K2 Lessons Plans

Getting Started

  1. Print your grade level standards

  2. Print the sample lesson plans and lesson notes

  3. As you teach a standard/vocabulary/questions/books read, highlight and dat

NGSS STANDARDS/K-2

100+ DAYS of Life Science and Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science

Kindergarten Standards
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First Grade Standards
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Second Grade Standards
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ENGAGE

1. Read a book. Before reading, ask questions and discuss prior knowledge to make the book more meaningful.

  • “Let’s read about…since we see this right here at our school.”

  • “This book is about…I bet we can learn something new.”

2. Ask questions about phenomena

  • “I wonder why…”

3. While reading, continue to ask questions: 

  • “The book said…Let’s read to figure out what that means.”

  • “I heard the word…What do you think that means?”

  • “There is a new word in this book. It’s called…which means…”

READ-ALOUD SCIENCE BOOKS

Children develop the language skills needed to become readers through meaningful conversations with teachers, oral stories, and having books read to them. Vocabulary development occurs through listening, intentional modeling and practice. 

READ-ALOUD SCIENCE BOOKS

Life in the Everglades: A Young Naturalist’s Manual and Field Guide by Mindy Dickman

Other Read Aloud Books

  1. A Nest Full of Eggs by Priscilla Belz Jenkins

  2. Am I a Frog? By Lizzy Rockwell

  3. From a Tiny Seed to a Mighty Tree by Ruth Owen

  4. From Caterpillar to Butterfly by Deborah Heiligman

  5. From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer

  6. From Tadpole to Frog by Wendy Pfeffer

  7. How a Seed Grows by Helene J. Jordan 

  8. How to Be a Nature Detective by Millicent E. Selsam

  9. Is It Living or Non-Living? by Ruth Owen

  10. Let’s Investigate: Habitats and Food Chains by Ruth Owen

  11. Light is All Around Us by Wendy Pfeffer

  12. Look and Wonder: The Amazing Life Cycle of Butterflies by Kay Barnham

  13. My Five Senses by Aliki

  14. My Senses by Ruth Owen

  15. National Geographic Kids In the Ocean by Jennifer Szymanski

  16. National Geographic Kids Sea Turtles by Laura Marsh

  17. National Geographic Kids Water by Melissa Stewart

  18. National Geographich Kids Tadpole to Frog: Animals Grow Up by Shira Evans

  19. Roots, Stems, Leaves, and Flowers: Let’s Investigate Plant Parts by Ruth Owen 

  20. Simple Machines: A Sesame Street Science Book by Marie-Therese Miller 

  21. Simple Machines: Wheels, Levers, and Pulleys by David A. Adler (2nd grade)

  22. Turtle Watch by Saviour Pirotta

  23. Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out! By April Pulley Sayre

  24. What’s Alive?  by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld 

  25. Who Eats What? Food Chains and Food Webs by Patricia Lauber

  26. Wings, Paws, Scales, and Claws: Let’s Investigate Animal Bodies by Ruth Owen