Life Systems: Growth and Change in Animals (Grade 2) is a comprehensive science resource that guides students through eight major topics: invertebrates, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, mammals, life cycles, and human–animal coexistence. Each section blends clear scientific content with hands‑on STEM investigations, allowing students to explore animal characteristics, adaptations, habitats, and developmental stages. Lessons include shared  readings, vocabulary development, observation tasks, simple experiments, and opportunities for students to record and communicate findings using age‑appropriate scientific methods. The resource supports inquiry‑based learning through activities such as creating worm   habitats, observing goldfish breathing, researching spiders, and examining how animals grow and change over time.

This unit aligns with key Grade 2 expectations across North America, including NGSS standards (2‑LS1‑1, 2‑LS2‑1, 2‑LS4‑1, K–2 ETS1), Common Core ELA (RI.2, W.2, SL.2), and Common Core Math connections (MD.A, MD.D). In Canada, it meets provincial and territorial outcomes related to animal characteristics, life cycles, adaptations, habitats, and environmental stewardship, including Ontario’s Grade 2 Life Systems strand (B1, B2, A1). The resource provides teachers with structured, developmentally appropriate lessons that build scientific understanding while strengthening literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills.

Introduction:

Teacher Notes:

• At A Glance – List of Skills
• Introduction
• Student Assessment Form
• Teacher Assessment Form

Eight Lesson Topics Include:

In each section you will find teacher notes designed to provide you guidance with the learning intention, the success criteria, materials needed, a lesson outline, as well as  provide some insight on what results to expect when the experiments are conducted.

Suggestions for differentiation are also included so that all students can be successful in the learning environment.

Lesson One: Invertebrates

Students will learn about the different types of invertebrates and their physical characteristics.

Standards Met:

NGSS Grade 2 Alignment

• 2-LS4-1 — Biodiversity: Make observations of plants and animals to compare diversity.
• 2-LS2-1 — Animals’ needs: Animals depend on water, air, and resources.
• 2-LS1-1 — Structure & function: Animals have body parts that help them survive.
• K-2 ETS1 — STEM investigation: Students build worm habitats and hermit crab homes.

Common Core ELA

• 2.1 / RI.2.2 / RI.2.3 — Reading informational text about animal groups.
• 2.1 — Group discussions about observations.
• 2.8 — Recording observations and facts.

Common Core Math

• A — Measuring, comparing quantities (worm farm observations).
• D — Representing data (before/after observations).

Canadian Provincial/Territorial Standards

Ontario — This resource is written for:

• 1, B2.2, B2.5 — Characteristics, locomotion, adaptations.
• 1, A1.2 — Scientific investigation.

British Columbia

• Grade 2 Science: Animal features & behaviours, life cycles, local habitats.

Alberta / Yukon/ NWT/ Nunavut

• Grade 2 Science: Small Crawling & Flying Animals, Needs of Living Things.

Saskatchewan

• Grade 2 Science: Growth & Changes in Animals, Habitats & Communities.

Manitoba

• Grade 2 Science: Characteristics of Animals, Interactions with Environment.

Quebec

• Cycle 1 Science: Living things, Characteristics & behaviours.

Nova Scotia / New Brunswick / PEI / Newfoundland & Labrador

• Grade 2 Science: Animal needs, Life cycles, Habitats.

Lesson Two: A Study of Invertebrates

Students will learn about the behavioral characteristics of invertebrates, through research and through compare and contrast.

Standards Met:

NGSS

• 2-LS4-1 — Observing diversity.
• K-2 ETS1-1 / ETS1-2 — Planning and carrying out investigations.
• Science Practices — Asking questions, analyzing data.

Common Core ELA

• 2.7 — Using diagrams (insect/spider anatomy).
• 2.2 — Informational writing (spider facts).
• 2.4 — Oral presentations of findings.

Common Core Math

• D — Data representation (observations).

Canada (all provinces/territories)

• Same as Section 1, plus emphasis on scientific inquiry, research, and communication. 

