List 17: Grade 2 Spelling Words, Games, and Teaching Tips

Spelling for Grade 2 – List 17: 20 Essential Words with SentencesSpelling skills set the foundation for confident reading and writing. For second graders, learning new words with clear examples and short sentences helps connect spelling to meaning and usage. This article presents a carefully chosen List 17 of 20 essential Grade 2 spelling words, plus definitions, sample sentences, practice activities, and tips for teachers and parents to make learning effective and fun.

The List: 20 Essential Words (List 17)

1. about
2. brother
3. careful
4. change
5. city
6. clean
7. cousin
8. dollar
9. enough
10. family
11. field
12. friend
13. garden
14. hour
15. letter
16. lost
17. morning
18. music
19. picture
20. school

Short Definitions (age-appropriate)

• about — concerning; on the topic of
• brother — a male sibling
• careful — paying attention to avoid mistakes or harm
• change — to make different; also coins given back for money
• city — a large town with many buildings and people
• clean — free from dirt or mess
• cousin — a child of your aunt or uncle
• dollar — a unit of money (in the U.S. and other countries)
• enough — as much as needed
• family — a group of people related by blood or marriage
• field — an open area of land, often for playing or farming
• friend — someone you like and trust
• garden — a place where plants, flowers, or vegetables are grown
• hour — 60 minutes; a unit of time
• letter — a written message; also a character in the alphabet
• lost — unable to find something or not knowing the way
• morning — the early part of the day after sunrise
• music — sounds organized in a way that is pleasant or meaningful
• picture — a drawing, painting, or photo
• school — a place where children learn

Example Sentences (one per word)

1. about — We read a book about animals.
2. brother — My brother helps me with my homework.
3. careful — Be careful when you carry the glass.
4. change — I will change my shoes after soccer.
5. city — The city has tall buildings and busy streets.
6. clean — Please keep your room clean.
7. cousin — My cousin is coming to visit this weekend.
8. dollar — I have one dollar to buy a snack.
9. enough — There is enough cake for everyone.
10. family — Our family eats dinner together at six.
11. field — The children play on the field at recess.
12. friend — Sara is my best friend at school.
13. garden — We planted tomatoes in the garden.
14. hour — It took an hour to finish the puzzle.
15. letter — I wrote a letter to my grandma.
16. lost — The puppy was lost but then found.
17. morning — I eat breakfast every morning.
18. music — We danced to the happy music.
19. picture — Draw a picture of your favorite animal.
20. school — The school bell rings at eight o’clock.

Practice Activities

• Spelling test: Give the word orally and ask students to write it. Use five words per day to avoid overload.
• Fill-in-the-blanks: Create sentences with a blank for the target word. Example: “The ___ is full of flowers.” (garden)
• Word sorts: Sort words by vowel sound (short/long), syllable count, or part of speech.
• Matching: Match each word with its picture or definition.
• Rainbow writing: Have students write each word three times in different colored pencils to reinforce memory.
• Sentence building: Provide jumbled words and ask students to form a correct sentence using a target word.
• Spelling relay: In teams, students run to a board, write a letter, and return—team completes the word.
• Flashcards: Use flashcards with the word on one side and the picture/sentence on the other.

Assessment Ideas

• Weekly quiz: 10 words chosen from the list; include a short sentence-writing prompt.
• Oral spelling bee: Students spell aloud; keep it supportive and low-pressure.
• Dictation: Read a short paragraph containing 5–8 target words; students write what they hear.
• Peer review: Students swap sentences and check each other’s spelling using a word bank.

Teaching Tips for Parents and Teachers

• Keep practice short and frequent: 10–15 minutes daily beats a single long session.
• Use multisensory methods: say, write, and trace words in sand or shaving cream.
• Personalize sentences: let students make sentences about their own lives to boost meaning.
• Praise effort and progress: focus on improvement rather than perfection.
• Link to reading: choose leveled readers containing these words to reinforce recognition.
• Encourage handwriting care: neat letters help students see correct letter order.
• Build routines: same time each day for spelling practice improves habit formation.

Differentiation Strategies

• For learners who need extra support: reduce to 5–8 words, provide word banks, and use more visual cues.
• For advanced learners: add challenge words that extend spelling patterns (e.g., “beautiful,” “although”), ask for synonyms/antonyms, or require two-sentence answers using the word.
• For English learners: focus on pronunciation and phonics; pair visuals and translations when helpful.

Printable Worksheet Ideas (formats to create)

• Word list with traceable letters and blank lines for practice.
• Crossword or word search using the 20 words.
• Cloze passage with 10 missing words from the list.
• Matching column: words to definitions or pictures.
• Sentence scramble: reorder words to make a correct sentence including a target word.

Sample 10-word Cloze Passage (teacher copy)

Fill each blank with a word from List 17.

This __________ has many flowers. Every __________ I eat breakfast with my __________. My __________ helps me tie my shoes. At __________ the bell rings and we go to the __________. We listen to __________ in music class and draw a __________ for art.

(Answers: garden, morning, family, brother, school, music, picture)

Final Notes

Consistent, short, and engaging practice will help second graders master List 17. Mix games, writing, and reading so spelling becomes meaningful, not just memorization. Use the sentence examples and activities provided to build confidence and vocabulary.