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Science Skill: Making a Hypothesis (Gr. 2)

making a hypothesis 2nd grade

Scott Foresman, an imprint of Pearson

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The Scientific Method Lesson Plan: Developing Hypotheses

Submitted by: charlie conway.

This is a lesson plan designed to be incorporated into a elementary or middle school general science class. Using BrainPOP and its resources, students will be introduced (or further exposed) to the steps necessary to undertake scientific experimentation leading (perhaps) to a Science Fair project. The Scientific Method is a core structure in learning about scientific inquiry, and although there are many variations of this set of procedures, they all usually have similar components. This lesson should take 45-60 minutes, with opportunities for extending the lesson further.

Students will:

  • Students will use BrainPOP features to build their understandings of the Scientific Method.
  • Students will learn how to identify and write effective hypotheses.
  • Students will use game play to write an appropriate hypothesis for an experiment.
  • Students will identify and utilize the tools necessary to design a scientific investigation.
  • Laptops/Computers
  • Interactive White Board
  • Pencil/Paper
  • Class set of photocopies of the Scientific Method Flow Chart
  • BrainPOP accounts (optional)

Vocabulary:

Preparation:.

These procedures may be modified according to the needs/resources of each teacher & class. For example, you may decide to do the quiz with pencil/paper, or do the quiz as a class.

Lesson Procedure:

  • Ask the students how scientists answer questions and solve problems. Take a few minutes to explore students' prior knowledge with a short discussion.
  • Tell the class that you're going to watch a BrainPOP movie about answering a scientific question about plant growth.
  • Show the BrainPOP movie on the Scientific Method two times. The first time, students should just watch and listen. The second time they should take notes. Pause the movie at critical STOP points.
  • Students should log on to their individual student accounts and take the Scientific Method Quiz to give the teacher some immediate feedback. (This can also be done as a pre-assessment, or at the very end of the lesson). NOTE: If you choose to, you can give a pencil/paper quiz also; students who work best with electronic media can be given accommodations). If you don't have access to individual student logins via MyBrainPOP (a school subscription), students can take the Review Quiz or paper quiz instead.
  • Discuss the main points from the movie: a. Write the definition of the scientific method: the procedure scientists use to help explain why things happen. b. Make a list on the board of the steps mentioned as part of the scientific method: problem, fact finding, observation, inference, hypothesis, experiment, conclusions. c. Tell students that there are various versions of the scientific method that they may see, but they are all basically the same.
  • Hand out the Scientific Method Flow Chart . Introduce the "If...then...because..." format for writing hypotheses. Give the students 10 minutes to complete the sheet with their group. They may use their notes from the movie to help them, and/or work collaboratively with other students.
  • Discuss some of the student responses in class. Focus on the hypotheses, and explain that a good hypothesis is a testable explanation of the problem. For example, a good hypothesis to the third problem would be, "If I move farther away from the microwave oven, then the cell phone signal will improve because I am further away from the source of interference." Show how this is a TESTABLE hypothesis that can lead to a scientific experiment.
  • Introduce the students to the Pavlov’s Dog game in GameUP. Allow time for the kids to explore the game without telling them why they are playing it.
  • After 10-15 minutes, have the students take a break from playing, and have a short discussion about the game. Ask if anyone was able to complete the task successfully, and have them share how they got the "diploma." If time allows, show the students how to complete the task so that they all understand that the dog has been conditioned to respond to a stimulus (noise before food has been introduced).
  • Have the students write a hypothesis that Pavlov may have written before he started his experiment. Students can either do this with pencil/paper, or the teacher may create a BrainPOP quiz and have students submit their hypothesis electronically. This may be used as a part of the assessment.
  • Choose some sample responses from the students, highlighting the hypotheses that are TESTABLE, and not just guesses or predictions.

If this lesson is an introduction to allowing students to plan and carry out their own experiments, then all that follows is naturally an extension to the lesson.

Other, shorter extensions are easy to develop as well.

