science homework for 2nd grade

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Science Worksheets for Grade 2

Understanding our world.

Our grade 2 science worksheets introduce concepts in the life sciences , earth sciences and the physical sciences in ways that students can relate to their everyday lives. The emphasis is on observation, classification and understanding familiar subjects in a more scientific way.

How plants survive, grow, pollinate and disperse seeds.

Animal needs, foods, classification, habitats and life cycles.

Parts of the body, healthy habits and the human life cycle.

Weather and climate

Describing and graphing the weather, temperature and forecasting.

Earth and water

Describing the earth's surface and understanding how it changes.

The solar system

The sun, earth, moon, planets and space travel.

The environment

Natural resources, energy and conservation.

Material properties

Observe and classify materials by their properties, reversible changes and states of matter.

Forces and machines

Forces, motion and 6 simple machines (incline plane, etc).

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2nd Grade Science Worksheets and Study Guides

The big ideas in Second Grade Science include exploring the life, earth, and physical sciences within the framework of the following topics: “Animals” (basic needs, environments, and life cycles); “Weather” (weather terminology and weather conditions); “Properties and Changes in Matter” (solids and liquids); and “Magnetism” (attracting and repelling).

Science Worksheets and Study Guides Second Grade

Earth & sky, earth yesterday and today, earth's weather and seasons, fossils and dinosaurs, moon, star and planets, rocks, soil and water, the sun and earth, using and saving natural resources, physical science, all about sound and light, comparing matter, objects in motion, plants & animals, energy needs, how do plants and animals live together, how living things grow and change, land habitats, mammals and birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, water habitats, did you know... 2nd grade, hands-on lab skills/science inquiry, math in science, science in our world, what is science, newpath learning resources are fully aligned to us education standards. select a standard below to view aligned activities for your selected subject and grade:.

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Free Printable Science Worksheets for 2nd Grade

Science worksheets for Grade 2 students: Discover a world of learning with our free, printable resources designed to spark curiosity and enhance understanding in young minds. Explore, learn, and grow with Quizizz!

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Explore printable Science worksheets for 2nd Grade

Science worksheets for Grade 2 are an essential resource for teachers looking to engage their students in the exciting world of scientific discovery. These worksheets cover a wide range of topics, including life science, earth science, and physical science, providing a comprehensive and interactive learning experience for young minds. Teachers can use these worksheets to reinforce key concepts, assess students' understanding, and encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills. With a variety of formats, such as multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blanks, and hands-on experiments, Grade 2 science worksheets cater to different learning styles and abilities, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to excel in their scientific pursuits. Science worksheets for Grade 2 are a valuable tool for educators looking to inspire a love of learning and a curiosity for the natural world in their students.

Quizizz offers a fantastic platform for teachers to create and share interactive science worksheets for Grade 2 students, along with a plethora of other educational resources. This user-friendly platform allows educators to design engaging quizzes, polls, and presentations that can be easily integrated into their lesson plans. With Quizizz, teachers can track their students' progress in real-time, providing valuable insights into their strengths and areas for improvement. The platform also offers a vast library of pre-made quizzes and worksheets, covering a wide range of subjects and grade levels, making it an invaluable resource for busy educators. By incorporating Quizizz into their teaching strategies, teachers can provide a dynamic and interactive learning experience for their Grade 2 students, fostering a deeper understanding of scientific concepts and a passion for exploration and discovery.

2nd Grade Science Worksheets From Scholastic Teachables

2nd grade science worksheets from scholastic teachables.

Scholastic Teachables (formerly Scholastic Printables) offers more than 800 second grade science worksheets, as well as teaching ideas, projects, experiments, and activities. These engaging resources support science instruction on a range of topics including early science, earth science, life science, physical science, planets, space, and more. They will not only help build fundamental concepts for science and STEM learning but will also foster interest in the sciences and the scientific process.

Sign up today and get instant online access to second grade science worksheets, as well as science lesson plans, mini-books, educational games, and more. Plus, you can access more than 30,000 award-winning printables and leveled learning collections to reach every learner at every level.

2nd Grade Science Worksheets Cover:

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Sample 2nd Grade Science Worksheets

Scholastic Teachables has over 800 2nd grade science worksheets targeted for all your teaching needs. Here's a sample of second grade activities and worksheets for you to try in your class—FREE with a 30-day trial or subscription.

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50 Exciting 2nd Grade Science Projects for the Classroom and Beyond

These simple ideas will help kids fall in love with science.

Kids love science, especially when it involves hands-on experiments. These 2nd grade science projects, experiments, and activities are guaranteed to bring excitement and enthusiastic vibes into your classroom. Your students will learn basic concepts about physics, chemistry, biology, and more while having a blast!

