Grade 2 Arts, Music & PE Curriculum Supplement

About This Supplement

This 36-week curriculum supplement for 2nd grade in Visual Art, Music, and Physical Education builds upon the foundational skills learned in 1st grade, aligning with standards from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. It aims to deepen understanding, refine skills, and encourage more complex creative expression.

Second-grade students are ready for more nuanced artistic concepts, increased independence in musical exploration, and more sophisticated physical skills, all of which are thoughtfully integrated into this supplement.

Curriculum Assumptions

Time Allocation: Each category (Visual Art, Music, Physical Education) will have approximately 90 minutes of dedicated instruction per week.
Supplemental Focus: This is a supplement, meaning it enhances a core curriculum, offering additional depth and resources.
Resources Required: The curriculum assumes access to a classroom, gymnasium/outdoor space, and basic art and music supplies.

Curriculum Overview

Visual Art

Deepen understanding of artistic elements and principles while developing observational drawing skills and exploring diverse art forms.

Overarching Themes

Deepening Understanding of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design (Pattern, Balance, Emphasis)
Developing Observational Drawing and Painting Skills
Exploring Different Art Forms and Media
Connecting Art to Personal Experiences and Broader Concepts

Weeks 1-6: Advanced Line, Shape, and Pattern

Weeks 7-12: Color Theory and Mixing

Weeks 13-18: Texture and Form in Sculpture

Weeks 19-24: Space, Perspective, and Composition

Weeks 25-30: Art History and Cultural Connections

Weeks 31-36: Art as Communication and Expression

Music

Refine rhythmic and melodic understanding, learn basic music notation, and develop collaborative music-making skills.

Overarching Themes

Refining Rhythmic and Melodic Understanding
Exploring More Complex Musical Structures and Forms
Introducing Basic Music Notation
Engaging in Ensemble Playing and Collaborative Music-Making

Weeks 1-6: Advanced Rhythm and Meter

Weeks 7-12: Melodic Contour and Staff Notation

Weeks 13-18: Harmony and Expressive Qualities

Weeks 19-24: Form and Timbre Exploration

Weeks 25-30: Music from Around the World

Weeks 31-36: Creative Movement and Composition

Physical Education

Refine fundamental motor skills with greater control, develop sport-specific skills, and emphasize cooperation and fair play.

Overarching Themes

Refining Fundamental Motor Skills with Greater Control and Coordination
Developing Sport-Specific Skills in Modified Games
Understanding Components of Health-Related Fitness More Deeply
Emphasizing Cooperation, Strategy, and Fair Play

Weeks 1-6: Locomotor and Non-Locomotor Skill Combinations

Weeks 7-12: Balance and Spatial Awareness in Complex Environments

Weeks 13-18: Throwing, Catching, Kicking with Accuracy

Weeks 19-24: Dribbling and Striking

Weeks 25-30: Health-Related Fitness Components

Weeks 31-36: Cooperation, Strategy, and Teamwork in Games

Visual Art Detailed Curriculum

Weeks 1-6: Advanced Line, Shape, and Pattern

Focus: Expressive lines (bold, delicate, broken), organic vs. geometric shapes, creating complex patterns and repeating motifs.

Activities:

Drawing "line journeys" with varying pressure and speed to create different emotions.
Creating tessellations with simple geometric shapes.
Designing patterned papers using stamps, stencils, or repeated drawings.
Drawing imaginary creatures or landscapes incorporating both organic and geometric shapes.

Resources:

Books:

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds (for expressive mark-making)
Drawing with Circles, Squares, and Triangles by Connie McLennan

Supplies:

Fine-tip markers, broad-tip markers, colored pencils, rulers, stencils, rubber stamps, ink pads, drawing paper.

Multimedia/Online:

Videos on creating patterns (e.g., repeating patterns in nature).
Examples of Islamic art and M.C. Escher's tessellations for inspiration.
Interactive online pattern generators.

Weeks 7-12: Color Theory and Mixing

Focus: Primary, secondary, and tertiary colors; warm, cool, and neutral colors; complementary colors; mixing tints and shades systematically.

Activities:

Creating a color wheel using tempera paints.
Painting landscapes or portraits using only warm or cool colors.
Exploring complementary colors through abstract painting.
Mixing and labeling various tints (adding white) and shades (adding black) of a single color.

Resources:

Books:

A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane DeRolf

Supplies:

Tempera paints (red, yellow, blue, white, black), brushes, mixing palettes, water containers, paper.

