Literacy Launchpad Booklet
Grade 2 ELA Diagnostic
OCEAN ELA EXPEDITION
NC 1st Grade Review
Explorer Name
Date
Submarine / Class
Part 1: Phonics Power
(RF.1.3 Review)
1
Read each sentence. Fill in the circle next to the word that is spelled correctly to complete the sentence.
The little wooden ______ floated away.
bote boat
The pirate found a gold ______.
chain chane
2
Clap the syllables! Write a slash (/) to split each word into its two syllables. Then write the syllables separately.
s e a w e e d Example: sea / weed
Syllables:
d o l p h i n Split here!
Syllables:
3
Add the suffix to the base word. Write the new word on the line.
float + -ing =
splash + -ed =
Ocean ELA Expedition • Grade 2 Diagnostic Page 1 of 4
Part 2: Vocabulary Venture
(L.1.6, L.1.4 Review)
4
Draw a line to match two smaller words that make an ocean compound word. Then write the whole word.
shell
jelly
fish
fish
5
Read the sentence. What does the word shallow mean?
"The ocean water was so shallow that we could stand up and see our toes in the sand."
Not deep Extremely deep
6
The prefix un- means "not". What does the word unhurt mean?
Part 3: Grammar Guardians
(L.1.1, L.1.2 Review)
7
Write the plural form (more than one) of each irregular noun.
one fish → two
one tooth → many shark
8
Write the correct past tense form (yesterday) for the action verbs below.
Today I swim. → Yesterday I
Today I find a shell. → Yesterday I
9
Be a sentence doctor! Rewrite the sentence below using correct capital letters and punctuation.
did you see the sea turtles in wilmington north carolina on saturday
Ocean ELA Expedition • Grade 2 Diagnostic Page 2 of 4
Part 4: Reading Quest • Story
(RL.1.1, RL.1.3 Review)
Pip's New Shell
Reading Passage A
Pip was a little hermit crab who lived in a sandy tide pool on the coast of North Carolina. He loved scuttling under water, but recently his tiny purple shell felt very tight. Pip realized he had grown bigger! He knew it was time to search for a new shell.
He crawled slowly across the warm beach, looking carefully behind every rock. Soon, he spotted a shiny white snail shell tucked near some green seaweed. Pip slid his tail inside the snail shell to test it. It was a cozy, perfect fit! Pip waved his claws happily at a passing fish. He was safe and ready to explore again.
10
Where did Pip the hermit crab live?
In a deep submarine In a sandy tide pool High up in a nest
11
What is Pip's main problem at the start of the story?
He is hungry and cannot find any plants. He is growing bigger and his shell is too tight.
12
Why did Pip have to look for a new shell?
Ocean ELA Expedition • Grade 2 Diagnostic Page 3 of 4
Part 4: Reading Quest • Informational
(RI.1.1, RI.1.2 Review)
The Busy Coral Reef
Reading Passage B
A coral reef is like a colorful, busy city under the sea. Thousands of plants and animals live there together. Coral reefs are actually made of tiny living creatures called polyps that build hard structures over many years.
Bright yellow clownfish hide inside toxic sea anemones to stay safe from hungry predators. Meanwhile, green sea turtles glide through the warm water to graze on seagrass. Reefs are extremely important because they provide crucial food and shelter for ocean life!
13
What is this text mostly about?
How oceans freeze Life inside a coral reef How boats catch fish
14
Where do clownfish hide to stay safe from predators?
Inside sea anemones Under large boats
15
Based on the text, what is a shelter?
Ocean ELA Expedition • Grade 2 Diagnostic Page 4 of 4
Literacy Launchpad Teacher Guide
Grade 2 Teacher Resource
DIAGNOSTIC TEACHER GUIDE
NC 1st Grade Review
Diagnostic Purpose & 1st Grade Alignment
The Ocean ELA Expedition is designed to assess foundational skills that students learned in 1st Grade. By evaluating their mastery of 1st-grade standards (NCSCOS) as they enter 2nd grade, teachers can identify crucial learning gaps and plan immediate target interventions for small-group structures.
Suggested Teacher Script
"Welcome to our Ocean ELA Expedition! Today, we are going to dive under the sea to show off our ELA explorer powers. This isn't a graded test; it simply helps me see what reading and writing skills you brought from first grade, so we can set sail on our second-grade adventures. Sound out words carefully, and do your absolute best!"
NC 1st-Grade Standards Alignment Matrix
| Section | Items | NC 1st Grade Standard | First Grade Skill Target | Max Pts |
|---|
| 1. Phonics Power | Q1, Q2, Q3 | RF.1.3 | Vowel teams (ai/oa), multi-syllable split, simple base & suffixes (-ing/-ed) | 3 pts |
| 2. Vocabulary Venture | Q4, Q5, Q6 | L.1.6, L.1.4 | Compound words, context clues (shallow), prefixes (un-) | 3 pts |
| 3. Grammar Guardians | Q7, Q8, Q9 | L.1.1, L.1.2 | Nouns, common irregulars, past-tense verbs, cities/days cap & punctuation | 3 pts |
| 4. Reading Quest (Fiction) | Q10, Q11, Q12 | RL.1.1, RL.1.3 | Detail recall (setting), identify character problem/feelings, character motives | 3 pts |
| 5. Reading Quest (Info) | Q13, Q14, Q15 | RI.1.1, RI.1.2, RI.1.4 | Main topic, text details, simple vocabulary in context (shelter) | 3 pts |
Interpreting Student Performance Bands
Ready for 2nd Grade
12 - 15 Pts
Student shows comprehensive mastery of 1st-grade standards. Ready for rigorous 2nd-grade core instruction.
Strategic Review
8 - 11 Pts
Minor learning gaps in spelling rules, vowel teams, or writing punctuation. Support with scaffolded group work.
Targeted Intervention
0 - 7 Pts
Gaps in foundational phonics decoding or sentence writing. Prioritize structured multi-sensory reading intervention.