To make it even easier to find the best 2nd grade science projects, we’ve given each a rating based on difficulty and the materials you’ll need.

Difficulty:

• Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much anytime
• Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
• Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time and/or effort
• Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
• Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
• Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete

Nature and Earth Science 2nd Grade Science Projects

Food science activities and projects for 2nd graders, more 2nd grade science experiments and activities.

Explore animals, ecosystems, geology, plate tectonics, and more with these interesting and interactive 2nd grade science activities.

Pollinate like a bee

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic

Use pipe cleaner bees to discover how these pollinators pick up and move cheese powder “pollen” from one juice box flower to the next. Simple, fun, and adorable!

Learn more: Cheese Powder Pollination Activity at Around the Kampfire

Simulate a landslide

This NASA video shows you how to create an indoor landslide in a milk carton, showing students the power of weather, erosion, and nature in action.

Grow a sprout house

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium

This two-part science project first challenges kids to use their engineering skills to construct a miniature house made of sponges . Then, they plant chia, alfalfa, or other quick-sprouting seeds and keep the sponges moist until they start to grow.

Learn more: Sponge Garden at The STEM Laboratory

Re-create the water cycle in a bag

This simple but effective experiment explores the water cycle. Fill a plastic bag partway with water and set it on a sunny windowsill to see how the water evaporates up and eventually “rains” down.

Learn more: Water Cycle Bags at Grade School Giggles

Create an earth model from play dough

Play-Doh has so many uses in the classroom! Use it to teach 2nd grade science students about the layers of the earth by building a fun and colorful model.

Learn more: Layers of the Earth at The Crafty Classroom

Explore erosion with sugar cubes

Simulate the effects of erosion by shaking sugar cubes in a cup with some pebbles to see what happens. Get more ideas for 2nd grade science activities about erosion and weathering at the link.

Learn more: Weathering and Erosion at The First Grade Roundup

Find out which liquid is best for growing seeds

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium

As you learn about the life cycle of plants , explore how water supports their growth. Plant seeds and water them with a variety of liquids to see which sprout first and grow best.

Learn more: Watering Experiment at Lessons for Little Ones

Build a folded mountain

This clever demonstration helps kids understand how some types of mountains are formed. Use layers of towels to represent rock layers and boxes for continents. Then pu-u-u-sh and see what happens!

Learn more: Towel Mountain at The Chaos and the Clutter

Explode a balloon seed pod

After you learn about pollination, take the next step and explore how plants disperse their seeds far and wide. One way is with exploding seed pods. Use a balloon to see how it works.

Learn more: Seed Dispersal Activity at Around the Kampfire

Watch a leaf “breathe”

Plants “breathe” through transpiration, and you can see the process in action simply by submerging a leaf in water.

Learn more: Leaf Transpiration at KC Edventures With Kids

Grow a self-sustaining ecosystem

Plant seeds inside a sealed plastic bottle and observe both the water cycle and the plant life cycle in one simple 2nd grade science experiment.

Learn more: Plastic Bottle Planter at Carly and Adam

Compare and contrast animal habitats

Build a variety of habitats (woodland, arctic, savanna, etc.). Then have kids compare to see how they are similar (all have water) and how they are different (trees, temperatures, etc.).

Learn more: Animal Habitats at KC Edventures With Kids

Discover plate tectonics with graham crackers

Use graham crackers as the Earth’s crust floating on a bed of whipped topping “mantle” to learn about how tectonic plates interact.

Learn more: Graham Cracker Plate Tectonics at Playdough to Plato

Collect and classify rocks

Take a nature walk to pick up rocks of all kinds. Bring them back and have kids examine them closely and sort them into groups by properties (color, size, shape, texture, and so on). This is a fantastic lead-in to learning about the types of rocks.

Learn more: Classifying Rocks at Rhythms of Play

Make edible dirt cups

Help your students remember the four types of soil with this tasty 2nd grade science experiment. Layer pudding, graham crackers, and Oreos for a mouthwatering, memorable lesson.

Learn more: Edible Soil Cups at The Kitchen Is My Playground

Raid the pantry and try these kitchen science experiments with your second graders! They all use common food items to explore all sorts of fascinating science concepts.

Power up a lemon battery

Here’s another classic science experiment every kid should try. They’ll be amazed to learn a citrus fruit can generate an electric current!

Learn more: Lemon Battery at Education.com

Conduct a cookie dunk experiment

Introduce or review the scientific method with a fun and easy experiment to determine which cookies float or sink when dunked in milk. Then you can eat the results! ( Find more great edible science experiments here. )

Learn more: Milk and Cookies Scientific Method Experiment at Around the Kampfire

Use bread to learn about handwashing

There’s never been a better time for an experiment involving the importance of washing your hands! All you need for this one is bread, plastic bags, and some dirty hands.