Multimedia/Online:

Videos explaining primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.
Interactive online color mixers.
Examples of Fauvism (bold color use) and Impressionism (color and light).

Weeks 13-18: Texture and Form in Sculpture

Focus: Creating implied and actual textures; building more complex 3D forms using various materials; understanding front, side, and back of a sculpture.

Activities:

Creating "texture collages" using a wider range of materials (yarn, fabric, corrugated cardboard, natural elements).
Sculpting animals or figures with air-dry clay, focusing on adding surface texture.
Constructing small sculptures from recycled materials, emphasizing form and balance.
Introduction to paper sculpture (e.g., cutting, folding, curling paper to create 3D forms).

Resources:

Books:

The Art of Eric Carle (collage and texture)
Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty (building and structure)

Supplies:

Air-dry clay, various textured materials, recycled cardboard, paper, tape, glue, scissors.

Multimedia/Online:

Videos demonstrating basic clay hand-building techniques.
Images of contemporary sculpture emphasizing texture.

Weeks 19-24: Space, Perspective, and Composition

Focus: Overlapping objects to show depth, making distant objects appear smaller, using foreground/middle ground/background more intentionally, understanding simple composition (arranging elements).

Activities:

Drawing scenes with overlapping objects.
Creating a "cityscape" showing buildings of different sizes to imply distance.
Making collages where elements are intentionally placed for visual balance.
Drawing "windows" into a scene, focusing on what is seen close up and far away.

Resources:

Books:

The Cloud Spinner by Michael Catchpool (can inspire landscapes with depth)
Zoom by Istvan Banyai (perspective shifts)

Supplies:

Drawing paper, pencils, erasers, colored pencils, markers.

Multimedia/Online:

Videos explaining simple perspective for kids.
Examples of landscape paintings from various periods (e.g., Hudson River School).

Weeks 25-30: Art History and Cultural Connections

Focus: Learning about famous artists (e.g., Van Gogh, Picasso, O'Keeffe, Rivera), understanding their styles and inspiration, exploring art from diverse cultures (e.g., Aboriginal art, Roman mosaics, Japanese woodblock prints).

Activities:

Creating artwork "in the style of" a chosen artist (e.g., starry night painting, Cubist portrait).
Designing a "mosaic" using cut paper or small tiles.
Experimenting with block printing or stamping techniques inspired by cultural art.
Researching and presenting on a famous artist or cultural art form.

Resources:

Books:

When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang (can inspire discussion on emotion and color, relate to Expressionism)
Katie's Picture Show by James Mayhew (visiting a museum)

Supplies:

Paints, brushes, paper, cut paper, glue, small tiles (optional), printmaking foam/linoleum blocks (for teacher use for stamps).

Multimedia/Online:

Google Arts & Culture (virtual museum tours and artist profiles).
PBS Kids "Art Safari" or similar educational art videos.
Biographies of famous artists adapted for children.

Weeks 31-36: Art as Communication and Expression

Focus: Using art to tell stories, convey messages, or express emotions; understanding art for public display; critiquing and appreciating art.

Activities:

Creating narrative artwork (e.g., a comic strip with 3-4 panels).
Designing posters for school events, focusing on clear communication.
Creating a "gallery" of student work, discussing favorite pieces and why they are appealing.
Developing a simple "artist statement" about their own work.

Resources:

Books:

The Boy Who Drew Cats: A Japanese Folktale by Arthur A. Levine

Supplies:

Various drawing and painting materials, poster board, large paper.

Multimedia/Online:

Videos on how to draw simple comics.
Examples of public art (murals, sculptures) and their messages.

Music Detailed Curriculum

Weeks 1-6: Advanced Rhythm and Meter

Focus: Identifying and performing quarter notes, eighth notes, half notes, and quarter rests; understanding 2/4 and 4/4 time signatures; creating simple rhythmic ostinatos.

Activities:

Clapping, stepping, and playing rhythms with different note values.
Composing 2-measure rhythm patterns using learned note values.
Playing rhythm instruments while identifying steady beat vs. rhythm.
Learning songs with clear rhythmic patterns and rests.

Resources:

Books:

Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange (can inspire rhythm and jazz sounds)

Supplies:

Rhythm sticks, hand drums, tambourines, shakers, whiteboards/chart paper for rhythmic notation.

Multimedia/Online:

YouTube: "Rhythm Kids" videos, "Note Value" explanation videos.
Online rhythm games that involve identifying and playing different note values.