Lesson Three: Birds

Students will learn about the physical characteristics of birds, make comparisons between birds in flight, and research to learn more about bird behavior. 

Standards Met:

NGSS

• 2-LS4-1 — Observing diversity.
• K-2 ETS1-1 / ETS1-2 — Planning and carrying out investigations.
• Science Practices — Asking questions, analyzing data.

Common Core ELA

• 2.7 — Using diagrams (insect/spider anatomy).
• 2.2 — Informational writing (spider facts).
• 2.4 — Oral presentations of findings.

Common Core Math

• D — Data representation (observations).

Canada (all provinces/territories)

• Same as Section 1, plus emphasis on scientific inquiry, research, and communication.

Lesson Four: Fish

Students will learn about the physical characteristics of fish, and research to learn more about fish behavior. 

Standards Met:

NGSS

• 2-LS2-1 — Animals depend on water.
• 2-LS1-1 — Body parts and survival.
• K-2 ETS1 — Investigation (breathing rate experiment).

Common Core ELA

• 2.3 — Cause/effect (gills → breathing).
• 2.1 — Discussion of results.

Common Core Math

• A — Counting breaths per minute.
• A — Two-digit counting.

Canada

• All provinces: animal needs, habitats, adaptations, STEM inquiry. 

Lesson Five: Reptiles and Amphibians

Students will learn about the physical characteristics of reptiles and amphibians, and research to learn more about a reptile or an amphibian. 

Standards Met:

NGSS

• 2-LS1-1 — Structure & function.
• 2-LS4-1 — Biodiversity.
• 2-LS2-1 — Habitat needs.

Common Core ELA

• 2.1 — Asking/answering questions.
• 2.2 — Informational writing.

Canada

• All provinces: life cycles, adaptations, habitats. 

Lesson Six: Mammals

Students will learn about the different categories of mammals and their physical characteristics; then research to learn more about a mammal of their choice. 

Standards Met:

NGSS

• 2-LS1-1 — Body parts & survival.
• 2-LS2-1 — Needs of animals.

Common Core ELA

• 2.7 — Using diagrams.
• 2.4 — Presenting findings.

Canada

• All provinces: animal characteristics, growth & change, adaptations. 

Lesson Seven: Life Cycles

Students will learn about the life cycle stages of different animals. 

Life Cycle Template Power Point Activity

Each set of cards shows five stages of development except for the Sea Turtle, which shows four stages. 

Students will learn about the life cycle of these five species:

1. horse
2. monarch butterfly
3. frog
4. chicken
5.  sea turtle 

The template can be used as a hands-on activity to determine how well a student understands the animal life cycle process. Great for visual learners. The clear, straightforward presentation of essential facts, the colorful, highly visual elements, and the hands-on activities will capture the interest of students with a variety of learning styles and skill levels. Students will drag and drop the pictures and text into the correct order showing the stages of development. 

Standards Met:

NGSS

• 2-LS1-1 — Life cycles & growth.
• 2-LS4-1 — Biodiversity.
• Science Practices — Sequencing, comparing.

Common Core ELA

• 2.3 — Sequencing events.
• 2.2 — Informational writing.

Canada

• All provinces: life cycles, growth & change, animal development. 

Lesson Eight: Co-Existing

Students will learn about how animals and humans co-exist on Earth and how they depend on each other for survival. 

Standards Met:

NGSS

• 2-LS4-1 — Observing biodiversity loss.
• 2-LS2-1 — Habitat needs.
• K-2 ETS1 — Designing solutions to reduce negative impacts.

Common Core ELA

• 2.8 — Identifying reasons/evidence.
• 2.1 — Opinion writing (protecting animals).

Canada

• All provinces include:
• Human impact on animals
• Environmental stewardship
• Sustainability
• Ontario explicitly: B1.1, B1.2. 

Start saving TIME today!

We give you 100's of NO PREP! lessons to download so you can do what you love! TEACH! 

Take the leap and join today!