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Classical Christian
Homeschooling:
Classical Education
at Home
WebMaster:
Christine
Miller
Classical Christian
Homeschooling Online Catalog: 2nd Grade Science Curriculum
www.clas...ling.org/curriculum/science-2.html
This page last revised:
May 2003
Copyright
© 1997-2003 |
2nd Grade
Science Curriculum
The Plant Kingdom
For books and field guides to help identify plants, wildflowers, and trees
on nature hikes, please see the Nature Study resources in the Science in the Grammar Stage page. Also recommended: Fun With Nature, especially the section “Trees,
Leaves and Bark” and More Fun With Nature,
especially “Berries, Nuts and Seeds” and “Wildflowers, Blooms and
Blossoms” from the 1st Grade Science recommendations.
For teaching plant classification, see the teacher’s science resource, Kingdoms of Life: Classification.
 Wacky Plant Cycles
Valerie Wyatt, Lilith Jones
Kids will enjoy this charming introduction to plants and their life
cycles. A humorous insect narrator takes readers on an informative journey through the
ever-changing world of plants—from seeds and sprouts to flowers and mature plants.
Along the way, the author provides information about germination, photosynthesis,
pollination, seed dispersion, and life spans. In addition to whimsical cartoon
illustrations and colorful close-up photos, this delightful book also includes unusual
facts about plants, an experiment that invites youngsters to grow and monitor their own
pea plants, and a glossary. This enjoyable resource is perfect for young gardeners who are
interested in learning more about where plants come from and what happens to them when
they die.
 Reason for a Flower
Ruth Heller
The reason for a flower is to manufacture seeds, but Ruth Heller shares a
lot more about parts of plants and their functions in her trademark rhythmic style.
“[An] extravagantly beautiful creation. It is unusual in its ingenious way of
teaching botany and interesting words to the littlest of readers.” — Publishers
Weekly. “Ms. Heller’s colors and drawings are as electrifying as ever.”
— Los Angeles Times.
 How
Do Apples Grow?
Betsy and Giulio Maestro
One of the Let’s Read and Find Out Science series. Beginning with the
bare branches of winter and the snow-covered buds, the Maestros describe how fruit comes
from flowers, following the apple tree through the seasons, through the budding of spring,
pollination, growth, ripening, and harvest. The parts of the flower are named and
described in a simple manner, the lovely watercolor illustrations are clear and labeled.
Fertilization is also discussed in a way that is easily understood. The text likewise is
clear and attractive.
 How Seeds Travel
Cynthia Overbeck
Seeds are moved from place to place by ingenious methods. This book
describes various seeds, their structures, and the mechanisms they employ to get from here
to there: by wind, by water, and by animal action. Informative and interesting for both
children and adults! Part of the Lerner Natural Science series.
 Taking Root
Allan Fowler
Lavishly illustrated with colorful and detailed photographs, Taking
Root describes how roots grow and function in the life of a plant. The text is
informative at just the right level for 1st through 3rd graders. Part of the Rookie Read
About Science series.
 Plants That Never Ever Bloom
Ruth Heller
The natural world is illuminated with the same flair and fun Ruth Heller
brings to language. In Plants that Never Ever Bloom, rich, colorful illustrations and
informative, rhyming verse unlock a world where mushrooms glow at night and seaweed grows
to be gigantic--without a flower in sight! “A feast for the eyes.” -- San
Francisco Examiner.
 I am a Leaf
Jean Marzollo
Basic information about the role of leaves and how a tree obtains
nourishment are explained in the text and in the wonderful collage illustrations. Young
readers will be delighted to see how rainwater travels from the roots right up into the
veins on the leaves. The reason why leaves are no longer green in the fall also is
explained, as is the cycle of leaves decaying to provide nutrients in the soil to start
the process of nourishing new leaves on the tree. This is not only a good introductory
science book, but a good early reader as well. Part of the “Hello Reader!”
Science series.
 Tell Me, Tree
Gail Gibbons
Subtitled: All About Trees for Kids. Tell Me, Tree, is a
child’s first introduction to trees and tree science. Gibbons defines a tree;
explains a tree’s workings using such terms as sapwood, cambium, phloem, and
heartwood; diagrams a tree’s growth; portrays various seed pods and shapes;
differentiates conifers from broadleaf trees; and presents about twenty identification
portraits by tree shape, leaf, and bark. She includes a discussion of photosynthesis and
gives directions for students to make their own tree identification books. End matter
includes directions for making rubbings of leaves and bark. This is a good book to team
with Diane Burns’ Trees, Leaves, and Bark (included in Fun with Nature suggested in the 1st grade science
suggestions).
