The Best End Year Activities to Reinforce 2nd Grade Science
The school year is almost over, and your students are dreaming about summer break—but hold up! Before they dash out the door, let’s make sure all that hard-earned science knowledge sticks. Reviewing science at the end of the year reinforces learning, connects different topics, and gets students ready for what’s next. Plus, it’s a great way to boost confidence and remind them how much they’ve learned. With the right end year activities, you can make review time fun, engaging, and stress-free!
Why Is It Challenging to Find Engaging End Year Activities for Science?
End-of-year chaos is real, making it tricky to fit in review time. With testing, field trips, and celebrations, science often gets pushed aside. Plus, students are mentally checked out, already dreaming of summer fun. And even if you have time, finding quality, low-prep resources that keep kids engaged can be a struggle!
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What Should 2nd Graders Know by the End of the Year?
By now, your 2nd graders should be little scientists in the making! They should have a solid understanding of basic scientific principles like cause and effect and making observations. They should also recognize the different states of matter and how they change, as well as identify weather patterns and seasonal changes. Additionally, students should be familiar with the life cycles of plants and animals. Lastly, they should be able to conduct simple experiments, make predictions, and draw conclusions based on their observations.
Need help figuring out what your kids should know? Check out this science curriculum roadmap. It breaks down what I like to cover every week.
How to make the end of the year fun?
Who said science review had to be boring? Here are some ways to keep students engaged:
Digital Activities: Use Google Slides, Boom Cards, and online quizzes to keep things interactive.
Hands-on Experiments: Let them mix, build, and explore!
Games and Puzzles: Try science bingo, memory matching, or scavenger hunts. (This works great with science vocabulary activities)
Storytelling and Role Play: Act out the water cycle or pretend to be meteorologists.
Colorful Visuals: Have students copy down your old anchor charts or make their own posters of science topics they have covered.
Key 2nd gRADE Science Topics to Review
Basic Science Principles
Second graders should understand cause and effect in science, such as how one event leads to another. They should also be able to make predictions based on their observations. Additionally, students should explore forces like push, pull, magnetism, and gravity, seeing how these concepts apply to everyday life.
Science Instruments
Young scientists should become familiar with using thermometers, rulers, and balances to measure and collect data. Learning how to record and interpret their findings helps them think like real scientists!
Matter
Students should recognize the three states of matter—solids, liquids, and gases—and how they change through melting, freezing, and evaporation. Understanding these processes helps them see matter in action in the world around them.
Earth Science
Key topics include learning about different types of rocks and the rock cycle, as well as how water shapes the land. Students should also explore natural resources and conservation, understanding why it’s important to take care of the planet.
Weather
Second graders should identify different types of clouds and weather patterns. They should also understand the water cycle and how climate changes over time.
Life Science
Life cycles are a big focus for a 2nd grade science class! Students should study the life cycles of plants, insects, and animals while also exploring habitats and ecosystems. These concepts help them understand how all living things are connected.
Experiments and Crafts to Try
- Oobleck Experiment – Is it a solid or a liquid? Let students explore this strange, non-Newtonian substance and discover the properties of matter in action.
- Rain Cloud in a Jar – A simple and colorful way to demonstrate precipitation and the water cycle.
- DIY Fossil Imprints – Bring out your students’ inner paleontologist by making fossil imprints with salt dough or clay.
- Plant Growth Observations – Let kids plant seeds and track their growth over time to see science happen in real life!
Fun Science Vocabulary Activities
Let’s be real—science has a LOT of big, tricky words! From evaporation to metamorphosis, these terms can feel overwhelming for students if they don’t get enough practice using them. But here’s the thing—building strong science vocabulary isn’t just about memorizing words. It helps kids understand complex concepts, make connections across topics, and even tackle those tricky word problems in STEM subjects.
When students feel confident with science terms, they can better explain their ideas, ask deeper questions, and engage in meaningful discussions. Plus, understanding vocabulary makes reading science texts (and those standardized test questions!) so much easier. That’s why using science vocabulary activities in a fun, interactive way—like games, hands-on activities, and digital tools—is a great way to review science at the end of the year.
Try these engaging science vocabulary activities to reinforce key concepts while keeping students excited about learning.
1. Science Pictionary
Turn vocabulary review into a game by having students draw and guess science terms! Divide the class into teams, and have one student at a time pick a word from a stack of vocabulary cards. They must illustrate the word (without using letters or numbers) while their team tries to guess it within a time limit. This activity helps students visualize concepts like evaporation, metamorphosis, or gravity in a fun way!
2. Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt
Here is one of my class’ favorite science vocabulary activities to try. Hide vocabulary words or definitions around the room and have students search for their matches. Once they find a match, they must explain the word in their own words or give an example of it in real life. This activity gets kids moving while reinforcing key science terms in a hands-on way. You can also take it outside and have students find real-life examples of their vocabulary words in nature!
3. Flipbook Fun
Give each student a small booklet or folded paper where they can write a vocabulary word on the front flap. Underneath, they draw a picture and write a definition or example sentence. These flipbooks act as mini reference guides that students can use throughout the unit. It’s a creative way to make vocabulary review both visual and interactive!
4. Science Charades
Acting out science vocabulary words can make learning more memorable! Write science terms on slips of paper and have students randomly select one to act out for the class. Their classmates must guess the correct word, reinforcing concepts through movement and creativity. This works especially well for action-based words like condensation, orbit, or photosynthesis.
5. Digital Word Sorts
Use Google Slides, Boom Cards, or interactive whiteboards to create word-sorting activities. Students can drag and drop vocabulary words into categories, such as “Types of Matter,” “Forces,” or “Weather Terms.” This activity strengthens their ability to classify and organize information, making connections between different science concepts. Plus, it’s an easy, no-mess way to practice vocabulary in a tech-friendly format!
By incorporating these fun science vocabulary activities, students will be more engaged and confident in using key science terms.
Websites and Digital Resources to Use
Take science learning to the next level with these digital end year activities resources:
- Mystery Science – Engaging, inquiry-based lessons that spark curiosity.
- BrainPOP Jr. – Short, animated videos with quizzes to reinforce key concepts.
- NASA Kids’ Club – Space and Earth science activities that are out of this world!
- National Geographic Kids – A mix of videos, articles, and games covering a variety of science topics and science vocabulary activities.
How to save time planning your End of the school year activities!
Looking for a simple way to wrap up your science lessons? This Science Curriculum Bundle is packed with resources you can easily use for quick activities for students and more!
- Educational and Fun – Keep students interested with hands-on activities, digital resources, and interactive learning.
- Easy-to-Follow Lessons – Includes colorful posters, vocabulary support, and anchor charts that help reinforce key concepts.
- Versatile and Low-Prep – Perfect for classrooms or homeschooling, this bundle makes reviewing science topics a breeze!
What’s next?
As you plan your end year activities, remember that the fun and learning don’t have to end! An end of year science review is a great way to reinforce learning, boost confidence, and get students ready for the next grade. By using hands-on experiments, games, and end of the year activities worksheets, you can make the process both fun and effective.
A structured, ready-to-use resource like this complete Science Curriculum Bundle will save you time while keeping students engaged. Plus, with built-in science vocabulary activities and anchor charts, it’s easy to review important concepts in a meaningful way. Learning should be fun—even at the end of the year!