Weeks 7-12: Melodic Contour and Introduction to Staff Notation

Focus: Identifying higher/lower pitches, steps/skips/repeats; understanding the five-line staff, treble clef, and note names (C, D, E, F, G) on the staff.

Activities:

Singing songs with more complex melodic phrases.
Drawing melodic contours on a whiteboard.
Locating C, D, E, F, G on a keyboard or glockenspiel.
Drawing these notes on a five-line staff.
"Reading" simple 2-note or 3-note patterns on the staff.

Resources:

Books:

Mole Music by David McPhail (beauty of making music)

Supplies:

Classroom keyboard/piano, glockenspiels or xylophones, large staff paper or whiteboard with staff lines.

Multimedia/Online:

YouTube: "Music Theory for Kids - Notes on the Staff."
Online interactive staff builders or note-reading games.

Weeks 13-18: Harmony and Expressive Qualities (Dynamics & Tempo)

Focus: Introduction to two-part singing (simple rounds or canons), identifying harmony (sounds together); more nuanced understanding of dynamics (crescendo/decrescendo) and tempo (accelerando/ritardando).

Activities:

Singing simple rounds (e.g., "Row, Row, Row Your Boat").
Playing simple bordun (drone) accompaniments on pitched instruments.
Conducting practice with expressive hand movements for dynamics and tempo.
Listening to orchestral pieces and identifying changes in dynamics and tempo.

Resources:

Books:

The Orchestra Sings by John Lithgow (introduces instruments and their "voices")

Supplies:

Classroom instruments (pitched and unpitched).

Multimedia/Online:

YouTube: "Rounds for Kids," classical music pieces with clear dynamic/tempo shifts.
Videos explaining musical terms like crescendo, accelerando.

Weeks 19-24: Form and Timbre Exploration

Focus: Identifying common musical forms (verse/chorus, AB, ABA); recognizing more diverse instrument timbres (e.g., specific brass instruments, woodwinds); exploring vocal timbres (singing, speaking, whispering).

Activities:

Analyzing popular songs for verse/chorus structure.
"Instrument family" listening games, identifying instruments within sections of an orchestra.
Creating sound effects for stories using voices and body sounds.
Discussing how different timbres create different moods.

Resources:

Books:

Listen, Buddy by Helen Lester (voices and sounds)

Supplies:

Access to recordings of various instrument families.

Multimedia/Online:

"Classics for Kids" website (instrument descriptions and listening activities).
Virtual tours of symphony orchestras.

Weeks 25-30: Music from Around the World and Diverse Genres

Focus: Exploring music, instruments, and dance from various cultures (e.g., Latin American folk music, African call and response, Asian traditional music, indigenous music); introducing different musical genres (jazz, blues, classical, folk).

Activities:

Listening to and moving to music from different continents.
Learning simple folk songs or chants from other cultures.
Discussing how music reflects culture and history.
Creating simple "call and response" patterns inspired by African music.

Resources:

Books:

This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt (introduces jazz musicians)
Global Kids by Putumayo Kids (music and culture)

Supplies:

World music recordings, simple percussion instruments.

Multimedia/Online:

Putumayo Kids music streaming/videos.
National Geographic Kids: "Music Around the World."

Weeks 31-36: Creative Movement and Simple Composition/Performance

Focus: Creating movement sequences to music; composing short melodic or rhythmic pieces; preparing and performing a more elaborate musical piece.

Activities:

Choreographing simple movements to a familiar song.
Composing and performing a short piece for pitched and unpitched instruments.
Creating "found sound" compositions using classroom objects.
Preparing for a final musical sharing or performance, incorporating learned skills.

Resources:

Books:

Vivaldi's Four Seasons (with illustrations, can inspire movement)

Supplies:

Varied classroom instruments, chart paper, markers.

Multimedia/Online:

Chrome Music Lab (Song Maker, Rhythm) for simple composition.
Videos of children's musical performances for inspiration.

Physical Education Detailed Curriculum

Weeks 1-6: Locomotor and Non-Locomotor Skill Combinations

Focus: Combining locomotor skills (e.g., skip-hop, gallop-slide); performing non-locomotor skills with more control (e.g., sustained balances, controlled twists); transitioning smoothly between movements.

Activities:

Creative movement sequences incorporating different locomotor and non-locomotor skills.
"Follow the Leader" with increasingly complex movement patterns.
Building simple dance routines or movement challenges.
Games like "Shadow Tag" where students mirror movements.

