Second Grade Science Topics & Activities for the Year!

Second grade is a big year for discovery, observation, and hands-on learning! Students are ready to ask more questions, make predictions, and explore science in greater depth. Throughout the year, they will investigate the natural world, experiment with simple science concepts, and start thinking like scientists!

Below, you’ll find a breakdown of key second-grade science topics by season and a list of 20+ engaging activities to bring science learning to life!

💡Check out the Libraries for printables or use the search bar.

Fall Science (Sep – Nov)

• Plant & Animal Adaptations – How living things survive in different environments
• Weather & Climate – Understanding patterns in temperature, rainfall, and seasons
• Matter & Its Properties – Exploring solids, liquids, and gases
• Energy & Motion – Introduction to forces like push, pull, and gravity

Fall Science Activities:

1. Leaf Investigation – Compare different types of leaves and their textures
2. Pumpkin Decomposition Experiment – Observe how a pumpkin breaks down over time
3. Wind Speed Test – Make an anemometer and measure wind strength
4. Building a Catapult – Experiment with force and motion
5. Mixing Solids & Liquids – Test which substances dissolve in water

Winter Science (Dec – Feb)

• The Water Cycle – Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation in action
• States of Matter – How materials change between solid, liquid, and gas
• Heat & Temperature – Exploring how heat moves and how insulation works
• Animal Hibernation & Migration – How animals survive cold temperatures

Winter Science Activities:

6. Water Cycle in a Bag – Watch condensation and precipitation inside a sealed plastic bag
7. Snow & Ice Melting Test – Experiment with different materials to see what melts ice the fastest
8. Blubber Experiment – Use shortening in a bag to model how animals stay warm
9. Condensation Experiment – Breathe on a cold mirror to observe water droplets forming
10. Hot vs. Cold Balloon Experiment – See how temperature changes air pressure by inflating and deflating a balloon

Spring Science (Mar- May)

• Plant Growth & Needs – What plants need to survive and how they grow
• Life Cycles of Animals – Comparing different life cycles (butterflies, frogs, birds)
• Ecosystems & Habitats – Understanding different living environments
• Simple Machines – Learning about levers, pulleys, ramps, and wheels

Spring Science Activities:

11. Planting a Bean in a Cup – Observe roots and sprouts grow in real-time
12. Butterfly Life Cycle Craft – Use pasta to represent different stages of metamorphosis
13. Habitat Diorama Project – Build a model of a desert, ocean, or rainforest
14. Building a Mini Pulley System – Explore how pulleys help lift objects
15. Food Chain Sorting Game – Arrange plants and animals into a food chain

Summer Science (Jun – Aug)

• Forces & Magnets – Exploring attraction, repulsion, and invisible forces
• Sound & Light – Understanding how vibrations create sound and how light travels
• Oceans & Marine Life – Investigating ocean animals, tides, and waves
• Recycling & Environmental Science – Learning about reducing waste and taking care of the planet

Summer Science Activities:

16. Magnet Maze Challenge – Guide an object through a maze using only magnets
17. Homemade Kazoo – Learn how sound vibrations travel through different materials
18. Ocean Layers in a Bottle – Create a model of the ocean’s layers using liquids of different densities
19. DIY Sun Print Experiment – Use sunlight and special paper to create nature prints
20. Recycled Paper Making – Learn how old paper is turned into new paper

How to Use These Science Activities

• Encourage exploration & observation – Let students ask questions and test ideas
• Connect science to real life – Show how these topics apply to things they see every day
• Use simple materials – Many of these activities use household items
• Let kids record their findings – Science notebooks or printable worksheets help build early scientific thinking