Teaching How to Classify Matter in the Second Grade Classroom

Let’s learn how to classify matter! This post is full of states of matter activities for 2nd grade. Perfect for teaching kids all about the different properties of matter with fun hands-on ideas. These states of matter activity ideas will help you plan your science lessons with ease. The best part about these worksheet and activity ideas is that they are all LOW-PREP and ready to go!

Topics to cover when learning about matter:

The 3 states of matter
How to classify matter
The different properties of matter
How to compare and contrast matter
Matter changing states

States of Matter Activities for 2nd grade: Words to Know

When teaching kids about science, it’s important to review the vocabulary and to see what students already know. In first grade, students learn how to describe objects using their 5 senses, so be sure to use that as a starting point to your unit on classifying matter.

There are 6 vocabulary words that I like to discuss with my class. They are; matter, classify, describe, solid, liquid, and gas. I love showing my students real-life pictures to help them conceptualize the definition. Showing real-life photos is also a great way for your ELL to understand any new vocabulary words.

States of Matter: Videos

Before I have my class explore states of matter activities for 2nd grade, I like to watch fun videos and have students point out different examples of solid, liquid, and gas that they see. Incorporating a great video or book is a perfect way to get your students interested in the new topic.

Here are some fun videos that you can use:

States of Matter: Anchor Charts

Classify Matter with states of matter anchor chart picture

Anchor charts also make a fun activity to introduce science concepts to kids. Here is one I created for my class last year.

I love using sticky notes to write down student responses. Throughout the week, I leave a pack of sticky notes out for them to write more examples of a solid, liquid, and gas. A big plus to using sticky notes on an anchor chart is that you can take off your class responses and save the anchor chart for the following year.

Check out my pack of anchor charts and posters to help you teach your class about the different states of matter.

How to Classify Matter Activities for Kids: Scavenger Hunt

classify matter into solid, liquid, or gas worksheet picture

Another fun states of matter activities for 2nd grade is a scavenger hunt. Once students have learned the difference between the three different states of matter, I love having them go outside or walk around the school to search for more examples of matter.

A scavenger hunt is a great way to get students excited to learn. You could even leave clues around the building to get students engaged and interested in the topic.

Classify Matter by Describing Properties

learn how to Classify Matter with activities on states of matter

In addition to teaching students how to classify matter, I like to teach them how to describe its properties. An easy lab that you can recreate in your class is to have different objects set up around the room. have your class rotate to each station to write down what type of matter it is and what properties it has.

Be sure to practice describing objects beforehand. Check out this post on how to make observations in science: activities for kids to grab a few ideas when teaching about scientific observations.

Sorting States of Matter with Digital Activities

Using digital activities in a science center is one of my favorite ways to reinforce a topic we are learning about in science. I love having my class work on an iPad or computer when they are finished with a class assignment. Google slides also make great homework assignments.

This is an activity from a States of Matter Digital Activities for Google Slides pack in my shop. All of the assignments are pre-uploaded to google slides which make assigning resources a breeze.

Classify Matter with Jell-O

Classify matter and discuss its changing states science lab picture

One of the last topics we discuss in our matter unit is about matter changing states. A fun activity my class loves to eat, I mean complete, is to observe jello being made. Making jello is easy and provides a great visual for students to witness the changes in matter taking place.

More States of Matter Activities for 2nd grade

I hope you have found some ideas you can use as you plan for teaching states of matter activities for 2nd grade. All of the activities in this post are part of my States of Matter Science Activities and Matter Worksheets unit. The digital activity is from my States of Matter Digital Activities for Google Slides pack. Click the links to check out all that is inside to help you plan out your unit on teaching the different states of matter.

Click HERE for the printable unit and HERE for the digital version. OR save money by purchasing the paper and digital bundle HERE.

Be sure to save this post by pinning this to your Pinterest account. That way, you can easily save these ideas to help you when you start teaching states of matter to your kids.