Grade Two Science
Students will develop an understanding of give general units: Exploring Liquids, Buoyancy and Boats, Magnetism, Hot and Cold Temperature, and Small Crawling and Flying Animals.
Children’s early experiences shape what they imagine to be possible. Study after study has shown the value of exposing children with positive role models. Representation, including in the hours spent consuming media within the classroom, shape what they imagine to be possible for people who look like them, live where they live, or come from where they came from. Simply put, kids determine what they can be based on the examples around them. Therefore, we highly recommend you take 2-5 minutes everyday in your science class to introduce scientists of colour. We've made this easy for you by creating a presentation that you can use with a slide a day to showcase a new scientist of diverse background. You could do this on a daily, weekly, bi-weekly or during a certain month. You could also make your own presentation and encourage this representation.
K-6 Scientists of Colour by Canadian Cultural Mosaic Foundation
Exploring Liquids
3 States of Matter Science DIY Educational For Kids
A 9-minute video where Ryan explores the differences between a solid, liquid and gas. He and his mom explore the different states of matter, and find out what state of matter Oobleck is!
3 States of Matter Science DIY Educational For Kids
A 9-minute video where Ryan explores the differences between a solid, liquid and gas. He and his mom explore the different states of matter, and find out what state of matter Oobleck is!
- Curriculum connection:
- 1.1: Characteristics of liquids - Suggested use:
- Introduction to state matter
- Host a pop quiz for students have them identify characteristics of the different states - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal and hard of hearing
- Additional accommodations may be required for visually impaired students
Kujo's Kid Zone MiniEpisode 3 "Slime"
Kujo shows kids how to make slime.
Kujo shows kids how to make slime.
- Curriculum connection:
- 1.1: Characteristics of liquids - Suggested use:
- Class experiment on making slime
- Discuss characteristics of a scientist/expectations during an experiment (curiosity, careful around materials, making an educated guess)
- Whole class write up to discuss hypothesis, procedure, materials, and conclusion to answer: How is slime made? - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal and hard of hearing
- Additional accommodations may be required for visually impaired students
Sink or Float Density Tower Science Experiments for Kids
A 10-minute video where Ryan and his mom make a density column to explore the different densities of household liquids.
A 10-minute video where Ryan and his mom make a density column to explore the different densities of household liquids.
- Curriculum connection:
- 1.1: Characteristics of liquids - Suggested use:
- After viewing the video, hold a class discussion on density and its effects on liquids - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal and hard of hearing
- Additional accommodations may be required for visually impaired students as descriptive captioning is not available
Sink or Float Density Experiments for Kids with Soda
Ryan and his mom explain buoyancy and density, this time by testing if different sodas and household objects will sink or float in water.
Ryan and his mom explain buoyancy and density, this time by testing if different sodas and household objects will sink or float in water.
- Curriculum connection:
- 1.2: Compare water with other liquids
- 2.1: Evaluate materials to confirm buoyancy or not - Suggested use:
- Discuss differences between each liquid shown in the video
- Replicate experiment in class and have students follow along and make new predictions with different variables - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal and hard of hearing
- Additional accommodations may be required for visually impaired students as descriptive captioning is not available
Yes I Can: A Story of Grit
Jada’s working on her science project. She’s finding out whether plants grow best in water, milk, juice, or soda. There’s just one problem she keeps getting interrupted! From her cousin texting and her friends stopping by to her little brother playing with the plants, Jada runs into one obstacle after another. Find out how Jada relies on grit to keep on going.
Jada’s working on her science project. She’s finding out whether plants grow best in water, milk, juice, or soda. There’s just one problem she keeps getting interrupted! From her cousin texting and her friends stopping by to her little brother playing with the plants, Jada runs into one obstacle after another. Find out how Jada relies on grit to keep on going.
- Curriculum connection:
- 1.2: Compare water with other liquids - Suggested use:
- Class read aloud; have students make their predictions as story is being read - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal
- Accommodations may be required for visually impaired students and hard of hearing
How to make Color Changing Celery- Science Experiments for kids
Ryan and his mom teach about plant transportation through coloured water and celery.
Ryan and his mom teach about plant transportation through coloured water and celery.
