This information will help you get organized and prepared to homeschool your child using the Core Knowledge Second Grade Language Arts: Listening & Learning curriculum.

Important Notes

CK Language Arts Listening & Learning vs. CK Language Arts Skills: The Core Knowledge Language Arts curriculum is split into two strands: Listening & Learning and Skills. Each strand has its own set of curriculum. Both strands are required for a full language arts curriculum. The organization information below is for the Listening & Learning strand.

1^st vs. 2^nd Edition Materials: Please note, the support materials available here are specific to the 1^st edition CKLA curriculum which is available to download for free on the Core Knowledge website. CK’s partner Amplify offers 2^nd edition materials and homeschooling families can purchase hard copies of those 2^nd edition materials directly from the Amplify website (there is no “free” option for the 2^nd edition materials). If you choose to use the 2^nd edition materials, you may need to make significant changes to the schedule and prep information provided here. There is no advantage to using the 2^nd edition materials beyond the option to purchase preprinted copies online. We recommend using the 1^st edition curriculum so you can take full advantage of these support materials.

Free Resources

How-to Videos: Watch the videos to learn to use the CKLA: Listening & Learning curriculum to homeschool.

Unit-Specific Prep Document: View and download the CKLA: Listening & Learning Grade 2 Unit-Specific Prep Checklist. Includes notes for each unit of the curriculum including which Instructional Masters (activity pages) to print, library books that may be needed, required advanced preparation broken out by lesson, as well as a list of additional unit-specific supplies.

Daily Schedule: View and download the free daily schedule for homeschooling Grade 2 using Core Knowledge and MEP Math.

Primary Materials

Units: There are 12 units in the Grade 2 CKLA: Listening & Learning curriculum. All students start with Unit 1 and progress through the units in order. You will download each unit separately from the CK website. Each unit will be downloaded as a file folder containing multiple files including the Anthology (Teacher’s Guide), Flipbook, Image Cards, and Supplemental Guide.

Anthology: The Anthology functions as the Teacher’s Guide for Grade 2 CKLA: Listening & Learning units. When you are ready to start a lesson with your student, you will simply open the PDF file for the Teacher’s Guide on your tablet or laptop, navigate to the lesson indicated on the daily schedule, and work through the instructions in the Anthology for that lesson.

Flipbook: This flipbook contains the images that go along with the stories that will be read to the student using the Anthology. This flipbook can be accessed as a PDF file on your student’s device.

Image Cards: The Image Cards are a separate file located in the folder of files you downloaded from the CK website. The Anthology will specify when to use these cards during the lesson. You do not need to print the image cards. The file can simply be accessed from your device or your student’s device when needed for a lesson.

Supplemental Guide: The Supplemental Guide provides additional resources for primarily for reading specialists, ESL teachers, and special education teachers. It is a wonderful resource if your student needs additional assistance, but it is not specifically scheduled here.

Getting Organized

Lesson A and Lesson B Scheduling: Each lesson is divided into two parts: A and B which are both completed in a single school day. Lesson A should be completed first and Lesson B should be completed later in the day.

Instructional Masters: These are the activity pages for the units and are found in the back of the Anthology for each unit. More information will be available in the unit specific prep checklists (download here). It is generally easiest to print all the Instructional Masters at the beginning of the unit, even if you don’t end up using all of them.

Multiple Meanings Posters: These are located in the back of the Flipbook. The Anthology will specify when to use these posters during the lesson. You do not need to print the posters. You can simply navigate to them in the Flipbook file when needed for a lesson.

Catch-up Days: Catch-up days have been scheduled for you. If you do not need a catch-up day you can choose to read a library book related to the unit, do one of the projects specified in the unit’s culminating activities section, or enjoy a lighter school day.

Pausing Points: Pausing points are a day set aside for catching up on material, reviewing and reinforcing material, or extending material taught so far in the unit. When you reach this point in the schedule, the PP section of the anthology will list out several options for activities. Remember, you will be choosing one or maybe a handful of these activities to do—not all of them. If you are running behind on lessons when you reach a pausing point, use that day to catch up. The activities listed in the PP are just suggestions and are not required for your student to move forward.