Learn more: Moldy Bread Experiment at Parenting Isn’t Easy

Drink root beer floats to learn about states of matter

What’s easy to make, delicious to eat, and demonstrates all three states of matter at once? Root beer floats! This will easily be your students’ favorite science lesson of the year.

Learn more: Root Beer Float Science at Learning Lab Resources

Mix flavors in a lollipop lab

Candy science experiments are always a hit with kids! In this one, they’ll dissolve sugary lollipops in water, then mix flavors to make something new.

Learn more: Lollipop Lab at Fantastic Fun and Learning

Learn about osmosis with gummy bears

This is one of those classic experiments your 2nd grade science students will love to see in action. Soak the gummies in water to watch them grow through the power of osmosis.

Learn more: Osmosis Gummy Bears at Nurture Store UK

Freeze and observe liquid expansion

As you explore the states of matter, experiment to see if some types of liquid expand more than others when frozen.

Learn more: Freezing Liquids Experiment at Education.com

Use crackers to learn about properties of matter

Practice sorting, comparing, and classifying using properties of matter in this tasty experiment. All you need is a variety of snack crackers and inquiring minds! (These magnifying glasses would be fun too.)

Learn more: Properties of Matter Cracker Lab at Around the Kampfire

Demonstrate heat energy with chocolate kisses

Give each student two chocolate kiss candies to hold onto for five minutes. Students should keep one palm open, while closing their other around the kiss. See what happens simply from our body heat.

Learn more: Chocolate Kiss Experiment at Sandy Fiorini/TPT

Explode a watermelon

How many rubber bands does it take to make a watermelon explode? Find out while observing the concepts of potential and kinetic energy with your students.

Learn more: Exploding Watermelon Science at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Turn an egg into a bouncy ball

Simply soak an egg in vinegar for 48 hours for this amazing chemical reaction. This is guaranteed to blow your students’ minds!

Learn more: Bouncy Egg Experiment at Cool Science Experiments Headquarters

Build a solar oven to make s’mores

Observe the power of solar energy while baking a delicious, gooey dessert in the process. Yum!

Learn more: Solar Oven Project at Desert Chica

Conduct an egg drop

In this STEM project, your students will create a protective egg holder from simple materials. They will love seeing if their contraption keeps their egg in one piece during the competition.

Learn more: Egg Drop at Buggy and Buddy

Drop a Mento in soda and watch it erupt

Here is another 2nd grade science experiment that will make your students explode with excitement. Drop a Mento candy in different types of soda, and see which one causes the tallest geyser.

Build marshmallow-and-pretzel structures

Get creative while practicing engineering skills by building structures with marshmallows and pretzels. Sweeten the deal by eating them afterwards!

Learn more: Pretzel Marshmallow STEM Challenge at The STEM Laboratory

Kids will love these 2nd grade science ideas, from making their own slime to projecting stars on their ceiling, and everything in between!

Brew up tie-dye slime

Slime is more than just an ever-popular toy. It’s also got a lot of great science behind it. Mix up some eye-popping tie-dye slime and take the opportunity to learn about polymers and non-Newtonian fluids.

Learn more: Tie-Dye Slime at I Heart Arts and Crafts

Dissect a seed

Soak a large seed (beans are ideal) in water, then carefully take it apart to see what’s inside. Draw a diagram to label parts like the seed coat and plant embryo.

Learn more: Seed Dissection at The Applicious Teacher

Use cereal to learn about states of matter

Learn how atom arrangements affect the states of matter with this easy 2nd grade science activity that doubles as a snack!

Learn more: Cereal States of Matter at The First Grade Roundup

Make a bouquet of chromatography flowers

Use chromatography to split secondary paint colors into their original hues. The results are both pretty and fascinating!

Learn more: Chromatography Flowers at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Concoct a foaming rainbow

Every kid loves the classic baking soda and vinegar chemical reaction experiment. This version makes a foamy rainbow, thanks to some added food coloring.

Learn more: Foamy Rainbow at Messy Little Monster

Sculpt pipe cleaner constellations

Help kids find the constellations in the night sky by making these models from pipe cleaners . The little star beads are such a clever touch!

Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Constellations at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Tell time with a sundial

How did people tell time before clocks and watches? Help 2nd grade science students find out by making their own sundials from paper plates.

Learn more: DIY Sundial at Paging Supermom

Race clothespin cars

Explore simple machines by building race cars from basic supplies like clothespins and drinking straws . It’s a really fun way to learn about wheels and axles.

Learn more: Clothespin Cars at The Primary Brain

Build a body from play dough

Play-Doh activities are always fun to do! Visit the link below for free printable mats to use as you have your 2nd grade science students sculpt the bones, organs, and muscles of the body.

