cool science experiments for 2nd grade

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Are you looking for science activities to do with your 2nd graders? No sweat. We have you covered. Check out our list of 18 science projects and experiments that you can try with your 2 nd graders this month.

• Hand-Eye Coordination and Age | All-Science-Fair-Projects.com – Grades 2-5, Use a stopwatch and ping-pong ball to find out how hand-eye coordination changes as children get older.
• What Do Yeast Eat…and How Can You Tell? | Education.com – Grades 2-5, The objective of this project is to examine which foods yeast cells eat.
• Can plants be nourished with juice, soda, or milk instead of water? | Education.com -Grades K-3, Learn whether plants can live and grow when ‘watered’ with juice, soda, or milk.
• How Does Color Affect Eyesight? | Education.com – Grades 1-5, Find out which colors are easier and more challenging to read at a distance. This super simple project requires volunteers and color charts you can print from the web.
• A Battery That Makes Cents | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 1-2, Can you make a battery from 24 cents? Make a battery from a pile of coins and find out how different amounts of coins affect the amount of energy produced.
• Sandwich Test: Wrap it Up | Easy-Science-Fair-Projects.net -Grades 1-2, Play with your food by testing how well different kinds of sandwich wraps keep bread fresh. Is the most expensive one the best? Or does the cheapest work just as well?
• How Many Letters? | ScienceBuddies.org – Grades 1-4, How much memory does a computer use to “remember” a series of letters? Find out how much memory a computer uses to remember 1000 letters.
• Jumping For Geodes: Can You Tell the Inside from the Outside? | ScienceBuddies.org Grades 1-4, Can you tell what’s inside a geode from looking at the outside? Learn more out these unique rocks and crack some open to discover the surprises inside.
• How Water Beats Rock | Education.com – Grades 1-5, Discover how water is more potent than rocks.  Experiment with ways that water can break the stone.
• Soil Type and Liquefaction | All-Science-Fair-Projects.com – Grades 1-5, Experiment with sand, clay, and loam and find out which type of soil dissolves most easily.
• Effects of Temperature and Humidity on Static Charges | Education.com – Grades 1-5, Use balloons, a rubber ball, and a scarf to investigate why those socks stick together when you take them out of the dryer and how conditions in the air affect static electricity.
• Ready, Set, Search! Race to the Right Answer | ScienceBuddies.org – Grades 2-5, Find out how Internet search engines work and how you can get different results depending on the type of information you request.
• Paper Airplane Science | Easy-Science-Fair-Projects.net – Grades 2-5, Put your paper airplane making and flying skills to the test. Design and fly a variety of different planes and determine which design flies the farthest.
• Mag-nificent Breakfast Cereal – Grades 2-5, Use a blender and a magnet to find out how much iron is in different kinds of breakfast cereal.
• The Big Dig | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 2-5, Find out which materials are biodegradable, and which ones are not. How can you use this information to help the environment?
• Weather-Related Science Projects | Hubpages.com – Grades 2-5, Learn more about the weather and other aspects of meteorology by using instruments you build. Make a barometer, hygrometer, anemometer… even lightning!
• Hero’s Engine and Newton’s Third Law | Education.com – Grades 2-5, Build an aeolipile(Hero’s Engine) to explore Isaac Newton’s Third Law – for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  Can you predict the movement of the Hero’s Engine?
• Rocky Secrets: Where Does Oil Hide? | ScienceBuddies.org -Grades 2-5, Can you get petroleum oil from a stone? Find out which kinds of rocks can soak up and store the most fat. Learn how petroleum geologists and engineers use this information to find the best places to get oil from the earth.

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15 Simple and Fun 2nd Grade Science Experiments and Activities

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Science experiments and activities are a great way to engage and inspire 2nd grade students in the fascinating world of science. Here are 15 simple and fun experiments that you can try with your 2nd graders:

1. Sink or Float: Fill a tub with water and gather various objects like a rock, a feather, a coin, etc. Have the students predict whether each object will sink or float, and then test their predictions.

2. Rainbow Walking Water: Fill three glasses with water and add different food coloring to each glass. Place a paper towel strip from one glass to another, creating a bridge. Watch as the colored water travels up the paper towel, creating a rainbow effect.

3. Balloon Magic: Blow up a balloon and rub it against a woolen cloth. Then, hold it near a wall or your hair. Observe how the balloon sticks to these surfaces due to static electricity.

4. Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano: Create a volcano by molding a cone shape out of clay or playdough. Add baking soda to the volcano’s crater and pour vinegar on top to create a volcanic eruption.

5. Magic Milk: Pour whole milk into a shallow dish and add drops of different food coloring. Dip a cotton swab into dish soap, then touch it lightly to the milk. Watch as the colors swirl and mix together.

6. Walking Water: Fill three clear glasses with water and add different colors of food coloring to each one. Place an empty glass between them. Fold paper towels and connect the glasses, making sure the towels touch the water. Observe how the colored water travels and “walks” through the paper towels to fill the empty glass.

7. Floating Egg: Fill a glass with water and gently place an egg in it. Note how the egg sinks. Then, add salt to the water and stir until it dissolves. Watch as the egg starts to float due to the increased density of the water.

8. Oobleck: Mix cornstarch and water in a bowl until you have a gooey mixture. Let the students experiment with it, observing how it behaves as a solid when pressure is applied and as a liquid when left alone.

9. Magnetic Objects: Provide various objects made of different materials, such as plastic, wood, and metal. Give the students a magnet and let them explore which objects are attracted to it, noting that only certain materials are magnetic.

10. Solar Oven: Have the students build a simple solar oven using a cardboard box, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and tape. Place a snack like a s’more inside and leave it in the sun. Observe how the sun’s heat melts the chocolate and marshmallows.

11. Color Changing Flowers: Cut the stems of white flowers, such as carnations or daisies, and place each stem in a different cup of colored water made with food coloring. Over time, observe how the flowers change color as they absorb the colored water.

12. Invisible Ink: Have the students write secret messages on a white piece of paper using lemon juice as ink. Let the messages dry and then hold the paper near a light bulb or heat source to reveal the hidden messages.

13. Popcorn Science : Conduct an experiment to determine which conditions (microwaving, air-popping, stove-popping) result in the most popcorn kernels popping. Let the students make predictions and record their observations.

14. Exploring Shadows: Provide various objects and a flashlight. Have the students shine the light on the objects to create shadows. Ask them to experiment with changing the distance between the object and the light source to observe how it affects the size and shape of the shadow.

15. Germination Maze: Give each student a small pot, a seed, and a maze-shaped paper with a clear path. Instruct the students to plant the seed and observe how it grows while following the maze’s route. Measure the growth over time.

These 15 science experiments and activities are sure to engage and excite your 2nd grade students while teaching them valuable scientific concepts. Have fun exploring the wonders of science!

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Matter Matters! – STEM Projects for 2nd Grade

Many second graders are beginning their exploration of matter for the first time. They learn the various kinds of matter that exist in our universe , and how to classify matter by properties they can observe. 

If you’re looking for engaging STEM projects for your grade 2 class, that teach how to identify solids, liquids, and gases with ease, check out these activities below!

Related post: Biology Science Fair Projects for 10th Grade

Matter Scavenger Hunt

One of the most important things we can do as educators is to help students to make connections between the learning they are seeing in their notebooks and the natural world they interact with every day.

Use a scavenger hunt to help students recognize the states of matter within their very own school! 

The world around you and a tracker sheet for students to memorialize their learning.

Instructions

Use this scavenger hunt as an introductory activity to help students identify the states of matter before they begin manipulating them. Explain that students will be given a predetermined amount of time to locate and classify as many different states of matter as possible. 

Give examples! Do you begin every morning with a caffeinated drink? Sketch the bubbles in your drink as an example of a gas. Remember that solids will be easy to find, but students might need help locating examples of liquids and gases. 