Extension Activities:

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making a hypothesis 2nd grade

Scientific Method for Kids: Steps and FREE Printable Template

Just so you know, this post contains affiliate links. That means if you use them to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. You can read my full affiliate disclosure  HERE .

Are you looking for an easy way to teach the scientific method for kids? I’m sharing each step in this post, along with a free template you can print to help your kids walk through the scientific process.

Being inquisitive is in a kid’s nature. They LOVE asking questions (and come up with some of the best ones!). And although I love to answer them, as they get older I know that part of my job as a homeschool mom is to not answer each and every question for them.

Sooner or later, they need to have the tools to gather information and draw conclusions on their own , whether that happens inside science class or not. For kids, learning the scientific method steps can be a great way to build on skills that will be valuable in many areas of their lives.

An Englishman named Sir Francis Bacon helped create what we know as the scientific method. I thought it was interesting to learn, though, that there were multiple professional scientists and scholars who developed the scientific method over many years , and that many disagree on different ways to implement it. However, there are basic steps that have come to be accepted and taught as the scientific method (and that we get to explore with our kids!).

Scientific Method Steps for Kids

These steps to the scientific method that help us guide our research involve observing and asking questions, formulating a scientific hypothesis (or educated guess), planning and running an experiment, evaluating data and drawing conclusions.

Are you looking for an easy way to teach the scientific method for kids?  I'm sharing each step in this post, along with a free template you can print to help your kids walk through the scientific process.

Why Should Kids Learn the Scientific Method?

Why is it important that we teach our kids the scientific method? Isn’t it enough to just have fun doing experiments when we want to? We learn so much from them without formally teaching all of these steps!

Well, yes – we certainly learn a ton from fun experiments! But as my kids are getting older, I am finding they are needing a little bit more structure in thinking through their thoughts, making guesses based on thoughtful observations, and drawing valid conclusions after careful study. These are all important skills to learn and practice. (And don’t worry – I created a FREE printable that will help you walk through this entire process. It’s not as scary as it sounds!) .

Here are some other reasons you’ll want to use the scientific method for kids in your homeschool:

  • The scientific process helps us dig in and learn more about God and His creation (and there is so much to observe and learn!).
  • Scientists actually use the scientific method to research, study, learn, and solve problems. And your kids will have fun being scientists too!
  • Following the scientific method steps allows us to conduct experiments correctly. It also teaches young kids the importance of documenting their steps and research so those that come behind them can replicate results, or build on their research. Carefully recording information is an important skill they will be able to translate to so many other areas.

Steps of the Scientific Method for Kids

Here are the basic steps in the scientific method you’ll want to teach your kids:

  • Observe and ask a question.
  • Form a hypothesis.
  • Do an experiment.
  • Evaluate your data.
  • Draw a conclusion.

Let’s go over each of the steps in a little bit more detail with an easy example, so you can see how you might teach it in your homeschool. You’ll then be able to use this method with any of your science experiments in your homeschool; my free printable will definitely help walk you through the steps as well , and is a great addition to your kids homeschool scientific journal.

How to Teach the Scientific Method for Kids

Let’s use an easy example to walk through how the scientific method might look.

Scientific method for kids free printable

1. Ask a Question.

You have a couple of plants sitting on your windowsill, and your son asks the simple question about why they are sitting on the ledge. He wonders how the amount of light affects how a plant grows, and if it will grow without light.

And so begins the process of scientific investigation!

The first step for your kids is to take note of what questions they have, or what problems they might want to solve. What is something they are unsure about? Have them brainstorm some ideas and then do some observing and initial research to lay the groundwork for their experiment and help with the next step.

2. Make a Hypothesis.

Next, they’ll form a hypothesis, or an educated guess (a guess made from good reasoning and observing!), about what they think will happen. Before they do so, it might be helpful to make sure the question is clarified and is written in “testable” form, which will help them be clear in their experiment.

For example, the question from above might be, “I wonder if plants can grow in the dark?” You can help guide your child in re-forming this question to make it testable by using phrasing like:

  • “Does changing __________ affect ___________ ?”
  • “If I change __________, will it affect __________ ?”
  • How does changing __________ affect __________ ?”

