2nd grade Science: how to help at home
What your child learns in 2nd grade science in the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, and simple things to try at home.
Focus areas this year
- Heating and cooling, forces and motion, water on Earth, weather and habitats
- Science and engineering practices: testing ideas and comparing designs
- How science connects to people and communities in Minnesota and beyond
Easy ways to practice science at home
- Try a kitchen experiment, such as what dissolves in water and what floats or sinks.
- Keep a simple weather or moon log for a month.
- Ask “What do you think will happen?” and then test it.
- Visit a park, beach or creek and look for living things and their habitats.
What each unit covers
Solids & Liquids
Sorting solids and liquids, describing melting, freezing and boiling, and changes that can or can't be undone.
Changing Materials
Ways to change materials: cutting, bending, mixing, warming and cooling keep the same material, while cooking, burning and rusting make something new.
Push & Pull
Pushes and pulls, magnets, gravity, and how surfaces slow things down.
Water World
The water cycle, where our water comes from, and simple ways to save water and keep rivers clean.
Weather & Seasons
Dressing for the weather, the four seasons in order, day and night, and how plants and animals change with the seasons.
Weather Hazards & Solutions
Practices judging design solutions that reduce harm from weather hazards like floods, windstorms, lightning and snow, and solutions to problems when habitats change.
Plants, Seeds & Pollinators
Practices testing what plants need to grow, and how animals carry pollen and spread seeds.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Beginning
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practicing the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Minnesota report card guide.
Common questions
Try a kitchen experiment, such as what dissolves in water and what floats or sinks. Keep a simple weather or moon log for a month. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards 2nd grade science units include Solids & Liquids, Changing Materials, Push & Pull, Water World, Weather & Seasons, Weather Hazards & Solutions.
Free printable 2nd grade science practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.