Set a timer and release students to show off their learning! Consider expanding the activity to a playground, outdoor classroom, or cafeteria to broaden students’ potential to locate strong examples.  

States of Matter in a Bag

Grade 2 students love projects that they can take home to present their learning to their loved ones. Using this project from education.com , students will not only create a concrete example of each state of matter, but they can also dazzle their parents with the knowledge they are gaining in your class.

You will need a powdered drink mix (such as Kool-Aid), water, an ice cube tray, a plastic bag, and masking tape. 

After mixing your drink mix, freeze the liquid drink into an ice cube tray. Once frozen, remove from the tray and distribute it into students’ plastic bags. 

Consider introducing friction by having your students rub their hands together with their bagged ice cubes in between them. Introduce inquiry by asking them what they are observing during this time. 

If you are brave enough to allow students to keep the bags on their desks to observe throughout the day, ensure that you place masking tape over the zipped portion of the bag to prevent untimely leaks! As the day goes on, ask students to pause and observe their bags. What states are they noticing as the cubes begin melting? As the liquid begins evaporating?

Solid, Liquid, or Gas Model

Some of the best days in classrooms are days where students can incorporate snacks into learning. Children’s eyes often light up when their teacher brings out a container of treats to use in their learning.

Use cereal to represent atoms in this visual display of solids, liquids, and gases!

You will need cereal and this tracking sheet for students to participate in the learning.

Give each student a tracking sheet and a healthy serving of cereal. Help students arrange the cereal like atoms where the atoms within the solids are compressed, the liquids are less compressed, and the gases are the least compressed. 

Once arranged, use this opportunity to discuss the connection between the arrangement of atoms and the shape an item will take. Consider getting students up and moving by ending the activity by asking students to use their bodies to model the atom arrangements! 

Slime: Solid, Liquid, or Gas?

If you’re teaching in a school, odds are you’ve had an interaction with slime. Regardless of whether you’ve fallen in love with the messy substance for the creative joy it brings your kids or confiscated it for being a distraction, you know that students are in love with this non-Newtonian substance! 

Because slime is neither a solid, liquid, or gas, this activity serves as an excellent opportunity for extension. Allow students who have already grasped the concepts at hand to classify individual ingredients along the way and then discuss whether slime fits cleanly into one category or not. 

For this messy but rewarding project, you will need white glue, plastic cups, food coloring, water, Borax powder, popsicle sticks, and measuring spoons. 

To make slime, you will want to mix the water and Borax in a plastic cup. In a second cup, add about an inch of glue mixed with a few tablespoons of water. Pour the water and Borax into the glue and mix well until it reaches the appropriate consistency. 

Pass the slime around the room and allow students to name a property of the slime as they grapple with it. They might give answers like slimy or tell you that it could conform to a container. Ask students about what state slime could be classified as and when they come up stumped, provide them with an explanation that will help them expand their thinking. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my students need to learn about states of matter.

Matter makes up everything in the world around us. Eventually, we will want our students to develop the inquiry skills needed not only to understand the world around them but to manipulate it. Having a clear understanding of the states of matter will allow students to manipulate it with greater dexterity as they grow and learn. 

What age should students be when they learn about the states of matter?

Many curriculums begin instruction of the states of matter as early as Kindergarten where many students begin to learn more about solids and liquids, while first graders can expand on this topic by introducing gas. By second grade, many curriculums ask that students be able to dig deeper by classifying all states of matter.

Why should I do projects to teach my students about the states of matter?

By second grade, most students have not developed conceptual thinking – they are still concrete thinkers. Allowing students to use models and hands-on experiments to learn about this potentially nebulous concept will allow them to grasp it much more easily and transfer their learning to more complicated concepts as they progress to higher grades.

Mark is the driving force behind STEM Geek. With 20 years of experience in chemistry education and research, and 3 willing children as guinea pigs, Mark has a passion for inspiring kids and adults to combine fun and learning with STEM Toys!

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29 Great 2nd-Grade Science Projects Ideas

By Beth Roberts | Last Updated May 4, 2022

This blog post will find over a dozen 2nd-grade science project ideas for children. The best part is that you don’t need any special equipment to complete these projects! If you’re looking for fun and educational science or arts and crafts activities for your kid, why don’t you try out one of these excellent 2nd-grade science project ideas today?

So without further ado, here are 29 great 2nd-grade science project ideas to inspire kids’ creative thinking.

1. Brew Up Tie-Dye Slime 

Brew up tie-dye slime is a simple science activity for kids to explore colors and color mixing. This slime is easy to make, it’s a fun activity for kids to do at home or in school, and it’s a great way to involve them in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning.

2. Make A Bouquet Of Chromatography Flowers 

If your kid loves flowers, this bouquet of chromatography flowers is the perfect project. It’s a fun and easy science activity with kids at home or school. You’ll just need some household items to do this project. This bouquet is a great way to introduce kids to plants, and they will love it!

3. Concoct A Foaming Rainbow 

Concoct a foaming rainbow is a fun science activity that you can do with kids at home or in school. This is an easy DIY project, and kids will have loads of fun creating it. This science experiment on the concept of foaming and mixing colors to make different colors. You can use this concept to teach kids how colors mix to create different colors.

4. Sculpt Pipe Cleaner Constellations 

Sculpt pipe cleaner constellations are a fun science activity for kids to explore the night sky. You can complete this project at home or in school with very few materials. It’s a fun way to get kids interested in astronomy, and it’s also a great way to introduce kids to scientific tools like the telescope, compass, protractor, and leveler.

5. Tell Time With A Sundial 

Tell time with a sundial is a simple science activity to teach kids how to read the time. It’s a fun way to get your kids interested in clocks, and it teaches them how to tell time correctly. You can make this sundial at home or in the classroom with materials you probably already have. This project will also introduce some of the scientific tools that scientists use, such as the compass, protractor, and leveler.

6. Power Up A Lemon Battery 

Power up a lemon battery is an instructive science project that provides a fun way to introduce kids to the world of batteries. It’s also a fantastic approach to engaging kids in science and engineering. This project requires some household items you probably already have around your house. It’s easy to set up, and kids will enjoy doing it!

7. Race Clothespin Cars 

Race clothespin cars is an exciting science project that involves kids in the process of understanding how to manage energy and force. It’s an excellent project for kids interested in science, technology, or engineering. You can complete this project at home or school with limited materials. This is also a great way to teach kids how to use gravity to move things.

8. Learn How Leaves Get Water 

Learning how leaves get water is a simple science project that’s fun to do with kids at home. It’s a great way to teach kids how trees get the water they need to survive. You’ll need some household items such as a paper cup, a pencil, a straw, and some toothpicks to complete this project. This is also an excellent project for showing kids the importance of sharing and caring for nature.

9. Build A Body From Play-Doh 

Build a body from Play-Doh is a fun science activity that you can do at home. It’s an excellent way to expose your children to the fascinating world of biology, and it’s easy enough for them to complete on their own. To achieve this project, you’ll need Play-Doh and some household materials and supplies like glue, toothpicks, markers, and paintbrushes.

10. Grow A Sprout House 

Grow a sprout house is a fun science project to do at home. It’s a fantastic method to get kids involved in food production. This is also an excellent project for teaching kids about caring for the environment, and it allows them to learn about biology, nutrition, and agriculture. To complete this project, you’ll need household materials such as coffee filters, water, paper towels, paintbrushes, and seedlings.

11. Re-Create The Water Cycle In A Bag 

Re-create the water cycle in a bag is another fun and engaging science project. It’s also a fun method to teach youngsters about rainfall and hydrology, the water cycle, and how to draw a water cycle diagram. You’ll need a plastic bag, plastic wrap, toy animals, and food coloring to complete this project.