So – “How does the amount of light affect plant growth?”, or, “If I change the amount of sunlight a plant gets, will it affect it’s growth?”

Your child can then make a guess about what they think will happen, a possible answer, and begin planning on how to conduct the experiment.

3. Do an Experiment.

Now comes the fun part – finding out if you are right or wrong! Your child gets to map out their procedure (what they will actually do, how and what they will record) and make a list of materials they will need to conduct the experiment.

An important part of this step is noting what the independent and dependent variables will be. An independent variable is something that you will change; a dependent variable is what you will measure. A good experiment will only have ONE independent variable at a time – you don’t want to change too many things at once, or it will be hard to measure what actually produced the results.

In our example, our independent variable will be the light source – we’ll put one plant in sunlight and one in a dark place. We’ll try to keep them in rooms of the same temperature, and we’ll use the same amount of soil, same amount of water, and the same number and type of seed in each cup.

The dependent variable is what we are going to measure – how much the plants grow.

4. Evaluate Your Data.

This is the step where they record what is happening, what they observe, and then evaluate the results.

Drawing pictures and/or making graphs can definitely be helpful to display the data collected. Let them be creative with how they record this, but remind them that accuracy and being able to share data with others is important!

5. Draw a Conclusion.

Finally, they get to make a final conclusion. Did the experiment answer your question, and was your hypothesis correct? Thinking about what they learned and other new questions that may have arose as a result of the experiment are worth noting.

In some cases, it might be worthwhile to repeat the experiment with a new hypothesis, or try it again in a slightly different way to help draw conclusions. For example, maybe we could repeat the plant experiment with a different type of plant to see if we got the same results.

Have Fun With It!

Remember that learning about God’s creation and natural world through science experiments should be fun and enjoyable! Choose activities your kids will love, or let them help you decide what fun experiments to try. The skills that they will learn as they work through the scientific method will be valuable for them in years to come.

Can I Use the Scientific Process with my youngest kids?

Absolutely! Even young children will love following along as you perform experiments with your older kids. Although they won’t be able to journal or record data like the bigger kids, simply walking through and talking about the series of steps is a great way to introduce them to the scientific process.

When your little ones ask a good question that might make for a simple science experiment, ask them what they think will happen! Then recruit any older siblings to join in on the fun.

Science Experiment Ideas

You might have kids who are very scientifically-minded, and ask questions about everything! If not, sometimes coming up with a fun experiment can be a stumbling block.

Here are a few scientific questions your kids might have fun exploring, to get you rolling on the first step of practicing the scientific process for kids. These are also perfect to investigate for a science fair project at your school or homeschool co-op!

  • Does music affect animal behavior?
  • Where are the most germs in your home?
  • Which paper towel brand is the strongest?
  • What is the best way to keep cut flowers fresh the longest?
  • What plant fertilizer works best?
  • What brand of battery lasts the longest?
  • How much weight can the surface tension of water hold?
  • Which soda decays fallen out teeth the most?
  • Can hamsters learn tricks?
  • What is the effect of salt on the boiling temperature of water? On it’s density ?
  • What type of grass seed grows the fastest?

Once they get started brainstorming, your kids can probably come up with lots of ideas to explore for their own experiments!

Scientific Method for Kids Books

There are a few great books you might want to check out as you introduce the scientific method steps. They are also wonderful for experiment ideas!

What is the Scientific Method? Science Book for Kids Mad Margaret Experiments with the Scientific Method (In the Science Lab) Awesome Science Experiments for Kids: 100+ Fun STEM / STEAM Projects and Why They Work Awesome Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids: 50 STEAM Projects You Can Eat! Steve Spangler’s Super-Cool Science Experiments for Kids: 50 mind-blowing STEM projects you can do at home Smithsonian 10-Minute Science Experiments: 50+ quick, easy and awesome projects for kids 101 Great Science Experiments: A Step-by-Step Guide The 101 Coolest Simple Science Experiments

Step-by-Step Scientific Method Printable

My older kids are in 2nd and 3rd grade right now, and I created this printable for them (so it works well for mid-upper elementary-aged students). However, you can absolutely adapt it if you have younger students , or students who aren’t quite ready to do so much writing just yet. You can still teach the process!

