Second Grade

English, science and Social studies

PRONOUNS







Example: Are you student? Is she a student?
















Demonstrative Pronouns
demonstrate (verb): to show; to indicate; to point to
A demonstrative pronoun represents a thing or things:
Near in distance or time (this, these)
Far in distance or time (that, those)
near far
singular this that
plural these those
Here are some examples with demonstrative pronouns, followed by an
illustration:
This tastes good.
Have you seen this?
These are bad times.
Do you like these?
That is beautiful.
Look at that!
Those were the days!
Can you see those?
This is heavier than that.
These are bigger than those.


SITIONS




Matter is everything around you. Matter is anything made of atoms and
molecules. Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. If you are
new to the idea of mass, it is the amount of stuff in an object. We talk about
the difference between mass and weight in another section. Matter is
sometimes related to light and electromagnetic radiation.

Even though matter can be found all over the Universe, you only find it in a
few forms. As of 1995, scientists have identified five physical states of
matter. Each of those states is sometimes called a phase. They may even
discover one more state by the time you get old.


Five States of Matter
You should know about solids, liquids, gases, plasmas, and one state called the
Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). Scientists have always known about solids,
liquids, and gases. Plasma was a new idea when it was noticed by William
Crookes in 1879. The scientists who worked with the Bose-Einstein
condensate received a Nobel Prize for their work in 1995.

But what makes a state of matter? It's about the physical state of the
molecules and atoms. Think about solids. They are often hard and brittle.
Liquids are all fluidy at room temperature. Gases are there, but you usually
smell them before you can see them. You don't see them because their
molecules are really far apart. The BEC is all about molecules that are really
close to each other (even closer than atoms in a solid).



Changing States of Matter


Elements and compounds can move from one physical state to another and not
change their basic atomic parts. Oxygen (O
2
) as a gas still has the same
properties as liquid oxygen. The liquid state is colder and denser, but the
molecules (the basic parts) are still the same. Water (H
2
O) is another
example. A water molecule is made up of two hydrogen (H) atoms and one
oxygen (O) atom. It has the same molecular structure whether it is
a gas, liquid, or solid. Although its physical state may change, its chemical
state remains the same.

So you're asking, "What is a chemical change?" Let's start with a glass of pure
water. If the formula of water were to change, that would be a chemical
change. If you could just add a second oxygen atom, you would have hydrogen
peroxide (H
2
O
2
). The molecules in your glass would not be water anymore. The
reality of creating hydrogen peroxide is more difficult.

A chemical change happens when the atoms in a molecule are moved around or
when atoms are added or taken away. Chemical changes happen when bonds
between atoms are created or destroyed. Changing physical states of matter
is about changing densities, pressures, temperatures, and other physical
properties. The basic chemical structure does not change when there is a
physical change.
Keywords to Review
States: States of matter are the different forms in which matter exists. The
easy states to remember are solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Although you might
not find it around you every day, there is more plasma in the Universe than any
state of visible matter. Remember that plasma is found in stars and between
planets, stars, and systems of every galaxy. As you learn more, you will
discover several other states of matter. Some of these states are still
theoretical.

Atoms: The basic unit of matter. Atoms are not the smallest pieces of matter
you will find. They are made of protons, neutrons, and electrons. There are
other smaller particles of matter as well. However, your studies will focus on
atoms and the different types of atoms that make up each element of the
periodic table. There are also variations of atoms called ions and isotopes. As
the number of atoms increases, you have more matter. As you have more
matter, you have more mass.

Mass: Mass is the amount of matter in a thing. Usually, when a thing is
heavier, it has a greater mass. If you have a piece of iron the size of a marble
and a piece of iron the size of a bowling ball, the bowling ball will have more
mass. That example looked at similar substances. If you have a balloon the size
of a bowling ball, it may be the same size, but will definitely have a smaller
mass. There is less matter in the balloon. When you use a scale, you measure
weight. Weight is dependent on gravity while mass is not. Mass is measured in
kilograms.

Volume: The amount of space than an object can occupy. A balloon will have a
volume similar to a bowling ball, but it will have a much different mass. You will
usually encounter the idea of volume when you learn about gases and liquids.
Gases and liquids can change their shape easily, but still take up the same
volume. The concept of volume is also related to pressure. As pressure goes up
or down, the volume of a gas changes as the distance between the molecules
changes. Volume is measured in cubic meters or liters.