Learn more: Play-Doh Body at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Turn pom-poms into crystal balls

Every kid loves making crystals! They’ll learn about supersaturated solutions as they make these cute little crystal pom-pom balls.

Learn more: Crystal Pom-Poms at A Dab of Glue Will Do

Test sunscreen for effectiveness

Kids might wonder why they need to wear sunscreen when they’re at the park or playing soccer. This experiment shows them the power of the sun’s rays and the protection sunscreen provides.

Learn more: Sunscreen Experiment at JDaniel4’s Mom

Design and build an index card tower

Challenge your 2nd grade science students to a little early engineering. Given only index cards , how tall and/or strong of a structure can they build?

Learn more: Index Card STEM Challenge at Education to the Core

Repel glitter with dish soap

Every teacher knows that glitter is just like germs … it gets everywhere and is so hard to get rid of! Use that to your advantage, and show students how soap fights glitter and germs.

Bend objects to test flexibility

Explore one of the properties of matter with this easy experiment. Kids plan how to test flexibility, then try it out with a variety of basic objects.

Learn more: Flexibility Experiment at Around the Kampfire

Discover density with saltwater solutions

This simple experiment covers a lot of 2nd grade science concepts. Learn about solutions, density, and even ocean science as you compare and contrast how objects float in different water mixtures.

Learn more: Water Density at The Science Kiddo

Blast off drinking-straw rockets

Engineer rockets from drinking straws and have a blast when you send them flying! Kids can tweak the design to see whose can fly the highest.

Learn more: Straw Rockets at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

Create a solar system out of play dough

This is a perfect culminating project for your space unit. Your students can display their models at home when the project is complete.

Learn more: Play Dough Solar System at Good to Know

Count how many water drops will fit on a penny

How many water drops fit on a penny? Find out with this fun and easy experiment that focuses on surface tension. Your students will be amazed by the results!

Learn more: Penny Surface Tension at Little Bins for Little Hands

Project stars on the ceiling

Everyone loves visiting a planetarium. Turn your very own 2nd grade science classroom into one with this simple DIY star projector.

Learn more: Star Projector at Mystery Science

Write secret messages with invisible ink

Make your own invisible ink from just baking soda and water, then have your students write messages to one another. Reveal the secret messages with a flashlight once the ink is dry.

Learn more: Invisible Ink at ThoughtCo

Looking for more? Try these 25 Second Grade STEM Challenges To Help Kids Think Creatively .

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Find science resources | tpt, importance of learning science.

Learning science is particularly important for students as it equips them with the essential knowledge and skills to make sense of the world around them. Science education is not just about memorizing facts. It fosters critical thinking, inquiry, and problem-solving abilities. These skills are not only useful in school but also in everyday life beyond the classroom.

Benefits of learning science

Learning science offers many benefits to students both in school and beyond. In fact, it helps students:

• Question the world around them and seek evidence-based explanations
• Cultivate their ability to observe, experiment, and analyze data
• Nurture a sense of curiosity, awe, and wonder about the natural world
• Understand natural phenomena and the laws that govern the universe

With a solid foundation in science, teachers can help empower students to think critically, solve problems, make informed decisions, and engage with the world around them in meaningful ways.

Teaching with science resources

One of the best parts about science class is all of the possibilities for hands-on, collaborative learning! Think: labs, experiments, inquiry-based activities, and design challenges. These activities encourage students to explore scientific concepts by observing, asking questions, and conducting investigations. Additionally, with small group centers, students can engage in group experiments, discussions, and projects that require them to collaborate, share ideas, and solve problems together.

Discover printable and digital science resources

If you’re a teacher or parent looking for printable or digital science resources, TPT has an extensive array of instructional materials for every learning need, topic, or grade level. Whether you're learning about plant parts or butterfly life cycles, or exploring advanced topics like the anatomy of a cell or Newton’s laws of motion, we've got you covered.

On TPT, science resources come in various forms: from labs and worksheets to craftivities and doodle notes. They can be used to enhance learning, assess a student’s mastery of science concepts, or to reteach a tricky topic. With plenty of TPT resources at your fingertips, teaching and learning science will be so much easier. Plus, you can expand students’ knowledge even further by exploring TPT math resources, which are frequently paired with science lessons.

Frequently asked questions about teaching science

What types of science lessons are available on tpt.

There are many different types of science resources sold by Sellers on TPT. Some popular science lessons include biology, earth sciences, chemistry, environment, engineering, and anatomy.

How do I find science lessons on TPT?

Educators can save time preparing science lessons with resources created by experienced teachers. Simply start a search for science resources on the TPT marketplace, and filter by grade level, price, and/or resource type to find materials that've been proven to work in classrooms like yours. No matter what you’re teaching, there are plenty of science lessons and activities sold by Sellers on TPT that are tailored to meet your students' skill levels.

