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2nd grade · Social Studies · Unit 3 of 14

Talking and Deciding Together

Listening, giving reasons and voting fairly

What your child practices

Democratic habits start small: listening to every idea, waiting for a turn, giving reasons, disagreeing kindly and voting fairly. These help children take part in class and community decisions.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 2.3a; 2.3c · fairness, sharing ideas and voting to make decisions together

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Listen to every idea and give reasons for yours.
  2. Invite quiet people to share.
  3. A fair way to decide is to vote. The idea with the most votes wins.

Example: Your class must pick a game. Everyone has a different idea. What is fair? First, hear everyone's idea. Then let everyone vote. Answer: listen, then vote

Talking and Deciding Together in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 3 of 14 in 2nd grade Social Studies, after Climate & Ways of Life and before Working Together Fairly.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    When it is your turn to share, what is a good thing to do?

    • whisper so no one hears
    • say your idea clearly and give a reason
    • say nothing

  2. Question 2

    Put the steps for a class vote in order.

    • 🗳️Vote
    • 💬Share ideas
    • 📣Say the result
    • 🔢Count the votes

  3. Question 3

    Another student shares a different idea from yours. What is a polite thing to say?

    • “You can't say that.”
    • “Thanks for sharing. I think differently.”
    • “That is dumb.”

  4. Question 4

    Everyone in a group should have a chance to…

    • speak and be heard
    • leave quietly
    • only listen

  5. Question 5

    Does it help a group decide well? Tap an item, then tap its basket.

    Sort into: 👍 helps · 🚫 does not help

    • 📢shouting over others
    • 💬giving a reason for your idea
    • 😝making fun of an idea
    • ✋waiting for your turn
    • 🙉refusing to listen
    • 👂listening to every idea

  6. Question 6

    When you disagree, which is better?

    • explain your view calmly
    • yell
    • walk out

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