Description

Louisiana Purchase, U.S. Capital & National Parks Google Slides Activities for 2nd Grade

Looking for meaningful, no-prep activities to teach your 2nd graders about how the United States expanded and changed in the early 1800s? This digital social studies resource for 2nd grade brings key moments in U.S. history to life through engaging reading passages, drag-and-drop tasks, and map-based activities.

Aligned to the 2023 Virginia SOLs 2.9 and 2.12, these activities help students understand the move of the U.S. capital, the impact of the Louisiana Purchase, and the importance of national parks. Students will explore how geography, compromise, and westward expansion shaped the young nation.

What Digital Louisiana Purchase, U.S. Capital, & National Parks Activities are Included?

This product includes:

• Editable reading passage: A new country begins & the Constitution
• Drag-&-drop: sequence the events in order they happened
• Drag-&-drop: Match each picture to the description that explains what the Constitution does
• Drag-&-drop: Match each problem with the solution
• Editable reading passage: Moving the U.S. capital to Washington, D.C. from Philadelphia
• Drag-&-drop: match the definitions with vocabulary terms (capital, Congress, compromise, District of Columbia)
• Drag-&-drop: drag the American flag from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. on a map
• Drag-&-drop: put the pictures in order on a timeline about moving the U.S. capital
• Editable reading passage: The Louisiana Purchase
• Drag-&-drop: locate the Mississippi River and states on a U.S. map
• Drag-&-drop: match the definitions with vocabulary terms (doubled, Indigenous, purchase, territory)
• Drag-&-drop: match the effects to the causes about the Louisiana Purchase
• Drag-&-drop: match the facts about each person involved in the Louisiana Purchase (Thomas Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, Sacagawea, Napoleon)
• Editable reading passage: A growing nation and national parks
• Drag-&-drop: build houses, farms, and wagons west of the original 13 states
• Drag-&-drop: sort true facts about national parks
• Short answer: Look at real-life photographs of Yellowstone and write what you see

What Do I Receive?

A PDF containing a direct link to the Google Slides™ resource.

An answer key to ensure quick and accurate grading.

Why do Teachers Love these 2nd Grade Growing Nation Activities?

• Aligned to Virginia Social Studies SOLs 2.9 and 2.12

• Covers early U.S. history with geography, government, and expansion connections

• No prep required – Just assign and go

• Ideal for Google Classroom, Chromebooks, laptops, and iPads

• Great for whole group, small group, or independent work

Why Will Your Students Love these 2nd Grade Growing Nation Activities?

• Interactive, hands-on format with visuals and map-based movement

• Fun and meaningful tasks like dragging flags, sequencing timelines, and building settlements

• Kid-friendly passages and vocabulary support reading and comprehension

• Encourages independent thinking and real-world connections to the land we live on

What Do I Need?

Devices: Works seamlessly on laptops, Chromebooks, and iPads (Google Slides app recommended for iPads).

Google Account: Access the activities easily with Google Slides.

What Standards Are Covered?

This resource covers the following 2nd Grade Virginia SOL Social Studies 2023 Standards:

2.9 – The student will apply history and social science skills to understand key events in United States history including, but not limited to

1. recognizing the reasons for moving the nation’s capital from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. and the importance of the nation’s capital; and
2. describing the impact of the Louisiana Purchase on the westward expansion of the United States.

2.12 – The student will apply history and social science skills to connect geography to landmarks and historic events including, but not limited to

1. Yellowstone National Park.