Domain Review: At the end of each unit is a day set aside for domain review. If you need a day to catch up on scheduled lessons, please use this day to do that. Otherwise, the domain review pages in the anthology will guide you through a number of ways to review with your student what they have learned in this unit.

Domain Assessment: At the end of each unit is a day set aside for domain assessment. While homeschooling parents typically have a wide range of opinions on the value of formally assessing what their student has learned, I would encourage you to give the domain assessments a try. They are well designed, typically fun for the student, and they do help you double check your student’s strengths and weaknesses related to the material. This information can then be used when choosing which cumulative activities to use (see below) and/or can be used as items to review with the student as they move into the next unit.

Culminating Activities: 1-2 days at the end of each unit is set aside for culminating activities. Please review the culminating activities when first starting a unit so you can gather any needed supplies in advance. The CA section of the Anthology will guide you through a number of options. Remember you only need to choose one or maybe a handful of these activities.

Important Tips

Library Books: Whenever possible, please select several of the recommended books from the unit’s resource list (part of the introduction in the Anthology) and request them from the library in advance. These books can be used as time allows, when specifically called for in a lesson, or can be left out for your student to read on their own in their free time. If library books are not an option, YouTube often has videos of books being read aloud and these can be used as an alternative.

A number of lessons throughout the school year suggest using library books during the lesson. The Unit-Specific Prep document notes when these are needed and that document can be viewed and downloaded here.

Classroom-Based Activities: Some activities in this program are clearly designed for a classroom setting. Please adjust the activity as needed for your situation. For example, for an activity that suggests students work in teams, you can act as your student’s teammate. For activities that involve putting on a play or presentation, your student can present one part of the information or you can make the activity a family activity and involve siblings, etc.

Topic Duplication: You may notice what appears to be duplication between topics in the CKHG lessons and the CKLA lessons. This is intentional and provides the opportunity to reinforce key concepts by approaching them from multiple perspectives. For example, a student will have a history lesson about Martin Luther King Jr. one day and then maybe a week later will also study Dr. King in a CKLA lesson.

Second Grade CKLA: Listening & Learning Strand Unit-Specific Prep Checklist

This checklist will help you prepare for each new unit of the Core Knowledge First Grade Language Arts: Listening & Learning curriculum. Please refer to the specific unit list prior to starting a new unit. It will guide you through what what documents to print, when a library book is needed, unit-specific supplies that should be gathered, and special notes for lessons in that unit.

Unit 1: Fairy Tales and Tall Tales

• Read the Unit Introduction: Anthology pg. 1-11

• Print the Instructional Masters: Anthology pg. 133-165

• Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
  • Multiple Meaning Posters are found in the back of the Flip Book.
  • Image Cards are found in a separate file in the folder of domain materials you downloaded from the CK website.
  • Lesson 3, 5, and Pausing Point: Require advance preparation.
  • Lessons 4 and 8: You will need library books of two of the stories they’ve heard so far in this unit (The Fisherman and His Wife, The Emperor’s New Clothes, or Beauty and the Beast) to be used in the extensions activity. Use the list in the Anthology (pg. 8-11) for ideas. Books can be requested from the library or you can often find videos on YouTube where the book is being read aloud.
  • Pausing Point: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-11 for suggestions).
  • Domain Review: Optional activity suggests using several library books for reference (see Anthology pg. 8-11 for suggestions).
  • Culminating Activities: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-11 for suggestions).

• Gather the Unit-Specific Supplies:
  • Two empty plastic soda bottles (Pausing Point, optional)

Unit 2: Early Asian Civilizations

• Read the Unit Introduction: Anthology pg. 1-11

• Print the Instructional Masters: Anthology pg. 191-230

• Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
  • Lessons 1, 3, 9, 10, 13, and Pausing Point: Require advance preparation.
  • Pausing Point: Optional use of a library book. There is also a suggestion to specifically use a library book about Prince Rama (see Anthology pg. 9-11 for suggestions).
  • Culminating Activities: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 9-11 for suggestions).

