Grade 2

Other Rhode Island Social Studies sets

• Grade K
• Grade 1
• Grade 3
• Grade 4
• Grade 5
• Grade 6
• Grade 7
• Grade 8
• Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Identify geographical map and globe terms (e.g., compass rose, map key, latitude, and longitude, time zones)SS2.1.1.a

Identify latitude and longitude in geographical terms as ways of showing absolute locationSS2.1.1.b

Identify the relative locations of students' homes and schools, and explain the difference between absolute location and relative locationsSS2.1.1.c

Explain the different uses of maps and globes and how they show different features such as populations, culture, socio-political lines, and topographiesSS2.1.1.d

Identify the locations of the seven continents and the five oceansSS2.1.2.a

Identify the equator, Prime Meridian, and four hemispheres on a map and globe, and explain what those features areSS2.1.2.b

Identify the physical characteristics and locations of different land features around the world (e.g., Amazon rainforest, Sahara Desert, Mount Everest, Great Barrier Reef), and explain how people interact with those locations (e.g., resources available for human use, how people adapt to living in different places)SS2.1.2.c

Identify the characteristics and locations of different types of bodies of water around the globe (e.g., Mediterranean Sea, Great Lakes, Nile River), and explain how humans use themSS2.1.2.d

Identify the different types of natural resources that are available around the world, and analyze who has access to themSS2.1.3.a

Explain ways that natural resources are important to plant and animal life, as well as humansSS2.1.3.b

Explain how people get and utilize natural resources (e.g., metals for technology, wood for housing, water for drinking, land for farming, sun for energy)SS2.1.3.c

Analyze how access to natural resources affects human population and settlementSS2.1.3.d

Identify resources that are man-made (e.g., reservoirs, hydroelectricity), and analyze how they help sustain human settlementSS2.1.3.e

Analyze ways throughout time people have adapted to living in different environments (e.g., mountains, deserts, rainforests, woodlands, cold climates, warm climates)SS2.1.4.a

Explain that different environments provide different resources for human habitation, and analyze how that can encourage human settlementSS2.1.4.b

Explain types of natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, floods, blizzards, drought, wildfires), and analyze how they can affect human settlement and populationSS2.1.4.c

Analyze ways that natural disasters can change the economic situation of people (e.g., destruction of property, access to food sources, access to clean water)SS2.1.4.d

Analyze environmental situations that may cause people to migrate (e.g., migration away from a location to escape a natural disaster, migration to a location that has access to more resources)SS2.1.4.e

Analyze ways recent changes in the Earth's climate have affected various communities (e.g., erosion and flooding of coastal Alaskan villages, droughts in the Western United States)SS2.1.4.f

Explain the characteristics of culture (e.g., food, clothing, music, art, education, government)SS2.2.1.a

Identify cultures from different areas of the world, and analyze their similarities and differences (it is suggested that teachers use student backgrounds or student choice to choose groups to learn about)SS2.2.1.b

Identify Indigenous peoples from different areas of the world, explain the characteristics of their cultures, and analyze their similarities and differencesSS2.2.1.c

Analyze the shared experiences, values, and rituals that many people around the world experience (e.g., popular culture such as movies, music, fast food restaurants, shared historical events, sports, fandoms)SS2.2.1.d

Explain human activities that change the environment (e.g., deforestation, damming rivers)SS2.2.2.a

Identify the different types of pollution caused by humans, and analyze the ways pollution can affect the environment (e.g., smoke from wildfires, remnants of plastics in landfills and ocean waters, carbon dioxide emissions from industrialization)SS2.2.2.b

Explain ways that individuals and communities can combat pollution through means such as reducing, reusing, and recycling the use of plastics, rubbers, glasses, and paperSS2.2.2.c

Analyze ways that changes in the environment affect animal habitats and populationsSS2.2.2.d

Analyze ways large-scale environmental changes can lead to an increase in natural disasters (e.g., stronger hurricanes, longer periods of drought, increase in wildfires)SS2.2.2.e

Explain ways that people can help the environment (e.g., recycling, creating renewable energy such as solar energy, composting, planting trees, urban gardening, ecotourism)SS2.2.2.f

