Unit Plan 12 (Grade 2 Social Studies): Our Town and Its Features

Focus: Identify landmarks, streets, and buildings in the local community; compare types of places (home, neighborhood, town/city, rural/suburban/urban) and explain the purposes of human-made features like roads, bridges, and buildings.

Grade Level: 2

Subject Area: Social Studies (Geography • Community • Inquiry)

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

I. Introduction

In this unit, students explore their town as a special kind of place made up of homes, streets, buildings, and landmarks. Through photos, short walks (if possible), and simple maps, they learn to name and describe important places like the school, library, park, and fire station. Students also compare different kinds of communities (urban, suburban, rural) and talk about which kind they live in. By the end of the week, each student creates a simple “Our Town” map or landmark poster showing key features and explaining why they are important.

Essential Questions

• What makes a town or city different from a neighborhood, home, or rural area?
• What are some important landmarks, streets, and buildings in our community, and what are they used for?
• How do roads, bridges, and buildings help people live, work, and travel in our town?
• How does knowing about our town’s features help us feel more connected to where we live?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Identify and describe different types of places (home, neighborhood, town/city; rural/suburban/urban) using pictures and simple maps.
2. Name and locate important local landmarks and buildings (e.g., school, library, fire station, park, grocery store).
3. Identify human-made features such as roads, streets, bridges, and buildings and explain why people need them.
4. Use simple maps or diagrams to show where key town features are in relation to each other.
5. Create an “Our Town and Its Features” map or poster that labels at least five landmarks or features and states their purposes.

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

• 2.C3.Geo.1 — Identify and compare types of places (home, neighborhood, town/city, rural/suburban/urban).
  • Example: List features you see more in cities vs. rural areas.
• 2.C3.Geo.4 — Identify human-made features (roads, bridges, buildings) and explain their purposes.
  • Example: Show how a bridge changes the route between two places.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can tell the difference between home, neighborhood, and town or city, and say which kind of place I live in.
• I can name important places and landmarks in our community (like the library or park) and tell what people do there.
• I can point out human-made features like roads, streets, bridges, and buildings and explain why they are helpful.
• I can use a simple map or picture to show where different places are in our town.
• I can make a map or poster of “Our Town” that labels important features and tells their purposes.