Resources:

Books:

Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae

Supplies:

Music player, scarves/ribbons.

Multimedia/Online:

GoNoodle "brain breaks" and movement challenges.
Videos demonstrating movement combinations.

Weeks 7-12: Balance and Spatial Awareness in Complex Environments

Focus: Dynamic balance (balancing while moving), static balance with eyes closed or on uneven surfaces; navigating complex spaces with others safely.

Activities:

Walking heel-to-toe on a line, then backward.
Balancing on one foot for longer durations, then with eyes closed briefly.
Negotiating obstacle courses with more varied heights and turns.
Games requiring awareness of others' positions (e.g., "traffic jam," "amoeba tag").

Resources:

Books:

Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins (spatial concepts)

Supplies:

Balance beams, low benches, agility ladders (tape on floor), cones.

Multimedia/Online:

Videos showing different balance challenges and activities.

Weeks 13-18: Manipulative Skills (Throwing, Catching, Kicking with Accuracy)

Focus: Throwing with more force and accuracy (overhand and underhand); catching various size balls with proper hand placement; kicking for distance and accuracy.

Activities:

Target practice with various types of balls (tennis balls, playground balls, foam balls).
Catching games with a partner, increasing distance.
Kicking games (e.g., kickball, modified soccer drills).
Throwing and catching while moving.

Resources:

Books:

Casey at the Bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer (can inspire baseball activities)

Supplies:

Various sized soft balls, beanbags, hula hoops (targets), cones, small goals.

Multimedia/Online:

Videos demonstrating refined throwing and catching techniques.
Instructional videos for basic soccer/kickball skills.

Weeks 19-24: Manipulative Skills (Dribbling and Striking)

Focus: Dribbling a basketball with more control (both hands), dribbling a soccer ball with control (different parts of foot); striking objects with hands, feet, and racquets/paddles.

Activities:

Basketball dribbling drills (stationary, moving, around cones).
Soccer dribbling drills (with gentle taps, changing direction).
Striking balloons with hands/feet/paddles.
Introduction to short-handled paddle skills (e.g., hitting a balloon over a net).

Resources:

Books:

Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream by Deloris Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan

Supplies:

Basketballs, soccer balls, balloons, short-handled paddles/racquets, soft foam balls, cones, small nets.

Multimedia/Online:

Videos demonstrating dribbling and striking techniques for young athletes.

Weeks 25-30: Health-Related Fitness Components

Focus: Understanding heart rate increase during exercise; activities to improve cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition.

Activities:

Stations focusing on different fitness components (e.g., jumping jacks, wall sits, stretching, short sprints).
"Fitness Bingo" or similar game to track exercises.
Discussing how healthy food choices and physical activity contribute to a strong body.
Participating in dynamic warm-ups and cool-downs.

Resources:

Books:

My Amazing Body: A First Look at Health and Fitness by Sally Hewitt

Supplies:

Jump ropes, exercise mats, resistance bands (light, for stretching), cones.

Multimedia/Online:

Kids fitness videos (e.g., "The Body Coach TV - PE with Joe").
Animated videos explaining the benefits of exercise and healthy eating.

Weeks 31-36: Cooperation, Strategy, and Teamwork in Games

Focus: Understanding and applying rules in more complex games; developing basic game strategies; demonstrating effective teamwork and communication; conflict resolution in play.

Activities:

Playing modified team games (e.g., "Red Rover," "Capture the Flag" (modified), simplified tag games with objectives).
Discussing game strategies before playing.
Role-playing scenarios for sportsmanship and conflict resolution.
Designing new rules for familiar games.

Resources:

Books:

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper (perseverance and teamwork)

Supplies:

Various balls, hula hoops, pinnies/vests for teams, cones.

Multimedia/Online:

Videos demonstrating cooperative games and team-building activities.
Discussions and scenarios on good sportsmanship and fair play.