How can I make my science lessons fun and engaging?

Students learn best when they're engaged! Sprinkle a little fun into your science lessons and make them feel like real scientists by investigating everyday objects, exploring the world outside the classroom, and doing hands-on and collaborative experiments and design challenges.

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20 Second Grade Science Experiments That Build Essential Skills

Looking for fun and hands-on ways to teach your students about science concepts? In this post, I’ll share twenty 2nd grade science experiments that will get your students excited AND help them build essential critical thinking skills.

Second Grade Science Experiments

In 2nd grade, students are building a lot of content knowledge in science. They are also developing critical thinking and problem solving skills that will set them up for success in future grades. One of the best ways to build these crucial skills is through experiments.

The twenty second grade science experiments in this post are tried and true activities to teach science content and help students develop critical thinking skills.

Pollination STEM Lab

Pollination is an important topic that we cover in 2nd grade during our Plants, Animals, and Life Cycles unit. This pollination lab helps students visualize the process of pollination in a hands-on way.

In this fun pollination STEM activity, students make a model bee, then simulate pollination using macaroni and cheese powder. Read more about pollination and how to complete this lab here: Pollination STEM Activity

Animal Seed Dispersal Lab

This easy animal seed dispersal activity is a great opportunity for students to design and build models and simulate how animals help plants grow. It’s the perfect activity for demonstrating plant and animal interdependence.

In this lab, students will use a variety of materials to create a model animal. Then, they will test out how seeds stick to their model animal. Learn more about animal seed dispersal here: Animal Attachment Seed Dispersal STEM Activity

Map a Mountain Topographic Map Activity

Add math and map skills to your science activities with this topographic map landforms lab. In this 3D topographic map activity, students will use clay to make a 3D model, then section it with dental floss to make a topographic map. 

Students will begin by making a simple model of a mountain out of clay. Then, they will use dental floss to section their model into equal slices. Check out how to do this activity with your class here: Topographic Map Landform Activity for Kids

Exploding Seed Pod Experiment

In second grade, we take time in science to study a variety of ways that seed dispersal happens. One way plants disperse their seeds is through an adaptation called exploding seed pods.

In this activity, students are challenged to build a model of an exploding seed pod using balloons and seeds. Learn more about how your students can make exploding seed pods here: Seed Dispersal Activity: Build an Exploding Seed Pod

Plant Adaptation Models

Plants and animals that live in water have special adaptations that allow them to survive. Help students understand plant adaptations by creating simple models with everyday craft supplies.

In this 2nd grade science experiment, students will design, make, and test simple models of water plant adaptations. It’s a great activity for introducing or practicing with engineering and design practices and concepts. Check out how to do this activity with your class here: Plant STEM Activities for Kids: Making Models of Adaptations

Second Grade Science Experiments for Teaching Properties of Matter

Ice cream in a bag experiment.

The ice cream in a bag lab is an excellent 2 nd grade science experiment to introduce or reinforce the states of matter.

In this lab, students investigate the effect of temperature on matter as they observe a liquid mixture turn into a solid.

This experiment is always a favorite for my 2 nd graders because they get to learn about the science behind one of their favorite treats. Read more about how this lab is done here: Ice Cream in a Bag Lab

Pop Rocks Lab

In this high-engagement 2 nd grade science experiment, students will explore carbonation using Pop Rocks candy and soda.

The Pop Rocks Lab allows students to see how combining a solid and a liquid can form a gas. Learn about how carbonation is made and how this lab can be conducted here: Pop Rocks Experiment

Sharpie Solubility Science Experiment

This Sharpie solubility experiment explores the question: Are permanent markers really permanent? It’s an excellent simple experiment to use for introducing and practicing the scientific method.

Students will test the solubility of Sharpie pen ink in water, vinegar, and rubbing alcohol. Then they will observe and describe the results in their test. Learn more about how to conduct this 2nd grade science experiment with your class here: Sharpie Solubility Experiment for Kids

Chlorophyll Paintings

Did you know you can make art with chlorophyll? Chlorophyll paintings are a fun and creative way to integrate art and science as students learn about plants, the process of photosynthesis, and how a plant makes its own food.

To complete this activity, you’ll just need white paper, a metal spoon, and some leaves. Check out how we did chlorophyll paintings in my classroom here: Chlorophyll Paintings: Incorporating Art in Science

Cookie Dunk Lab

Get students engaged and learning by using milk and cookies in your 2nd grade science experiments! In this fun and simple science experiment, students explore buoyancy as they learn and practice the steps of the scientific method.

Students will observe and record the properties of various mini cookies. Then, they explore whether each cookie sinks or floats. Read more here: Milk & Cookies and the Scientific Method

Properties of Matter Cracker Lab

In second grade, students learn that matter has observable, physical properties. This 2 nd grade science experiment reinforces this concept by allowing students use their senses to observe, describe, and taste properties of matter.

