NGSS · Grade 2

2-ESS2-3: Where Water Is Found on Earth – Oceans, Ice, Rivers, Lakes, and More

Students obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid or liquid. From the vast salt oceans to the microscopic film of water around a soil particle, this standard builds a comprehensive, evidence-grounded picture of the hydrosphere and establishes the critical understanding that fresh water, the water humans and most land animals depend on, is rare and unevenly distributed across the planet.

NGSS · Grade 2

2-ESS1-1: Earth Events Fast and Slow – Evidence That Earth Changes Over Many Timescales

Students use information from several sources to provide evidence that Earth events can occur quickly or slowly. From volcanic eruptions that reshape a landscape in hours to the slow carving of a canyon over millions of years, this standard builds the foundational understanding that Earth is always changing and that different processes operate on vastly different timescales.

NGSS · Grade 2

2-ESS2-1: Wind and Water Erosion – Designing Solutions to Protect the Land

Students compare multiple solutions designed to slow or prevent wind or water from changing the shape of the land. This engineering-integrated standard connects the physical science of erosion directly to the human need to protect farmland, coastlines, and communities, introducing second graders to the design process as a response to a real-world Earth science problem.

NGSS · Grade 2

2-ESS2-2: Maps of Land and Water — Developing Models to Represent Earth’s Surface

Students develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area. From hand-drawn classroom maps to interpretations of satellite imagery, this standard builds foundational spatial literacy and scientific modeling skills, connecting earth science, geography, and the nature of scientific representation.