g., grassy field vs. garden bed vs. paved area) and notice changes over time, such as erosion, puddle patterns, or seasonal leaf changes. The unit ends with a Local Environment Showcase, where students share their maps and habitat findings.

Essential Questions

• What landforms and bodies of water can we find in our local environment?
• Where is water found near our school or neighborhood, and when can it be liquid or solid?
• How do plants and animals differ in different local habitats (grass, trees, gardens, pavement)?
• How can we make a model map that shows the shape of the land and locations of water and living things?
• What changes do we notice in our local environment, and how might they affect plants and animals?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Identify and name local landforms (e.g., hill, slope, flat area) and bodies of water (e.g., puddle, pond, stream, drain) around the school or neighborhood.
2. Develop a simple model (map or 3D model) that shows the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in the local area (2-ESS2-2).
3. Obtain information outdoors and from maps/photos to identify where water is found locally and whether it appears as liquid or solid (2-ESS2-3).
4. Make observations of plants and animals in at least two different local habitats and compare the diversity of life in those spots (2-LS4-1).
5. Create a simple Local Environment Display (map + habitat notes) and explain one way the local environment has changed or might change over time.

Standards Alignment — 2nd Grade (NGSS-Aligned)

• 2-ESS2-2 — Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area.
  • Example: Draw or build a schoolyard map showing flat fields, slopes, and a drainage ditch or pond.
• 2-ESS2-3 — Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid or liquid.
  • Example: Use observations and photos to show where puddles form, where snow/ice collects in winter, or where water drains.
• 2-LS4-1 — Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.
  • Example: Compare how many kinds of plants/animals are found in a grassy area versus a paved area or garden bed.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can name and point to landforms and bodies of water in our local environment.
• I can make a map or model that shows different land shapes and water places near our school.
• I can tell where water is found around us and whether it is liquid or solid (if we see ice, snow, or frost).
• I can compare plants and animals in two different local habitats and say which has more kinds of living things.
• I can share a display that shows our local environment map and what I learned about habitats and changes.