- Curriculum connection:
- 1.3: Compare liquids when being absorbed - Suggested use:
- Have students do this experiment in class, the following day have a discussion on the transportation of water - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal
- Accommodations may be required for visually impaired students and hard of hearing as descriptive captioning is not available
Kujo's Kid Zone -Snow!!
In this episode of Kujo's Kid Zone, Kujo invites David Phillips, Senior Climatologist from Environment Canada to tell us all about how snow is different than rain!
In this episode of Kujo's Kid Zone, Kujo invites David Phillips, Senior Climatologist from Environment Canada to tell us all about how snow is different than rain!
- Curriculum connection:
- 1.5: Demonstrate an understanding that liquid water can be changed to other states - Suggested use:
- Resource provides background information and lesson plan - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal and hard of hearing
- Additional accommodations may be required for visually impaired students
Autumn Peltier I am Indigenous
12 year old Autumn Peltier speaks about the impact of corporations on the Earth's water supply.
12 year old Autumn Peltier speaks about the impact of corporations on the Earth's water supply.
- Curriculum connection:
- 1.9: Recognize human responsibilities for maintaining clean supplies of water, and identify actions that are taken to ensure that water supplies are safe - Suggested use:
- Use in combination with other resources that introduce the concept of children and young people engaging in advocacy and activism in Canada and around the world (i.e. Malala Yousefzai, Bellen's Crayon Project, etc.)
- Inspire a class discussion around concepts such as environmental care, Indigenous ways of knowing, fairness and equity, activism, the needs of humans, animals, and plants, empathy, community, and identity - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal and hard of hearing
- Additional accommodations may be required for visually impaired students as descriptive captioning is not available
Buoyancy and Boats
Science Video for Kids learning Sink or Float Experiment!
Ryan and his mom explain buoyancy and density by testing if different objects will sink or float in water.
Science Video for Kids learning Sink or Float Experiment!
Ryan and his mom explain buoyancy and density by testing if different objects will sink or float in water.
- Curriculum connection:
- 2.1: Evaluate materials to confirm buoyancy or not - Suggested use:
- Use as introduction on buoyancy and its effects
- Have the class test out buoyancy of common objects found in the classroom, then quiz the students on the characteristics of the objects that float - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal
- Accommodations may be required for visually impaired students and hard of hearing as descriptive captioning is not available
Indigenous Boats
This website shows the different boats used within Indigenous cultures, the materials collected to build, and where they were most commonly used. This video shows the history of various boats.
This website shows the different boats used within Indigenous cultures, the materials collected to build, and where they were most commonly used. This video shows the history of various boats.
- Curriculum connection:
- 2.1: Evaluate materials to confirm buoyancy or not - Suggested use:
- Provides diverse ideas for traditional materials and methods used to build boats
- Students can experiment by building their own boats from similar materials, or testing the materials shown in the video (wood, bark, and other natural materials found on the land) - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal (accommodations required for discussions)
- Visually impaired students may benefit from a read aloud that includes descriptions of visual components of the story
- Additional accommodations required for hard of hearing students
Chinese Dragon Boat Festival (Song and Website)
The video is a fun song in which addresses the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. Students can sing and dance while learning, as the website explains the Dragon Boat festival and has activities that can be incorporated into the classroom. Here is a website with activities.
The video is a fun song in which addresses the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. Students can sing and dance while learning, as the website explains the Dragon Boat festival and has activities that can be incorporated into the classroom. Here is a website with activities.
- Curriculum connection:
- 2.1: Evaluate materials to confirm buoyancy or not - Suggested use:
- Discussion on diverse ideas for traditional materials and methods used to build boats
- Students could experiment by building their own boats from similar materials, or testing the materials shown in the video (wood, bark, and other natural materials found on the land) - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal
- Accommodations may be required for visually impaired students and hard of hearing as descriptive captioning is not available
Aboriginal science education
The following resources were developed by student teachers in the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP) from the University of Alberta. This was part of an EDEL 330 assignment to incorporate Aboriginal perspectives. They represent sample student lesson plans which utilize an Aboriginal science point of view.
The following resources were developed by student teachers in the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP) from the University of Alberta. This was part of an EDEL 330 assignment to incorporate Aboriginal perspectives. They represent sample student lesson plans which utilize an Aboriginal science point of view.