12. Turn Pom-Poms Into Crystal Balls 

Turning pom-poms into crystal balls is a fun and creative idea for your child to do in the summer. It’s also an excellent technique for teaching children chemistry, electromagnetism, and crystallography. To complete this project, you’ll need water and salt.

13. Conduct A Cookie Dunk Experiment 

Conducting a cookie dunk experiment is an exciting science project that you can do with kids at home. It’s also a fun method for kids to learn about chemistry while spending time with their families. To complete this project, you’ll need some cookie dough, cookie cutters, frosting, and aluminum foil.

14. Test Sunscreen For Effectiveness 

Test sunscreen for energy is a fun and engaging science project with kids. It’s also a fun approach to teaching youngsters about the sun’s dangers while also allowing them to learn about biology. This 2nd-grade science project involves testing different sunscreen brands to see which one is the most effective. 

15. Create An Earth Model From Play-Doh 

This is a fun science project that you can do with your kids at home . It’s easy, doesn’t cost much, and most importantly, you’ll have fun creating your artwork! For this project, all you need is to roll the Play-Doh into small balls and then press it flat, so it looks like the earth. You can use food coloring to color different parts of the earth model to add details.

16. Design And Build An Index Card Tower 

When making an index card tower , it’s important to remember that the design should be simple. This way, your kids will be able to easily understand and build upon it as they progress. For example, use colors to illustrate the index card tower’s height, width, and length. ITake a look at these 50 humorous and educational ways to display your cards if you’re unsure how to do it.

17. Use Bread To Learn About Hand-Washing 

Using bread to learn about hand-washing is a hands-on activity that helps kids understand the importance of hand-washing. It can be in preschool and kindergarten classes as a science project for young kids. Because it is slightly more involved than the other projects listed here, This 2nd-grade science activity should be in the presence of an adult.

18. Explore Erosion With Sugar Cubes 

Corrosion is one of the most exciting and fascinating topics involving the earth, and it can use sugar cubes. This fun science project involves sprinkling sugar cubes on different surfaces such as sand, gravel, and dirt. Then, observe what happens over time.

19. Find Out Which Liquid Is Best For Growing Seeds

Finding out which drink is best for increasing sources has several benefits. First, it’s a fun science experiment for kids. Second, it helps to raise vocabulary. Third, it’s an educational activity that helps kids understand more about plants and the biology of seeds. One of the methods used is to measure the amount of water inside different containers.

ttps:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMJlx19DUzU

20. Repel Glitter With Dish Soap 

Repel glitter with dish soap is an interesting 2nd-grade science project. You’ll need a plastic bottle, dish soap, and glitter to do this. First, fill the bottle with dish soap and then gently put in glitter. Next, let the mixture settle for about 30 minutes. Then, using clear glass, examine the different glitter particles on top of the bottle and those at the bottom. You’ll notice fewer particles of glitter on top because they are from the dish soap.

21. Build A Folded Mountain 

Build a folded mountain is a tremendous 2nd-grade science experiment where kids learn how to fold paper. You need to take a flat sheet of paper, cut out a hill and fold it in half. Then have kids glue it back together again.

22. Drink Root Beer Floats To Learn About States Of Matter 

Root beer floats are a classic party game to play with kids. However, not everyone is aware of the science that underpins the game. You can teach a child about the different states of matter: Take a root beer float and put it on a plate. Put the container in a bowl filled with water. Another root beer float when you take it out of the water!

23. Learn About Osmosis With Gummy Bears 

Learning about osmosis with gummy bears is a great art and crafts activity for kids. It’s also a great science lesson about osmosis and how some things are dissolved in water while others can’t.

24. Build Magnet-And-Paper Clip Trees 

Building magnet-and-paper clip trees is a great science project for kids to teach them about magnetism. It’s a fun and easy project that kids will love. It is a decorative piece in a classroom or a child’s room.

25. Jumping Goop 

Jumping Goop is a fun science experiment for kids. It’s a fun project that kids can do to learn about the chemistry of baking soda and vinegar and how it reacts to Carbon Dioxide. Kids will love playing with this goop. It’s also a great science activity for the classroom.

26. Freeze And Observe The Liquid Expansion 

Freezing and watching fluid expansion is a great science project for kids. It’s a fun experiment that will help them learn about the states of matter, namely solid, liquid and gas. You need to place an ice cube in a glass with water and see how it melts over time.

27. Discover Density With Saltwater Solutions 

Discover density with saltwater solutions is a great science project for kids to learn about density. It’s a fun experiment where they could also make some homemade slime. It also helps teach kids to be careful when mixing concoctions.

28. Egg-Based Chalk Paint

Egg-based Chalk Paint is a fun experiment where kids can learn about drawing with chalk using egg whites. It’s also a terrific way to repurpose those overripe eggs in the fridge that you’d otherwise discard.

29. Magnetic Field Sensory Bottle 

A magnetic field sensory bottle is a fun DIY project for kids to teach them about magnetism. It’s also a great science experiment for the classroom. It allows children to learn about the appeal, the separation of forces, and how to create a mathematical model of the occurrence.

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Last updated by Linda Kamp on December 9, 2022 • 11 Comments

Properties of Matter Activities for Second Grade Scientists

Learning about the properties of matter is a highlight in second grade. In this post I’ve collected some of my favorite science activities that are aligned to NGSS, hands-on, and fun!  Read on to find fresh teaching ideas and engaging properties of matter activities that will both excite and inspire your 2nd grade scientists!

Second Grade Properties of Matter Activities

In second grade, students build on prior science knowledge and expand their understanding. They investigate ways that matter can change and whether these changes are reversible. We explore the effects of temperature and teach students to test and measure the properties of objects then apply their knowledge to real world situations. Students become familiar with science and engineering practices as they plan and carry out investigations, make observations, collect and analyze data, construct explanations, and design solutions to problems.

Here are a few of my favorite lessons, activities and experiments for teaching states and properties of matter in second grade.

Describe the properties. Eat the matter!

Scientists describe matter by their features or properties. This simple cracker lab gives students the opportunity to look closely at different types of crackers to describe and compare their size, shape, color and texture.

  Source: Properties of Matter 2nd Grade Science

Test the properties of everyday objects

Scientists often test objects for flexibility, hardness, absorbency and buoyancy. They may also test if an object is magnetic.

Test objects for hardness

Have students use a paperclip to do  a scratch test for hardness. To do this gather a few items made from of different materials. Some that are hard and some that are soft. Some items to include are an apple, a rubber eraser, a wooden spoon, and a rock. Have students use a paperclip to scratch the surface of each object to determine it’s hardness compared to the other objects. Next, have students then order the objects based on their degree of hardness.

Test objects for flexibility

Try a simple flexibility experiment that uses easy to find materials for students to gently bend and test for flexibility.

Source: Properties of Matter 2nd Grade Science

Explore how engineers are inspired by nature

Scientists and engineers often look to nature for inspiration and ideas when trying to solve problems.

This short video (:57) gives students some cool examples of  inventions inspired by nature .

Build models to solve a problem

Show students this PBS video, How Beavers Build Dams .  Discuss the purpose of this animal’s home to give it shelter from predators. Guide students to understand that it also changes the flow of water. Have students describe the purpose and properties of the materials a beaver uses.

Compare the purpose of a beaver’s dam to a man-made dam. Have students share why they think humans might want to change the flow of water. Investigate further by having students use Legos or other materials to build a model of a structure that can change the flow of water. Students can then test their models in a plastic container to determine if it works as expected.

Make student science journals

Keeping a science journal gives students a place to respond and write about what they are learning in science. Science journals can be used for lesson responses, quick checks for understanding, drawing diagrams or designs, planning investigations, and as vocabulary keepers.