This FREE printable comes with one sheet that lists out all the scientific method steps; this is perfect to print out and hang in your homeschool room to refer to. And if your kids are younger, you can verbally talk through the process while doing simple experiments with them, which will help prepare them for a more in-depth process when they get older.

There is also one-page-per-step that walks them through the scientific method, and a basic list of some fun science experiment ideas to try. I also have a one-page sheet your kids can use to write out their process, if you want a simpler, more compact template.

making a hypothesis 2nd grade

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I hope you have so much fun making memories with your kids learning about science and the scientific method for kids.

Drop a comment below: What has been your favorite science experiment you have done with your kids? What would they say is their favorite?

making a hypothesis 2nd grade

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making a hypothesis 2nd grade

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making a hypothesis 2nd grade

Hello! Can the Scientific Method freebie be used with students I am teaching on Outschool? I am using a slide show to teach the steps, but it would be nice to have some resources for them to actually carry out the process. If this does not follow your copyright rules, I totally understand. Thanks for your consideration.

Thank you for asking, Christina, and I would love for you to use it! If possible, please give them the link (or send it to their parents) so they can download it for free from my website. I hope you get a lot of good use out of it!

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making a hypothesis 2nd grade

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Formative Assessment Probe

What Is a Hypothesis?

By Page Keeley

Uncovering Student Ideas in Science, Volume 3: Another 25 Formative Assessment Probes

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This is the new updated edition of the first book in the bestselling  Uncovering Student Ideas in Science  series. Like the first edition of volume 1, this book helps pinpoint what your students know (or think they know) so you can monitor their learning and adjust your teaching accordingly. Loaded with classroom-friendly features you can use immediately, the book includes 25 “probes”—brief, easily administered formative assessments designed to understand your students’ thinking about 60 core science concepts.

What Is a Hypothesis?

Access this probe as a Google form:  English

Download this probe as an editable PDF: English

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about hypotheses. The probe is designed to find out if students understand what a hypothesis is, when it is used, and how it is developed.

Type of Probe

Justified List

Related Concepts

hypothesis, nature of science, scientific inquiry, scientific method

Explanation

The best choices are A, B, G, K, L, and M. However, other possible answers open up discussions to contrast with the provided definition. A hypothesis is a tentative explanation that can be tested and is based on observation and/or scientific knowledge such as that that has been gained from doing background research. Hypotheses are used to investigate a scientific question. Hypotheses can be tested through experimentation or further observation, but contrary to how some students are taught to use the “scientific method,” hypotheses are not proved true or correct. Students will often state their conclusions as “My hypothesis is correct because my data prove…,” thereby equating positive results with proof (McLaughlin 2006, p. 61). In essence, experimentation as well as other means of scientific investigation never prove a hypothesis—the hypothesis gains credibility from the evidence obtained from data that support it. Data either support or negate a hypothesis but never prove something to be 100% true or correct.

Hypotheses are often confused with questions. A hypothesis is not framed as a question but rather provides a tentative explanation in response to the scientific question that leads the investigation. Sometimes the word hypothesis is oversimplified by being defined as “an educated guess.” This terminology fails to convey the explanatory or predictive nature of scientific hypotheses and omits what is most important about hypotheses: their purpose. Hypotheses are developed to explain observations, such as notable patterns in nature; predict the outcome of an experiment based on observations or prior scientific knowledge; and guide the investigator in seeking and paying attention to the right data. Calling a hypothesis a “guess” undermines the explanation that underscores a hypothesis.

Predictions and hypotheses are not the same. A hypothesis, which is a tentative explanation, can lead to a prediction. Predictions forecast the outcome of an experiment but do not include an explanation. Predictions often use if-then statements, just as hypotheses do, but this does not make a prediction a hypothesis. For example, a prediction might take the form of, “If I do [X], then [Y] will happen.” The prediction describes the outcome but it does not provide an explanation of why that outcome might result or describe any relationship between variables.

