These simple ideas will help kids fall in love with science!
Nothing gets kids more excited about science than getting to try some hands-on activities. These second grade science experiments are easy enough for any teacher or parent to try. Kids will learn basic concepts about physics, chemistry, biology, and more and have fun doing it!
1. 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: I Heart Arts and Crafts
2. 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: Messy Little Monster
3. 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: Education.com/Lemon Battery
4. 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: The Primary Brain
5. Pollinate like a bee
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: Around the Kampfire/Cheese Powder Pollination Activity
6. Grow a sprout house
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: The STEM Laboratory
7. 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: Grade School Giggles
8. Create an earth model from Play-Doh
Play-Doh has so many uses in the classroom! Use it to teach second grade science students about the layers of the earth by building a fun and colorful model.
Learn more: The Crafty Classroom
9. Design and build an index card tower
Challenge your second 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: Education to the Core
10. Use bread to learn about hand-washing
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: Parenting Isn’t Easy
11. 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 second grade science activities about erosion and weathering at the link.
Learn more: The First Grade Roundup
12. Find out which liquid is best for growing seeds
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: Lessons 4 Little Ones
13. Build magnet-and-paper clip trees
Experiment with magnet properties like polarity and strength by building cute little trees! This is also an excellent way for kids to find out which items are magnetic and which are not.
Learn more: Preschool Powol Packets
14. 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: Around the Kampfire/Flexibility Science Experiment
15. 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: Education.com
16. Discover density with saltwater solutions
This simple experiment covers a lot of second 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: Science Kiddo
17. 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: Around the Kampfire/Seed Dispersal Activity
18. 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 second grade science experiment.
Learn more: Carly and Adam
19. 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: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
Cool Second Grade Science Experiments for the Classroom and Beyond