Grade 2 Social Studies: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 2 social studies in the Nova Scotia Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Investigate change in the community. Learners will investigate change in the community.
- Investigate how individuals and diverse cultural groups have contributed to change. Learners will investigate how individuals and diverse cultural groups, including Acadians, African Nova Scotians, Gaels, and Mi’kmaq, have contributed to change.
- Investigate how decisions are made as consumers. Learners will investigate how decisions are made as consumers.
- Analyse ways for supporting sustainable development in local communities. Learners will analyse ways for supporting sustainable development in local communities.
Easy ways to practise social studies at home
- Look at a map of your community and find places you visit.
- Ask an older relative or neighbour what the area was like when they were young.
- Read stories from many communities, including Indigenous authors, and talk about what is the same and different.
- Talk about how rules and jobs help a community work.
What each unit covers
Then & Now
Generations in a family, using photos, interviews and timelines, and how technology and traditions change from the past to the present.
People Who Shaped Our Communities
Practises how Mi’kmaw, Acadian, African Nova Scotian, Gaelic and other communities and individuals brought change to Nova Scotia communities. It follows the Grade 2 outcome on individuals and cultural groups who contributed to change.
Needs & Wants
Telling needs from wants and how communities help meet people's needs.
Smart Shoppers
Practises how consumers decide what to buy: comparing price and quality, needs and wants, saving up, advertising, and local goods like blueberries, apples and lobster. Prices are in whole dollars. It follows the Grade 2 outcome on consumer decisions.
Caring for Our Community’s Future
Practises what sustainable means in child terms: reduce, reuse, recycle and compost (including Nova Scotia’s green cart), saving water and energy, and caring for beaches and forests. It follows the Grade 2 outcome on sustainable development in local communities.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Needs development
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Developing as expected
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Well developed
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Well developed and extending
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Nova Scotia report card guide.
Common questions
Look at a map of your community and find places you visit. Ask an older relative or neighbour what the area was like when they were young. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
The Nova Scotia Curriculum Grade 2 social studies units include then & now, people who shaped our communities, needs & wants, smart shoppers, caring for our community’s future.
Free printable Grade 2 social studies practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.