The appearance of the landscape changes, and both plants and animals adapt to new conditions. Students will also become acquainted with the difficult ways animals care for their young. Changes in plants and animals can be naturally observed as students compare and contrast changes that occur with each season. Students already have a basic understanding of the seasons from Kindergarten. Students in second grade are starting to see relationships between ideas and should be able to draw conclusions about how the seasons influence changes in the appearance and behavior of plants and animals.
Animals are very different in the way they care for their young.
In Kindergarten, students explore the idea that animals do not behave like humans. Different species have unique behaviors. Influences on these behaviors will be discussed thoroughly in the third and fourth grades. In the second grade, students will focus on how different animals care for their young and what this care means for their survival. When animals such as fish produce large numbers of offspring, the young must quickly learn how to protect themselves and survive on their own.