Grade 2 eBook (PDF)

GRADE 2
E
nd GRAD
13223BEP
2 Multi-Subject
Critical Thinking
Activity Sampler
Mind-Building Activities From Our Award-Winning, Best-Selling Books
The Critical Thinking Co.™

Empower the mind!
E
nd GRAD
2 Multi-Subject
Critical Thinking
Activity Sampler
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2nd Grade Sample Thinking Activities eBook
Table of Contents
Language Smarts™ Level C - Language Arts (Gr. 2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
This fun, colorful 352-page book can be used as a textbook or a
comprehensive workbook with your textbook to teach reading, writing,
grammar, and punctuation skills and concepts that students are expected to
know in second grade. They also develop critical thinking, vocabulary, and
several other skills and concepts normally taught in third grade.
Mind Benders® Level 2 - Critical Thinking (Gr. 1-2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

This 64-page book contains several of our best-selling deductive thinking
puzzles. It develops the logic, reading comprehension, and mental
organization skills vital to achieving higher grades and top test scores in all
subjects. These award-winning, fun puzzles are also great for developing
real-life, problem-solving skills!
Visual Perceptual Skill Building® Book 2 - Critical Thinking (Gr. 2-3). . . . . . . . . 6

The activities in this mind-building 200-page book help develop your students’
recognition of letters, words, numbers, and similar/dissimilar objects. It also
improves sequencing and visual memory skills. These quick, engaging
activities are designed specifically for shorter attention spans. Directions may
be read aloud as needed.
Building Thinking Skills® Level 1 - Critical Thinking (Gr. 2-3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

This engaging 320-page book develops the critical thinking skills necessary
for success in reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and
standardized tests. This is the bestselling thinking skills program in the world!
Students also learn important academic vocabulary, concepts, and skills as
they analyze relationships between objects, between words, and between
objects and words.
Mathematical Reasoning™ Level C - Mathematics (Gr. 2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

This fun, colorful 384-page book uses engaging lessons with easy-to-follow
explanations, examples, and charts to make third grade mathematical
concepts easy to understand. It teaches the math skills and concepts that
students are expected to know—and several concepts normally taught in
fourth grade. This book emphasizes problem-solving and computation to build
for success in higher-level math and math assessments.
ii © 2023 The Critical Thinking Co.™ • www.CriticalThinking.com • 800-458-4849
Balance Math™ & More! Level 1 - Mathematics (Gr. 2-5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
This fun, mind-building 48-page book is made up of three types of puzzles
that focus on addition and subtraction of whole numbers. These puzzles also
sharpen students’ critical thinking, computational, and algebraic reasoning
skills. Try one of these intriguing puzzles—and then try to stop!
Math Analogies Level 1 - Mathematics (Gr. 2-3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

The 152 analogies in this 48-page book teach students to break problems down
into their component parts, making it easier to recognize familiar formats that
enable students to produce solutions. These analogies are designed around
the grade-appropriate standards identified by the National Council of Teaching
Mathematics.
Developing Critical Thinking through Science Book 1 - Science (Gr. 1-3) . . . . 20

The fun, hands-on physical science lessons/experiments in this 168-page
book teach science principles found in state and national science standards.
Students also learn and practice critical thinking through the application of the
scientific method of investigation. Each activity is a 10- to 30-minute guided
experiment in which students are prompted to verbalize their step-by-step
observations, predictions, and conclusions.
Dr. DooRiddles A3 - Critical Thinking (Gr. 2-3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

This 48-page book is packed full of brain-scratching riddles that develop
students’ fluency and understanding of word meanings and associations.
These riddles also develop spelling, vocabulary, reading, critical thinking and
creative problem-solving skills.
Editor in Chief® Beginning 1 - Language Arts (Gr. 2-3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

This fun, highly-effective 96-page book teaches grammar, punctuation, spelling,
capitalization, and critical reading in a standards-based thinking approach
instead of the usual drill and practice found in competing products. Students
begin with an easy-to-understand lesson followed by activities that require
students to carefully analyze and edit stories, letters, or articles that contain
mechanical errors covered in the lesson.
© 2023 The Critical Thinking Co.™ • www.CriticalThinking.com • 800-458-4849 iii

Vocabulary Virtuoso: Primary - Language Arts (Gr. 2-3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
This 224-page book uses lessons to teach 180 words that second and third
grade students should know for reading, writing, and standardized tests. Each
lesson includes a story involving elementary school students that introduces
geography skills such as maps and landforms and creative writing skills such
as symbols and poetry.
Dare to Compare Math: Beginning - Mathematics (Gr. 2-3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

This collection of 150 problems asks students to perform calculations to make
a comparison and come to a decision. The format recasts more traditional
math problems from a single to two or more calculations to come to a final
conclusion. The solution process is open-ended, allowing students to create
mathematical reasoning and to decide how to quantify in order to formulate a
conclusion.
Science Mind Benders®: Insects - Science (Gr. PreK-3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

This fun, engaging, 88-page life science book offers lessons and deductive
thinking activities teaching important scientific concepts and terms usually
taught well beyond early elementary grades. Each lesson includes colorful
graphics that are followed by critical thinking activities to help students
understand and apply what they’ve learned.
Crypt-O-Words Jr. - Language Arts (Gr. 2-5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

An 80-page activity book offering a fun and interesting way to teach advanced
vocabulary. This book is built in a way that enables it to be used with a wide
range of ages and grades from early elementary to middle school, depending
on the student’s level of skill and interest in language arts. It focuses on
recommended vocabulary lists for PSAT and SAT test prep.
Answers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
$ If you are interested in ordering any of the products found in this sample
activity book, click on the link below to see our special offers! $
Special Offers
iv © 2023 The Critical Thinking Co.™ • www.CriticalThinking.com • 800-458-4849

From: Language Smarts™ Level C Grade 2 Sample Activities
Pronouns
A pronoun is a word that can take the place of a noun.
Bill has a dog. He has a dog.
Free resource from www.criticalthinking.com. Commercial redistribution prohibited.

Read the sentence and circle the noun. Then write a
new sentence, replacing the noun with a pronoun from
the choice box. You may use a pronoun more than once.
they she he it
She fixed lunch today.

1. Pam fixed lunch today. _____________________________
__________________________________________________
2. Bob, Bill, and Ted went to the park. ___________________
__________________________________________________
3. The pillow is soft. _________________________________
__________________________________________________
4. Jason went fishing. _______________________________
__________________________________________________
5. Molly loves chocolate. _____________________________
__________________________________________________
6. Anna and Grace play soccer. ________________________
__________________________________________________
© 2023 The Critical Thinking Co.™ • www.CriticalThinking.com • 800-458-4849 1

Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is using a singular verb with a
singular subject and using a plural verb with a plural subject.
Read each sentence and circle the correct verb.

1. The boy play - plays with a truck.
2. He play - plays with trucks.
3. They play - plays with trucks.
4. The girl play - plays with trucks.
5. She play - plays with a truck.
6. They play - plays with trucks.
7. The girl and the boy play - plays with trucks.
2 © 2023 The Critical Thinking Co.™ • www.CriticalThinking.com • 800-458-4849

A or An
Use a before words that begin with a consonant sound. Use
an before words that begin with a vowel sound.
a cat an egg
Write a or an before each picture.

an
______ ______ ______
octopus snake zebra
______ ______ ______

ear telephone egg
______ ______ ______

cow umbrella alligator
______ ______ ______

bear ant pig

Friendly Letters
An e-mail is a letter sent from a computer over the Internet.
There are seven parts to a friendly e-mail.
Write an e-mail to thank Donna for a gift she sent you.

