Bill Nye the Science Guy saying,

Learning about science can offer young children great opportunities to explore and discover new things.

Flaticon Icon of a young boy wearing safety goggles and holding a beaker full of green liquid

Conducting experiments can provide a fascinating and satisfying way for children to see the world through a different lens while learning about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Try out some of these science projects with your 2nd graders and spark their interest in various scientific concepts and processes!

1. Magnetic Magic

Metal bolts and screws scattered across a white table. Some of the bolts and screws are attached to a large circular magnet. Photo by Dan Cristian Pădureț on Unsplash

Allow children to explore the awesome properties of magnets by using various objects to test their attraction!

Flaticon Icon Materials

  • Various objects that are magnetic and non-magnetic (coins, small toys, paperclips, aluminum foil, etc.)

  • Different kinds of magnets of different strengths (horseshoe magnet, bar magnetic stick, etc.)

  • Paper and pencil

Flaticon Icon Directions

  1. Gather materials on a flat, spacious workplace. Separate test objects into one pile and magnets in another pile.

  2. Have children pick an object and hold it close to one of the magnets. Observe to see if it attracts.

  3. Record observations on whether or not that particular item sticks to the magnet.

  4. Repeat the process with various combinations of objects and magnets.

  5. Compare results and look for possible patterns. Which objects were attracted to the magnets? Which were not?

2. Sink or Float?

A blue floatie and a red ball floating in pool water. Photo by Joe Calata on Unsplash

This is an engaging way to teach 2nd graders about the concepts of density and buoyancy.

Flaticon Icon representation of buoyancy with a circle floating in blue water. Two arrows converge toward the circle.

Materials

  • Various objects of different weights (rock, rubber duck, eraser, feather, coins, etc.)

  • A clear, medium-sized container or bowl filled with water

  • A towel larger than your container or bowl

  • Paper and pencil

Flaticon Icon dense cube of particles

Directions

  1. Set up workspace free of electronics, wires, and power outlets. Place the towel down and your container/bowl of water on top of it.

  2. Have children choose an object to place in the water. Have them predict whether it will sink or float and record their prediction on paper.

  3. Place the object in the water and observe. Does it sink to the bottom or float to the surface? Have them record that observation beside their prediction.

  4. Repeat this process with each object.

  5. Compare results.

Olaf the snowman floating happily in the water passing a yellow reindeer floatie.

As they're experimenting with the objects, encourage the children to think about why some objects float and others sink by observing patterns as well as comparing and constrasting the objects.

Flaticon Icon of fishing float floating in rippling blue water What are some unifying characterestics that exist in the objects that float?

Flaticon Icon of a boat sinking into water What are some unifying characteristics that exist in the objects that sink?

Quiz

As they participate in this experiment, how can you best engage children in understanding the concept of density and buoyancy? Select all that apply:

3. Weather, Erosion, and Deposition

GIF of a stream of water running between two canyons in the Grand Canyon.

Here's a great experiment by The Good and the Beautiful that will pique your 2nd grader's interest in the processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition. Through this experiment, they will get to see firsthand how natural processes can shape the earth's land.

Flaticon Icon Materials

  • A sheet pan

  • Damp sand

  • A straw

  • 4-6 Ice cubes

  • Watering can

  • Pitcher of water

Directions

Tray with sand and ice cubes on both upper corners. A woman traces her two fingers down the sand to create a riverbed.

  1. Find a spacious workplace and prop up one side of the sheet pan with a book to create a downward slant.

  2. Use damp sand to build land on the raised side of the sheet pan. Any shape will do.

  3. Place 2-3 ice cubes on the top corners of the sand.

  4. Use two fingers to press down on sand to create a riverbed from top to bottom.

Flaticon Icon

To recreate the processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition, watch the full video below for further step-by-step instructions:

As they're engaging in the experiment, here are two interactive questions you may want to pose:

Water streams down the sand, causing the dirt to break down as the water passes by.

How would you describe the changes you observed in the sand as you poured water down the riverbed?

A riverstream in between the canyons of the Grand Canyon.

Can you think of any ways that humans make an impact on erosion?

Take Action

A casually dressed woman and a boy snap their fingers and suddenly appear in lab attire. Overlaid text reads,

Science experiments provide a great hands-on learning experience that can foster a curiosity and love for science.

When introducing science to 2nd graders:

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