 How the Forest Grew
William Jaspersohn
Naturalistic etchings softly illuminate this timely tale about the
transformation of an “open and green” farmland into a dense forest. This book
could be about any forest because most forests grow the same way. First, the land is open
and green. Then, the changes begin. “Careful explanation, an elegant, reverent style,
and beautiful illustrations highlight this chronology of a forest’s growth.” --
Booklist. This lyrical picture book has been the recipient of numerous awards for
outstanding science books for children.
 Roots, Shoots, Buckets &
Boots
Sharon Lovejoy
There is no greater way to interest children in the world of growing
things than through the special joy of gardening. In Sharon Lovejoy’s newest book,
she presents numerous easy- to- implement ideas for theme gardens that parents and kids
can grow together: the pizza patch garden, the sunflower house garden, the container
garden, the snacking and sipping garden, the garden of giants, the moon garden, the flower
maze garden, the medicine chest garden, and the zuni waffle garden. The introduction and
appendices include information on the top 20 plants for kids and gardening basics: how to
plan, plant, and care for a garden. Illustrated with the author’s lyrical
watercolors, each theme garden includes a plan, a planting recipe, a “discovery
walk” to take while the garden is growing, and activities and crafts to make with the
products of the garden. Sharon Lovejoy is the author and illustrator of the award-winning
children’s book, Sunflower Houses: Inspiration from the Garden, and Hollyhock Days: Garden Adventures for the Young at Heart, which
contain even more wonderful ideas for parents and children gardening together.
 Eyewitness Books: Plant
David Burnie
This fascinating look at the world of plants is typical of books in the
Eyewitness series: gorgeous photographs, close-ups, and a look at a wide variety of topics
within the subject. Stunning real life photographs of flowers, fruits, seeds, leaves, and
more offer a unique eyewitness view of the natural history of plant anatomy and growth.
See the biggest flower in the world, where a seed develops, what the inside of a plant
stem looks like, how a flower attracts insects, what a plant’s reproductive organs
look like, how a dandelion spreads its seeds, and more. Learn how plants defend
themselves, why flowers are brightly colored, how a plant can climb, why some plants feed
on insects, why some plants have no seeds, and more. Discover why some plants have spines
and stingers, what plants looked like millions of years ago (caveat: assumes the truth of
molecules-to-man evolution), how plants survive in the desert, how plants turn sunlight
into energy. Great as a reference for this year’s study.
 Eyewitness Books: Tree
David Burnie
This fascinating look at the world of trees is typical of books in the
Eyewitness series: gorgeous photographs, close-ups, and a look at a wide variety of topics
within the subject. Stunning real life photographs of bark, leaves, flowers, cones,
seedlings, and more offer a unique eyewitness view of the natural history of trees, from
their leafy boughs to their roots beneath the soil. See a seed grow into a sapling, the
tiny insects that live rotting leaves on the forest floor, the changing colors of fall
leaves, exotic seeds and nuts from the tropics, buds bursting into leaves, and more. Learn
why deciduous trees loose their leaves in the fall, how a tree breathes, how to identify
trees in winter, how squirrels help seeds to germinate, how acid rain affects forests, how
bark defends trees from animal attacks, and more. Discover why coniferous trees produce
cones, how the wind pollinates catkins, how rubber is tapped from tree trunks, why leaves
are different shapes, and much much more. Great as a reference for this year’s study.
Using the Online Catalog
 This online catalog is made possible through an association with Barnes&Noble.com. Clicking on the book title or book cover will take
you to Barnes&Noble.com’s information page about that book. You can look at its
price, availability, any discounts currently taken for that title, reviews of the book,
and other information, as well as order it if you decide to purchase the book. You can
even place books in your shopping cart and save them for purchase at a later time. You can
continue to add or delete books from your shopping cart until you are satisfied with your
order and ready to purchase. Clicking on any link to Barnes&Noble.com will open a new
window; to return to CCH, click on the “Window” menu on your browser’s menu
bar, and choose Classical Christian Homeschooling.
Sometimes books go out of print, or the publisher runs out of stock. Any
book not available from Barnes&Noble.com for any reason can be searched using AddAll.com, a book shopping site which
will scan Barnes&Noble.com as well as Amazon.com, Powell’s Books, Book Close Outs
and many other new and used book sites. Be sure to also check BookFinder.com for out of print book
searches.
Still have questions? Ask
me!
 
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