The content objectives and classroom connectors on this page were written by selected Tennessee teachers of science and are congruent with the CE/CE Content Topics listed for Second Grade Science. In addition, Standards and Benchmarks have been added to each classroom connector in compliance with the Four Components of Science Education derived from a unique curricular concept. The grade level presentations prepared by the CE/CE represent one of many ways the classroom connectors can be organized.

GOAL: To develop an understanding of the interdependence of all organisms and the need for conserving natural resources

• National Science Education Standards' Content Standards, Content Topics, and Rationale
  • CE/CE Concepts and CE/CE Content Objectives Based on CE/CE Content Topics as Defined by NSES Rationale

NSES Content Standard

• Physical Science K-4

• Light, heat, electricity, and magnetism

  Electricity in circuits can produce light, heat, sound, and magnetic effects.

  Electrical circuits require a complete loop through which the electrical current can pass.

  Magnets attract and repel each other and certain kinds of metals.

  CE/CE Concept Ba:

  • Electricity is useful but dangerous.

  CE/CE Content Objectives:

  • 2B1

    To understand types of electricity, uses, sources and safety rules when using electricity

  CE/CE Concept Bb:
  • Magnets vary in size, strength, shape, composition, and use.

  CE/CE Content Objectives:

  • 2B2

    To understand the fundamentals of magnetism

NSES Content Standard

• Physical Science K-4

• Light, heat, electricity, and magnetism

  Light travels in a straight line unless it strikes an object. Light can be reflected by a mirror, refracted by a lens, or absorbed by the object.

  Heat can be produced in many ways such as burning, rubbing, and mixing chemicals. The heat can move from one object to another by conduction.

• Physical Science K-4

• Position and motion of objects

  Vibrating objects produce sound. The pitch of the sound can be varied by changing the rate of vibration.

CE/CE Concept Ca:
• Sound is produced by vibrations and is transmitted through matter in all directions.

CE/CE Content Objectives:

• 2C1

  To understand how sound is produced and transmitted

CE/CE Concept Cb:
• Heat and light are related forms of energy and come from various sources.

CE/CE Content Objectives:

• 2C2

  To understand other sources and uses of heat and light

CE/CE Concept Cc:
• Heat energy affects matter in various ways.

CE/CE Content Objectives:

• 2C3

  To understand the meaning of temperature

CE/CE Concept Cd:
• Heat can move from one object to another by conduction.

CE/CE Content Objectives:

• 2C4

  To understand how heat is transferred by conduction

NSES Content Standard

• Life Science K-4

• The characteristics of organisms

  Organisms have basic needs, which for animals are air, water, and food. Organisms can only survive in environments in which they can meet their needs. The world has many different environments, and distinct environments support the life of different types of organisms.

  Each plant or animal has different structures which serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction. For example, humans have distinct structures of the body for walking, holding, seeing, and talking.

  The behavior of individual organisms is influenced by internal cues such as hunger and by external cues such as an environmental change. Humans and other organisms have senses that help them detect internal and external cues.

• Life Science K-4

• Life Cycles of organisms

  Plants and animals have life cycles that include being born, developing into adults, reproducing, and eventually dying. The details of this life cycle are different for different organisms.

  Plants and animals closely resemble their parents.

  Many characteristics of an organism are inherited from the parents of the organism, but other characteristics result from, an individual's interactions with the environment. Inherited characteristics include the color of flowers and the number of limbs of an animal. Other features such as the ability to play a musical instrument, are learned through interactions with the environment.

• Life Science K-4

• Organisms and their environments

  All animals depend on plants. Some animals eat plants for food. Other animals eat animals that eat the plants.

CE/CE Concept Ea:
• Animals differ in many ways.

CE/CE Content Objectives:

• 2E1

  To understand distinguishing traits of insects and spiders

CE/CE Concept Eb:
• Needs of animals must be met for them to survive.

CE/CE Content Objectives:

• 2E2

  To recognize that certain animals are in danger of extinction

NSES Content Standard

• Life Science K-4

• The characteristics of organisms

  Plants require air, water and light.

