From Many, One

Second graders study Asian, Thai, and world history, geography, economics, and government by learning more about who Thais are and where they came from.  They explore their own family’s history and listen to or read a variety of teacher-or-student-selected stories about:  distinctive individuals, peoples, achievements, customs, events, places, or landmarks from long ago and around the world.  Students learn more economic concepts by identifying producers, consumers, buyers, and sellers in their own communities. 

Concepts and Skills

Students should be able to:

• Apply concepts and skills learned in previous grades.

History and Geography

1.1            Use a calendar to identify days, weeks, months, years, and seasons.

1.2            Use correctly words and phrases related to time (now, in the past, in the future) changing historical periods (other times, other places), and causation (because, reasons).

1.3            Explain the information that historical timelines convey and then put in chronological order events in the student’s life (e.g. the year he or she was born, started school, or moved to a new neighborhood) or in the history of countries studied. Describe how maps and globes depict geographical information in different ways.

1.4            Read globes and maps and follow narrative accounts using them.

Civics and Government

2.1            Define and give examples of some of the rights and responsibilities that students as citizens have in the school (e.g. students have the right to vote in a class election and have the responsibility to follow school rules).

2.2            Give examples of fictional characters or real people in the school or community who were good leaders and good citizens, and explain the qualities that made them admirable (e.g. honesty, dependability, modesty, trustworthiness, courage).

Economics

3.1            Give examples of people in the school and community who are both producers and consumers.

3.2            Explain what buyers and sellers are and give examples of goods and services that are bought and sold in their community.

Learning Standards

Building on knowledge from previous years, students should be able to:

2.1 On a map of the world, locate all of the continents:  North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica.

2.2 Locate the current boundaries of Thailand and its surrounding countries.  (G)

2.3 Locate the oceans of the world:  the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans. (G)

2.4 Locate five major rivers in the world:  the Mississippi, Amazon, Volga, Yangtze,  and Nile. (G)

2.5 Locate major mountains or mountain ranges in the world such as the Andes, Alps, Himalayas, Mt. Everest, Mt. McKinley, and the Rocky Mountains.  (G)

2.6 Explain the difference between a continent and a country and give examples of each.  (G)

2.7 On a map of the world, locate the continent, regions, or and then the countries from which students, their parents, guardians, grandparents, or other relatives or ancestors came.  With the help of family members and the school librarian, describe traditional food, customs, sports, and games, and music of the place they came from.  (G,C)

2.8 With the help of the school librarian, give examples of traditions or customs from other countries that can be found in Thailand today. (G, C)

2.9 With the help of the school librarian identify and describe well-known sites, events, or landmarks in at least three different countries from which students’ families come and explain why they are important.  (H, G, C)

2.10 After reading or listening to a variety of true stories about individuals recognized for their achievements, describe and compare different ways people have achieved great distinction (e.g. scientific, professional, political, religious, commercial, military, athletic, or artistic).  (H)

Connections to Literacy

Students will be able to…

• Explore Native American and other historical figures in stories, biographies and historical narratives and recall details.
• Recognize similarities and differences of character, action, and setting: between now and the period depicted, between periods depicted.
• Identify/seek evidence, with teacher assistance, for inferences.
• Retell an event with a beginning, middle and end, including important details.
• Express an opinion in an organized way, with supporting details.
• Use listening skills to obtain information.
• Make comparative oral connections, with teacher assistance, between stories and/or between stories and life experiences.
• Incorporate the above capacities in simple writing exercises.
• Memorize historical poetry, songs, portions of documents and speeches.
• Use agreed upon rules to participate in large and small group discussions.
• Write frequently in response to readings and presentations.
• Maintain a system for collecting, referring to, and sharing their thoughts and writings.