Processes that Shape the Earth | ESS2.B Physical Maps 2nd Grade NGSS

Help your second graders build science understanding and reading comprehension with this Processes that Shape the Earth: ESS2.B Physical Maps resource. This product is one section of a larger Earth’s Systems unit aligned to the second grade Next Generation Science Standards.

This section focuses on ESS2.B: Physical Maps and supports students as they work with science content, vocabulary, and the comprehension skill of sequence of events. With leveled passages and structured before, during, and after reading activities, this resource is designed to make rigorous science content more accessible for a wide range of learners.

What’s Included

This Earth science resource includes everything needed for one focused section of the unit.

Included components:

• Three leveled reading passages
  • High
  • Medium
  • Low
• Before Reading activities
  • Three-part vocabulary cards
  • Language development activity
  • Comprehension skill practice using familiar content and scenarios
• During Reading activities
  • Text-dependent questions
• After Reading activities
  • Comprehension practice
  • Language development activity connected to the comprehension skill
• Written End-of-Section Summative Assessment

Focus of This Section

This section focuses on:

• Earth’s Systems
• Processes that Shape the Earth
• ESS2.B: Physical Maps
• Sequence of events
• Science vocabulary development
• Reading comprehension with informational text

Students use physical maps and related science content as they build understanding of Earth’s features and the ways information can be represented.

Leveled Science Passages

Three reading levels are included so you can better support the needs of your second grade students.

Passage levels include:

• High
• Medium
• Low

These leveled passages make the science content more accessible for English learners, below grade-level readers, and students who benefit from differentiated reading support.

Before, During, and After Reading Support

This resource is structured to support comprehension before, during, and after reading.

Before Reading

The Before Reading activities provide scaffolding for the comprehension skill using familiar content and scenarios. Students are introduced to important vocabulary and language patterns before applying them to more rigorous science content.

The three-part vocabulary cards allow students to interact with vocabulary in multiple ways and build a stronger understanding of key terms.

During Reading

During Reading activities include text-dependent questions that help students focus on important ideas in the passage and return to the text for evidence.

After Reading

The After Reading activities mirror the structure and language patterns from the Before Reading work. This familiar format helps students apply the comprehension skill to new science content with greater confidence.

Skills Covered

Students will practice important science, reading, and language skills, including:

• Understanding physical maps
• Reading informational science text
• Identifying sequence of events
• Using science vocabulary
• Answering text-dependent questions
• Building comprehension through before, during, and after reading activities
• Applying language patterns to new content
• Responding in writing
• Demonstrating understanding through an end-of-section assessment

Ways to Use This Resource

This ESS2.B Physical Maps resource can be used in several ways during your science or literacy block.

Use it for:

• Second grade science lessons
• Earth science units
• NGSS-aligned reading practice
• Small group instruction
• Whole group lessons
• English learner support
• Reading intervention
• Science vocabulary practice
• Informational text comprehension
• Assessment
• Test prep
• Sub plans

Designed to Support All Learners

The activities in this product are especially helpful for second grade students who need additional support with reading, language, and comprehension. English learners and below grade-level readers benefit from the leveled passages, repeated language structures, vocabulary cards, and scaffolded comprehension activities.

The structure helps students first practice the comprehension skill with familiar content, then apply that same skill and language to new science content.

NGSS Connection

This resource is part of a second grade Earth’s Systems unit that addresses the Next Generation Science Standards. This section focuses on ESS2.B: Physical Maps and supports students as they learn about Earth’s features and how they can be represented.

Build Science Knowledge and Reading Comprehension

This Processes that Shape the Earth: ESS2.B Physical Maps resource gives students meaningful practice with Earth science content, science vocabulary, sequence of events, informational reading, and written assessment. With leveled passages, scaffolded before-reading support, text-dependent questions, after-reading comprehension, and a written summative assessment, this section is a strong addition to your second grade Earth science unit.