Grades 2-3

Social and Instructional Language

Language for Language Arts

Language for Mathematics

Language for Science

Language for Social Studies

Narrate

Inform

Explain

Argue

Narrate

Inform

Explain

Argue

Explain

Argue

Explain

Argue

Interpret language arts narratives by

Construct language arts narratives that

Interpret informational texts in language arts by

Construct informational texts in language arts that  

Interpret mathematical explanations by

Construct mathematical explanations that  

Interpret mathematics arguments by

Construct mathematics arguments that

Interpret scientific explanations by

Construct scientific explanations that 

Interpret scientific arguments by

Construct scientific arguments that

Interpret social studies explanations by 

Construct social studies explanations that

Interpret social studies arguments by

Construct social studies arguments that

Share ideas about one’s own and others’ lived experiences and previous learning

Connect stories with images and representations to add meaning

Ask questions about what others have shared 

Recount and restate ideas

Discuss how stories might end or next steps

Define and classify objects or concepts

Describe characteristics, patterns, or behavior

Describe parts and wholes 

Sort, clarify, and summarize ideas

Summarize information from interaction with others and from learning experiences

Share initial thinking with others

Follow and describe cycles in diagrams, steps in procedures, or causes and effects

Compare and contrast objects or concepts 

Offer ideas and suggestions

Act on feedback to revise understandings of how or why something works

Ask questions about others’ opinions 

Support own opinions with reasons

Clarify and elaborate ideas based on feedback

Defend change in one’s own thinking 

Revise one’s own opinions based on new information

Identifying a central message from key details

Identifying how character attributes and actions contribute to event sequences

Determining the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in texts, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language

Orient audience to context

Develop story with time and event sequences, complication, resolution or ending

Engage and adjust for audience

Identifying the main idea and key details

Referring explicitly to descriptions for themes and relationships among meanings

Describing relationship between a series of events, ideas or concepts, or procedural steps

Introduce and define topic and/or entity for audience

Add details to define, describe, compare, and classify topic and/or entity

Develop coherence and cohesion throughout text

Identifying concept or entity

Analyzing plan for problem-solving steps

Evaluating simple pattern or structure

Introduce concept or entity

Describe solution and steps used to solve problem with others

State reasoning used to generate solution

Identifying conjectures about what might be true

Distinguishing connections among ideas in justifications

Extracting mathematical operations and facts from solution strategies to create generalizations

Create conjecture using definitions

Generalize commonalities across cases

Justify conclusion steps and strategies in simple patterns

Identify and respond to others’ arguments

Defining investigable questions or simple design problems based on observations, data, and prior knowledge about a phenomenon

Obtaining and combining information from observations, and using evidence to help explain how or why a phenomenon occurs

Identifying information from observations as well as evidence that supports particular points in explanations

Describe observations and/or data about a phenomenon

Develop a logical sequence between data or evidence and claim

Compare multiple solutions to a problem considering how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the design solution

Identifying potential evidence from data, models, and/or information from investigations of phenomena or design solutions

Analyzing whether evidence is relevant or not

Distinguishing between evidence and opinions

Introduce topic/phenomenon for an issue related to the natural and designed world(s)

Make a claim supported by relevant evidence

Establish a neutral tone

Signal logical relationships among reasoning, evidence, data, and/or a model when making a claim

Determining types of sources for answering compelling and supporting questions about phenomena or events

Analyzing sources for event sequences and/or causes/effects

Evaluating disciplinary concepts and ideas associated with a compelling or supporting question

Introduce phenomena or events

Describe components, order, causes, or cycles

Generalize possible reasons for a development or event

Identifying topic and purpose (argue in favor or against a position, present a balanced interpretation, challenge perspective)

Analyzing relevant information from one or two sources to develop claims in response to compelling questions

Evaluating source credibility based on distinctions between fact and opinion

Introduce topic

Select relevant information to support claims with evidence from one or more sources

Show relationships between claim, evidence, and reasoning