- Curriculum connection:
- 2.3: Build a ‘boat’ or watercraft - Suggested use:
- Provides a further list of websites/resources and Indigenous perspectives in science for teachers to explore - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal
- Accommodations may be required for visually impaired students and hard of hearing as descriptive captioning is not available
Hot and Cold Temperature
Elephants and the Maasai Culture
Article discussing the importance of the elephant in the Maasai tribe of Kenya. The elephants play a big role in the symbols of the Maasai tribe.
Elephants and the Maasai Culture
Article discussing the importance of the elephant in the Maasai tribe of Kenya. The elephants play a big role in the symbols of the Maasai tribe.
- Curriculum connection:
- 4.1: Describe temperature in relative terms/ using expressions/ such as hotter than/ colder than - Suggested use:
- Lessons involving discussion on temperatures and communities living in warm climates and ways that this affects their lives, diets, cultural traditions, etc. - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal
- Accommodations may be required for visually impaired students and hard of hearing as descriptive captioning is not available
Small Crawling and Flying Animals
The Learning Circle
Produced to help Canadian educators meet the growing need for Elementary-level learning exercises on the Indigenous population in Canada. Composed of six themes, each unit contains its own activities.
The Learning Circle
Produced to help Canadian educators meet the growing need for Elementary-level learning exercises on the Indigenous population in Canada. Composed of six themes, each unit contains its own activities.
- Curriculum connection:
- 5.5: Relationships of these animals to other living and nonliving things in their habitat and to people - Suggested use:
- Lesson plan titled "The Granddaughter Who Was Eaten By a Big Fish" includes 3 animals: squirrel, butterfly, and blue jay. Students can act out the animals, do a study on each animal's life cycle, describe the relationship between each animal - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal (accommodations required for discussions)
- Visually impaired students may benefit from a read aloud that includes descriptions of visual components of the story
- Additional accommodations required for hard of hearing students
Sacred Cow Facts
Website page describing the importance of cows in Hinduism and how cows are honoured in India.
Website page describing the importance of cows in Hinduism and how cows are honoured in India.
- Curriculum connection:
- 5.5: Relationships of these animals to other living and nonliving things in their habitat and to people - Suggested use:
- Class research project on various groups and communities and the animals they value and use
- Art project on the cow: students draw and label why it is important to Hinduism
- Extend study to investigate and read tales of the Hindu goddess, Bhoomi - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal
- Accommodations may be required for visually impaired students and hard of hearing
Ryan Learns about Carnivorous Plants
A 6-minute video where Ryan and his mom learn about the Venus Fly Trap and the needs of carnivorous plants to get their nutrients.
A 6-minute video where Ryan and his mom learn about the Venus Fly Trap and the needs of carnivorous plants to get their nutrients.
- Curriculum connection:
- 5.4: Identify each animal’s role within the food chain - Suggested use:
- Introduction of carnivorous plants. Have a class discussion about the adaptation the plants went through to become carnivores, why is this not more common? - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal
- Accommodations may be required for visually impaired students and hard of hearing as descriptive captioning is not available
Miscellaneous
Traditional Maasai Food: Blood and Milk
Article discussing the diet of the Maasai tribe.
Traditional Maasai Food: Blood and Milk
Article discussing the diet of the Maasai tribe.
- Curriculum connection:
- Students will show growth in respect for living things and environments, and commitment for their care - Suggested use:
- Class research project on various groups and communities and how they use plants and animals
- Compare the Maasai diet to our diet and how we use plants and animals - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal
- Accommodations may be required for visually impaired students and hard of hearing
Implementing meaningful STEM Education with Indigenous Students & Families
There are a set of strategies teachers can use to intentionally incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing into STEM learning environments—both in and out of school and in relation to family and community.
There are a set of strategies teachers can use to intentionally incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing into STEM learning environments—both in and out of school and in relation to family and community.
- Suggested use:
- Use this document along with the Alberta Science Program of Study to create meaningful lessons
Steps to create an Anti-Racist Science Lesson
Choosing a meaningful and culturally responsive phenomenon is the cornerstone to teaching an equitable, anti-racist science lesson.
Choosing a meaningful and culturally responsive phenomenon is the cornerstone to teaching an equitable, anti-racist science lesson.
- Suggested use:
- Use this document along with Alberta Science Program of Study to create meaningful lessons