To: donna k25@ yah oo. com
Cc:
Subject:

From: Mind Benders® Level 2 Grade 2 Sample Activities
DIRECTIONS: Fill in the chart using Y for yes or N for no as you solve
the puzzle.
boy girl

A firefighter, a doctor, a boy, and a girl all live in
different houses. Find which house belongs to each
person.
1. The girl’s house has more than two windows and is
not the widest.
2. The firefighter’s house has fewer than three
windows.
3. The doctor’s house has one more window than the
firefighter’s and two more windows than the boy’s.

From: Visual Perceptual Skill Building® Book 2 Grade 2 Sample Activities
FINDING THE MATCHING SHAPE

DIRECTIONS: Match the shape at the top to a form on the bottom row. The match
must be the same size, color, and orientation.
13

A B C D
14
A B C D

From: Visual Perceptual Skill Building® Book 2 Grade 2 Sample Activities
FINDING THE CORRECT FIGURE
ball hall ball

ball tall
mall ball tall fall ball
ball

5 DIRECTIONS: Circle the answer that tells how many times
you see the word ball above.
5 6 7 8
A B C D
break steak streak break beak

streak break break steak sneak
6 DIRECTIONS: Circle the answer that tells how many times
you see the word break above.
5 4 3 6
A B C D

From: Building Thinking Skills® Level 1 Grade 2 Sample Activities
DESCRIBING POSITION
DIRECTIONS: Complete the sentences with the correct words from the choice box.
Draw a shape as directed. Choices may be used more than once.
Choice Box
center circle left hexagon right square triangle
A-57:

The shape near the upper ___________________
corner is a red circle. Near the lower right corner is a
___________________.
Draw a white triangle near the upper right corner.
A-58:
The shape in the center is a __________________.
Near the lower ___________________ corner is a
green trapezoid.
Draw a white triangle near the upper left corner.
A-59:
corner is a green square. Near the lower
___________________ corner is a blue
___________________.
Draw a black circle near the lower left corner.

RECOGNIZING SIMILAR CHANGES
DIRECTIONS: Decide how the shapes in the first row were changed. The shapes in
the second row are changed the same way. Circle the missing shape.
B-70:
a. b. c. d.

?
B-71:
a. b. c. d.
?
B-72:
a. b. c. d.
?
WHICH FIGURE COMES NEXT?
DIRECTIONS: Circle the figure that comes next.
EXAMPLE: a. b.
c. d.

C-49: a. b.
c. d.
C-50: a. b.
c. d.
C-51: a. b.
c. d.

OVERLAPPING GROUPS
DIRECTIONS: Darken the part of the diagram where each figure belongs.
TRIANGLES SMALL SHAPES

D-108:
D-109: D-110:
D-111: D-112:

From: Mathematical Reasoning™ Level C Grade 2 Sample Activities
Do the problems in order from left to right.

On the next page, connect the answer dots
to find the mystery animal.
47 36 45 66
- 8 - 9 - 7 - 8

21 62 55 31
- 3 - 3 - 7 - 7
62 88 92 15
- 5 - 9 - 8 - 9
13 31 45 82
- 6 - 7 - 7 - 5
36 17 48 95
- 7 - 9 - 9 - 8
86 58
- 7 - 9

Read the sentence below each clock. Next, draw the hour and
minute hands on the clock face to show the correct time.
 
0 0
55 5 55 5
11 12 1 11 12 1
50 10 50 10
10 2 10 2

45 9 3 15 45 9 3 15
8 4 8 4
40 20 40 20
7 5 7 5
6 6
35 25 35 25
30 30
Your favorite TV show will The baseball game starts

start at 7:30. at 5 minutes after 5:00.
 
0 0
55 5 55 5
11 12 1 11 12 1
50 10 50 10
10 2 10 2
45 9 3 15 45 9 3 15
8 4 8 4
40 20 40 20
7 5 7 5
6 6
35 25 35 25
30 30
You catch the school bus You sing the National Anthem
at ten minutes before at the baseball game at 5
8:00. minutes before 5:00.

Toy Store Change
26¢ 51¢
42¢ 78¢
Draw a line segment from each sale to the correct change.

-
___ - ___ = ___
-
___ - ___ = ___
-
___ - ___ = ___
-
___ - ___ = ___
From: Balance Math™ & More! Level 1 Grade 2 Sample Activities
Use the balanced scales

Balance to find the missing numbers.
Math
Problem 1

8
= .....................
15
= .....................
?
? = .....................
Problem 2
30
= .....................
14
= .....................
?
? = .....................

XTaX c All rows, columns, and three
X
Tic X X
numeral diagonals must add up
to the same sum. Write the total
X Math
X and then fill in the empty spaces.
Problem 1 Problem 2

2 1 3 6 7
2 1 5
8 3
Total: .....................
Total: .....................
Problem 3 Problem 4
4 5 5 1
6
5 6 7 2 3
Total: .....................
Total: .....................

Use the clues to find the

INSIDE - OUT missing values.
MA T H

Problem 1 Problem 2
a a+c a+d a a+c a+d
9 18 16 ........ ........ 16
b b+c b+d b b+c b+d
........ ........ 14 10 15 18
c d c d
........ ........ ........ ........
Problem 3 Problem 4
a a+c a+d a a+c a+d
........ 20 ........ ........ 23 24

b b+c b+d b b+c b+d
........ 16 13 ........ 22 ........

c d c d
10 ........ ........ 12
From: Math Analogies Level 1 Grade 2 Sample Activities
MAT
H
Complete Each Math Analogy

13)
: :: :

14)
: 25¢ :: :
15)
357 : 35 tens :: 246 :
16)
half : :: fourth :

From: Math Analogies Level 1 Grade 2 Sample Activities
MAT
H
Complete Each Math Analogy

37)
: 3:00 :: :

38)
sum : add :: difference :
39)
: :: :
40)
: 12 legs :: :

From: Developing Critical Thinking through Science Book 1 Grade 2 Sample Activities
ACTiviTy 24: DANCiNg gRApeS!

goal: To understand that air bubbles can make objects rise in a liquid
Skills: observing, describing, inferring, predicting, explaining, sequencing,

generalizing, and comparing
Materials: 2 liters of unopened club soda

1 large bunch of seedless grapes
7 transparent plastic tumblers
preparation: 1. Divide the students into 6 groups.

2. Distribute to each group:

1 plastic tumbler
2–3 grapes
3. For best results, don’t open the club soda until you’re ready to use it—
the fizz is very important!
preparation Time: 5 minutes
Lesson Time: 10–15 minutes
— procedure and Questioning Strategy —
Tell students to observe what you are doing. Hold up a bottle of club soda, tell the students
what it is, open it, and pour some into a plastic tumbler. Hold the bottle and the tumbler of
club soda so all students can see them.
1. What did you observe?

You poured club soda into the tumbler.
2. Describe the club soda.

It has bubbles in it. The bubbles are moving around in the club soda.
3. What do you think is in the bubbles?

Air.
Hold up a few grapes.
4. What do you think the grapes will do when we drop them into the club soda?
(Sink or float—predictions will vary.)
5. We’re going to test our predictions in your groups. I will pour some club soda into your
tumbler. As soon as I do, drop 2 or 3 grapes into the tumbler. Observe the grapes
carefully for a few minutes, then discuss together what you have observed and why you
think it happened. Try to talk quietly so other groups won’t hear what your group says.
Later we will share what we observed.