Implementation Tips & Resources

Integration Strategies

Second graders can handle more sophisticated integration approaches:

Cross-Disciplinary Projects: Connect art, music, and movement to core curriculum topics (e.g., creating art based on a science concept)
Thematic Units: Develop multi-week explorations that incorporate all three subject areas
Student-Led Exploration: Allow more child-directed projects as skills develop
Community Connections: Invite local artists, musicians, or athletes for virtual or in-person demonstrations

Advanced Supply Considerations

Second-grade activities require some additional supplies beyond the basics:

Visual Art Additions

Watercolor sets (better quality)
Air-dry clay and modeling tools
Stencils and stamps
Printmaking supplies (foam sheets)
Drawing pencils (various hardness)

Music & PE Additions

Basic pitched instruments (xylophones)
Rhythm sticks and hand drums
Balance beams or stepping stones
Paddles/racquets (short-handled)
Balls of various sizes and textures

Documentation & Assessment

Art Assessment

Portfolio Development: Organize artwork chronologically to show growth
Student Reflections: Use artist statements to document thinking
Concept Mastery: Track understanding of elements and principles
Project Rubrics: Simple rubrics for larger projects
Peer Feedback: Introduce kind, specific, and helpful comments

Music Assessment

Skill Checklists: Track progress in rhythm, pitch, and notation
Performance Videos: Record singing or playing to document growth
Music Journal: Student reflections on listening experiences
Composition Collection: Gather student-created rhythms and melodies
Musical Terms Quiz: Simple assessments of vocabulary

PE Assessment

Skill Demonstrations: Periodic checks of specific motor skills
Movement Journals: Student records of physical activities
Fitness Records: Age-appropriate tracking of improvement
Game Strategy: Observe understanding of rules and teamwork
Sportsmanship Rubric: Evaluate cooperation and fair play

Enhanced Resources for Grade 2

Online Resources

Expanded Reading List

Grade 2-appropriate books that support arts education:

The Remarkable Farkle McBride by John Lithgow (musical instruments)
Action Jackson by Jan Greenberg (artist biography)
Just Like Josh Gibson by Angela Johnson (sports history)
Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold (art and imagination)
The Composer Is Dead by Lemony Snicket (orchestra introduction)
Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen (dance and perseverance)
Henri's Scissors by Jeanette Winter (artist biography)
The Boy Who Loved Math by Deborah Heiligman (math connections)

Homeschool Extensions

Virtual Museum Tours: Explore museum collections online with guided activities
Community Classes: Consider occasional specialized classes (dance, martial arts)
Family Fitness Challenge: Create a weekly family activity rotation
Artist Study: Deeper exploration of one artist per month
Homeschool Showcases: Connect with other families for small performances

Grade 2 Arts, Music & Physical Education

About This Supplement

Curriculum Assumptions

Curriculum Overview

Visual Art

Overarching Themes

Music

Overarching Themes

Physical Education

Overarching Themes

Visual Art Detailed Curriculum

Weeks 1-6: Advanced Line, Shape, and Pattern

Activities:

Resources:

Weeks 7-12: Color Theory and Mixing

Activities:

Resources:

Weeks 13-18: Texture and Form in Sculpture

Activities:

Resources:

Weeks 19-24: Space, Perspective, and Composition

Activities:

Resources:

Weeks 25-30: Art History and Cultural Connections

Activities:

Resources:

Weeks 31-36: Art as Communication and Expression

Activities:

Resources:

Music Detailed Curriculum

Weeks 1-6: Advanced Rhythm and Meter

Activities:

Resources:

Weeks 7-12: Melodic Contour and Introduction to Staff Notation

Activities:

Resources:

Weeks 13-18: Harmony and Expressive Qualities (Dynamics & Tempo)

Activities:

Resources:

Weeks 19-24: Form and Timbre Exploration

Activities:

Resources:

Weeks 25-30: Music from Around the World and Diverse Genres

Activities:

Resources:

Weeks 31-36: Creative Movement and Simple Composition/Performance

Activities:

Resources:

Physical Education Detailed Curriculum

Weeks 1-6: Locomotor and Non-Locomotor Skill Combinations

Activities:

Resources:

Weeks 7-12: Balance and Spatial Awareness in Complex Environments

Activities:

Resources:

Weeks 13-18: Manipulative Skills (Throwing, Catching, Kicking with Accuracy)

Activities:

Resources:

Weeks 19-24: Manipulative Skills (Dribbling and Striking)

Activities:

Resources:

Weeks 25-30: Health-Related Fitness Components

Activities:

Resources:

Weeks 31-36: Cooperation, Strategy, and Teamwork in Games

Activities:

Resources:

Implementation Tips & Resources

Integration Strategies

Advanced Supply Considerations

Visual Art Additions

Music & PE Additions

Documentation & Assessment

Art Assessment

Music Assessment

PE Assessment

Enhanced Resources for Grade 2

Online Resources

Expanded Reading List

Homeschool Extensions