2nd Grade Vocabulary Words and Definitions
UNIT 1
Iris and Walter
- ladder - set of steps with two side and rungs
- amazing - wonderful or surprising
- roller-skate - move on skates with wheels
- meadow - piece of grassy land
- investigate - try to find out all about something
- rural - the country
- urban -the city
- creature - an animal or person that is living
- underground - under the ground you walk on
- brittle - breaks very easily
- decision - make up your mind to do something
- dart - move very quickly from one place to another
Exploring Space with an Astronaut
- astronaut - person who goes into space
- shuttle - vehicle that carries astronauts into space
- experiment - test to find out something
- telescope - instrument that makes far away things appear close
- gravity - natural force that makes everything on Earth move toward it
- ascend - go up
- descend - go down
- orbit - the path around something in space
- universe - Earth, sun, moon, planets, and stars
- enormous - very big and huge
- journey - a long trip
- launch - get something going
- meteorite - piece of stone from space that hits something
Henry and Mudge
- shivered - shook with fear
- drooled - let saliva run from the mouth
- lanterns -lights inside containers that can be carried
- snuggled - cuddled together
- galaxy - huge group of stars, Earth, and the sun
- tranquil - calm and peaceful
- wildlife - animals and plants that live wild outdoors
- underneath - under something
- identify - tell what it is
- detective - person who tries to solve a mystery or a crime
- fascinating - very interesting
- slimy - feels slippery and gooey when you touch it
A Walk in the Desert
- desert - land that is sandy and without much water
- harsh - very rough
- climate - kind of weather a place has
- cactus - plant with spines that grows in hot, dry places
- coyote - small animal like a wolf
- arid - very, very dry
- landform - shape formed on land, such as hills, mountains, lakes, and deserts
- precipitation - any kind of rain, snow, hail or other form of water that falls from the clouds
- dunes - hills of sand in a desert that are formed by the wind
- ledge - a shelf
- haven - a safe place
- discovery - something found out for the first time
- forbidding - dangerous and scary
The Strongest One
- narrator - person who tells a story
- relatives - people in the same family
- dangerous - not safe
- gnaws - bites at and wears away
- delicate - thin and easily broken
- inquire - ask questions
- sturdy - strong and solid
- exhibit - something set up for you to look at in a place like a museum or zoo
- resist - work against something because you don’t want it
- stun - shocked and very surprised
- genius - someone who is very, very smart
- satisfaction - pleased and contented with something
UNIT 2
Tara and Tiree
- collar - a band that a dog wears around its neck
- slipped - slid without meaning to
- brave - showing no fear of dangerous things
- courageous - brave
- hazard - something dangerous
- rescue - save from danger
- avalanche - when a lot of snow suddenly slides down a mountain
- instinct - an ability an animal is born with that makes it act in a certain way
- skittish - nervous and easily upset
- blustery - when the wind blows hard and makes a lot of noise
- fast-paced - happening very quickly
Ronald Morgan Goes to Bat
- clutched - held tightly
- terrific - very good
- spirit - energy; liveliness
- compete - try very hard to win a contest
- contribute - help along with others
- recreation - some you do to have a good time
- deserve - have a right to
- mope - feel sad or sorry for yourself
- actuate - start or put into action
- aloft - high up in the air
- tinker - work at something
Turtle's Race with Beaver
- buried - covered
- dam - something that blocks the flow of water
- lodge - a beaver’s den
- challenge - to invite someone to take part in a game or an argument
- halfway - in the middle
- embarrassed - uncomfortable or ashamed
- conflict - struggle or fight, especially one that goes on for a long time
- inhabit - live in
- resolve - make a decision or fix a problem
- coax - gently talk someone into doing something
- ramp - slope or slant that connects two different levels
- startle - surprise or shock very suddenly
- serape - shawl or blanket that people can wear over their shirts
vacation - time away from school or your usual duties
Bremen Town Musicians
- mill - building where grain is crushed into flour
- musician - someone who plays music
- excitement - feeling of being very happy
- robbers - people who steal
- monsters - scary creatures
- partnership- two or more people become partners and join together to share something
- solution - process of solving a problem
- survival - act of living on or of surviving
- miserable - very, very unhappy
- struggle - work hard to do something difficult
- depend - count on or trust a person or thing
- familiar - well known or close to you from repeated contact
- insist - make a demand or take a stand
A Turkey for Thanksgiving