From: Developing Critical Thinking through Science Book 1 Grade 2 Sample Activities
Pour club soda for each group and allow time for observation and discussion. When the
groups have completed their observations and discussions, continue with the lesson.
6. What are the bubbles doing in your tumbler of soda water?

They are moving up to the top of the soda water.
7. Put your hand over the top of the tumbler. Can you feel the
bubbles that have gone into the air?
Yes.

8. Why do you think they are doing that?
There is air in the bubbles.
9. What did the grapes do when you first dropped them

into the club soda?
They sank to the bottom of the tumbler.
10. What happened after the grapes had been on the bottom for a little while?
There were bubbles on the grapes.
11. Describe what happened next.

The grapes moved up and down in the soda.
12. Why do you think the grapes moved up in the soda?

There were lots of bubbles on the grapes.
13. What is in the bubbles?

Air.
14. Do you think the air bubbles are lighter or heavier than the grapes?
Lighter.
15. So how do you think the bubbles made the grapes go up?
The bubbles pulled the grapes along with them as they floated up.
16. What happened when the grapes got to the surface (top) of the soda?
They went back down again.
17. Why do you think that happened?

The bubbles on top of the grapes burst when they hit the air above the soda.
18. How do you know?

We could feel the bubbles bursting on our hands. There were fewer bubbles on the grapes.

From: Dr. DooRiddles A3 Grade 2 Sample Activities
The twenty-six of us,

Whom every kid must know;
Or, you will need some stamps,
Without them, we won’t go.

What am I? ...........................
The opposite of big,

The opposite of tall;
Now, please do not think short,
And please do not think small.
What am I? ...........................
I’m the coin of the realm,

The dollar and the cent;
When you went to the mall,
I was the stuff you spent.
What am I? ...........................

From: Editor in Chief® Beginning 1 Grade 2 Sample Activities
Lesson 7. Singular and Plural
1. To change nouns from singular (one)

to plural (more than one), add -s to
the end of most words. ............................... goat - goats
broom - brooms
2. To change nouns that end in s, ss, sh, ch,

x, and sometimes o, from singular (one)
to plural (more than one), add -es. ............ bus - buses
dress - dresses
dish - dishes
lunch - lunches
fox - foxes
hero - heroes
3. To change nouns that end in a

consonant and y from singular to
plural, change the y to i and add -es. ........ candy - candies
4. To change nouns that end in a vowel

and y from singular to plural, add -s. ........... monkey - monkeys
5. Some words change completely

when they become plural. .......................... foot - feet
mouse - mice
child - children
6. Some nouns do not change at all from
singular to plural. ..................................... deer - deer
fish - fish

From: Editor in Chief® Beginning 1 Grade 2 Sample Activities
Read the paragraphs and correct the singular/plural errors.
47. Mellow Munching 1 2 3 4 Singular/Plural
There are many good beaches in our area. My
Uncle Mel lives in one of the house on the beach.
His father and grandfather were builder and

they built the house long ago. Uncle Mel watches
the ocean wave from his front porch. We eat our
lunches and drink glass of lemonade on the porch.
48. Helping Out 1 2 3 4 Singular/Plural
All three second grade class in our school
spent one Saturday helping older people with
their yards. Each class was given two addresses
to visit. We took box to put the weeds and
clippings from the bush in. One home had
morning glorys all over the house that we had
to tear out.
49. Gardens in Canada 1 2 3 4 Singular/Plural
Many large city in Canada have beautiful
garden. They grow all kinds of flowers like daisy
and pansies. Country gardens have flowers,
vegetables, fruits, and berry. Some owners sell
these to the public.

From: Vocabulary Virtuoso: Primary Grade 2 Sample Activities
Vocabulary List 1
word (part of speech) definition
K
E
[pronunciation] alternate choices for words, including synonyms and phrases
Y
common word forms
ability (noun) having the physical or mental power to do something

[uh BIL ih tee] talent skill
able (adjective)

barter (verb) to trade one thing for another without the use of money
[BAHR ter] swap exchange
continent (noun) one of the seven large divisions of land on Earth

[KAHN tuh nent] mainland landmass
delicate (adjective) easily broken, damaged, injured, hurt, or made sick

[DEL ih kut] fragile weak dainty
extinction (noun) a coming to an end

[ek STINK shun] dying out vanishing end of life no longer active
extinct (adjective)
gradual (adjective) happening slowly and evenly over a long period of time
[GRAJ oo uhl] step-by-step unhurried creeping bit-by-bit
gradually (adverb)
moisture (noun) water or other liquid causing slight wetness

[MOYS chur] dampness dew steam fog sweat mist
moist (adjective)
opponent (noun) a person who competes against another in a game or contest

[uh POH nent] competitor rival enemy
oppose (verb)
privilege (noun) a right given to some and not to others
[PRIV uh lij] benefit advantage
privileged (adjective)
triumph (noun) the joy of victory or success

[TRI umf] accomplishment win pride celebration
triumphant (adjective)

A. Write the best word to complete each sentence.
1. Kelly uses conditioner when she washes her hair, because it returns the
____________________ that the shampoo takes out.

triumph moisture privilege

2. Sebastian will ____________________ with Casey to fix his bike in exchange for one of
his skateboards. oppose triumph barter
3. Libby said, “I get car sick when I’m in the car for longer than an hour because my
____________________ stomach.” delicate moisture triumph
4. The ____________________ of Australia/Oceania is home to unique animals such as the
kangaroo and koala bear. extinction ability continent
5. Nick challenged Eli so he could ____________________ him in a contest to see who
could solve a Rubiks Cube puzzle first. triumph barter oppose
6. Mrs. Sandberg said she hoped that eBooks would not make real books become
____________________. delicate gradual extinct
7. The ____________________ change to cooler temperatures meant that winter was on
its way. triumphant gradual delicate

8. “My parents had the ____________________ of riding in a cable car to the top of
Matterhorn Mountain in the Alps mountain range in Switzerland,” said Celine.

privilege opponent triumph
9. Principal Bennet encouraged the primary students to always work to the best of their
____________________. ability delicate privilege

10. Bridget said that in her favorite book, Paint the Wind, eleven-year-old Maya experiences a
____________________ when she gains self-confidence and joy while getting to know the
mysterious horse Artemisia and her foal (baby horse).

delicacy privilege triumph
11. Julian’s kite collection started when his uncle bought him a brightly colored dragonfly-
shaped kite from Indonesia; ____________________ he has collected seven kites from all
over the world. able triumphant gradually
12. Tony’s hockey team, the Mighty Munchkins, was ____________________ in their final
game against the Super Seals. triumphant privileged delicate
13. At lunch, Annie ____________________ her grapes for two of Jack’s homemade oatmeal
raisin cookies. privileged opposed bartered
14. Mary Louise learned that the largest country on the ____________________ of North
America is Canada. moisture continent opponent

15. Stella’s eyes were ____________________ from crying, because she was so happy her
Dad was home from the army. privileged able moist
16. Rima, who learned basic photography methods in a summer class, was

____________________ to take pictures to use in the yearbook.
bartered opposed able
17. Josh said that penguins and polar bears risk ____________________ due to the increase
in global temperatures. extinction privilege triumph
18. Tony’s hockey team won the city championship because they were better than all their
____________________. abilities opponents privileges
19. Shandra showed the class the ____________________ Star of David necklace that she
received as a gift from her aunt. delicate gradual privileged
20. Principal Bennet told the kids that they were ____________________ to have Ms. Liu
as a history and geography teacher because of her education, experience, and world-
wide travels. moist triumphant privileged

B. Write the best word from the choice box to complete each sentence.
ability continent gradual privilege

convince delicate moisture triumph
bartered extinction opponent rural
1. A spider’s web looks ____________________, but it is really strong.

