What your child learns in 2nd grade in Minnesota
In 2nd grade, reading becomes smoother and writing gets longer. Math moves to numbers up to 1,000, adding and subtracting within 100, money and simple graphs. Science looks at heating and cooling, forces and motion, where water is found and weather, and social studies is “People and the Environment”: voting, levels of government, money and choices, and how Dakota and Anishinaabe people have lived through the seasons, long ago and today.
2nd grade subjects in the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards
Math
Focus areas
- Patterns and relationships: adding and subtracting within 1000, place value, and skip-counting
- Spatial reasoning, data and probability: measuring in inches and centimeters, money, equal parts of shapes, and picture and bar graphs
- Mathematical practices: making sense of problems and explaining reasoning
14 units, including Bigger or Smaller, Facts to 20, Adding to 100, Measuring.
English Language Arts
Focus areas
- Reading: decoding longer words, main ideas, and comparing stories
- Writing, speaking and listening: writing opinions, information and stories, and asking questions
- Language: building vocabulary and using grammar, spelling and punctuation
12 units, including Rhyme Time, Sound Detectives, Story Builders, Word Power.
Science
Focus areas
- Heating and cooling, forces and motion, water on Earth, weather and habitats
- Science and engineering practices: testing ideas and comparing designs
- How science connects to people and communities in Minnesota and beyond
7 units, including Solids & Liquids, Changing Materials, Push & Pull, Water World.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- Theme: People and the Environment
- Voting and levels of government
- Opportunity cost and money
10 units, including Communities Compared, Climate & Ways of Life, Talking and Deciding Together, Working Together Fairly.
Printable 2nd grade sheets
One free practice sheet for each subject, with an answer key. Print them, or work through them on screen.
What to look for on the report card
Look for fluent reading, longer writing, adding and subtracting with regrouping, and the ability to explain thinking.
Minnesota has no statewide report-card scale in 2nd grade, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. See what each level means.
Minnesota's social and emotional learning competencies apply in every grade. Read about Social emotional learning.
The four practice steps in 2nd grade
- Beginning
- Practice shows a first understanding of the learning standards. Most answers still need a hint or a second try.
- At home: Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Practice shows a partial understanding of the learning standards. Some answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practicing the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Practice shows a solid understanding of the learning standards. Most answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Practice shows a deep understanding of the learning standards, including harder, unfamiliar questions.
- At home: Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Ready for 2nd grade?
2nd grade builds on what your child practiced in 1st grade. If a skill feels shaky, a few short practice sessions before or early in the year can help:
- Math: Numbers to 20, Make 10, Adding, Take Away, Equal or Not
- English Language Arts: Blend It, Short Vowels, Word Families, Sh, Ch, Th, Sight Words
- Science: Animal Survival, Light & Sound, Materials, Parents & Babies, Plant Parts at Work
- Social Studies: Changes in My Life, School & Travel Long Ago, My Community, Respect & Inclusion, My Roles & Responsibilities
Common questions
2nd grade covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards. In 2nd grade, reading becomes smoother and writing gets longer. Math moves to numbers up to 1,000, adding and subtracting within 100, money and simple graphs. Science looks at heating and cooling, forces and motion, where water is found and weather, and social studies is “People and the Environment”: voting, levels of government, money and choices, and how Dakota and Anishinaabe people have lived through the seasons, long ago and today.
Minnesota has no statewide report-card scale in 2nd grade, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding.
Practice shows a solid understanding of the learning standards. Most answers are right on the first try. At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
2nd grade builds on 1st grade. In math, that means Numbers to 20, Make 10, Adding. In English language arts, that means Blend It, Short Vowels, Word Families.
About 15 minutes a day of short practice works better than long sessions, on the skills your child's teacher flags. Practice math facts in short bursts, such as five minutes while dinner cooks. Take turns reading a page aloud, and chat about what happened and why. Praise effort, and stop on a success.
Practice 2nd grade skills with Gradelings
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