• Gather the Unit-Specific Supplies:
  • Letter (alphabet) stamps (Lesson 9)
  • Stamp pads (Lesson 9)
  • Paint brushes (Lesson 10)
  • Paint (Lesson 10)
  • Clock (Culminating Activities)
  • Paper Fasteners (Culminating Activities)

Unit 3: Ancient Greek Civilization

• Read the Unit Introduction: Anthology pg. 1-9

• Print the Instructional Masters: Anthology pg. 179-216

• Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
  • Lessons 1, 2, 8, 12, Pausing Point, Domain Review, and Culminating Activities: Require advance preparation.
  • Pausing Point: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-9 for suggestions).
  • Culminating Activities: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-9 for suggestions).

• Gather the Unit-Specific Supplies:
  • Olives and olive oil (Pausing Point)
  • Dollar bill (Pausing Point)
  • Flying disc (Pausing Point)
  • White sheets (Culminating Activities)
  • Various foods from Greece (Culminating Activities)
  • Ingredients to make honey fritters recipe, see pg. 175 (Culminating Activities)

Unit 4: Greek Myths

• Read the Unit Introduction: Anthology pg. 1-9

• Print the Instructional Masters: Anthology pg. 163-236

• Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
  • Lessons 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, Pausing Point, Domain Review, and Culminating Activities: Require advanced preparation.
  • Pausing Point: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-9 for suggestions).
  • Culminating Activities: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-9 for suggestions).

Please note: Lesson 1 in the next unit (Unit 5) requires a library book to complete the lesson. You will also need several library books for Lesson 8 as well as library books for the Pausing Point, Domain Review, and Culminating Activities. Please plan to request 5-10 books from your library approximately one week in advance so they have time to arrive. Please see the list on pg. 8-12 of the Unit 5 Anthology for book suggestions.

Unit 5: The War of 1812

• Read the Unit Introduction: Anthology pg. 1-12

• Print the Instructional Masters: Anthology pg. 136-186

• Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
  • Lesson 1: Suggests reading a library book of your choice as part of the lessons (see Anthology pg. 8-12 for suggestions).
  • Lesson 2 and 5: Require advance preparation.
  • Lesson 6: Requires advance prep for the extensions portion of the lesson. You will also need a recording of “The Star Spangled Banner”: https://youtu.be/vPKp29Luryc
  • Lesson 7: Requires advance prep for the extensions portion of the lesson. You will also need a recording of “The Battle of New Orleans”: https://youtu.be/mjXM6x_0KZk
  • Lesson 8: suggests giving the student access to several picture books (see list on Anthology pg. 8-12) so they can practice doing some basic research about the period around the War of 1812.
  • Pausing Point: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-12 for suggestions).
  • Domain Review: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-12 for suggestions).
  • Culminating Activities: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-12 for suggestions).

• Gather the Unit-Specific Supplies:
  • Ribbon (Pausing Point, Culminating Activities)
  • Poster board (Pausing Point, Culminating Activities)
  • Pint-size milk cartons x2 (Pausing Point, Culminating Activities)

Unit 6: Cycles in Nature

• Read the Unit Introduction: Anthology pg. 1-9

• Print the Instructional Masters: Anthology pg. 138-172

• Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
  • Lesson 1, 5, 6, 9, and Domain Assessment: Require advance preparation.
  • Lesson 2: Requires advance preparation and a globe is helpful to demonstrate the tilt and rotation of the earth.
  • Pausing Point: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 7-9 for suggestions).
  • Domain Review: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 7-9 for suggestions).
  • Culminating Activities: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 7-9 for suggestions).