- Thanksgiving - holiday for giving thanks
- hooves - hard bottom part of the feet of animals such as moose, deer, horses, and sheep
- riverbank - rising ground beside a river
- lumbered - moved slowly and awkwardly
- dine - eat dinner
- holiday - a day when people celebrate something special
- participate - join in
- decorate - make as pretty as you can
- banquet - very special dinner
- flare - flame or light briefly and unsteadily
- glimmer - unsteady light
- whispery - sounds like a whisper with a soft, rustling sound
UNIT 3
Pearl and Wagner
- robot - machine with moving parts that is controlled by a computer
- wad - a round lump
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trash - something of little use
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electricity - energy that makes light, heat, motion, or force
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construct - build or put together
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sidekick - good friend and partner
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unique - only one like it
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contraption - something that is put together in a very odd way
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foolproof - so simple and safe that anybody can use it
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daydream - awake but thinking of pleasant things
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project - something you plan and then do
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scrap - tiny piece of something; leftover
Dear Juno
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persimmons - yellow and orange-colored sweet fruits that are like plums
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smudged - smeared or marked with dirty streaks
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envelope - paper sleeve that is used to hold a letter
- photograph - picture taken with a camera
- correspond - write to each other
- postage - money you pay to send a letter or something you want to mail
- transport - carry somewhere
- cove - small part of a sea or lake partly surrounded by land
- footprint - mark your foot makes when you step on something
- deaf - cannot hear well or at all
- imitate - act like or be like a person or thing
- sign language - way of talking by making signs with your hands
Anansi Goes Fishing
- lazy - not liking to work or be active
- weave - form threads into cloth or web or to make straw into hats or baskets
- delicious - something that tastes really good
- justice - something that is fair and right
- consume - eat or use it all up
- prey - animal that is hunted and killed by another animal for food
- shrewd - very clever and smart
- boast - brags or speaks too well of himself or herself
- gloat - when you think about something you’re very satisfied with
- snicker - giggle or laugh in a mean way
- contentment - feeling of being pleased or satisfied
- cure - something that makes you feel better and healthy again
- incident - something that happens
Rosa & Blanca
- tortillas - thin, round cakes made of corn meal that are served hot
- luckiest - having more luck and good fortune than anyone else
- chiles - a hot pepper that is used as seasonings
- abundant - more than enough or plenty
- assist - help do something
- generous - shares with other people and is unselfish
- dismay - feeling of deep disappointment and fear
- efficient - get things done without wasting time or energy
- beam - smile in a happy way
- forever - never ending or always
- situation - act or something or condition
A Weed Is a Flower
- college - school of learning to attend after high school
- agriculture - of or about farming
- laboratory - place where tests and experiments are done
- greenhouse - building with glass or plastic sides where plants are kept warm
- excel - better than most people at something
- process - prepare by following a set of steps
- research - very careful investigation or hunting for facts
- opportunity - good chance or a favorable time
- accomplish - succeed in carrying it out or finishing it
- original - only one of its kinds or the first of something
- scientist - person who is trained in science and is an expert at it
- unusual - not usual or not ordinary
UNIT 4
Quilt Story
- blankets - coverings for beds used to keep sleepers warm
- pretended - made-believe
- quilt - bed covering made by stitching together layers of fabric
- stuffing - soft material used to fill an object
- trunks - sturdy boxes in which objects are packed
- unpacked - removed from a suitcase or other container
- wrapped - covered by winding or folding
- stitched – fastened together with stitches
- hatchet – small ax with a short handle
- patchwork – different pieces of cloth sewn together
- preserve - protect from anything that would cause something to be ruined or spoiled
- represent- stand for or symbolize
- valuable - worth something or is important
