Scientific Process Skills
Scientific thinking involves asking questions, looking for evidence, recording observations, and making predictions. These process skills are at the heart of every science investigation we do in second grade. Scientists, like children, are driven by their curiosity. Second graders love discovering things about the world. My science instruction seeks to harness that natural curiosity and mold it into deep understanding by listening closely to my students' ideas and developing those ideas into scientific concepts and thinking through questioning. Rather than covering the science content, we work to uncover it together!
Science Content
In second grade, we explore three areas of science content: physical science, life science and earth science. Our understanding of these areas is deepened through the four units of study we do throughout the year. The units are described below.
Balance and Motion: This is our physical science unit. In this unit, students explore concepts of equilibrium and force through open-ended, hands-on activities. After giving materials to groups of students and setting forth a challenge or question, students are given time to play around, make guesses, use trial and error, and draw conclusions. Then, through class discussions, we formalize our observations in order to understand the underlying science concepts.
Insects: In this life science unit, we study several species by raising live insects in our classroom. Through this study, we learn the needs of living things, as well as the structures, life cycles, and adaptations of different species. We enrich our learning and understanding through independent research reading and writing projects.
Air and Weather: In this earth science unit, we study the air and weather around us. Students make several projects that help them explore concepts such as air resistance and pressure. We also learn how these properties of air create the weather we experience every day. Students learn about the water cycle, meteorologists' tools, and how and why we make predictions about the weather.
Sound: In this physical science unit, students learn about sources of sound, vibration, pitch and volume. The unit culminates with students creating their own musical instrument!
Balance and Motion: This is our physical science unit. In this unit, students explore concepts of equilibrium and force through open-ended, hands-on activities. After giving materials to groups of students and setting forth a challenge or question, students are given time to play around, make guesses, use trial and error, and draw conclusions. Then, through class discussions, we formalize our observations in order to understand the underlying science concepts.
Insects: In this life science unit, we study several species by raising live insects in our classroom. Through this study, we learn the needs of living things, as well as the structures, life cycles, and adaptations of different species. We enrich our learning and understanding through independent research reading and writing projects.
Air and Weather: In this earth science unit, we study the air and weather around us. Students make several projects that help them explore concepts such as air resistance and pressure. We also learn how these properties of air create the weather we experience every day. Students learn about the water cycle, meteorologists' tools, and how and why we make predictions about the weather.
Sound: In this physical science unit, students learn about sources of sound, vibration, pitch and volume. The unit culminates with students creating their own musical instrument!