Second graders are filled with dreams and ideas about the future. Have the students write several dreams out and work with them to correct spelling, grammar and punctuation issues. Then, have the students cut out cloud-shaped pieces of paper and rewrite their dreams on the clouds. Post the dreams up on a bulletin board. Alternately, glue magnets to the back of the clouds and let the students take their writing home to post as refrigerator magnets.
A personal narrative allows your second graders to tell you about something that happened to them, while developing their writing skills. Give your students a few prompts to get them started such as: my best day, my worst day and my summer vacation. Instruct them to tell you a story from beginning to end on subjects they choose. Work with the students to help them add in details to bring the story to life.
Myths and fables are good models for children's writing because they provide a structure kids can follow. Read several stories from different cultures and children's books to your students, giving mythological explanations for why things are. Then, have each student write his own myth explaining phenomena such as why rabbits hop, why spiders spin webs or why the moon lights the night. Alternately, read fables to the students, then have them write their own fables with a moral at the end.
By second grade, children are already given some freedom to choose which books they want to read. Have your second graders share their reading experiences with the class by giving book reports. Have each student include who wrote the book, what it was about, whether he liked the book or not and why and who he would recommend the book to (sports fans, people who like animal stories, etc.)