2. Kelly had the ____________________ of being chosen to perform an Irish step dance in
the talent show.
3. Ms. Liu explained that salt, which was used to preserve food from spoiling before
refrigeration, was ____________________ for tea, weapons, and spices.
4. Some scientists think that a huge meteorite crashing into Earth may have caused the
____________________ of the dinosaurs.
5. “Asia is a ____________________ and India is a country in Asia,” explained Ms. Liu.
6. “Casey, will you be my ____________________ in a game of chess?” asked Sebastian.
7. Shandra was elected class president because of her leadership ____________________.
8. Dew is ____________________ that collects on grass when temperatures become cooler
at night.
9. The Olympic athletes celebrated their ____________________ with a parade through the
streets of New York City.
10. “If you work on your map in a ____________________ way, doing a little bit at a time, you
will do a better job,” Ms. Liu recommended.

C. Story Challenge
Write the best word from the choice box to fill each blank in the story.
bartered gradually moisture delicate

triumphant solution region continents
extinct ability opponents privilege
Continents and Countries

Ms. Liu (1)____________________ began the day’s lesson by first giving her new group of
third graders time to chat, and then by asking who could name the (2)____________________ of
the world. Eli raised his hand. “North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia/
Oceania and Antarctica,” he correctly replied.
“Good, Eli,” Ms. Liu continued. “Now, I will pass out slips of paper, each with a name of one of
the continents. Your assignment is to find a country that begins with the letter of your first name
on that continent and be able to mark the location of your country on our world map.” Ms. Liu had
a dry-erase, wall-size world map in her room. “You all have the (3)____________________ to use
the Internet to find information,” she continued. “So as another challenge, I would like you to find
two facts about the country you choose.”
Ms. Liu gave an example. She said, “If I chose Europe as my continent, I would have to
find a country name that begins with “H” because Huan is my first name. So I might choose
Hungary, a country in Central Europe.” Ms. Liu walked to the map and pointed to Hungary. She
then circled the country name. She continued, “One fact about Hungary is that the famous
composer and pianist, Franz Liszt, came from Hungary. Another fact is that Hungary has often
been (4)____________________ in water polo at the Olympic games. They defeated many
(5)
____________________ from other nations.” After Ms. Liu’s example, class ended and
everyone was excited about doing his or her Internet research.
The next day, Kelly said she would begin. “Did I misunderstand?” asked Ms. Liu, “I thought
Celine was going to start.”
“Celine and I (6)____________________,” Kelly explained. Celine said if I went first, she
would share her brownies from her lunch. So now I have the (7)____________________ of being
first.” Kelly walked to the map, pointed to Korea in Eastern Asia and began. “Korea is a country in
Asia that is divided into two different countries—North Korea and South Korea. I am an ice skater,
so a fact I found interesting is that Kim Yu-Na is a South Korean figure skater who won an Olympic
gold medal in 2010.” Kelly continued by showing the class a beautiful, (8)____________________
fan painted with trees and mountains. “Another fact is that Korean art includes pottery, masks,
paintings, and fans such as this one.”

Casey was next. “I chose Columbia on the continent of South America.” After pointing
to Columbia and circling the country name, he said, “Columbia has areas with a lot of
(9)
____________________ because of rain forests and a tropical climate. One fact is that animals
such as jaguars, poison dart frogs, and many species of butterflies and birds might be found in
the rain forest. One animal—the giant vampire bat—is now (10)____________________. Another
fact is that Columbia is on the equator, so there is a lot of heat and sun.” Casey concluded his
presentation just as class was about to end.
“Kelly and Casey gave us interesting information on Korea and Columbia. Tomorrow we’ll
continue learning about more countries,” said Ms. Liu.

D. The underlined part in each sentence is a synonym, phrase, or definition for a list word.
Unscramble the list word and write the word on the blank.
1. Mrs. Ochoa explained that in very dry areas such as deserts,

____________________
plants depend on the dew that forms in the morning after a hot
day is followed by a cool night. temisuor
2. On the mainland of Australia, most of the almost 22 million

____________________
inhabitants live along the coast, because so much of Australia
is desert. ntocnniet
3. Casey said that a jaguar is a big cat that likes the water and has ____________________
the skill to swim. liaybit
4. Casey also said that jaguars face dying out because of people’s ____________________
activities in their habitats, such as logging, farming, and mining. xnetcionti
5. “I always win at table tennis when I play with my brothers,” ____________________

bragged Annie. pruhimt
6. The trail up the mountain had a step-by-step grade. ____________________

galardu
7. Libby thought living in the United States was a benefit because

____________________
she had the freedom to become a scientist, president,
astronaut, or anything else she wanted to be. glepirvie
8. Even though a hummingbird looks fragile, this little bird is very

____________________
strong, it flaps its wings nearly 70 times a second, and can even
fly backwards. cteleaid
9. President Thomas Jefferson asked Lewis and Clark to explore

the area west of the Mississippi River. They took items such as ____________________
fishing hooks, blankets, and hatchets to exchange with Native rtbera
Americans for safe passage through their lands.
10. Mary Louise explained that competitors for her lacrosse team ____________________
came from other lacrosse clubs. ntpopnoes

E. Write the word or phrase from the choice box that best defines each list word.
• rival • dampness
• unhurried • dainty
• downtown • vanishing
• victory • persuade
• talent • to trade
• landmass • advantage

1.
1. triumph___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
2. privilege
3.
3. ability ___________________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________________
4. opponent
5. ___________________________________________________________________
5. extinction
6. ___________________________________________________________________
6. moisture
7.
7. barter ___________________________________________________________________
8. ___________________________________________________________________
8. gradual
6. ___________________________________________________________________
9. continent
7. ___________________________________________________________________
10. delicate

From: Vocabulary
Vocabulary Virtuoso:
Virtuoso: Primary SchoolPrimary
Vocabulary for Academic Success Grade 2 Sample Activities
Vocabulary List 1
F. Write a sentence for each underlined list word or word form. Then underline the word in your
sentence. An example sentence is provided.
Keywords to use to search the Internet.
1. Write a sentence about a time when you had the privilege of seeing or hearing something
special.
Example: I had the privilege of seeing The Nutcracker ballet during Christmas break.
__________________________________________________________________________
prohibited.
redistribution prohibited
__________________________________________________________________________
Commercial redistribution
2. Write a sentence about something delicate in your home.
Example: On a shelf in my living room is a delicate, small carving of a dragon that came
from Indonesia.
www.criticalthinking.com. Commercial
__________________________________________________________________________
fromwww.criticalthinking.com.
__________________________________________________________________________
3. Write a sentence about something you learned gradually, instead of all at once.
Example: By practicing piano every day, I gradually learned the basic scales, and my fingers
began to get stronger.
resourcefrom
__________________________________________________________________________
Freeresource
__________________________________________________________________________
Free
4. Write a sentence about seeing a person or a team triumph.
Example: At the 2016 Summer Olympic games in Brazil, my family watched American
swimmer Katie Ledecky triumph by winning five gold medals.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

Vocabulary Virtuoso: Primary School Vocabulary for Academic Success Vocabulary List 1
5. Write about something that would be covered with moisture in the early morning.
Example: Mom asked me to wipe off the moisture on the picnic table and benches so that
we could eat breakfast outside.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Free resource from www.criticalthinking.com. Commercial redistribution prohibited

6. Write a sentence about something you own that you could use to barter with a friend for
something he or she has.
Example: I bartered my pencil with a Spider Man eraser for two of Jack’s red velvet
cupcakes that he had in his lunch.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
7. Write a sentence about your opponent in a game you played.

