Second Grade is built on the national frameworks that most state standards are based on or closely resemble: the Common Core State Standards for math and English language arts, the national K-12 science framework (the Next Generation Science Standards*), and the C3 Framework for social studies. Every lesson lists the standard it teaches.
Utah Core Standards for Mathematics
Based on the Common Core, with the state's own changesAdopted 2016
Adopted January 2016 and still in effect. The state is revising its P-12 math standards, but in January 2026 the board postponed a decision until after an outside review.
Official standards (opens in a new tab)Utah State Standards for P-12 English Language Arts
The state's own standardsAdopted 2023
Adopted in spring 2023; the page says April 2023 and the document says May 2023. They are grouped into three strands (Speaking and Listening, Reading, Writing) and do not cite Common Core. That is why they are marked 'own', although they replaced Utah's earlier Common Core-based standards. Cursive starts in Grade 3, and Grade 2 covers fluent manuscript (print) writing.
Official standards (opens in a new tab)Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards
Based on the national science framework, with the state's own changesAdopted 2019
The K-5 standards were approved in June 2019 and reissued in the 2023 K-12 SEEd document. Utah says most SEEd standards are based on the Next Generation Science Standards*. Grade 2 has three strands: Earth changes, habitats and adaptations, and properties of matter.
Official standards (opens in a new tab)Utah Core Standards for Elementary Social Studies (K-6)
The state's own standards
Adopted December 2022 and fully in use since 2024-25. Grade 2 covers continuity and change in the community, the state and the nation: timelines, government, rights and responsibilities, cultures, and geography.
Official standards (opens in a new tab)Social studies: Utah pioneers and Utah's state nickname and motto (2.1.4). Children also find Utah and the states around it on a map (2.2.1).
Partly coveredThe My State add-on lessons cover your state's nickname, map and history. Add 15 minutes to learn Utah's motto, find the states around Utah on a U.S. map, and read about Utah pioneers in a library book.
Verified: 2026-09-30. Standards change; always check your state's official page.