- tough - difficult to do
- concentration - thinking about one thing very carefully
- frown - wrinkle your forehead and draw your eyebrows together when you are worried, angry, or thinking
- homeland - the country in which you were born or where you feel you belong
- patient - wait for something or put up with trouble without complaining or getting upset
Life Cycle of a Pumpkin
- fruit - part of a plant that contains seeds
- soil - top layer of Earth’s surface
- root - part of a plant that takes in water and holds the plant in place
- harvest - to gather crops
- vine - plant with a long, thin stem
- bumpy - covered with high spots or lumps
- smooth - flat or even
- cycle - series of actions that happen in the same order
- wither - to dry up
- tendrils - slender, curling part of a plant
- adapt - change to fit new situations or surroundings
- annual - happens one time a year
- nutrients - proteins, vitamins, and minerals that living things need to grow and be healthy
- bury - put in a hole under the ground
- undisturbed - not bothered or moved from its normal place
- ancient - very old things
- massive - extremely large
- sprout - very young plant
Frogs
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pond - small body of water
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wonderful - causing wonder or amazement
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powerful - having power or great strength
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insects - animals with six legs and a three-part body
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crawls - moves slowly on hands and knees
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skin - outer covering of the body
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shed - to drop or lose
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appearance - the way something looks
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stage - step or time in a person’s or animal’s life
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transform - change
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restless - not able to be still
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pursue - follow or chase
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canopy - covering above something else
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forage - go from place to place looking for something, usually food
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forepaw - one of the front feet of an animals with four paws
I Like Where I Am
- trouble - something that is difficult or upsetting
- giant - very large or huge
- chuckle - to laugh quietly
- fair - just and by the rules
- strong - having great power or strength
- block - part of a city or town
- tears - drops of salty water that come from your eyes
- glee - great happiness or joy
- usually - something that commonly happens
- adjust - get used to a new situation or change something to make it better
- landmark - natural or human-made feature that identifies a location
- unexpected - a surprise or something you do not think will happen
- tease - make fun of in a playful or a hurtful way
- quiver - shakes quickly with movements or sounds
- foreign - someone from a different country
- accent - pronounce words in a way that is heard in a different part of the country
- forlorn - lonely or sad
Helen Keller
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special - different in some way
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pressing - putting a force on something
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branches - parts of a tree that grow from the trunk
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picnic- meal eaten outdoors
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angry - feeling mad and full of anger
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fingers - parts of the hand
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clung - held onto or stuck to
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tantrum- an outburst
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scent - the way something smells
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fierce - wild or dangerous
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condition - the way a thing or person is
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predict- say what you think will happen in the future
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terrifying - makes someone feel very frightened
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breeze - a wind that is not too strong
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whip - flap or move back and forth
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sparkle - shines or glitters
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funnel - cone-shape of a tornado
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swirl - twist around and around
UNIT 5
Firefighter!
