Grade 2 Science: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 2 science in the Alberta Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Materials: students examine properties, types and suitability of natural and processed materials.
- Light and sound: students investigate the sources and behaviours of light and sound.
- Earth: students examine landforms, bodies of water and Earth's relationship to the Sun.
- Living things: students investigate how plants and animals grow and develop, and how people affect them.
- Computer science: students apply creativity to design precise, reliable and efficient instructions.
- Nature of science: students describe the purposes and procedures of investigations.
Easy ways to practise science at home
- Try a kitchen experiment, such as what dissolves in water and what floats or sinks.
- Keep a simple weather or moon log for a month.
- Ask “What do you think will happen?” and then test it.
- Visit a park, beach or creek and look for living things and their habitats.
What each unit covers
Think Like a Scientist
How scientists and engineers work: tools for measuring, fair tests, safety, sharing results, simple algorithms and how new technology changes everyday life.
Materials and Their Uses
Natural materials come from plants, animals, the land or the sky; processed materials are made by people from natural ones. Children test properties such as see-through, absorbent and bendy, and choose the best material for a job.
Light and Sound
Sound is made by vibrations and can bounce, travel and be absorbed. Light comes from sources such as the Sun, fire and electricity, travels in straight lines and bounces off surfaces. Children also learn to protect their eyes and ears.
Landforms and Earth
Earth is made of land, water and air, and holds plants, animals and people. Alberta has mountains, hills, valleys, plateaus and prairies, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Dinosaur Provincial Park, Wood Buffalo National Park and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.
Lakes, Rivers and Oceans
Most of Earth's surface is covered by water. Children name oceans, glaciers, lakes, wetlands and rivers, follow water as it flows downhill from small creeks to the ocean, and tell fresh water from salt water.
Earth and the Sun
A day is one spin of Earth. A year is one trip of Earth around the Sun. When our side of Earth faces the Sun it is day, and when it faces away it is night.
Life Cycles
Life cycles of butterflies, frogs and BC salmon, and how babies compare with their parents.
Animals & People
Helpful and bothersome ways animals affect us, and how building, litter and clean water affect animals and the places they live.
Clear Instructions
Children build three- to four-step instructions with action words, put steps in order, and see how repeating a step can make instructions shorter. This is a first step into computational thinking, with no screen needed.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Beginning
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Alberta report card guide.
Common questions
How can I help my Grade 2 child with science?
Try a kitchen experiment, such as what dissolves in water and what floats or sinks. Keep a simple weather or moon log for a month. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
What does my child learn in Grade 2 science in Alberta?
The Alberta Curriculum Grade 2 science units include think like a scientist, materials and their uses, light and sound, landforms and earth, lakes, rivers and oceans, earth and the sun.
Free printable Grade 2 science practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.