Explore reversible and irreversible changes using Play Doh

One simple way to explore changes in matter is to use Play Doh. Give students 2 small balls in 2 different colors (Dollar Tree Play Doh is great for this.). Ask students to explore ways they can change their matter (Play Doh). Students can cut, roll, and shape their Play Doh then change it back to the way it was to demonstrate a reversible change. To demonstrate an irreversible change have students mix their 2 colors together.

Design a toy using a solid, liquid, and gas

Challenge your students to design and build a toy using all three states of matter.

Provide these materials or anything else you can think of for students to use.

• cardboard, card stock or construction paper
• yarn, string, pipe cleaners, wiggly eyes
• foam craft sheets, gold brad fasteners
• paper clips
• any other craft materials
• school glue
• sponges (they are filled with air)
• bubble wrap

You will be amazed at your students’ creativity!

Use science content to practice literacy skills

Literacy-based science centers are a great way to reinforce science content as students practice literacy skills.

Scientists use many of the skills and processes we teach our students as they learn to read. Much of science content can be reinforced while practicing these skills:

Cause & Effect: Connect causes and effects to teaching students about matter and temperature.

Classifying: Have students classify and sort objects by their properties, states of matter and purpose. Groups of students can then compare how they categorized and classified their objects.

Sequencing: Scientists often take steps in a specific order to test objects and materials. They conduct investigations in a sequential order. Have students sequence steps to planning an experiment, building a model and combining matter (Think root beer floats). Add a writing element by having students explain the steps in writing.

Compare/Contrast: Challenge students to compare the properties and purpose of man-made objects to natural objects.

Source: 2nd Grade Properties of Matter Unit

All of the activities, experiments, and Power Point lessons shown in this post are part of this complete Properties of Matter unit for 2nd grade.

Click HERE for the complete printable unit and HERE for the digital version. Save on the Print + Digital Bundle .

I hope you’ll try some of these properties of matter activities with your second grade scientists. Be sure to pin this post for later so you have it when you plan!

You may also enjoy the science activities in these posts:

Back to School Science Activities

Second Grade Habitats & Ecosystems STEM Activities

Landforms & Earth Changes Activities & Experiments

Milk & Cookies and the Scientific Method

Plant Life Cycle Activities

9 Activities to Teach the Engineering Design Process

Happy teaching!

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I’m Linda Kamp, a 20 year primary grade teacher with a passion for creating educational materials that excite students and make learning fun! I'm so glad you're here!

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30 Second Grade STEM Challenges: Experiments And Their Materials Needed

November 26, 2023 //  by  Suzanne Bucknam

STEM challenges are beneficial to children for so many reasons. These fun and engaging science, technology, engineering, and math activities help kids fine-tune their problem-solving skills, creativity, teamwork strategies, and fine motor skills.

In addition to these benefits, STEM activities also help to reinforce, in concrete ways, children's understanding of abstract concepts that are introduced through books and other classroom media.

These 30 second grade STEM challenges will keep your whole classroom busy and having a great time in the process. Simply provide your students with the supplies listed, present them with the challenge, and let the fun and learning begin!

1. Make a rain cloud in a jar using water, shaving cream, and food coloring.

• Food coloring
• A clear jar
• Shaving cream
• Plastic pipettes

2. Make a miniature greenhouse using clear plastic cups.

• clear plastic cups
• potting soil
• grass seeds

3. Make a tower as tall as you, using only miniature marshmallows and toothpicks.

• mini marshmallows

4. Build a 2D human skeleton using playdough.

5. build a 3d model of the earth using playdough..

• paper plate

6. Use a stopwatch to see how long it takes a gummy bear to swell to twice its original size.

• gummy bears

7. Make a glider using two construction paper circles and a straw.

• construction paper

8. Build 2D and 3D shapes by looking at a drawing.

• craft sticks
• drawings of geometric shapes

9. Design a shelter for a sun-sensitive animal using recycled materials, construction paper, and pipe cleaners.

• pipe cleaners
• UV-Sensitive pony beads
• recyclables
• googly eyes

10. Build a raft using twine and sticks from outside.

• blue food dye
• Rubbermaid storage bin
• roll of twine
• sticks/twigs

11. Build the tallest tower possible using straws and tape.

• drinking straws

12. Design a 1/2 pattern from glass gems on a snowflake cutout. Switch places with a classmate and make each other's patterns symmetrical.

• The Symmetry of Snowflakes (Book)
• circle template

13. Make a dominoes chain reaction that climbs books.

14. using scissors, tape, and construction paper, turn an empty cereal box into something else., 15. build a solar system from legos., 16. make symmetry cards using pipe cleaners., 17. build a bedroom model with legos., 18. make a paper airplane from construction paper that can carry coins., 19. use marshmallows and spaghetti to build 3d geometric shapes..

• marshmallows

20. Make a family portrait out of Legos.

• Lego set, including base

21. Make geometric shapes using marshmallows and toothpicks.

22. build a structure with craft sticks and plastic cups using one wooden cube as the base..

• wooden blocks
• plastic cups

23. Build the tallest structure possible using craft sticks and plastic cups.

• crafts sticks

24. Build a tower using paper plates and toilet paper rolls that will support the weight of a toy animal.

• empty toilet paper rolls
• paper plates
• plastic animal figurine

25. Make outlines of flowers on a geoboard.

• rubber bands
• geoboards and cards

26. Make a pom pom run on the wall from empty toilet paper polls.

• electrical tape

27. Make a bead bracelet with a repeating pattern.

• stretchy string
• assorted beads

28. Build a 3D rainbow from Legos.

29. build an airplane from an egg crate., 30. make an aluminum foil boat and see how many coins it can hold..

• aluminum foil

All Science Fair Projects

1000 science fair projects with complete instructions.

67 Second Grade Science Experiments

We believe in the importance of early exposure to science. A hands-on activity or science experiment is the best way to introduce kids to science! We've handpicked a variety of second grade science experiments that will teach kids science and ignite their curiosity to the world around them.

2nd Grade Science Project FAQ

What are some easy 2nd grade science fair projects.

Each of these second grade science experiments are easy to do with household items. They make a lasting impression on kids, from the classic baking soda volcano to making Oobleck from the Dr. Seuss' book. An easy second grade science experiment is a great way to teach kids about chemical reactions and nature!

Changing the Color of Flowers

Rocket Film Canisters

Popping Popcorn

Make Your Own Fossil

Magic Milk Painting

Sparkling Rainbow Crystal

Making Oobleck: Liquid or Solid?

Baking Soda Volcano

Explosive Elephant Toothpaste

Growing Mold

Science fair project details right above the FAQ!

What is the best 2nd grade science project ever?

We love the Changing the Color of Flowers science fair project for 2nd graders! It's a fun project for 2nd graders to explore transpiration, the way water moves from a plant's stem to its flowers and leaves. Plus, you'll get to make any colored flower you choose!

If you're looking for more 2nd grade science experiments, check out the 2nd grade science fair projects at the top of this page! 

Check out more Best Science Fair Projects →

What are some cool 2nd grade science fair projects?

Get ready to be amazed by these super cool science projects for 2nd graders! With just a few simple things, you can be fascinated by science and have tons of fun with these cool 2nd grade science projects!

What are 5 testable questions for 2nd grade?

A testable question is a question that we can answer through a science experiment. To do this, we do a control science experiment, then we change one thing in the experiment to see how it affects what happens. This is how we can discover the answer to our question!

What makes a cloud form?

Can drink and food taste different just by changing its color?

Does the color of light affect photosynthesis?

Does temperature affect seed sprouting?

What makes popcorn pop?

Here are more testable questions along with their science projects →

What are the top 10 science projects for 2nd grade?

These are our top 10 science projects for 2nd grade, with projects from Biology, Chemistry and Earth Science. These projects can be used as science fair project ideas or as a fun experiment to explore different areas of science!

Watering Plants: Does it Make a Difference?

Powering Up with Potatoes

Sprout Success: Soil Temperature Experiment

Does Milk Help Plants Grow?

