History of Earth
Second grade students will become geologists and paleontologists as they learn about the history of our planet Earth. This unit will begin with a study of dinosaurs and fossils. Then, students will become geologists and learn all about how the Earth was formed and how this planet is still changing. Some of the topics we will cover are:
1. Fossils/dinosaurs
2.Pangaea and continental shift (e.g. plate tectonics)
3.Volcanoes
4.Earthquakes
5.Tsunamis
6. Erosion
7.Formation of landforms (e.g. mountains, valleys, etc.)
8. Role of water on the Earth’s surface (oceans, rivers, lakes, and ponds)
What You Can Do at Home
Activities
1. With your child, compare dinosaurs to animals that exist today. Divide a piece of paper into three columns. In the first column, list all the dinosaurs you know. In the second column, write one characteristic for each dinosaur listed. In the third column, think of one animal that lives today that shares each characteristic, and write the name of that animal in the third column.
Websites
Dinosaurs for Kids
Read about many of the dinosaurs that lived millions of years ago. This site has a database that contains facts about dinosaurs. There are also a few games that your child can play including a dinosaur classification game.
http://www.kidsdinos.com/
Enchanted Learning- Landforms and Bodies of Water
Enchanted Learning provides pictures and details about different types of landforms including valleys, mountains, islands, and much more.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/landforms/glossary.shtml
Scholastic Studyjams: Earthquakes
This video explains who the Earth is made of tectonic plates that move causing earthquakes.http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/rocks-minerals-landforms/earthquakes.htm
Scholastic Studyjams: Volcanoes
Learn how volcanoes are responsible for changes on the surface of Earth.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/rocks-minerals-landforms/volcanoes.htm
Suggested Reading
Dinosaur Bones by Aliki - The author explains how scientists use fossils to prove the dinosaurs existed.
Planet Earth/Inside Out by Gail Gibbons. Learn about the history of the planet Earth and the many layers that make up this rock planet.
For a list of science nonfiction books, please click on the link titled Favorite Links and Books to Read. Click on the sublink Grades K-2 Science Nonfiction Books, where you will find a detailed list of books related to many different topics in science.