- station - building where a service takes place
- building - place with walls and a roof
- roar - a loud, deep noise
- masks - coverings for the face
- quickly - in a fast way
- tightly - fitting in a close way
- burning - hurting or harming someone or something by fire
- fireproof - something made to resist burning easily
- hydrant - metal structure connected to a water supply for use on fires
- outriggers - leg-like structures that hold a fire truck steady
- community - people who live around you
- responsible - do a job or take charge of something that others are counting on
- teamwork - group of people put a lot of effort into doing something together
- operation - when a doctor or vet opens the body to fix something
- instrument - any tool used by doctors and vets to help them examine a patient, to help them fix an injury, or to repair a part of the body
- caretaker - a person who makes sure that everything on the inside and outside of a building is clean and in working order
- lug - when you carry or pull something that is very heavy or clumsy
- supplies - things you need to do a particular job or activity
One Dark Night
- pours - rains heavily
- lightning - flash of light in the sky during a storm
- thunder - loud sound in the sky that comes after a flash of lightning
- storm - heavy rain, snow, or hail
- flashes - moves quickly by
- pounds - hits with noise and force
- rolling - making a loud, deep sound
- stray - lost
- nudging - giving a small push
- brooding - worrying or thinking hard
- concern - when you have a reason to worry about something
- growth - process of something getting bigger or developing
- protection - if you keep something from being harmed or damaged
- fragile - if something can break or be damaged easily
- pellets - small balls of material pressed together
- litter - scraps or pieces of trash left around
- pollute - when someone damages the air, soil, or water by making it dirty with harmful substances
- release - set something free or let it go
Bad Dog, Dodger!practice - to repeat an action in order to improve
- grabbed - took hold of something suddenly
- chewing - grinding something between your teeth
- chased - ran after someone
- treat - a special gift, often food
- wagged - moved from side to side
- dripping - liquid falling slowly, drop by drop
- bleachers - raised seats on which people sit to watch sports games
- spectators - people who watch an event
- dugout - shelter where baseball players sit when they’re waiting to play
- behavior - the way people & animals act or behave
- cooperate - when people or animals work together to accomplish a goal
- obedient - when a person or an animal is willing to do what they are told to do
- companion - a person or animal who spends time with you as a friend
- consider- think about very carefully before making a decision
- reprimand - you get a talking to, a warning, or a scolding for doing something wrong
- confident - sure about things or certain you have the ability to do something
- properly - when something is done in a correct way
Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores
- adventure - an exciting experience
- climbed - went upward
- greatest - best or most wonderful
- truest - most real or loyal
- clubhouse - house or structure where a group meets
- exploring - going someplace to discover what it is like
- wondered - wanted to know more
- downhearted - very sad
- sewer - underground pipes that carry away waste
- appreciate - feel grateful or thankful for something
- communicate - talk to each other of keep in touch in other ways such as writing or sign language
- respect - feeling of high regard you have for another person
- demand- order someone to do something
- firmly - say something in a determined way that shows you won’t change
- advantage - in a better or more favorable position than someone else
- defiant - openly disobedient or challenging to someone else
- ferocious - powerful, violent, or fierce
The Signmaker's Assistant
- idea – thought or opinion
- important – taken seriously
- blame – say that something is someone’s fault
- signmaker – someone who makes signs or public notices that give information
- townspeople – people who live in a town
- afternoon – time of day between noon and night
- apologize – say you are sorry for doing or saying something that has upset someone
- citizen – if you are born or legally accepted by a country
- judgment – when people make decisions about what is sensible
- hoard – collect and store something away
- scold – tell someone off or discipline them
- interrupt – stop someone who is talking or stop something that is happening
- protest – tell or show how you disagree about something you think is not right
- troublemaker – someone who often intentionally causes difficulties or problems
- apologize – say you are sorry for doing or saying something that has upset someone
- citizen – if you are born or legally accepted by a country
- judgment – when people make decisions about what is sensible
- hoard – collect and store something away
- scold – tell someone off or discipline them
- interrupt – stop someone who is talking or stop something that is happening
- protest – tell or show how you disagree about something you think is not right
- troublemaker – someone who often intentionally causes difficulties or problems
UNIT 6
Just Like Josh Gibson
- field - piece of land used for some special purpose
- cheers - calls out or yells loudly to show that you like something
- threw - sent something through the air by force of your arm
- sailed - moved smoothly like a ship with sails
- plate - hard rubbed slab that a baseball player stands beside to bat
- bases - places that are stations or goals in certain games, such as baseball
- soar - to fly upward
- forties - the years between 1940 & 1949.
