Second Grade Science Basic Principles: 6 Easy Teaching Topics

In second grade, students build on their understanding of the world by exploring different topics in science. My second-grade Science curriculum is made up of 5 units. The first unit I like to teach is my What is a Scientist and Basic Principles Unit. Focusing on second grade science basic principles during the first six weeks of school is a great way to kick off your science curriculum. The topics covered in this post are engaging, and the activities make a perfect addition to any science curriculum.

second grade science basic principles blog image

In this post, I will share with you what my second graders learn during the first six weeks of school and some resources that are my favorite for each topic in my science basic principles unit.

What to teach in your second grade science basic principles unit

The topics included are:

Scientist and Safety
Five Senses and Observations
Measurement
Matter
Measuring Mass
Measuring Volume

1. Scientist and Safety

Scientist and Safety are one of the first topics that I discuss when we start our second grade basic principles science curriculum. I like to focus on different types of scientists and safety rules in our class.

Students love looking at pictures online, researching facts about famous scientists, and sharing what they are excited to learn about in science throughout the year.

2. Five Senses and Observations

The next topic that students find engaging is learning about their five senses. Students learn to make observations by studying different objects in the room and outside. One of our favorite activities we learn about during our 2nd-grade basic principles unit is to eat different types of food and describe what we taste, see, feel, hear, and smell. Students love sharing their observations in class.

3. Measurement

Measurement can be a little boring sometimes, but with the right activities, students will love practicing how to measure objects in your class.

second grade measurement activities picture

A fun measuring activity that my class loved doing each year was to make robots using different strips of construction paper, rulers, and glue to create a robot. It is fun to see how different the robots come out, and they make a cute project to hang up on the wall when they are done.

4. Matter

second grade science basic principles matter picture

The next topic we learn about in second grade is matter. In third grade, students go more in-depth with this concept, but it is fun to touch on the surface about the different types of matter and their properties.

Once students have learned how to determine what type of matter an object is, I have them go on a scavenger hunt outside to find examples of each property. The students love to play on the playground while they hunt for different types of matter.

5. Measuring Mass

Teaching about mass is a topic that can sometimes be a bit harder for students to grasp in second grade. Students have a hard time understanding the difference between weight and mass, but with practice and lots of hands-on activities, they do get the hang of it.

I like to have activities in a science center where students can continuously practice estimating and measuring objects using a triple beam balance or scale to calculate mass.

6. Measuring Volume

The last concept that goes with our basic principle unit is measuring volume. Once students understand mass, I like to then introduce volume.

second grade measuring volume activity picture

Students love to guess how much of something can fit inside of objects. It becomes a fun game to have students compete to see who has the closest guess to what an object can hold. You can also add different size containers with different measuring cups in a science center. I like to have students see how many scoops of rice or water can fit inside the containers to help them practice estimating and measuring volume.

More Second Grade Science Basic Principles Activities

As you build upon your 2nd Grade Science Curriculum, make sure to have as many fun hands-on activities as you can find. Students will connect to the lessons when they are engaging and interactive.

All of the activities in this post are part of my Science Interactive Notebook Bundle: What is a Scientist and Basic Principles Unit.

If you are currently virtually teaching or looking to spice up your technology center check out my DIGITAL Science Activity Bundle: What is a Scientist and Basic Principles.

FREE Yearly Pacing Guide

Hopefully, you were able to gather some ideas to incorporate into your 2nd grade science curriculum. To help you plan out your year, I also created a free yearly overview for science, which makes planning stress-free. Make sure to grab a copy to help simplify your lesson planning!