Unit Plan 6 (Grade 2 Social Studies): Asking Questions About Our World

Focus: Develop simple “who,” “what,” and “why” questions about people and communities, and practice using pictures, maps, short texts, and interviews to begin finding answers.

Grade Level: 2

Subject Area: Social Studies (Inquiry • Communities • Communication)

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

I. Introduction

In this unit, students learn how to be curious investigators about people and communities. They practice asking clear “who,” “what,” and “why” questions and learn that good questions can be answered by looking at sources like pictures, maps, short texts, and simple interviews. Through guided practice, they sort questions that can be researched from those that cannot and try out using different sources to find basic information. By the end of the unit, students create a small “Question and Answer” page or booklet about their community.

Essential Questions

• How can questions help us learn more about people and communities?
• What makes a good “who,” “what,” or “why” question that we can actually investigate?
• How can we use pictures, maps, short texts, and interviews to find answers?
• Why is it important to be curious and ask questions about the world around us?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Ask simple “who,” “what,” and “why” questions about people, places, and community activities.
2. Decide whether a question can be answered with sources (pictures, maps, short texts, interviews).
3. Use at least one simple source (picture, map, short text, or interview) to gather information about a question.
4. Record information in a simple note or picture (e.g., “Who: ___,” “What: ___,” “Why: ___”).
5. Share one question and one thing they learned with a partner or the class.

Standards Alignment — 2nd Grade (C3-based custom)

• 2.C3.Inq.1 — Ask and refine questions that can be investigated with sources.
  • Example: “How do rules in our town help people stay safe?”
• 2.C3.Inq.2 — Gather information from multiple simple sources (photos, maps, short texts, interviews).
  • Example: Use a children’s atlas, a local map, and a librarian interview to learn about services.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can ask “who,” “what,” and “why” questions about people and communities.
• I can tell if my question is something I can find out by using pictures, maps, or texts.
• I can use a picture, map, short text, or simple interview to learn something new.
• I can write or draw one thing I learned from a source.
• I can share my question and answer with a partner or the class.