Example: When I play chess, my usual opponent is my sister.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
8. Write a sentence about a country you would like to visit on the continent of Europe.
Example: I would like to visit Spain on the continent of Europe.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

Vocabulary Virtuoso: Primary School Vocabulary for Academic Success Vocabulary List 1
9. Write a sentence about a family member who has a special ability.

Example: My dad has the ability to use his camera to take beautiful photographs.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
10. Search the Internet to find information about an animal that is extinct.

extinct animals
Example: The giant rat from the Canary Islands is extinct.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

From: Dare to Compare Math: Beginning Grade 2 Sample Activities
1. Rudy has 67 marbles and Anita has 36 marbles. Rudy gives 15 marbles to Anita. Who now
has more marbles?

2. Walter and Darla each bake some oatmeal raisin cookies. Whose batch of cookies has a
larger total number of raisins?
Walter's batch of cookies Darla's batch of cookies
3. Who babysits for a greater number of hours?
Janet earns $5 for every Evie earns $8 for every

hour she babysits. Janet hour she babysits. Evie
earns $30 babysitting for earns $40 babysitting for
the Thompson family. the McDonnell family.

37. Two large cookies have chocolate chips spread evenly across the cookie. Jamie slices her
cookie into 4 equal pieces and Lucia slices her cookie into 3 equal pieces. For each cookie,
the final remaining piece is shown. Whose cookie had more chocolate chips to begin with?

Lucia’s cookie

Jamie’s cookie
Jamie’s cookie Lucia’s cookie
38. Who rides the furthest distance? Who rides the smallest distance?
a. For each hour of b. For each hour of c. For each hour of
bike riding, Cecilia bike riding, Richie bike riding, Carl
travels 10 miles. travels 7 miles. travels 12 miles.
Cecilia rides her Richie rides his Carl rides his bike
bike for 4 hours. bike for 5 hours. for 3 hours.
39. The plate of pineapples weighs the same as the plate of watermelons. What is the weight of
Each watermelon
1 pineapple? (Each pineapple weighs the same.)
weighs 15 pounds.
Each watermelon
weighs 15 pounds.
13
38 13The Critical Thinking Co.™ • www.CriticalThinking.com • 800-458-4849

© 2023
97.
97. For
For thethe summer
summer months
months of of June,
June, July,
July, andand August,
August, does
does Farmer
Farmer Fletcher
Fletcher sell
sell more
more
97. For the summer months of June, July, and August, does Farmer Fletcher sell more pigs or
pigs
pigs oror chickens?
chickens?
chickens?
month
month pigs
pigs sold
sold chickens
chickens sold
sold
97. For the summer months of June, July, and August, does Farmer Fletcher sell more
June
June
pigs or chickens?
July
July
month pigs sold chickens sold
June
August

August
July
= pigs
=3 3 pigs = chickens
=5 5 chickens
August
= 3 pigs = 5 chickens
98.
98. AA box
box of of crayons
crayons has
has 8 crayons
8 crayons in in
it. it.
WhoWho gets
gets more
more crayons:
crayons: Jack
Jack oror Natasha?
Natasha?
98. A box of crayons has 8 crayons in it. Who gets more crayons: Jack or Natasha?
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs. Holloway
Holloway
Holloway buys
buys
buys 3
3 boxes of
3 boxes
boxes of of in it. Who gets more Mr. Mr.
Mr. Bennett
Bennett
Bennett buys
buys
buys 5 5boxes
5 boxes boxes
of ofof
98.
crayons A box
and of crayons
divides thehas 8 crayons
crayons crayons: Jack
crayons or
and Natasha?
divides the crayons
crayons
crayons and
and divides
divides thethe crayons
crayons crayons
crayons and
and divides
divides thethe crayons
crayons
equally
equally
equally among
among
among her
her 2
her children:
2 children:
2 children: equally
equally among
among his
his 4 children:
4 children:
JackMrs.
andHolloway
Lily. buys 3 boxes of Mr.equally
Bennett among 5 his
buysLiam,
Natasha, boxes4 children:
Ian,of and Harper.
Jack
Jack and
and
crayons Lily.divides the crayons
Lily.
and Natasha,
Natasha,
crayons Liam,
Liam,
and divides Ian,
Ian,
the andand
crayons Harper.
Harper.
equally among her 2 children: equally among his 4 children:
Jack and Lily. Natasha, Liam, Ian, and Harper.
99.
99. Which
Which has
has more
more wheels?
wheels?
99. has
99. Which 6 Which
a. a.6 tricycles
has wheels?
more
tricycles more wheels?
oror 1010 bicycles
bicycles b. b.1515 tricyclesoror 2222
tricycles bicycles
bicycles
a. 6 tricycles or 10 bicycles b. 15 tricycles or 22 bicycles
a. 6 tricycles or 10 bicycles b. 15 tricycles or 22 bicycles
tricycle
tricycle
tricycle
c. c.1010 tricyclesoror 1515 bicycles d.9 tricycles

9 tricyclesoror 1313 bicycles
c. tricycles
10 tricycles or 15bicycles
bicycles d.d.9 tricycles bicycles
or 13 bicycles
c. 10 tricycles or 15 bicycles d. 9 tricycles or 13 bicycles

bicycle
bicycle
bicycle
33
3333

From: Science Mind Benders®: Insects Grade 2 Sample Activities
Insect Anatomy
All insects are cold blooded invertebrates with exoskeletons. They have:
• 6 legs • 3 body segments • 2 antennae • 0-5 eyes1
Wings
Eyes
Antennae

Mouth Legs
Head Thorax Abdomen

• Eyes This middle segment This last segment is
• Antennae are used of the insect is where where the internal
to smell, touch, feel, all 6 legs and the organs are protected.
or hear. wings (if any) are An insect’s spiracles,
• Mouthparts are used attached. or breathing holes, are
for eating, defending, located along the sides
and attacking. of the abdomen and
thorax.
Look at the ant and the hornet. Point to the 6 legs, 3 body segments, 2 antennae, and
eyes. Remember, these parts are found on all insects. If a creature doesn’t have all
these parts, it is not an insect. Notice that the ant does not have wings. Not all insects
have wings.
ant hornet
1
Only a few of the world’s insects have no eyes. Most insects have 2-5 eyes.
2
40 ©©2023
022The
Th Critical Thinking Co.™ • www.CriticalThinking.com • 800-458-4849
00-458-4849
Activity 1: Insect Anatomy

1. The three body segments that all insects have are: _____________,
_____________, and _____________.
2. All insects have _____________ antennae and _____________ legs.
3. Circle the insect in each row. Then explain why the other 2 animals
are not insects.
www.criticalthinking.com. Commercial redistribution prohibited.

scorpion lacewing slug
Free resource from www.criticalthinking.com.

cicada centipede tick
spider crane fly millipede
praying mantis snail woodlouse
©©2023
022The
Th Critical Thinking Co.™ • www.CriticalThinking.com • 800-458-4849
00-458-4849 413
Directions: Fill in the chart using X for yes and – for no as you solve
the puzzle.
2 5 8

bee
tarantula
beetle
A bee, a tarantula, and a beetle all have a different number of eyes.

