Grade 2 Science: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 2 science in the Prince Edward Island Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Life Science: Animal Growth and Changes.
- Earth and Space Science: Air and Water in the Environment.
- Physical Science: Liquids and Solids.
- Physical Science: Relative Position and Motion.
Easy ways to practise 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
Animal Life Cycles
Life cycles of butterflies, frogs, chickens and mammals, and how some animals change a lot while others look like small adults.
Growing and Healthy
Practises how animals, including people, change as they grow, what they need to stay healthy, and the basic food groups.
Air & Water for Life
Air takes up space, the three states of water, why all living things need clean air and water, and how people can protect and share water.
Water World
The water cycle, where our water comes from, and simple ways to save water and keep rivers clean.
Wind and Weather
Practises noticing air as it moves, measuring wind and precipitation, and choosing ways to protect things in different weather.
Solids & Liquids
Sorting solids and liquids, describing melting, freezing and boiling, and changes that can or can't be undone.
Mixtures & Materials
Mixing liquids and solids (dissolving, separating), what sinks or floats, and which materials soak up or push away water.
Push & Pull
Pushes and pulls, magnets, gravity, and how surfaces slow things down.
Where Is It?
Practises describing where an object is in relation to other objects, and seeing that the same object can look different from different positions.
Build It to Move
Practises building an object that moves in a chosen way, and predicting and testing what makes it go faster or slower.
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 practising 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 PEI 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 Prince Edward Island Curriculum Grade 2 science units include animal life cycles, growing and healthy, air & water for life, water world, wind and weather, solids & liquids.
Free printable Grade 2 science practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.