- Louisville slugger - a popular kind of baseball bat
- athlete - somebody who used skills and abilities to compete in sports
- challenge - test of someone’s abilities
- effort - physical and mental energy you use to do something or to achieve a goal
- dainty - delicate and pretty
- disguise - clothes or make-up someone wears to change the way he or she looks so he or she won’t be recognized
- champion - winner of a game or competition
- professional - type of job in which people are paid for their skill and training
- shortstop - infield position on a baseball team between second and third base
Red, White, and Blue
- freedom- being able to do, say, and think as you please
- flag - piece of colored cloth with stars or other symbols on it that represents a state or country
- stripes - long, narrow bank of color
- stars - shape that has five or six points
- nicknames - names used instead of real names
- birthday - the day you were born
- America - another name for North America and South America or the United States
- Congress - national lawmaking group of the United States
- American Revolution - war in which the 13 American colonies gained their freedom from England
- colonies - groups of people who left their own land to settle in another land
- history - all that has happened in the life of a people, a country, or a field of study such as science or art
- independence - freedom from being controlled by other people or countries
- symbol- something, such as a sign, a mark, or an object that stands for something else
- patriotic - shows love and loyalty to his or her country
- unfurl - to unroll or spread out
- frayed - worn away on the edges and threads are hanging loose
- allegiance - loyalty or faithfulness a person feels to his or her country, a leader, a friend, or family
- indivisible - cannot be divided or separated into parts
A Birthday Basket for Tia
- present - gift that someone gives your or that you give someone
- aunt - your father’s sister, your mother’s sister, or your uncle’s wife
- basket - something to carry or store things in
- collects - bring together or gather together
- bank - place where people keep their money
- favorite - the one you like better than all the others
- piñata- decorated container filled with candy and toys that is hung at parties for blindfolded people to break open with a stick
- ninetieth - next after the 89th
- tia - Spanish word for aunt
- celebration - party or other activity in which people might eat, play music, and have a good time together to show happiness about a special day or when something good happens
- custom - something that people always do or have done for a long time
- tradition - custom or belief that is handed down from generation to generation
- create - make something that hasn’t been made before
- inspect - look at very carefully
- angle - the way you look at something
- brilliant - very bright and sparkling
- snapshot - simple picture taken with a camera
Cowboys
- cattle - cows and bulls raised for their meat, milk, or skins
- trails - path across a field or through the woods
- cowboy - person who works on a cattle ranch or a rodeo
- herd - group of the same kind of animal that is kept or fed together
- campfire - fire in a camp used for cooking or warmth
- railroad* - road or track of two steel rails for trains to run on
- galloped - run very fast
- roundup - act of driving or bringing cattle together from long distances
- chuckwagon - wagon that carries food and cooking equipment for cowboys
- bellowed - a loud, deep noise like a roar
- climate - kind of weather that happens in a particular place
- livestock - animals such as cows or chickens that are raised on farms
- occupation - work that a person does to earn a living
- buckaroo - another name for cowboy or cowhand
- drover - another name for a cowboy who herds droves of cattle along a trail
- lariat - a lasso or stiff rope with a sliding loop at one end used for catching horses or cows
- legend - story that has been passed down through the years that many people believe
- rawhide - animal hide that has been tanned or made into leather
Jingle Dancer
- drum - musical instrument that makes a sound when it is beaten
- clattering making a noise like plates or silverware striking together
- voice - sound you make with your mouth
- jingles - to make sounds like bells
- silver - shiny white metal used to make coins, jewelry, and other things
- borrow - get something from a person just for a while
- moccasins - soft leather shoe without an attached heel
- regalia - fine clothes
- shuffled - dragged your feet while walking
- ceremony - something that people do to celebrate a special occasion
- culture - the beliefs, customs, and behaviors of groups of people at a certain time
- festival - program of entertainment often held annually
- compliment - raise or something kind said about someone
- fidget - when you move around in a restless way
- evergreen - type of tree or shrub that stays green all year long such as pine trees
- multicolored - something that has many different colors
- sash - long piece of cloth that can be tied around your waist or worn over one shoulder