Find how many eyes each animal has.
1. The animal that is not an insect has the most eyes.
2. The insect with the long, dark, wing covers has the fewest eyes.
4
42 022 The
© 2023 Th Critical Thinking Co.™ • www.CriticalThinking.com • 800-458-4849
00-458-4849
Directions: Listen to the clues and match them to the insect they
describe.

June beetle Baltimore honeybee
checkerspot butterfly
soldier fly bedbug fire ant
1. As an adult I only live 5-8 days and do not have a mouth. I have a
long, slender abdomen. Other animals often mistake me for a dark
colored wasp and are too scared to eat me.
2. I have a small, tear-shaped abdomen. When attacking another

animal, I bite with my mouthparts and sting using the tiny stinger at
the end of my abdomen. My reddish-pink color warns other animals
that I am dangerous.
3. I fly in a fast, unpredictable pattern. My white spiracles for

breathing can be seen along my abdomen. My straw-like mouth is
curled when I am not drinking nectar.
© 2023
022 Th 00-458-4849
The Critical Thinking Co.™ • www.CriticalThinking.com • 800-458-4849 5
43
Directions: Listen to the clues and match them to the insect they
describe.

leaf cutter ant honeybee fly
lime butterfly wasp Hercules beetle
1. yellow-orange mouthparts for cutting • 2 large eyes
2. large eyes • 2 wings • tube-shaped mouth • greenish-blue

exoskeleton
3. claw-like mouthparts for slicing • long antennae • 2 small eyes
4. long, clubbed antennae • 2 small, black eyes • long, thin, straw-like

mouth
6
44 © 2023
022 Th 00-458-4849
The Critical Thinking Co.™ • www.CriticalThinking.com • 800-458-4849
From: Crypt-O-Words Jr. Grade 2 Sample Activities
CRYPT-O-WORD
CRYPT-O-WORD JR #2JR #2
Dear Mom,
Dear Mom,
Camp has
Camp has been
been fun,
fun, but
but the
the past
past fewfewdays,
days, it’s
it's been
been
raining constantly! In fact, one day, there was was
raining constantly! In fact, one day, there such a
such a downpour that we had to wade
downpour that we had to wade through water to get to through water
to
theget to the house.
meeting meeting house.
Also, due to
Also, tothe
thedrenching
drenchingrain, rain, thethe
postal service
postal service
could
could not deliver the mail to our camp. camp. So, So,today,
today, a
a flood

flofood of mail
mail camecame in from
in from all the
all the parents.
parents. We Wehadhad to sort
to sort through piles of letters to fi nd them, but
through piles of letters to find them, but I got five letters I got
fifrom
ve letters from you! Thanks!
you! Thanks!
Love,
Love,
Spencer
Spencer
What’s the Word?

The underlined words in the letter are hints. Crypt-O-Word #2 is a word that means
A.
A. Thedownpour,
underlineddrenching
words in rain,
the letter are hints.
or flood. It has 6Crypt-O-Word #2 is
letters. Find the a word
word that the puzzle
by doing
means
below. Write thedrenching
downpour, eachorclue
answer torain, It has
in the
flood. 6 letters.
row, Find
one letter in the
eachword
box.by doing
The first one
thehas
puzzle
beenbelow. Write
done for you.the answer to each clue in the row, one letter in each box.
The first one has been done for you.
CLUES
CLUES 1. D O Z E N
1. Twelve items make a ____.
1. Twelve items make a ___________.
2. This person makes cakes and
2. 1. D O Z E N
3. 2.
2. This person
bread. makes cakes and bread.
3. It is often paired with peanut butter.
4. 3.
3. It is often paired with peanut
4. It’s thebutter.
opposite of over.
4. It's the
5. It means opposite
incorrect or of
notover.
right. 5. 4.
5.
5. Ittypes
6. Three meansare
incorrect or notand
pinto, lima, right.
green. 6.
6. Three types are pinto, lima, and 6.
green.
B. Write the circled letters on the lines below, in order from #1 to #6.
B. Write the circled letters on the lines below, in order from #1 to #6
Crypt-O-Word
Crypt-O-Word #2 is #2 is
______
______
______
______
___ ___
___ ___

From: Crypt-O-Words Jr. Grade 2 Sample Activities
Unscramble the Words

C. In Spencer’s letter to his mom, he said there had been a flood of mail. He meant
that many letters had been delivered all at once, coming in like a flood. Write
Crypt-O-Word #2 on the empty lines below. Then, unscramble the letters under
the blanks to write words that make sense.
1. The phone kept ringing and ringing. In the office, there was a...
___________________ of ____________ __________

E O P N H L A C S L
2. They were selling so many tickets, the cash box was overflowing from the...
___________________ of _______________ _____________

O D R L A L L B L S I
3. The airport was so full, many could not get to their flights because of the...
___________________ of ______________________
R A T E V E S L R
4. The storm hammered the city. There was a...
___________________ of ____________ and __________

R N I A L A H I
Draw It
D. When it rains heavily, some say, “It’s raining cats and dogs!” Below, draw a
____________________ of something else you’d like to see falling from the sky!
Crypt-O-Word #2

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Answers
Page 1 boy’s. So the 2-window house is the firefighter’s,
2. Bob, Bill, and Ted went to the while the 3-window house belongs to the doctor.
park.
They went to the park.
The 1-window house is the boy’s.
3. The pillow is soft.
It is soft. Page 6
4. Jason went fishing. 13. D
He went fishing.
5. Molly loves chocolate. 14. C
She loves chocolate.
6. Anna and Grace play soccer. Page 7
They play soccer. 5. B

6. B
Page 2
2. He plays with trucks.
3. They play with trucks.
Page 8
Building Thinking Skills® — Level 1 Describing Shapes
DESCRIBING POSITION
4. The girl plays with trucks.
5. She plays with a truck. DIRECTIONS: Complete the sentences with the correct words from the choice box.
Draw a shape as directed. Choices may be used more than once.
6. They play with trucks. Choice Box

7. The girl and the boy play with trucks. center circle left hexagon right square triangle
A-57:
left
Page 3 corner is a red circle. Near the lower right corner is a
a snake a zebra square
___________________.
an ear a telephone an egg
a cow an umbrella an alligator
Draw a white triangle near the upper right corner.
a bear an ant a pig

A-58:
hexagon
The shape in the center is a __________________.
Page 4 right
Near the lower ___________________ corner is a
green trapezoid.
E-mail letters will vary.
Draw a white triangle near the upper left corner.
Page 5 A-59:
left
corner is a green square. Near the lower
right
___________________ corner is a blue
triangle
___________________.
Y N N N Draw a black circle near the lower left corner.

3 3 3 1 © 2022 The Critical Thinking Co.™• www.CriticalThinking.com • 800-458-4849 13
N Y N N
2 3 3 1
N N Y N
3 3 3 1
N N N Y
1 1 1 1
Clue 1 states that the girl’s house has more than

two windows and is not the widest. The girl’s
house is the 5-window house. Clue 2 states that the
firefighter’s house has fewer than three windows, so
it is either the 1- or 2-window house. Finally, Clue 3
states that the doctor’s house has one more window
than the firefighter’s and two more windows than the

Page 9
Building Thinking Skills® — Level 1 Similarities and Differences in Shapes Page 11
Building Thinking Skills® — Level 1 Classifying Shapes
RECOGNIZING SIMILAR CHANGES OVERLAPPING GROUPS
DIRECTIONS: Decide how the shapes in the first row were changed. The shapes in DIRECTIONS: Darken the part of the diagram where each figure belongs.
the second row are changed the same way. Circle the missing shape.
B-70:
TRIANGLES SMALL SHAPES
a. b. c. d.
?
B-71:
D-108:
a. b. c. d.