The Greenhouse Effect in a Jar

How Much Water is in an Orange?

Science project details right above the FAQ!

Can I do a 2nd grade science fair project in a day?

Yes! Quick experiments can be a great option for a science fair project! If you want to explore quick reactions, we have science project ideas on various topics to get you started.

Acid-base reactions: Mixing acids with bases quickly makes carbon dioxide gas!

Make a rocket fly sky high with just baking soda and vinegar! Rocket Film Canisters

Chromatography reactions: Separate out colors!

Did you know that some Skittles have a secret rainbow hiding inside them? Colors of Skittles Experiment

Heat reactions: Heat speeds things up!

Do you want to find out which color candle burns the fastest? Which Candle Burns the Fastest?

What are some hands-on ways to find inspiration for my science fair project?

There may be free admission days or free passes to a science museum near you! Check your local library for free museum passes, nearby science museums for free entrance days and your credit card for offers.

Find a science museum near you and prepare to be awed by all that you can learn there! I always learn something new and am inspired whenever I go to a science museum!

How do I start a science fair project?

What should I do after I have a science fair project idea?

How do I make a science fair board?

What is the scientific method?

What is the engineering design process?

Where can I find a science fair competition?

The www Virtual Library: Science Fairs website also has a collection of science fairs from all over the world, as well as national, state, regional, local, and virtual competitions!

50 Fun and Easy 2nd Grade Science Experiments & Activities

Kids love science, especially when it involves hands-on experiments. These 2nd grade science projects, experiments, and activities are guaranteed to bring excitement and enthusiastic vibes into your classroom. Your students will learn basic concepts about physics, chemistry, biology, and more while having a blast!

To make it even easier to find the best 2nd grade science projects, we’ve given each a rating based on difficulty and the materials you’ll need.

Difficulty:

• Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much anytime
• Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
• Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time and/or effort
• Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
• Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
• Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete

Nature and Earth Science 2nd Grade Science Projects

Explore animals, ecosystems, geology, plate tectonics, and more with these interesting and interactive 2nd grade science activities.

Pollinate like a bee

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic

Use pipe cleaner bees to discover how these pollinators pick up and move cheese powder “pollen” from one juice box flower to the next. Simple, fun, and adorable!

Learn more: Cheese Powder Pollination Activity at Around the Kampfire

Simulate a landslide

This NASA video shows you how to create an indoor landslide in a milk carton, showing students the power of weather, erosion, and nature in action.

Grow a sprout house

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium

This two-part science project first challenges kids to use their engineering skills to construct a miniature house made of sponges . Then, they plant chia, alfalfa, or other quick-sprouting seeds and keep the sponges moist until they start to grow.

Learn more: Sponge Garden at The STEM Laboratory

Re-create the water cycle in a bag

This simple but effective experiment explores the water cycle. Fill a plastic bag partway with water and set it on a sunny windowsill to see how the water evaporates up and eventually “rains” down.

Learn more: Water Cycle Bags at Grade School Giggles

Create an earth model from play dough

Play-Doh has so many uses in the classroom! Use it to teach 2nd grade science students about the layers of the earth by building a fun and colorful model.

Learn more: Layers of the Earth at The Crafty Classroom

Explore erosion with sugar cubes

Simulate the effects of erosion by shaking sugar cubes in a cup with some pebbles to see what happens. Get more ideas for 2nd grade science activities about erosion and weathering at the link.

Learn more: Weathering and Erosion at The First Grade Roundup

Find out which liquid is best for growing seeds

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium

As you learn about the life cycle of plants , explore how water supports their growth. Plant seeds and water them with a variety of liquids to see which sprout first and grow best.

Learn more: Watering Experiment at Lessons for Little Ones

Build a folded mountain

This clever demonstration helps kids understand how some types of mountains are formed. Use layers of towels to represent rock layers and boxes for continents. Then pu-u-u-sh and see what happens!

Learn more: Towel Mountain at The Chaos and the Clutter

Explode a balloon seed pod

After you learn about pollination, take the next step and explore how plants disperse their seeds far and wide. One way is with exploding seed pods. Use a balloon to see how it works.

Learn more: Seed Dispersal Activity at Around the Kampfire

Watch a leaf “breathe”

Plants “breathe” through transpiration, and you can see the process in action simply by submerging a leaf in water.

Learn more: Leaf Transpiration at KC Edventures With Kids

Grow a self-sustaining ecosystem

Plant seeds inside a sealed plastic bottle and observe both the water cycle and the plant life cycle in one simple 2nd grade science experiment.

Learn more: Plastic Bottle Planter at Carly and Adam

Compare and contrast animal habitats

Build a variety of habitats (woodland, arctic, savanna, etc.). Then have kids compare to see how they are similar (all have water) and how they are different (trees, temperatures, etc.).

Learn more: Animal Habitats at KC Edventures With Kids

Discover plate tectonics with graham crackers

Use graham crackers as the Earth’s crust floating on a bed of whipped topping “mantle” to learn about how tectonic plates interact.

Learn more: Graham Cracker Plate Tectonics at Playdough to Plato

Collect and classify rocks

Take a nature walk to pick up rocks of all kinds. Bring them back and have kids examine them closely and sort them into groups by properties (color, size, shape, texture, and so on). This is a fantastic lead-in to learning about the types of rocks.

Learn more: Classifying Rocks at Rhythms of Play

Make edible dirt cups

Help your students remember the four types of soil with this tasty 2nd grade science experiment. Layer pudding, graham crackers, and Oreos for a mouthwatering, memorable lesson.

Learn more: Edible Soil Cups at The Kitchen Is My Playground

Food Science Activities and Projects for 2nd Graders

Raid the pantry and try these kitchen science experiments with your second graders! They all use common food items to explore all sorts of fascinating science concepts.

Power up a lemon battery

Here’s another classic science experiment every kid should try. They’ll be amazed to learn a citrus fruit can generate an electric current!

Learn more: Lemon Battery at Education.com

Conduct a cookie dunk experiment

Introduce or review the scientific method with a fun and easy experiment to determine which cookies float or sink when dunked in milk. Then you can eat the results! ( Find more great edible science experiments here. )

Learn more: Milk and Cookies Scientific Method Experiment at Around the Kampfire

Use bread to learn about handwashing

There’s never been a better time for an experiment involving the importance of washing your hands! All you need for this one is bread, plastic bags, and some dirty hands.

Learn more: Moldy Bread Experiment at Parenting Isn’t Easy

Drink root beer floats to learn about states of matter

What’s easy to make, delicious to eat, and demonstrates all three states of matter at once? Root beer floats! This will easily be your students’ favorite science lesson of the year.

Learn more: Root Beer Float Science at Learning Lab Resources

Mix flavors in a lollipop lab

Candy science experiments are always a hit with kids! In this one, they’ll dissolve sugary lollipops in water, then mix flavors to make something new.

Learn more: Lollipop Lab at Fantastic Fun and Learning

Learn about osmosis with gummy bears

This is one of those classic experiments your 2nd grade science students will love to see in action. Soak the gummies in water to watch them grow through the power of osmosis.

Learn more: Osmosis Gummy Bears at Nurture Store UK

Freeze and observe liquid expansion

As you explore the states of matter, experiment to see if some types of liquid expand more than others when frozen.

Learn more: Freezing Liquids Experiment at Education.com

Use crackers to learn about properties of matter

Practice sorting, comparing, and classifying using properties of matter in this tasty experiment. All you need is a variety of snack crackers and inquiring minds! (These magnifying glasses would be fun too.)

Learn more: Properties of Matter Cracker Lab at Around the Kampfire

Demonstrate heat energy with chocolate kisses

Give each student two chocolate kiss candies to hold onto for five minutes. Students should keep one palm open, while closing their other around the kiss. See what happens simply from our body heat.