Analyze the reasons people have moved and migrated to other places whether they need to, want to, or are forced to (e.g., family, seasonal work, war, a change in the environment like drought, enslavement)SS2.2.3.a

Analyze differences between voluntary migrants, refugees, and people who are enslavedSS2.2.3.b

Analyze ways mass migrations of people can affect locations (e.g., depletion of resources, a change in the environment) and other people (e.g., colonialism's effects on Indigenous peoples, additional strain on resources)SS2.2.3.c

Identify what cultural heritage is, and explain ways global cultures are represented by students' families and communitiesSS2.3.1.a

Explain ways that local traditions, celebrations, and holidays have global and cultural influencesSS2.3.1.b

Explain the characteristics of local traditions, celebrations, and holidays (e.g., food, clothing, activities, religion), identify what parts of the world they are from, and analyze the similarities and differences between themSS2.3.1.c

Explain the difference between imports and exports, and identify ways goods and services are distributed throughout the worldSS2.3.2.a

Explain why areas of the world that have a surplus of certain resources trade with areas that have less and vice versaSS2.3.2.b

Identify ways individuals and governments are involved in an interdependent global economySS2.3.2.c

Analyze the influences of the global economy on peoples' jobs and who benefitsSS2.3.2.d

Identify the historical evolution of communications such as the printing press (newspapers, books), radio, telephones, the internetSS2.3.3.a

Analyze the influences of the internet on the speed of communication between peopleSS2.3.3.b

Analyze the different ways people utilize global communications (e.g., keeping in touch with family, playing video games with distant friends, for commerce)SS2.3.3.c

Explain the responsibilities people around the world have to each other in an interconnected worldSS2.4.1.a

Explain the responsibilities governments around the world have to each otherSS2.4.1.b

Analyze the decisions that people and governments make that can affect the rest of the world (e.g., medical, environmental)SS2.4.1.c

Analyze ways people work together to resolve global issues such as climate change, wars, and diseaseSS2.4.1.d

Identify different types of governments (e.g., monarchies, oligarchies, democracies), and analyze their structuresSS2.4.2.a

Explain the titles and responsibilities of governmental global leaders such as prime minister, emperor/empress, president, and analyze their roles and responsibilitiesSS2.4.2.b

Explain how individuals and groups have become global leaders through their actions and advocacy for positive changeSS2.4.2.c

Identify the benefits of diplomacy, and explain ways that governments work together to resolve problems, prevent wars, and keep peaceSS2.4.3.a

Explain ways leaders in government set international rules about issues such as health, the environment, war, and peace (e.g., United Nations, G-7 Summit)SS2.4.3.b

Explain how governmental and non-governmental organizations help individuals and communities internationally deal with issues such scarcity, health, environment, etc. (e.g., World Health Organization, World Trade Organization, Peace Corps, Doctors Without Borders)SS2.4.3.c

Explain ways that individuals can contribute to the resolution of world issues (e.g., by working for or volunteering their time at the above-named organizations)SS2.4.3.d

Identify mass conflicts (e.g., civil wars, political instability, and persecution)SS2.4.4.a

Identify the causes of wars (e.g., history of unresolved conflict, quest for power over people, quest for power over resources), and explain how they impact peopleSS2.4.4.b

Explain ways governments can resolve conflicts (e.g., agreeing to a cease fire, negotiating a treaty, signing an agreement)SS2.4.4.c

Identify what peace is, and explain ways people try to achieve itSS2.4.4.d

Identify historical figures who brought positive social change (e.g., Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Susan B Anthony, Jane Goodall), and explain how they impacted change throughout the world and the challenges they facedSS2.4.5.a

Identify contemporary individuals and groups who are working on positive social change (e.g., Greta Thunberg, scientists who work on vaccines, people working for human rights, and front-line workers such as firefighters, police, teachers, doctors, and nurses) and explain how they impact change and the challenges they faceSS2.4.5.b

Explain ways that students can contribute to positive change on small and large scales (e.g., in their schools, community, country, or world)SS2.4.5.c