Students look at, feel, and taste different types of crackers in order to describe their properties. Click the link to read more about the cracker lab: Properties of Matter Cracker Lab

Blubber Glove Experiment

Learning about adaptations is a key component to second grade science lessons about habitats and ecosystems. The blubber experiment demonstrates how arctic animals stay warm in icy water.

Blubber is a thick layer of fat just under the skin of all marine mammals. It is an important and interesting adaptation that allows these animals to survive in cold water.

This 2nd grade science experiment recreates the layer of fat that keeps an animal warm. During this hands-on activity, students will compare the cold they can feel with and without wearing a “blubber glove”. Learn more about how you can make a blubber glove here: Arctic Animal Adaptations: Blubber Science Experiment for Kids

Cheese Powder Pollination Activity

Pollination is an important process in the life cycle of plants, and it can be very easy and fun to demonstrate. In this 2nd grade science experiment, students will use cheese powder from a box of macaroni and cheese to develop a simple model that mimics the function of an insect pollinating flowers.

There’s only a few simple materials needed for this experiment, and all of them can be found at the dollar store. Check out how to do this pollination experiment with your students here: Cheese Powder Pollination Activity for Kids

Flexibility Lab

Flexibility is one of the key observable properties of matter that we learn about in second grade. In this fun and simple 2 nd grade science experiment, students will test and record the flexibility of several objects.

Giving students the opportunity to plan and conduct simple investigations is crucial to promote learning in 2 nd grade. This flexibility experiment is a great way to give students this experience. Learn more about the flexibility lab here: Exploring Flexibility Lab

Parts of a Seed Lab

Learning about plant life cycles is a huge part of second grade science. Give your students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the parts of a seed in a hands-on way with a lab activity.

Have your students dissect and examine the parts and functions of a seed using lima beans. Then, have students identify and label the seed parts they saw first-hand. Check out how to do this easy seed lab with your class here: Easy Seed Science Experiments

Butterfly Life Cycle Labs

Raising butterflies and learning about their life cycles is always a highlight in the second grade school year. Enrich your butterfly life cycle lessons by giving students the opportunity to learn about, observe, and write about the process of caterpillars transforming into butterflies. Learn more here: Butterfly Life Cycle Activities & Free Printables

Lighthouse Water Erosion Experiment

The Save the Lighthouse Lab is a fun and exciting way for students to learn more about slow earth changes and erosion. This activity is more of a simulation to demonstrate how ocean waves can cause erosion and affect the coastline.

Students will use sand, water, and a paper lighthouse template to create a miniature coastline. Then, they will simulate ocean waves and observe what happens to the lighthouse. Check out more on the lighthouse lab here: Water Erosion Science Experiment: Save the Lighthouse!

Landslide Lab

Have you ever thought about how people can protect a town from a landslide? This landslide experiment allows students to explore how people can reduce the impact of landslides.

In this lab, students will complete a simulation of a landslide to design and test ways to help protect towns. It’s an excellent opportunity for students to practice problem solving skills with real-life implications. Learn more here: Landslide Science Experiment to Teach Fast Earth Changes

Gill Demonstration

When I teach my Habitats & Ecosystems science unit, we take time to learn about animal adaptations. In this lab, students explore a well-known fish adaptation: gills. 

This 2nd grade science experiment helps students to visualize the process of gills working in a fish’s body. It is basically a simulation that represents a simplified version of gills allowing a fish to breathe underwater. Read more about how to do this simulation with your class here: How Do Fish Breathe Underwater? Ocean Animal Adaptations Activity

Plant Needs Experiment – Can Plants Grow in the Dark?

Students will get the opportunity to explore why plants need sunlight in this 2nd grade science experiment.

In this lab, students will make observations on two plants over time. One plant will be left in the sunlight, while the other will be left in the dark. Learn more about how to do this experiment in your classroom here: Plant Needs Experiment: Can Plants Grow in the Dark?

Science experiments should allow students ample opportunity to practice critical thinking and problem solving skills. I hope these 2nd grade science experiments help your students have fun while learning key science content and skills! You can find all of these labs with ready-to-use lesson plans, student workbooks, lesson videos and assessments in individual units or in money-saving bundles. 

See the Second Grade Science Curriculum HERE .

Looking for more help teaching science? Check out these posts:

Activities to Teach Science Tools & Safety Rules At The Beginning of The Year

Free Science Movie Day Activities

Free Science & Engineering Practices Posters

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Free Summer Learning Menus

Help prevent summer learning loss. Grab these free Summer Learning Menus and parent letter for 2nd grade and 3rd grade students.