? D-109: D-110:
B-72:
a. b. c. d.
D-111: D-112:
?
© 2022 The Critical Thinking Co.™• www.CriticalThinking.com • 800-458-4849 51 © 2022 The Critical Thinking Co.™• www.CriticalThinking.com • 800-458-4849 117
Page 12
Page 10
Building Thinking Skills® — Level 1 Sequences of Shapes
39; 27; 38; 58; 18; 59; 48; 24; 57; 79; 84;
WHICH FIGURE COMES NEXT? 6; 7; 24; 38; 77; 29; 8; 39; 87; 79; 49
DIRECTIONS: Circle the figure that comes next.
EXAMPLE: a. b.
Page 13
 
c. d. 0 0
55 5 55 5
11 12 1 11 12 1
50 10 50 10
10 2 10 2
C-49: a. b. 45 9 3 15 45 9 3 15
8 4 8 4
40 20 40 20
c. d. 7 5 7 5
6 6
35 25 35 25
30 30
Your favorite TV show will The baseball game starts

C-50: a. b. start at 7:30. at 5 minutes after 5:00.
; ;
 
c. d. 0 0
55 5 55 5
11 12 1 11 12 1
50 10 50 10
10 2 10 2
C-51: a. b. 45 9 3 15 45 9 3 15
8 4 8 4
40 20 40 20
c. d. 7 5 7 5
6 6
35 25 35 25
30 30
You catch the school bus You sing the National Anthem
at ten minutes before at the baseball game at 5
8:00. minutes before 5:00.
;

Page 14 Page 18
50¢ – ___
26¢
–
24¢
; 50¢ – 26¢ = 24¢; 13)
___ = ___
55¢ – 51¢ = 4¢;

100¢
–
___ – ___
55¢ 51¢ = ___
4¢
100¢ – 78¢ = 22¢;
14)
– (any dollar value is acceptable)
100¢ – ___
___ 78¢ 22¢
= ___
60¢ – 42¢ = 18¢
___
60¢ – ___
42¢
–
= ___
18¢ 15) 24 tens
(4 is in the 10s place of 246, but there are 24
tens in 246. Think of money and you
Page 15
H n = 8, t= 7, ? = 14 have 24 dimes and

Problem 1: 6 pennies.)
Explanation: Substitute 8 for H n on 2nd
t= 15. Remove 8 from both sides

balance so 8 + 16)
so t= 7. tt= 7 + 7 = 14.
(any object with a fourth shaded is
acceptable)
Problem 2: n
= 10, l
= 4, ? = 2
Explanation: Divide both sides on 1st balance in
Page 19
thirds son = 10. Substitute 10 for n in 2nd
balance so 10 + l = 14. Remove 10 from both
37) 3:30
sides so l = 4. Divide in half so = 2. 38) subtract
w
Page 16 39)
Problem 1: Problem 2:
2 1 3 6 7 2
3
1
2 1
3 2
1 5 9
8 3 4
40) 16 legs
Total: 6 Total: 15
Problem 3: Problem 4: Pages 20-21
4 6 5 5 6 1 Answers are on activity pages.
6 5 4 0 4 8
5 4 6 7 2 3 Page 22
Total: 15 Total: 12 letters
little
Page 17 money
Problem 1: b = 7 Problem 2: a = 8
c = 9 c=5
d = 7 d=8
b + c = 16 a + c = 13
Problem 3: a = 10 Problem 4: a = 12
b = 6 b = 11
d = 7 c = 11
a + d = 17 b + d = 23

Page 24 3. daisies – Singular/Plural: It should be a
47. Mellow Munching plural noun, so change the y to i and add
There are many good beaches in our -es.
area. My Uncle Mel lives in one of the 4. berries – Singular/Plural: It should be a
houses1 on the beach. His father and plural noun, so change the y to i and add
grandfather were builders2, and they -es.
built the house long ago. Uncle Mel
watches the ocean waves3 from his front Pages 26-28
porch. We eat our lunches and drink 1. moisture
glasses4 of lemonade on the porch. 2. barter
3. delicate
1. houses – Singular/Plural: It should 4. continent

be a plural noun, so add -s. 5. oppose
6. extinct
2. builders – Singular/Plural: It should 7. gradual
be a plural noun, so add -s. 8. privilege
3. waves – Singular/Plural: It should be 9. ability
a plural noun, so add -s . 10. triumph
4. glasses – Singular/Plural: It should 11. gradually
be a plural noun, so add -es. 12. triumphant
13. bartered
48. Helping Out 14. continent
All three second grade classes1 in our 15. moist
16. able
school spent one Saturday helping older 17. extinction
people with their yards. Each class was 18. opponents
given two addresses to visit. We took 19. delicate
boxes2 to put the weeds and clippings 20. privileged
from the bushes3 in. One home had
morning glories4 all over the house that Page 29
we had to tear out. 1. delicate
2. privilege
1. classes – Singular/Plural: It should 3. bartered
be a plural noun, so add -es. 4. extinction
2. boxes – Singular/Plural: It should be 5. continent
a plural noun, so add -es. 6. opponent
3. bushes – Singular/Plural: It should 7. ability
8. moisture
be a plural noun, so add -es. 9. triumph
4. glories – Singular/Plural: It should
10. gradual
be a plural noun, so change the y to i
and add -es.
Pages 30-31
1. gradually
49. Gardens in Canada
2. continents
Many large cities1 in Canada have 3. ability
beautiful gardens2. They grow all kinds 4. triumphant
of flowers such as daisies3 and pansies. 5. opponents
Country gardens have flowers, vegetables, 6. bartered
fruits, and berries4. Some owners sell 7. privilege
these to the public. 8. delicate
9. moisture
1. cities – Singular/Plural: It should be a 10. extinct
plural noun, so change the y to i and
add -es.
2. gardens – Singular/Plural: It should
be a plural noun, so add -s.
Page 32 3. Janet babysits for a greater number
1. moisture of hours. Janet babysits for 6 hours
2. continent and Evie babysits for 5 hours.
3. ability
4. extinction
5. triumph Janet earns 5 dollars for 1 hour, 5 + 5
6. gradual = 10 dollars for 2 hours, 5 + 5 + 5 = 15
7. privilege dollars for 3 hours, and so on. Keep
8. delicate counting until you reach the target.
9. barter
10. opponents Janet earns 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 =
30 dollars for 6 hours (or 6 x 5 = 30
Page 33 dollars). Another approach is to use

1. victory division: 30 ÷ 5 = 6 hours.
2. advantage
3. talent Evie earns 8 dollars for 1 hour, so she
4. rival earns 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 40 dollars for
5. vanishing
6. dampness 5 hours (or 5 x 8 = 40 dollars). Another
7. to trade approach is to use division: 40 ÷ 8 = 5
8. unhurried hours.
9. landmass
10. dainty Page 38
37. Lucia’s cookie had more chocolate
Pages 34-36 chips to begin with. Jamie’s cookie
Sentences will vary.
had 28 chocolate chips and Lucia’s
Page 37 cookie had 30 chocolate chips.
1. Rudy has more marbles. Rudy has
52 marbles and Anita has 51 marbles. Jamie divides her cookie into 4 equal
pieces, each with 7 chocolate chips
Rudy starts with 67 marbles and gives (since the chips are spread evenly
away 15 marbles, so he ends up with across the cookie). So her original
67 – 15 = 52 marbles. cookie had 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 28 chocolate
chips (or 4 x 7 = 28 chocolate chips).
Anita starts with 36 marbles and gets 15
marbles, so she ends up with 36 + 15 = Lucia divides her cookie into 3 equal
51 marbles. pieces, each with 10 chocolate chips
(since the chips are spread evenly
2. Darla’s batch of cookies has a larger across the cookie). So her original
total number of raisins. Walter’s cookie had 10 + 10 + 10 = 30 chocolate
cookies have a total of 40 raisins and chips (or 3 x 10 = 30 chocolate chips).
Darla’s cookies have a total of 42
raisins.
Each of Walter’s 5 cookies has 8 raisins:

8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 40 raisins (or 5 x 8 =
40 raisins).
Each of Darla’s 7 cookies has 6 raisins:

6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 42 raisins (or
7 x 6 = 42 raisins).