  Each plant or animal has different structures which serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction. For example, humans have distinct structures of the body for walking, holding, seeing, and talking.

• Life Science K-4

• Life Cycles of organisms

  Plants and animals have life cycles that include being born, developing into adults, reproducing, and eventually dying. The details of this life cycle are different for different organisms.

  Plants and animals closely resemble their parents.

  Many characteristics of an organism are inherited from the parents of the organism, but other characteristics result from, an individual's interactions with the environment. Inherited characteristic include the color of flowers and the number of limbs of an animal. Other features such as the ability to play a musical instrument, are learned through interactions with the environment.

• Life Science K-4

• Organisms and their environments

  All animals depend on plants. Some animals eat plants for food. Other animals eat animals that eat the plants.

CE/CE Concept F:
• The parts of a plant have specific functions and uses.

CE/CE Content Objectives:

• 2F1

  To understand some uses of each plant part

NSES Content Standard

• Life Science K-4

• The characteristics of organisms

  Each plant or animal has different structures which serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction. For example, humans have distinct structures of the body for walking, holding, seeing, and talking.

• Science in Personal and Social perspectives K-4

• Personal health

  Different substances can damage the body and how it functions. Such substances include tobacco, alcohol, over-the-counter medicines, and illicit drugs. Students should understand that some substances such as prescription drugs can be beneficial but that any substance can be harmful.

CE/CE Concept G:
• Living things experience diverse life cycles.

CE/CE Content Objectives:

• 2G1

  To understand the meanings of the terms growth, development, and life cycle

• 2G2

  To understand the stages in the life cycles of selected organisms

NSES Content Standard

• Science in Personal and Social perspectives K-4

• Types of resources

  Resources include those things that we get from the living and nonliving environment to meet the needs and wants of a population.

  Some resources include basic materials, such as air, water, and soil; some are produced from basic resources, such as food, fuel, and building materials; and some resources are nonmaterial, such as quiet places, beauty, security, and safety.

  The supply of many resources is limited. If used, those materials can be extended through recycling and decreased use.

• Science in Personal and Social perspectives K-4

• Changes in environments

  Environments include the space, conditions, and factors that affect individual's and population's ability to survive and quality of life.

  Changes in environments can be natural or influenced by humans. Some changes are good, some neither good nor bad, and some are bad. Pollution is a change in the environment that can influence the health, survival, or activities of organisms, including humans.

  Some environmental changes occur slowly, and others occur rapidly. Students should understand the differences and consequences of changing environments in small increments over long periods of time and changes that occur in large increments in short periods.

CE/CE Concept Ia:
• The environment is affected by the activities of its inhabitants.

CE/CE Content Objectives:

• 2I1

  To understand how various activities affect the environment

CE/CE Concept Ib:
• Energy exists in many types and must be conserved.

CE/CE Content Objectives:

• 2I2

  To understand how energy is used in our environment

• 2I3

  To understand the importance of conserving energy

CE/CE Concept Ic:
• Sound can serve as a source of noise pollution.

CE/CE Content Objectives:

• 2I4

  To understand the source of sound pollution

NSES Content Standard

• Earth and Space Science K-4

• Objects in the sky

  Weather can change from day to day and over the season. Weather can be described by measurable quantities, such as temperature, wind direction and speed, precipitation, and humidity.

CE/CE Concept K:
• Weather is a result of changing atmospheric conditions.

CE/CE Content Objectives:

• 2K1

  To understand condensation and evaporation and their relationship to the water cycle

• 2K2

  To understand how cloud formations relate to weather conditions

NSES Content Standard

• No correlation

• No correlation

CE/CE Concept M:
• Different bodies of water provide important resources.

CE/CE Content Objectives:

• 2M1

  To identify different bodies of water

• 2M2

  To understand resources provided by bodies of water

For more information please contact the CE/CE Online

This is the time this file has been accessed since 12/20/95.

The University of Tennessee at Martin is not responsible for the information or views expressed here.

Science Activities Manual: K-8 Home Page

Last Modified