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Hello Friends

I’m Linda Kamp, a 20 year primary grade teacher with a passion for creating educational materials that excite students and make learning fun! I'm so glad you're here!

Getting Started with the Science of Reading

In this post, I share free resources for learning about the science of reading. I offer my favorite videos, podcasts, and books about the science of reading, as well as my FREE Science of Reading toolkit that offers resources to help you put this new learning into action in kindergarten, first and second grade classrooms!

Each day, I receive smart and thoughtful questions from teachers like you who are ready to learn more about the science of reading .  They are eager to read, listen and watch all they can to better understand how children learn to read. They want to bring more effective literacy instruction into their classroom. 

To help answer some of these questions, I decided to create a blog post all about sources that have been most helpful to me in my journey to learn all I can about how children learn to read.  It is the place to come to find the best videos, podcasts, books, and resources about the science of reading. I hope these resources will answer some of the questions you have about effective reading instruction.

Videos about the Science of Reading

These videos are quick and easy ways to gain more information about the SoR. Grab a drink, take a comfy seat, and give them a watch!

Is My Kid Learning How to Read ?

This is an interesting, short 2-part video created by a mom who saw a lot of contradictions between the science of reading and the way her daughter was being taught how to read.  She shows what happens when her daughter tries to read a text without the support of pictures, context, or a repetitive sentence pattern.

In Part 2 , she gives her daughter direct phonics instruction and decodable texts. She shows us how the phonics lessons help her daughter learn to read.  It’s pretty amazing to watch! 

Science of Reading Live Training Sessions with Christina Winter

My YouTube channel and this blog post is where I store video recordings of free SoR trainings I have offered.  You can find videos about:

Decodable Texts  

Orthographic Mapping and Heart Words

Phoneme Grapheme Word Mapping

Sound Walls

Effective Word Study Instruction

Structured Literacy Centers Aligned to the Science of Reading

Phonemic Awareness Instruction

These videos provide you with information and resources to help you bring more SoR-aligned instruction to kindergarten, first and second-grade students.

Science of Reading Podcasts

I am a huge podcast junkie and these are the best ones I’ve found about the science of reading. 

First, the American Public Media Reports team produced four audio documentaries in the past four years about the way children are taught to read. I highly recommend each of them and suggest starting with Emily Handford’s At a Loss for Words , which is part of the Educate podcast .   

Science of Reading: The Podcast is another great one. It shares the latest insights from researchers and practitioners in early reading.  Each episode explores a timely topic related to the reading instruction.

Finally, Anna Geiger of The Measured Mom is a former teacher with a great series of Science of Reading podcasts called Triple R Teaching . She hits on important topics and breaks the new information into manageable parts.  

The Best Books about the Science of Reading

I have spent a lot of time reading about the SoR. These are the books that have been the most informative, engaging, and helpful to me.   

• The Knowledge Gap , by Natalie Wexler. This highly-engaging book examines our country’s frustrating lack of progress when it comes to providing every child with a quality education and suggests how we can help all students acquire the knowledge and vocabulary they need to succeed.
• A Fresh Look at Phonics , by Wiley Blevins.  Anyone who follows me knows I’m a HUGE fan of Wiley Blevins and this book is one of my favorites. In it, he explains the 7 ingredients of phonics instruction that lead to the greatest student gains. He shares lessons, routines, word lists, tips for ELL and advanced learners, and advice on things to avoid regarding pacing, decodable texts, transition time, and more. 
• Equipped for Reading Success , by David Kilpatrick.  This book is SO MUCH information!!  It summarizes the science of reading research results in a clear and easy(ish)-to-read manner.   It is a great way to get up to date on all the recent findings. In addition, the book gives teachers a ready to implement complete phonemic awareness program.
• Speech to Print , by Louisa Cook Moats. For decades this book has been a bestselling, widely adopted textbook on explicit, high-quality literacy instruction.  This third edition now includes ten years of new research, a complete package of supporting materials, and expanded guidance on the how of assessment and instruction in today’s classrooms.  

Free Science of Reading Resources 

After gaining all of this information, I hope you’re feeling ready to put some of it into action! My FREE Science of Reading toolkit is a resource that has everything you need to get started with structured literacy in your K-2 classroom.

The FREE Science of Reading toolkit includes: 

💕 Phonics scope and sequences for kindergarten, first, and second grade

💕 A Phoneme-Grapheme Dictionary

💕 Editable parent letters that teach about the Science of Reading & the Heart Word Method

💕 Heart Word and Syllable Types Teaching Posters

💕 Word Mapping Activities- Seasonal Word Mapping Mats and Pop-it Fidget Mats

When you sign up to receive the toolkit, you’ll also receive a 5-day series of informational emails . Each day focuses on a different aspect of the SoR and will help you understand how to use the resources offered in the toolkit and more free resources to support you.