• Gather the Unit-Specific Supplies:
  • Flag or pin to mark spot on map (Lesson 1)
  • Flashlight (Lesson 1)
  • Compass (Lesson 3, optional)
  • Dried lima beans (Pausing Point)
  • Small containers (Pausing Point)
  • Knife (Pausing Point, optional)
  • Variety of fresh and/or dried foods and spices (e.g. sunflower seeds, pomegranates, pumpkin seeds, etc.) (Pausing Point)
  • Fresh egg (Lesson 6)
  • Clear glass jar (Lesson 6)
  • Dime (Lesson 7)
  • Two differently shaped clear containers (Lesson 9)
  • Clear plastic cup (Lesson 9)
  • Clear plastic bag (Lesson 9)
  • Frog or butterfly lifecycle study supplies (see pg. 134) (Culminating Activities)
  • Clear plastic tubs or cartons (Culminating Activities)

Please note: Lesson 1 in the next unit (Unit 7) requires a library book to complete the lesson. Specifically, either “Going West” (Van Leeuwen) or “Going West” (Wilder). Lesson 2 specifically suggests “The Silk Route” (Major), “Look What Came from China” (Harvey), or “Colors of China” (Zemlicka)—but the Lesson 2 book is optional. See the Unit 7 Anthology pg. 8-13 for more information on those books. Additional library books (of your choice) will also be used in later lessons during the unit. Plan to request 5-10+ books from your library approximately one week in advance so they have time to arrive.

Unit 7: Westward Expansion

• Read the Unit Introduction: Anthology pg. 1-13

• Print the Instructional Masters: Anthology pg. 158-236

• Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
  • Lesson 1: Requires advance preparation. Lesson suggests reading a book to the student. Specifically either Going West (Van Leeuwen) or Going West (Wilder). See pg. 8-13 for more information on those books.
  • Lessons 2, 5, 7, and Pausing Point: Require advance preparation.
  • Lesson 2: Suggests several possible library books to read. See the bottom of Anthology pg. 32 for the titles. This activity is optional.
  • Lesson 3: Requires advance preparation. You will also need a recording of the song “The Erie Canal”: https://youtu.be/gIIM1mHfJ0U
  • Lesson 6: Suggests giving the student access to several library books (see list on pg. 8-13) so they can practice doing some basic research about the period of western expansion.
  • Lesson 8: Requires advance preparation. You will also need a recording of the song “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”: https://youtu.be/w3XJJRDdPKM
  • Pausing Point: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-13 for suggestions).
  • Domain Review: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-13 for suggestions).
  • Culminating Activities: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-13 for suggestions).

• Gather the Unit-Specific Supplies:
  • Pint-size milk cartons (Pausing Point)
  • Paint (Pausing Point)
  • Modeling Clay (Pausing Point)
  • Envelopes x2 (Lesson 7)
  • Utah State quarters (Culminating Activities, optional)

Please note: All lessons for the next unit (Unit 8: Insects) require library books for the student to work on basic research for the ongoing insect journal activity. You will need to have the books on hand for the entire 2 ½ weeks scheduled for that unit. Please plan to request 5-10+ books from your library approximately one week in advance so they have time to arrive. A list of possible book options can be found on pg. 6-10 of the Unit 8 (Insects) Anthology.

Unit 8: Insects

• Read the Unit Introduction: Anthology pg. 1-10

• Print the Instructional Masters: Anthology pg. 132-157

• Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
  • All lessons of this unit incorporate the student making a journal and filling it in with information about insects. This activity requires having insect-related books on hand. Please see the list on Anthology pg. 6-9 for possible book options and request 5-10+ books from the library.
  • Lesson 1: Requires advance preparation to make a 10 pg. booklet for your student to use as an insect journal.
  • Lesson 7, Pausing Point, Domain Review, and Culminating Activities: Require advance preparation.

• Gather the Unit-Specific Supplies:
  • Suction cup (Lesson 1, optional)
  • Keeping insects in the classroom project supplies, see Anthology pg. 66 (Pausing Point)
  • Recordings of music and sound effects (see pg. 128, Culminating Activities)
  • Silk, honey, beeswax candle, foods from plants pollinated by bees (Culminating Activities)
  • Butterfly kit (Culminating Activities)

Unit 9: The U.S. Civil War

• Read the Unit Introduction: Anthology pg. 1-9

• Print the Instructional Masters: Anthology pg. 170-234

• Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
• Lessons 2, 3, and Pausing Point: Require advance preparation.
  • Lesson 3: Suggests using a library book (see Anthology pg. 6-8 for suggestions).
  • Pausing Point: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 6-8 for suggestions).
  • Culminating Activities: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 6-8 for suggestions).

