2nd Grade Social Studies Curriculum

In the second grade, students begin to be aware of the world outside of their home, school, or city. For second graders, a strong foundation in communication, empathy, and personal responsibility supports deeper learning in social studies.

At this stage, students begin to explore other continents and countries. They learn about different geographical regions, the people who live there, and the importance of preserving and sharing cultures. This helps students practice empathy, respect, and appreciation for the world and people around them.

At Miacademy, our second grade social studies curriculum introduces these important ideas through engaging storytelling and hands-on activities. Students explore maps, compare cultures, and learn about historical figures, all while developing the social and thinking skills needed to become responsible, curious, and active learners.

Sample Lesson

You can find more lessons about social studies for second grade on YouTube at The Miacademy Learning Channel!

Is my student ready for 2nd grade social studies?

Before assigning Beginning Social Studies 2, we recommend your student complete our first grade social studies course, Beginning Social Studies 1. Some other signs your child may be ready to learn about second grade social studies topics include: 

1. Understanding the difference between past, present, and future.
2. Following and talking about a simple timeline of events.
3. Recognizing basic community roles like firefighters, teachers, or doctors.
4. Understanding why we have and follow rules.
5. Showing curiosity about maps, globes, or locations of places.
6. Naming their city, state, or country or talking about where they live.
7. Showing interest in holidays, traditions, or life in other cultures.
8. Listening to short stories or lessons and answering simple questions.
9. Asking thoughtful questions about people, places, or how things work.
10. Comparing things and explaining how they’re the same or different.

Second Grade Social Studies Worksheets – PDF Download

Each video lesson has an accompanying PDF with fun social studies activities to extend learning beyond the screen with a hands-on approach!

Click here to download a free sample PDF of our second grade social studies activities:

What are the 2nd grade social studies standards?

Second grade social studies standards should introduce young learners to landforms, basic economic concepts such as goods and services, and the different countries and cultures that make up our world. At the end of the year, students will:

• Locate continents, oceans, and their own community, state, and country
• Recognize landforms (mountains, rivers, plains) and bodies of water
• Have knowledge of other continents, countries, and cultures
• Understand how people adapt to their environment
• Understand basic needs vs. wants, goods and services
• Know about producers and consumers in an economy
• Learn how people earn and spend money

Standards can vary by state, so be sure to check what’s required where you live.

Scope and Sequence

Beginning Social Studies 2

In social studies, second grade students will continue expanding their vocabulary and making connections across social studies topics through engaging lessons and activities. Students are beginning to see the world as a patchwork of many different countries, cultures, and natural features. Recognizing these differences is the first step children take to become aware of the diverse communities and experiences all around them.

Choosing the Best Homeschool Social Studies Curriculum

With our social studies curriculum, children have fun while learning and practice what they’ve learned in real-world situations. Through hands-on activities and engaging lessons, children will learn to use tools like maps and calendars, learn more about where they live, and understand how to be a responsible and respectful member of their community.

One of the best things about our social studies curriculum for homeschool is its flexibility! You get full customization over your lesson plans and assignments to fit your child’s unique learning needs. Students can skip what they already know and dive right into new challenges!

Miacademy offers a comprehensive, accredited curriculum for K-12, providing the right level of challenge for your child at every stage. From learning the days of the week to learning about government and citizenship, our curriculum grows with your child to continually meet their unique learning needs.

Whether you homeschool full time or are looking to supplement a public school education, we’re here to support you! Wondering if Miacademy can be a good fit for your student? Start a chat with one of our friendly customer service agents below! They’ll be happy to help you with any questions you may have.