Drop your email below to get this SoR TOOLKIT instantly!

*87% of the time, school spam filters block emails like mine 😩 Please use a personal address so you don’t miss a thing!

Eager for even more? Take look at the blog post, 3 Steps to Structured Literacy . In it, I share specific instructional changes, as well as free sample resources to help you better align your instruction to the science of reading.   

Are you hoping to help other teachers and/or your administrators bring more SoR-aligned instruction to our school and classroom? Are you facing some resistance from those who aren’t ready to make the shift? If so I have just the blog post for you. In this post , I share tips and resources to help your fellow educators get on board with the science of reading.

Lastly, if you’re looking for more places to learn, ask questions, and converse with other teachers about the science of reading be sure to follow me on Instagram and join my First Grade Bliss Facebook group .  These are two places where I share a lot of information, free resources and engage in conversation with teachers about the science of reading. 

I hope the information and resources I’ve shared today will help you on your journey through the science of reading! What are your go-to sources of information for the SoR? Comment below with your suggestions- I’d love to check them out!

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“Imagine — and if you’re a science teacher, you won’t have to — trying to get through a lesson on the water cycle with students struggling to sound out keywords like ‘condensation’ and ‘precipitation,’” writes Ian Hartigan. (Maskot / Getty Images)

Science teachers, math teachers, history teachers — we’re all reading teachers now

Post-covid, we must catch our older students up on second grade skills without infantilizing the content..

I’m in my fifth year teaching science to fifth and sixth graders, but, like every other teacher at the K-8 charter school where I work, I also teach reading.

Literacy is a foundational skill for learning new content and as an upper elementary science teacher, my soon-to-be middle schoolers have ideally made the vital transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” But pandemic-era school closures drastically cut into learning time, and literacy skills have been slow to recover.

Imagine — and if you’re a science teacher, you won’t have to — trying to get through a lesson on the water cycle with students struggling to sound out keywords like “condensation” and “precipitation.” These are longer, multisyllabic words that students can sound out if they have a basic mastery of phonics, but they become impossible if students lack this foundation. I’ll never forget the frustration I felt when I had planned to teach a lesson on food webs and had to spend the first half of the class teaching struggling readers how to sound out “interdependence,” and “ecosystem.” I can only imagine how frustrating it was for my students!

In pre-pandemic days, it was normal to have a few struggling readers per class. Post-COVID, it has often felt like there are few readers who are not struggling. It was clear that a new approach to literacy instruction was needed — one that leveraged every teacher in our building and gave us ways to catch our older students up on second grade skills without infantilizing the content.

Luckily, training offered by my school, Springfield Prep in Massachusetts, has provided me with tools to help get students reading proficiently again. The school brought in John Bennetts, who specializes in foundational reading skills, to lead the professional development sessions, coach teachers and administrators, model lessons, and work one-on-one with struggling students.

He began by sending a handful of teachers out of the room. One by one, we were each brought back in to read a passage in which a certain percentage of words had been changed to nonsense words.

How could we embed these skills into our classes without falling further behind in our curriculum?

When I entered the room and read the passage out loud, I struggled to pronounce the unfamiliar words. And when John hit me with rapid-fire comprehension questions, it was clear that I had derived no meaning from the text. All I remembered was trying not to sound like an idiot and feeling like a failure.

To make meaning from a passage, John told us, a person needs to be able to read 95-98% of the words . I read the passage at 85% proficiency and couldn’t guess its topic. At 97%, the next volunteer was able to take some educated guesses and get most of the comprehension questions right. Suddenly, what my students had been experiencing over the past two years made perfect sense to me.

The message was clear: We needed to start teaching older students how to sound out and read unfamiliar words. But how could I do this without making my fifth graders feel like they were back in first grade? How could we embed these skills into our classes without falling further behind in our curriculum?

John taught us a word routine that day that gave us and our students a step-by-step process to follow when encountering unfamiliar words. I started using the routine in class the next week. “How many vowels do you see?” I would ask. Students could then figure out how many syllables the word contained by grouping adjacent vowels into one syllable and subtracting a syllable if there was a silent “e” at the end. This allows students to split the word into chunks they can sound out and then put together to pronounce the whole word. After a few months of daily practice, my students weren’t looking at me helplessly as often.

“Challenging” doesn’t even begin to describe the circumstances teachers were confronted with coming out of remote learning. Our school’s approach to reading instruction may not be perfect, but we are trying with everything we have to help our kids get back on track. The resilience and creativity of educators, students, and school leaders nationwide make recovery possible. It makes me proud to be a science teacher who teaches reading, too.

Ian Hartigan is a science teacher and a grade level chair at Springfield Preparatory Charter School in Springfield, Massachusetts.