In second grade, students learn to plan and conduct experiments. From states of matter and how they transform, to creating Earth models using different materials and more. Observation and note taking will continue to be key during second grade as they learn more advanced concepts that will be essential for them in the future.
Because each state has different science standards, the topics covered in second grade science will vary from state to state and even school to school. When homeschooling, you have the freedom to focus on the concepts that you choose, but some of the most common topics covered in 2nd grade science curriculum are:
Life science (plants and animals and their habits and life cycles)
Physical science (states of matter, electricity, and magnetism)
Earth/Space science (properties of suns, moons, planets, and stars)
Our second grade science lessons build on the skills gained in earlier grades and challenge them with progressively more complex material. While facts are important, an effective science curriculum will encourage students to observe, ask questions, and explore concepts for themselves.
What Science Should a 2nd Grade Know?
2nd Grade Science Goals/Objective
Second graders will acquire a broad range of skills for understanding the natural world around them. This year, they will start making detailed observations, drawing conclusions from data, and even learn how to make use of the information they gather.
Some of the specific goals for second grade science include:
Demonstrating scientific reasoning and logic
Learning to measure in both English and metric units
Applying scientific concepts, skills, and processes to everyday experiences
Describing/summarizing scientific processes both orally and in writing
We live in a world that values discovery and invention, with expanding career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Because we can expect that trend to continue, the science instruction your child receives is more important than ever. When you are researching the best 2nd grade science curriculum, you want to find one that covers essential knowledge, uses hands-on activities to stimulate inquiry, and makes your child curious about the world around them.