Science — Grade 2

Cloudy with a chance of...what?

Students will enjoy reading about a town where no one ever goes hungry because the sky provides food while learning about weather, healthy and unhealthy foods, and creating a database.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–4 Healthful Living Education, English Language Arts, Computer Technology Skills, and Science)

By BJ Larson and Paula Sharpe.

Nephelococcygia--Cloud Watching.

As part of the 2nd grade science objectives dealing with weather, students will learn the various types of clouds as well as the term and the act of nephelococcygia -- cloud watching.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Computer Technology Skills and Science)

By Kelley James.

Observing the water cycle

Initially, students will observe a demonstration of the water cycle and apply the information gained through the demonstration. Then students will measure and graph rainfall for two weeks.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 and 5 Mathematics, Computer Technology Skills, and Science)

By Priscilla Nutt.

Project Groundhog

The students will determine the groundhog prediction of either six more weeks of winter or an early spring and see if the prediction was accurate by recording daily weather data for six weeks. Over that six week period the students will be comparing their weekly data with schools around the USA and Canada using the Project Groundhog website.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Mathematics and Science)

By Jane Diamond.

Using K-W-L to confirm what you know

Students will learn to use a K-W-L to activate their prior knowledge and help them set a purpose for reading and recording what they learned. They will also extend their K-W-L chart to confirm the accuracy of their prior knowledge and of what they learn.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts and Science)

By Kathleen Neff.

Using Venn diagrams to compare and contrast

In order to be able to compare and contrast weather in other places around the country and the world, the students will learn how to use a graphic organizer (Venn diagram) to visualize likeness and differences between two things.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts and Science)

By Kelly Sharpe, Kathleen Hughes, Ruffin Priest, Sondra Walker, and Sandra McKee.

Weather watchers

This is a week long activity during which the students record the weather, track weather changes, and make predictions about future weather patterns.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Information Skills, Computer Technology Skills, and Science)

By Virginia Shaddix.

Weathering the water cycle: Condensation

This lesson introduces students to condensation as one phase of the water cycle. Through the use of the four lessons in this series in which students will learn that the water cycle is a continuous cycle.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Science)

By Cathie Hill, Jackie Parker, and Karen Neilson.

Lesson plans on the web

The warmth of the sun

Students recognize the sun's critical function in heating and warming the air, land, and water that sustain our lives. They will perform indoor and outdoor activities that help them begin to identify the sun as the natural, universal source of heat in the world. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Weather: A journey in nonfiction

This research project is designed for primary students to engage in nonfiction text. Students formulate questions and research information on a subject. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts and Science)

Provider: IRA/NCTE