Public learning track
Animal Classification and Life Cycles
2nd Grade · Science · Open Global Science
9 lessons
Goal
Classify vertebrates into five major groups, contrast vertebrate traits with invertebrates, and model diverse animal life cycles.
Featured Diagrams
Vertebrates Versus Invertebrates: Backbone Classification
9 lessons
0 of 9 done
- 1Vertebrates Versus Invertebrates: Backbone ClassificationUp nextStart
- 2Fish: Gills, Fins, and Scales in Aquatic EnvironmentsPremiumNot started yet
- 3Amphibians: Dual Lives and MetamorphosisNot started yet
- 4Reptiles: Scaly Skin and Shelled Eggs on LandNot started yet
- 5Birds: Feathers, Beaks, and Hollow Bones for FlightNot started yet
- 6Mammals: Fur, Live Birth, and Nursing YoungNot started yet
- 7Comparing Complete and Incomplete Insect MetamorphosisNot started yet
- 8Comparing Life Cycles of Mammals, Birds, and ReptilesNot started yet
- 9Sorting Animals with Yes-or-No QuestionsNot started yet
Standards Covered
- OGS.3.LS.2Open Global Science Standards 2026™ · Science · Level 3 / Grade 2 (Age 7) · Grade 2Observe, classify, and compare major groups of animals and other organisms (vertebrates including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals; invertebrates; fungi; microorganisms) based on physical characteristics, habitats, life cycles, feeding methods, and behavioral adaptations.
- OGS.3.SEP.4Open Global Science Standards 2026™ · Science · Level 3 / Grade 2 (Age 7) · Grade 2Develop, construct, and use physical, pictorial, and conceptual models to represent scientific phenomena, systems, and structures (such as paper bridges, gliders, sound transmitters, stream tables, Sun-Earth-Moon systems, and life cycle models), identifying the advantages and limitations of models.
- OGS.3.SEP.3Open Global Science Standards 2026™ · Science · Level 3 / Grade 2 (Age 7) · Grade 2Record, sort, organize, analyze, and represent scientific data and observations using tables, drawings, symbols, words, numbers, and simple graphs, identifying patterns, cause-and-effect relationships, and mathematical comparisons between objects.
Curriculum Framework
2nd Grade · Science · Open Global Science
1
9 lessons
Matter: Properties and Reconfigurable Structures
Classify materials by observable properties, test their physical traits, and build complex structures from smaller interchangeable units.
2
9 lessons
Investigating Physical Changes and States of Matter
Differentiate between reversible state changes and irreversible physical alterations through heating, cooling, and mechanical forces.
3
9 lessons
Properties of Water, Air, and Dissolving
Investigate atmospheric and fluid phenomena including air volume, surface tension, buoyancy, and solution separation.
4
9 lessons
Forces, Pushes, Pulls, and Friction in Motion
Investigate how balanced and unbalanced contact forces, friction, collisions, and gravity alter the motion and shape of objects.
5
9 lessons
Sound Energy: Vibrations, Pitch, and Volume
Explain how vibrating matter produces sound, propagates through media, and how vibration rate and size govern pitch and volume.
6
9 lessons
Light Energy: Shadows and Refraction
Investigate straight-line light propagation, shadow formation factors, reflection from flat mirrors, and refraction through lenses and water.
7
9 lessons
Heat Energy: Conduction and Insulation
Investigate thermal conduction, temperature balance, and design thermal barriers to slow heat loss.
8
9 lessons
Magnetism, Static Electricity, and Circuits
Test magnetic poles and orientation, explore static charges, build complete electric circuits, and classify electrical conductors.
9
9 lessons
Plant Anatomy, Water Transport, and Growth
Identify plant organs, investigate water and nutrient transport, examine flower reproduction, and determine seed germination requirements.
10
9 lessons
Animal Classification and Life Cycles
Classify vertebrates into five major groups, contrast vertebrate traits with invertebrates, and model diverse animal life cycles.
11
9 lessons
Invertebrates, Fungi, and Microorganisms
Examine major invertebrate groups, explore fungi roles as decomposers, and investigate helpful and harmful microorganisms.
12
9 lessons
Human Body Systems and Sensory Organs
Investigate human organ systems, test sensory responses, and measure physiological indicators like pulse and breathing rates.
13
9 lessons
Health, Hygiene, and Disease Prevention
Evaluate nutrition balance, dental health, handwashing hygiene, sensory protection, and disease transmission defenses.
14
9 lessons
Ecosystems, Food Chains, and Energy Flow
Construct food chains with producers, consumers, and decomposers, trace solar energy flow, and analyze habitat interdependence.
15
9 lessons
Adaptations, Pollination, and Seed Dispersal
Explain structural and behavioral adaptations, analyze animal-plant mutualism in pollination, and compare seed dispersal mechanisms.
16
9 lessons
Heredity, Traits, Variation, and Fossils
Recognize inherited traits, compare individual variations, and analyze fossil evidence to discover ancient organisms and environmental change.
17
9 lessons
Earth Surface Materials, Soils, and Erosion
Analyze soil composition, classify rocks and minerals, and model weathering and erosion caused by wind and moving water.
18
9 lessons
Weather Instruments, Patterns, and Severe Hazards
Measure meteorological variables with scientific tools, analyze seasonal patterns, and identify safety procedures during severe weather.
19
9 lessons
Sun, Moon Patterns, and the Solar System
Model Sun-Earth-Moon celestial movements, track daytime shadow shifts, explain lunar phases, and explore planets in our solar system.
20
9 lessons
Natural Resources, Mapping, and Conservation
Distinguish renewable from non-renewable resources, navigate local habitats with maps, and design waste reduction and conservation actions.
21
9 lessons
Scientific Inquiry, Engineering Design, and STEM Practices
Formulate testable scientific questions, conduct controlled fair tests, analyze evidence-based conclusions, and explore diverse STEM careers.