Learn more: Chocolate Kiss Experiment at Sandy Fiorini/TPT

Explode a watermelon

How many rubber bands does it take to make a watermelon explode? Find out while observing the concepts of potential and kinetic energy with your students.

Learn more: Exploding Watermelon Science at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Turn an egg into a bouncy ball

Simply soak an egg in vinegar for 48 hours for this amazing chemical reaction. This is guaranteed to blow your students’ minds!

Learn more: Bouncy Egg Experiment at Cool Science Experiments Headquarters

Build a solar oven to make s’mores

Observe the power of solar energy while baking a delicious, gooey dessert in the process. Yum!

Learn more: Solar Oven Project at Desert Chica

Conduct an egg drop

In this STEM project, your students will create a protective egg holder from simple materials. They will love seeing if their contraption keeps their egg in one piece during the competition.

Learn more: Egg Drop at Buggy and Buddy

Drop a Mento in soda and watch it erupt

Here is another 2nd grade science experiment that will make your students explode with excitement. Drop a Mento candy in different types of soda, and see which one causes the tallest geyser.

Build marshmallow-and-pretzel structures

Get creative while practicing engineering skills by building structures with marshmallows and pretzels. Sweeten the deal by eating them afterwards!

Learn more: Pretzel Marshmallow STEM Challenge at The STEM Laboratory

More 2nd Grade Science Experiments and Activities

Kids will love these 2nd grade science ideas, from making their own slime to projecting stars on their ceiling, and everything in between!

Brew up tie-dye slime

Slime is more than just an ever-popular toy. It’s also got a lot of great science behind it. Mix up some eye-popping tie-dye slime and take the opportunity to learn about polymers and non-Newtonian fluids.

Learn more: Tie-Dye Slime at I Heart Arts and Crafts

Dissect a seed

Soak a large seed (beans are ideal) in water, then carefully take it apart to see what’s inside. Draw a diagram to label parts like the seed coat and plant embryo.

Learn more: Seed Dissection at The Applicious Teacher

Use cereal to learn about states of matter

Learn how atom arrangements affect the states of matter with this easy 2nd grade science activity that doubles as a snack!

Learn more: Cereal States of Matter at The First Grade Roundup

Make a bouquet of chromatography flowers

Use chromatography to split secondary paint colors into their original hues. The results are both pretty and fascinating!

Learn more: Chromatography Flowers at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Concoct a foaming rainbow

Every kid loves the classic baking soda and vinegar chemical reaction experiment. This version makes a foamy rainbow, thanks to some added food coloring.

Learn more: Foamy Rainbow at Messy Little Monster

Sculpt pipe cleaner constellations

Help kids find the constellations in the night sky by making these models from pipe cleaners . The little star beads are such a clever touch!

Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Constellations at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Tell time with a sundial

How did people tell time before clocks and watches? Help 2nd grade science students find out by making their own sundials from paper plates.

Learn more: DIY Sundial at Paging Supermom

Race clothespin cars

Explore simple machines by building race cars from basic supplies like clothespins and drinking straws . It’s a really fun way to learn about wheels and axles.

Learn more: Clothespin Cars at The Primary Brain

Build a body from play dough

Play-Doh activities are always fun to do! Visit the link below for free printable mats to use as you have your 2nd grade science students sculpt the bones, organs, and muscles of the body.

Learn more: Play-Doh Body at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Turn pom-poms into crystal balls

Every kid loves making crystals! They’ll learn about supersaturated solutions as they make these cute little crystal pom-pom balls.

Learn more: Crystal Pom-Poms at A Dab of Glue Will Do

Test sunscreen for effectiveness

Kids might wonder why they need to wear sunscreen when they’re at the park or playing soccer. This experiment shows them the power of the sun’s rays and the protection sunscreen provides.

Learn more: Sunscreen Experiment at JDaniel4’s Mom

Design and build an index card tower

Challenge your 2nd grade science students to a little early engineering. Given only index cards , how tall and/or strong of a structure can they build?

Learn more: Index Card STEM Challenge at Education to the Core

Repel glitter with dish soap

Every teacher knows that glitter is just like germs … it gets everywhere and is so hard to get rid of! Use that to your advantage, and show students how soap fights glitter and germs.

Bend objects to test flexibility

Explore one of the properties of matter with this easy experiment. Kids plan how to test flexibility, then try it out with a variety of basic objects.

Learn more: Flexibility Experiment at Around the Kampfire

Discover density with saltwater solutions

This simple experiment covers a lot of 2nd grade science concepts. Learn about solutions, density, and even ocean science as you compare and contrast how objects float in different water mixtures.

Learn more: Water Density at The Science Kiddo

Blast off drinking-straw rockets

Engineer rockets from drinking straws and have a blast when you send them flying! Kids can tweak the design to see whose can fly the highest.

Learn more: Straw Rockets at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

Create a solar system out of play dough

This is a perfect culminating project for your space unit. Your students can display their models at home when the project is complete.

Learn more: Play Dough Solar System at Good to Know

Count how many water drops will fit on a penny

How many water drops fit on a penny? Find out with this fun and easy experiment that focuses on surface tension. Your students will be amazed by the results!

Learn more: Penny Surface Tension at Little Bins for Little Hands

Project stars on the ceiling

Everyone loves visiting a planetarium. Turn your very own 2nd grade science classroom into one with this simple DIY star projector.

Learn more: Star Projector at Mystery Science

Write secret messages with invisible ink

Make your own invisible ink from just baking soda and water, then have your students write messages to one another. Reveal the secret messages with a flashlight once the ink is dry.

Learn more: Invisible Ink at ThoughtCo

Looking for more? Try these 25 Second Grade STEM Challenges To Help Kids Think Creatively .

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65 Amazing Chemistry Experiments for Kids

Chemistry is so much fun, and we have tons of cool chemistry experiments to share with you. Like our awesome physics experiments , we decided we needed to put together a list of fun chemistry projects kids can do at home or in the classroom. Check out these examples of easy chemical reactions below!

65 Chemistry Experiments You Want To Try

We have divided our chemistry experiments below into chemical reactions, acids and bases, chromatography, solutions, polymers, and crystals. Some chemistry experiments also explore concepts in physics .

Chemical Reactions

A chemical reaction is a process where two or more substances react together to form a new chemical substance. This might look like a gas formed, cooking or baking, milk souring, etc.

Sometimes a physical change occurs, like our popcorn experiment or melting crayons, rather than a chemical change . However, these experiments below are all great examples of chemical change, where a new substance is formed.

CHECK OUT: Examples Of Physical Change and Chemical Change Examples

Can chemical reactions happen safely at home or in the classroom? Absolutely! This is one of the most fun parts of chemistry for kids, and you will find lots of ideas below for safe chemical reactions you can do with your junior scientists.

Acids And Bases

Acids and bases are important for many chemical processes in everyday life. An acid has hydrogen ions and can donate protons. Acids taste sour and have a pH from 0 to 7. Vinegar and citric acid are examples of acids.

Bases are molecules that can accept hydrogen ions. They have a pH higher than seven and can taste bitter. Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda and ammonia are examples of bases. Learn more about the pH scale.

Vinegar and baking soda experiments are classic acid-base reactions. You’ll also find experiments that use an acid such as vinegar or lemon juice. We have so many fun variations that your kids will love to try! Check out these acid-base chemistry experiments below.

Chromatography

Chromatography is a technique that involves the separation of a mixture into its parts so you can see each one individually.

This marker and paper chromatography lab uses chromatography to separate the pigments in a black marker. Or set up a leaf chromatography experiment to find the hidden pigments in the leaves in your backyard!

A solution is a mixture of 2 or more solutes dissolved in a solvent up to its solubility limit. It most often refers to liquids, but solutions, gases, and solids are also possible.