38. Cecilia rides the furthest distance. There are 8 pictures of chickens in the
Richie rides the smallest distance. months of June, July, and August, and
Cecilia rides 40 miles, Richie rides each picture of a chicken represents 5
35 miles, and Carl rides 36 miles. chickens. So Farmer Fletcher sells 5 + 5
+ 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 40 chickens (or 8
In 1 hour, Cecilia travels 10 miles. x 5 = 40 chickens).
So in 4 hours, she travels 10 + 10 +
10 + 10 = 40 miles (or 4 x 10 = 40 98. Jack gets more crayons. Jack gets 12
miles). crayons and Natasha gets 10 crayons.
In 1 hour, Richie travels 7 miles. So Mrs. Holloway buys 3 boxes of crayons,

in 5 hours, he travels 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + each of which has 8 crayons, for a total
7 = 35 miles (or 5 x 7 = 35 miles). of 8 + 8 + 8 = 24 crayons (or 3 x 8 = 24
crayons). She divides these 24 crayons
In 1 hour, Carl travels 12 miles. So equally among her two children, so each
in 3 hours, he travels 12 + 12 + 12 = child gets 12 crayons (since 12 + 12 =
36 miles (or 3 x 12 = 36 miles). 24). Another approach is to use division:
24 ÷ 2 = 12.
39. The weight of 1 pineapple is Mr. Bennett buys 5 boxes of crayons,

6 pounds. each of which has 8 crayons, for a total of
8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 40 crayons (or 5 x 8 =
The 2 watermelons weigh a total 40 crayons). He divides these 40 crayons
of 15 + 15 = 30 pounds, so the 5 equally among his four children, so each
pineapples must weigh a total of 30 child gets 10 crayons (since 10 + 10 + 10
pounds. This means each of the 5 + 10 = 40). Another approach is to use
pineapples weighs 6 pounds, since 6 division: 40 ÷ 4 = 10.
+ 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 30 pounds (or 5 x 6
= 30 pounds). Another approach is 99. a. 10 bicycles have more wheels. 6
to use division: 30 ÷ 5 = 6 pounds. tricycles have 18 wheels and 10 bicycles
have 20 wheels.
Page 39 b. 15 tricycles have more wheels. 15
97. Farmer Fletcher sells more tricycles have 45 wheels and 22 bicycles
chickens. He sells 39 pigs and 40 have 44 wheels.
chickens. c. They have the same number of
wheels. 10 tricycles have 30 wheels and
There are 13 pictures of pigs in the 15 bicycles have 30 wheels.
months of June, July, and August, d. 9 tricycles have more wheels. 9
and each picture of a pig represents tricycles have 27 wheels and 13 bicycles
3 pigs. So Farmer Fletcher sells 3 have 26 wheels.
+3+3+3+3+3+3+3+3+3+
3 + 3 + 3 = 39 pigs (or 13 x 3 = 39 The answers are calculated using that
pigs). tricycles have 3 wheels and bicycles have
2 wheels.

Page 41 Page 44
Activity 1 Activity 4
1. head, thorax, abdomen 1. wasp
2. 2, 6 E. Letters
2. flythat remain will form this sentence:
3. “If
3.you climb
leaf a beanstalk,
cutter ant you will find a goose
that lays golden
4. lime eggs forever.”
butterfly
Page
CRYP45
T-O-WORD #2 (page 3)
too many legs no legs A.A.
scorpion lacewing slug

too many legs too many legs
cicada centipede tick
too many legs too many legs

B.B.The
The #2 isisdedeluge.
Crypt-O-Word
Crypt-O-Word luge.
spider crane fly millipede
Page 46deluge of phone calls

C. 1.
C.2.1.deluge
deluge; phone
of dollar billscalls
no legs too many legs 2. deluge; dollar bills
3. deluge of travelers
praying mantis snail woodlouse 3. deluge; travelers
4. deluge; rain and hail
Page 42
D. Drawings will vary (chocolate
Activity 2
cookies, candies, snowflakes,
2 5 8 coins, etc.)
– X –
2 2 1
– – X
bee
1 1 1
X – –
tarantula
beetle
2 2 1
Page 43
Activity 3
1. soldier fly
2. fire ant
3. Baltimore checkerspot butterfly

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GRADE 2

The Critical Thinking Co.™

Click on the link above to select other grade-level sample activities.

200+ Award-Winning PreK-12+ Books & eBooks!

Mind Benders® Level 2 - Critical Thinking (Gr. 1-2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

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Building Thinking Skills® Level 1 - Critical Thinking (Gr. 2-3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Mathematical Reasoning™ Level C - Mathematics (Gr. 2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Math Analogies Level 1 - Mathematics (Gr. 2-3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Developing Critical Thinking through Science Book 1 - Science (Gr. 1-3) . . . . 20

Dr. DooRiddles A3 - Critical Thinking (Gr. 2-3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Editor in Chief® Beginning 1 - Language Arts (Gr. 2-3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

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Dare to Compare Math: Beginning - Mathematics (Gr. 2-3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Science Mind Benders®: Insects - Science (Gr. PreK-3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Crypt-O-Words Jr. - Language Arts (Gr. 2-5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

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She fixed lunch today.

2. Bob, Bill, and Ted went to the park. ___________________

3. The pillow is soft. _________________________________

4. Jason went fishing. _______________________________

5. Molly loves chocolate. _____________________________

6. Anna and Grace play soccer. ________________________

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Read each sentence and circle the correct verb.

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2. He play - plays with trucks.

3. They play - plays with trucks.

4. The girl play - plays with trucks.

5. She play - plays with a truck.

6. They play - plays with trucks.

7. The girl and the boy play - plays with trucks.

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Write a or an before each picture.

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______ ______ ______

______ ______ ______

______ ______ ______

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Write an e-mail to thank Donna for a gift she sent you.

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4 © 2023 The Critical Thinking Co.™ • www.CriticalThinking.com • 800-458-4849

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FINDING THE MATCHING SHAPE

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FINDING THE CORRECT FIGURE

ball hall ball

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break steak streak break beak

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center circle left hexagon right square triangle

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corner is a red circle. Near the lower right corner is a

Draw a white triangle near the upper right corner.

Near the lower ___________________ corner is a

Draw a white triangle near the upper left corner.

corner is a green square. Near the lower

___________________ corner is a blue

Draw a black circle near the lower left corner.

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RECOGNIZING SIMILAR CHANGES

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__

__