TVO Learn is designed to meet each student where they are on their learning journey. Learning Activities are comprehensive and require guided instruction from an adult, while Resources for Learning, Apply the Learning prompts and Vocabulary lists work well to reinforce specific skills or to enable independent exploration of a subject. Use these helpful tips to get the most from TVO Learn.
Due to curriculum changes, content in Social Studies is currently being reviewed and revised to meet the new curriculum expectations.
How to Use These Resources
Curriculum Overview
In Grade 2 social studies, students will develop their understanding of their local community and begin to examine the global community as well. Students will explore a variety of traditions within their families and their local communities, developing an understanding of how these traditions contribute to and enrich their own community as well as Canadian society as a whole. They will study communities around the world, developing an awareness of the relationship between location, climate, physical features, and how people live in various communities. Students will use the inquiry process to investigate traditions, ways of life, and relationships with the environment in local and global communities.
Students will be provided with opportunities to explore various topics which will enable them to develop an understanding of interactions within and between diverse communities, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities and students’ own communities. They will study the impact of colonialism and of the rights and responsibilities associated with citizenship. Students will also develop an understanding of personal, cultural, and national identities, and of various contributions to heritage in Canada.
The social studies curriculum is divided into four strands:
- Heritage and Identity: Changing Family and Community Traditions
- People and Environment: Global Communities
Interested in learning more? View Curriculum PDF
For French resources, please visit idello.org
On this page:
Learning Activities
Learning Activities provide opportunity for deeper exploration of a subject. Organized by grade and topic (or strand), students should be guided through each Learning Activity by an adult. Before clicking on a topic to prepare for or begin this guided instruction, be sure to read these helpful tips about how to get the most out of TVO Learn.
Learning Activities 
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Resources for Learning
Chosen by TVO educators, these resources support the curriculum outlined above. Review the below list of options along with the activities. Then, read, watch, listen or play to build understanding and knowledge.
Please be aware by accessing the resources below you will be leaving TVO Learn and entering other TVO domains that are subject to different privacy policies and terms of use.
Complete the suggested activities using these resources and other TVO resources.
Apply the Learning
Choose from the following to consolidate learning across all curriculum strands.
- Take a moment to think about some of the big celebrations your family does during the year. What does the celebration look like? Who is usually there?
- Ontario farmers are known for their fresh produce; however, certain produce must be imported, that is brought in from other countries because it is not grown locally. In Ontario, farmers don’t grow bananas or pineapples, why do you think that might be?
- Why is diversity important in a community? How does an understanding of unique individuals and groups help us appreciate the diversity in our community?
- How do physical features and climate contribute to differences in the way people around the globe live?
- How does the natural environment affect the ways in which people meet their needs?
- Take some time to speak with a family member. Why is it important to have an understanding of your family’s past?
- How might technology affect the ways in which we celebrate some holidays? How could moving to a new country change the way a family celebrates some of its traditions?
- Create your own definitions for 10 of the words in the vocabulary list.
Vocabulary
Review this list of vocabulary associated with the curriculum. Practice spelling, research definitions, and find these vocabulary words when engaging with the TVO resources or completing learning activities.
Students should understand and be able to apply these words in context.
- Heritage and Identity
Changing Family and Community Traditions - People and Environment
Global Communities
environment
family
local community
relationships
tradition
ways of life
Canadian society
climate
global community
identity
location
physical features
respect
stewardship
world