A solution will have its components evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

Chemistry experiments involving solutions are great for kids. Gather liquids you commonly find in your kitchen, oil, water, detergent, etc., and explore what dissolves.

A polymer is a huge molecule made of many smaller molecules layered together in repeating patterns called monomers. Putty, slime, and cornstarch are all examples of polymers. Learn more about the science of slime polymers .

Making slime is great for at-home chemistry! It’s also a classic middle school science demonstration for the classroom. Here are a few of our favorite slime recipes to get you started.

Non-newtonian Fluids

Learn how to make oobleck ! Explore polymers with a simple cornstarch and water mixture. Check out these fun variations of the oobleck recipe below.

A crystal is a solid material with a highly ordered internal structure of atoms, molecules, or ions held together by chemical bonds.

Grow crystals and observe them by mixing a super-saturated solution and leaving it for several days to let the crystals form.

Simple to grow and taste-safe, a sugar crystals experiment is more accessible for younger kids, but you can also try growing borax crystals for older kids.

Check out our fun theme variations of growing crystals too!

Chemistry For Preschoolers

Let’s keep it basic for our younger or junior scientists! Chemistry is all about how different materials are put together and what they are made up of, like atoms and molecules.

What can you do with your youngest scientists? While working 1-1 or in a very small group is ideal, you can explore chemistry in a few fun ways that don’t require a lengthy setup or a lot of directions to follow. Do NOT overcomplicate the ideas!

Take, for example, our very first baking soda science experiment (age 3). So simple to set up, but so lovely to watch the amazement on my son’s face.

Check out these fun ways for preschoolers to explore science…

• Make liquid mixtures! Mix water and oil in a jar, let it rest, and observe what happens.
• Make solid mixtures! Mix two solid items and observe the changes!
• Mix a solid and a liquid! Add ice to a drink and observe the changes!
• Make a reaction! Set up a tray with baking soda in small cups and colored vinegar in small cups with pipettes. Mix and observe!
• Make oobleck ! Mix cornstarch and water for a weird and messy science activity.
• Explore characteristics of things! Use new science words to describe how different materials feel. Explore squishy, hard, rough, smooth, wet, etc…

Much of preschool science is about you sharing new experiences with them that are relatable and simple. A sk questions, share new words, and offer verbal prompts to get them to communicate with you about what they see!

Chemistry Science Fair Projects

Science projects are excellent tools for older kids to demonstrate their knowledge of science. They can also be used in various environments, including classrooms, homeschools, and groups.

Kids can take everything they have learned about using the scientific method , stating a hypothesis, choosing variables , and analyzing and presenting data.

Want to turn one of these fun chemistry experiments into a science project? Then you will want to check out these helpful resources.

• Easy Science Fair Projects
• Science Project Tips From A Teacher
• Science Fair Board Ideas

More Helpful Science Resources

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
• Science Vocabulary
• 8 Science Books for Kids
• All About Scientists
• Free Science Worksheets
• Science Supplies List
• Science Tools for Kids
• Scientific Method for Kids
• Citizen Science Guide
• Join us in the Club

Printable Science Projects For Kids

If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

• 90+ classic science activities  with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information.  NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
• Best science practices posters  and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
• Be a Collector activities pack  introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
• Know the Words Science vocabulary pack  includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
• My science journal writing prompts  explore what it means to be a scientist!!
• Bonus STEAM Project Pack:  Art meets science with doable projects!
• Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics

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45 Fabulous 1st Grade Science Projects That Little Learners Will Love

Hands-on science is a surefire way to connect with every kid.

First graders will cheer when you announce that they’ll get to do a real, hands-on science experiment! These 1st grade science projects are easy for kids to do, with concepts that will help build their science knowledge for the future.

To make it even easier to find the best science projects for 1st graders, we’ve given each a rating based on difficulty and the materials you’ll need:

Difficulty:

• Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much anytime
• Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
• Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time and/or effort
• Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
• Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
• Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete

Animal and Nature Science Projects for 1st Grade

Weather science experiments for 1st grade.

• More 1st Grade Science Experiments and Projects

Learn about animals, plants, and the Earth in general with these fun science activities for first graders.

Sort animals by features

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic

Use a printable or pull out the toy animals and have kids sort them into categories. It’s an early introduction to classification systems.

Learn more: Animal Sort at Fairy Poppins

Build the layers of Earth with Play-Doh

Another creative use for Play-Doh! Teach your students about the different layers of Earth and then have them create the layers using different colors of Play-Doh.

Learn more: Layers of the Earth at Evans Elementary School

Turn a plastic bag into a greenhouse

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium

Turn your 1st grade science class into gardeners! Use a damp paper towel in a plastic bag to allow them to see a seed sprouting and growing roots.

Learn more: Greenhouse Bag at Lessons for Little Ones

See how shadows change throughout the day

Start in the morning: Have kids stand in one spot on the playground while a partner traces their shadow with sidewalk chalk . Ask them what they think will happen when they stand in the same spot during the afternoon, then head back outside after lunch to find out.

Learn more: Shadow Experiment at The First Grade Roundup

Discover how plants drink water

Capillary action is the name of the game, and your 1st grade science kiddos will be amazed at the results. Place celery stalks in cups of colored water, and watch as the leaves change color!

Learn more: Capillary Action at Lessons for Little Ones

Build a bird feeder

Set young engineers loose with wood craft sticks , glue, and string to create a bird feeder. Then research the best seeds to fill them with, and hang them outside your classroom window to draw in some feathered friends.

Learn more: DIY Bird Feeder at Mombrite

Observe the birds at your feeder

Once your feeder is in place, teach kids to identify common birds and keep track of their visits. Report their findings to one of Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Citizen Science projects to let kids be part of real-life research. ( Find more bird-watching activities for kids here. )

Experiment with apples and oxidation

Apples turn brown when they’re cut open due to oxidation. Is there any way to prevent that from happening? This experiment aims to find out. ( Explore more apple activities here. )

Learn more: Apples Experiment at Camping Teacher

Use colorful beads to learn about camouflage

Animal camouflage is an important way for prey to protect itself from predators. To learn how effective it can be, place matching colored beads on top of a photo of wildflowers and see how long it takes students to find them all.

Learn more: Camouflage Activity at The First Grader Roundup

Expose a sponge fish to pollution

It’s never too early to start learning about how important it is to protect the Earth. Use sponge “fish” to see how polluted water affects the wildlife living in it.

Learn more: Pollution Experiment at The Owl Teacher

Dig in the dirt with claws

Animal adaptations allow creatures to live in just about every environment on Earth. Learn how claws help some animals survive and thrive by gluing plastic spoons to a glove.

Learn more: Claw Glove at The First Grade Roundup

Observe plant transpiration

Many plants take in more water than they need. What happens to the rest? Wrap a plastic bag around a living tree branch to see transpiration in action.

Learn more:  Leaf Transpiration at Teach Beside Me

Try these science activities to explore wind, rain, and more with your firsties.

Create a weather vane

A weather vane is one of the oldest scientific tools—they help people know which way the wind is blowing. Learn how to make your own with this cool weather experiment.

Learn more: Weathervane Experiment at Rookie Parenting

Grow a rainbow

Kids learn the colors of the rainbow along with chromatography as they watch marker streaks climb up and meet across a wet paper towel. The word might be a big one for little kids to learn, but they’ll love to see it in action!

Learn more: Grow a Rainbow at The Best Ideas for Kids

Make it rain

You need rain to make a rainbow. Simulate a rain cloud in a jar with shaving cream and food coloring, and see how the coloring saturates the “cloud” until it simply must fall.

Learn more: Shaving Cream Clouds at Fun Learning for Kids

Create frost in a can

This is an especially fun experiment during those chilly winter months. First, fill the can with ice and halfway with water. Then have the kids sprinkle salt in the can and cover the top. Finally, shake it and wait about three minutes for the frost to begin to appear.