• Gather the Unit-Specific Supplies:
  • Objects made from cotton (see pg. 85, Pausing Point)
  • Penny (Lesson 11)
  • Five-dollar bill (Lesson 11)

Please note: Lesson 1 in the next unit (Unit 10) suggests using a library book to complete the lesson. Additional library books (of your choice) will also be used in 3 later lessons during the unit. Plan to request 4-5 books from your library approximately one week in advance so they have time to arrive. Please see the pg. 8-11 of the Unit 10 (The Human Body) Anthology for suggestions.

Unit 10: The Human Body: Building Blocks and Nutrition

• Read the Unit Introduction: Anthology pg. 1-11

• Print the Instructional Masters: Anthology pg. 138-180

• Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
  • Lesson 1: Suggests using a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-11 for suggestions).
  • Chapter 2: Requires advance preparation including either setting up a microscope (not required!) or finding images on Google of common items under a microscope.
  • Lessons 3 and 4: Require advance preparation including gathering supplies (used for both lessons). See the Anthology pg. 40 for the list of supplies.
  • Lesson 5, 8, Pausing Point, Domain Review, and Culminating Activities: Require advance preparation.
  • Lesson 6: Suggests gathering some unusual fruits to show the student (optional). The activity for this lesson calls for gathering magazines with numerous pictures of food. This lesson also suggests using a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-11 for suggestions).
  • Pausing Point: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-11 for suggestions).
  • Domain Review: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-11 for suggestions).

• Gather the Unit-Specific Supplies:
  • Magnifying glass (Lesson 2)
  • Patterned swatch of fabric (Lesson 2)
  • Microscope or images of microscopic items, see Anthology pg. 37-38 (Lesson 2)
  • Small cubes in four different colors (Lessons 3 and 4)
  • Resealable plastic bags (Lessons 3 and 4)
  • Tissue paper in four colors matching the cubes (Lessons 3 and 4)
  • Name-recording sheets, one per “tissue group” labeled connective, muscle, nervous, or epithelial (Lessons 3 and 4)
  • 1-cup measuring cup or a clear container showing 6 cups of water (Lesson 5)
  • Kidney beans, 2 per student (Lesson 6)
  • Yarn (Lesson 6)
  • 4”x4” sheets of paper or sticky notes, several per student (Lesson 7)
  • Unusual fruits and vegetables (Lesson 8, optional)
  • Paper plates x3 (Lesson 8)
  • Magazines with numerous pictures of food (Lesson 8)
  • Clear plastic bottle (Culminating Activities)
  • Dry erase marker (Culminating Activities)

Unit 11: Immigration

• Read the Unit Introduction: Anthology pg. 1-11

• Print the Instructional Masters: Anthology pg. 164-223

• Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
  • Pausing Point: Requires advance preparation and suggests the optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-11 for suggestions).
  • Domain Review: Requires advance preparation and suggests the optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-11 for suggestions).
  • Culminating Activities: Requires advance preparation and suggests the optional use of the library book This Land is Your Land (Guthrie), see Anthology pg. 8-11 for more information about that title. Another option is to relisten to a recording of the “Star Spangled Banner”: https://youtu.be/vPKp29Luryc 

• Gather the Unit-Specific Supplies:
  • Soup pot (Culminating Activities)
  • Different vegetables (Culminating Activities)
  • Different spices (Culminating Activities)
  • Pictures of mosaics (Culminating Activities)
  • Small squares of paper, photos, tiles, or another material to create mosaic pictures or designs (Culminating Activities)

Unit 12: Fighting for a Cause

• Read the Unit Introduction: Anthology pg. 1-13

• Print the Instructional Masters: Anthology pg. 160-204

• Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
  • Lessons 1, 2, Pausing Point, and Culminating Activities: Require Advance Preparation.
  • Pausing Point: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-13 for suggestions).
  • Domain Review: Optional use of a library book (see Anthology pg. 8-13 for suggestions). 

• Gather the Unit-Specific Supplies:
  • Sticky notes (Lesson 5)

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