Dark Matter: A theoretical form of matter that we cannot see. It does not
emit electromagnetic radiation, so we are not able to see or detect it.
Astronomers believe it may make up 84.5% of all matter in the Universe.
When they studied the visible matter of the Universe, they found that
something was exerting a gravitational effect on the visible matter. However,
the source could not be found. That hidden source of gravity has been
described as dark matter.


The United States of America
Welcome to the United States of America, the "land
of the free and home of the brave".



The USA's People
The people of the United States are very
diverse. The people come from many different
cultures and backgrounds and practice many
different religions. The American people are
dedicated to the pursuit of happiness and freedoms
of speech and religion.
Children go to public school from age 5 to 18. The
average school day is seven hours long with a 45
minute lunch and recess break. Most high school
graduates go on to study at a college or university.
The USA's Homes
There are many different types of houses in the
United States. People live in single family homes,
apartments, townhouses (or rowhouses), mobile
homes, and even igloos in Alaska.
The USA's Culture
The United States, which is also referred to as
America, is made up of many diverse cultures,
religions, and races. In recent years it has become
especially important to celebrate these differences
in the cultures and to acknowledge that it is these
distinct differences that make America unique and
special.
Music is everywhere in the United States. One
special kind of music that is typically American is
called Jazz. Jazz music has been strongly
influenced by the music of Africa.
Electronic media is an important part of culture in
the United States. Television, movies, music, and
video games take up a great amount of American's
free time.
Native Americans had lived in America for many
centuries before it was discovered. Gradually,
settlers from mostly Europe and Mexico populated
the lands and drove off the Native Americans from
the lands where they had lived for many thousands
of years. Even though Native Americans were the
first people to live on the land of The United States,
the Native American population is only 1% of the
total population of the country. Many state and
city names come from Native American
words. For example, Mississippi comes from the
word misi which means big and sipi which means
river.




The USA's Foods
Some favorite foods that Americans like to eat
include hamburgers, French fries, and a soda such
as Coca-Cola or Pepsi. In some areas of the United
States people refer to Coke or Pepsi as a soft drink
or soda pop. Pizza is another favorite among
Americans. Ethnic foods such as Mexican and
Chinese are also very popular. The diverse
population of people living in the United States has
brought many different foods to this country.
The USA's Activities
Baseball is often referred to as the American National pastime. Many
Americans also play or enjoy watching football, soccer, hockey and
basketball. Girls as well as boys are involved in many sports in the
United States.
The USA's Animals
The northwestern states are home to grizzly bears, elk, and
deer. Southern states are home to crocodiles and
snakes. Northeastern states have many opossum, raccoon, rabbits,
skunk and deer in the forests. There are many different climates and
ecosystems in the United States that each hold a unique variety of
animals and plants.



The USA's Holidays and Celebrations
Thanksgiving is celebrated on November 29th. It is a time
to give thanks for the harvest. The holiday was started in
the 1600's with the Pilgrims who first came to
America. President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a
national holiday in 1863.
On Thanksgiving it is tradition to celebrate with a big
meal. Most Americans serve turkey or ham, cranberry
sauce, potatoes, corn, and pumpkin pie as well as many
other foods. Families usually try to have Thanksgiving
together.
The USA's Land
The United States is made up of many cities,
suburbs, and smaller towns. Big cities can be found
in every state. The cities, states, and regions of the
United States often have unique landmarks, foods,
celebrations, and dialects that make them different
from other areas of this vast nation.

It is usually cooler in the north and warmer in the
south. Most of the United States goes through four
seasonal changes: winter, spring, summer, and fall.
The USA's Cities and Landmarks
The Statue of Liberty was a special gift that was
given to the United States by the country of
France. The statue is located on a small island off
the coast of New York and New Jersey. The statue
has been a symbol of freedom to Americans since it
welcomed many immigrants on their way in to Ellis
Island.



The USA's Facts:
Area: 3,536,341 sq.
miles
Capital
City: Washington,
DC
Population: 272
million
Main
Language: English
Currency: US Dollar
Industries: leading
industrial power in
the world, highly
diversified and
technologically
advanced; petroleum,
steel, motor vehicles,
aerospace,
telecommunications,
chemicals,
electronics, food
processing,
consumer goods,
lumber, mining