Learn more: Frost in a Can at Kindergarten Worksheets and Games

Create an avalanche

Learn about the destructive power of an avalanche in a safe way with this experiment. All you need is flour, cornmeal, pebbles, and a plastic tray.

Learn more: Avalanche Experiment at A Dab of Glue Will Do

More 1st Grade Science Projects and Experiments

Looking for more? Try these experiments on a range of subjects to teach first graders all about science.

Give gummy bears a bath

Drop gummy bears into different liquid solutions to see how they change (or don’t) over time. Kids will learn about osmosis, as well as how scientists must be good observers.

Learn more: Gummy Bear Experiment at First Grade Buddies + Co

Play a DIY flute

These homemade flutes are fun to play, but they also help young kids learn about sound. Let them experiment with straw lengths to see what tones they can make.

Learn more: DIY Pan Flute at Buggy and Buddy

Play with Play-Doh to learn why we have bones

Ask kids to build a person from Play-Doh and see if it will stand on its own. Then show them how adding drinking straws gives it structure and strength, and explain that bones do the same for us! ( Get more clever ways to use Play-Doh in the classroom here. )

Learn more: Play-Doh Bones at Keeping My Kiddo Busy

Find out which objects magnets attract

Equip students with magnets and send them out to explore and discover which objects the magnet will stick to and which won’t. Record their findings on the free printable worksheet at the link.

Learn more: Magnet Science Experiments at Fairy Poppins

Grow a crystal garden

First grade science students might not grasp the concept of supersaturated solutions, but they’ll still love a good crystal project! Grab some magnifying glasses and let them examine the crystals up close (try not to touch, as they’re very fragile) to see the cool geometric structures.

Learn more: Crystal Garden at Babble Dabble Do

Build a jelly bean structure

If you’re doing this STEM project in the spring, jelly beans make the perfect base. If you can’t get a hold of jelly beans, try substituting tiny marshmallows in their place. Make sure to have some extras on hand since little hands are likely to snack as they build.

Learn more: Jellybean STEM Challenge at The STEM Laboratory

Experiment with marshmallow Peeps

Peeps used to just be an Easter treat, but these days you can find them in different shapes throughout much of the year. Use them to practice making predictions and recording observations with this sweet experiment.

Learn more: Easter Peeps Science Experiment at Gift of Curiosity

Spark excitement with static electricity

No doubt your 1st grade science students have already encountered static electricity by rubbing a balloon on their hair. This experiment takes things a step further, letting kids explore which objects an electrically charged balloon can pick up and which it can’t.

Learn more: Static Electricity Balloons at Kids Activities Blog

Melt crayons to explore solids and liquids

Dig out some old crayons and use them for this easy experiment that demonstrates the difference between liquids and solids. When you’re done, you’ll have a cool piece of art to display. ( Discover more uses for broken crayons here. )

Learn more: Melting Crayons at First Grade Circle

Talk through a paper cup phone

This classic experiment will help your 1st grade science class understand that sound travels in waves, through the air, and across other objects. Watching their faces light up when they hear whispers in their cups will make your day!

Learn more: Paper Cup Phone at There’s Just One Mommy

Blow a bubble snake

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic

You’ll need to plan this experiment for a day with nice weather since it is best suited to outdoors. You will need an empty water bottle, a washcloth, a rubber band, a small bowl or plate, food coloring, scissors or box cutters, distilled water, dish soap, and Karo syrup or glycerin. There’s a lot of prep, but the end result is definitely worth it!

Learn more: Bubble Snakes at Hand 2 Mind

Learn why we have night and day

The Earth’s daily rotation gives us days and nights. This simple demo helps kids understand that. They draw a day scene and a night scene on a paper plate, then cover it with half of another plate that can be moved. This is an art project and 1st grade science experiment all rolled into one.

Learn more: Night and Day Play at Universe Awareness

Float food coloring on milk

Learn about surface tension by dropping food coloring onto different types of milk (whole, skim, cream, etc.). Then use dish soap to break down the fats and surface tension, and watch the colors dance!

Learn more: Surface Tension Milk at STEAMsational

Drop water onto a penny

Continue your exploration of surface tension by adding water drop-by-drop to a penny. The surface tension will allow you to add far more water than you might think.

Will it sink or swim?

Ask students to predict whether a variety of items will sink or float in water. Then test each object to check their hypotheses.

Blow up a balloon using yeast

This is similar to the classic lemon juice and baking soda experiment many kids do at some point. But this one is better for younger kids since you don’t have to worry about them splashing the juice in their eyes. Kids will be just as astonished at the results as the yeast eats the sugar and produces carbon dioxide gas!

Learn more: Yeast Balloon Experiment at The STEM Laboratory

Push on air

Teach your students about air compression and air pressure using a barrel, plunger, syringe, and flexible tube. Kids will definitely get a kick out of air wrestling and popping off their plungers using air pressure.

Learn more: Air Pressure Experiment at First Grade Adventurers

Test your reaction time

Do your students have lightning-quick reflexes? Find out with this easy experiment. One student holds a ruler vertically, while another places their hand just beneath and waits. When the first student drops the ruler, the second catches it as quickly as possible, seeing how many inches passed through their fingers first.

Learn more: Reaction Time Experiment at Science Sparks

Assemble a DIY lava lamp

Your firsties are too young to remember the lava lamp craze, but this science project will give them a taste of it as they learn about liquid density.

Learn more: Salt Volcano Lava Lamp at What Do We Do All Day?

Learn the scientific method with candy

See the scientific method in action as kids hypothesize what will happen to various types of candy in the hot sun. Observe, record, and analyze your results to see if their predictions were correct.

Learn more: Candy Scientific Method Activity at Playdough to Plato

Look into mirrors to discover symmetry

By now, 1st grade science students may have noticed that mirrors reflect objects backward. Ask them to write the alphabet in capital letters, then hold it up to the mirror. Which letters are the same when they’re reflected? Use those findings to talk about symmetry.

Learn more: Mirror Symmetry at Buggy and Buddy

Create a super-simple circuit

This is the perfect way to introduce the concept of electricity to young students since the materials and steps are minimal. You will need a D battery, tinfoil, electrical tape, and a light bulb from a flashlight.

Learn more: Super-Simple Circuit at What Do We Do All Day?

“Bend” a pencil using light refraction

Tell your students you’re going to bend a pencil without touching it. Drop it into a glass of water and have them look at it from the side. Light refraction makes it appear to be in two pieces!

Learn more: Bending Pencil Experiment at STEAMsational

Roll marbles to explore momentum

Momentum is “mass in motion,” but what does that really mean? Find out by rolling marbles of different sizes down rulers placed at various slopes.

Learn more: Momentum Experiments at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

Dunk eggs to understand dental health

Grown-ups are always telling kids sugary drinks are bad for their teeth, so try this experiment to put your money where your mouth is! Eggshells are a good substitute for teeth since they’re both made of calcium. Leave eggs in different kinds of beverages to see which ones do the most damage to the shells.

Learn more: Dental Health Eggs at First Grade Funtastic

Melt ice cubes to make new colors

Color mixing is one of those incredibly cool activities that kids will want to try again and again. Make ice cubes using primary colors, then let them melt together to see what new colors you can create.

Learn more: Color Mixing at Gift of Curiosity

Fly a paper airplane

Kid absolutely love creating and flying paper airplanes, so this experiment is sure to be a hit. Have your students create different-style planes and then experiment with thrust and lift to see which fly the farthest, highest, etc.

Weigh items with a homemade balance scale

Make a simple balance scale with a coat hanger, yarn, and some plastic cups. Have students gather items from around the classroom, make predictions about which will be heavier, then test their hypothesis.

Learn more: DIY Balance Scale at WikiHow

If you love 1st grade science, be sure to check out these 25 First Grade STEM Challenges .

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