Sometimes the words hypothesis , theory , and law are inaccurately portrayed in science textbooks as a hierarchy of scientific knowledge, with the hypothesis being the first step on the way to becoming a theory and then a law. These concepts do not form a sequence for the development of scientific knowledge because each represents a different type of knowledge.

Not every investigation requires a hypothesis. Some types of investigations do not lend themselves to hypothesis testing through experimentation. A good deal of science is observational and descriptive—the study of biodiversity, for example, usually involves looking at a wide variety of specimens and maybe sketching and recording their unique characteristics. A biologist studying biodiversity might wonder, “What types of birds are found on island X?” The biologist would observe sightings of birds and perhaps sketch them and record their bird calls but would not be guided by a specific hypothesis. Many of the great discoveries in science did not begin with a hypothesis in mind. For example, Charles Darwin did not begin his observations of species in the Galapagos with a hypothesis in mind.

Contrary to the way hypotheses are often stated by students as an unimaginative response to a question posed at the beginning of an experiment, particularly those of the “cookbook” type, the generation of hypotheses by scientists is actually a creative and imaginative process, combined with the logic of scientific thought. “The process of formulating and testing hypotheses is one of the core activities of scientists. To be useful, a hypothesis should suggest what evidence would support it and what evidence would refute it. A hypothesis that cannot in principle be put to the test of evidence may be interesting, but it is not likely to be scientifically useful” (AAAS 1988, p. 5).

Curricular and Instructional Considerations

Elementary Students

In the elementary school grades, students typically engage in inquiry to begin to construct an understanding of the natural world. Their inquiries are initiated by a question. If students have a great deal of knowledge or have made prior observations, they might propose a hypothesis; in most cases, however, their knowledge and observations are too incomplete for them to hypothesize. If elementary school students are required to develop a hypothesis, it is often just a guess, which does little to contribute to an understanding of the purpose of a hypothesis. At this grade level, it is usually sufficient for students to focus on their questions, instead of hypotheses (Pine 1999).

Middle School Students

At the middle school level, students develop an understanding of what a hypothesis is and when one is used. The notion of a testable hypothesis through experimentation that involves variables is introduced and practiced at this grade level. However, there is a danger that students will think every investigation must include a hypothesis. Hypothesizing as a skill is important to develop at this grade level but it is also important to develop the understandings of what a hypothesis is and why and how it is developed.

High School Students

At this level, students have acquired more scientific knowledge and experiences and so are able to propose tentative explanations. They can formulate a testable hypothesis and demonstrate the logical connections between the scientific concepts guiding a hypothesis and the design of an experiment (NRC 1996).

Administering the Probe

This probe is best used as is at the middle school and high school levels, particularly if students have been previously exposed to the word hypothesis or its use. Remove any answer choices students might not be familiar with. For example, if they have not encountered if-then reasoning, eliminate this distracter. The probe can also be modified as a simpler version for students in grades 3–5 by leaving out some of the choices and simplifying the descriptions.

K–4 Understandings About Scientific Inquiry

  • Scientific investigations involve asking and answering a question and comparing the answer with what scientists already know about the world.
  • Scientists develop explanations using observations (evidence) and what they already know about the world (scientific knowledge).

5–8 Understandings About Scientific Inquiry

  • Different kinds of questions suggest different kinds of investigations. Some investigations involve observing and describing objects, organisms, or events; some involve collecting specimens; some involve experiments; some involve seeking more information; some involve discovery of new objects and phenomena; and some involve making models.
  • Current scientific knowledge and understanding guide scientific investigations. Different scientific domains employ different methods, core theories, and standards to advance scientific knowledge and understanding.

5–8 Science as a Human Endeavor

  • Science is very much a human endeavor, and the work of science relies on basic human qualities such as reasoning, insight, energy, skill, and creativity.

9–12 Abilities Necessary to Do Scientific Inquiry

  • Identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations.*

9–12 Understandings About Scientific Inquiry

  • Scientists usually inquire about how physical, living, or designed systems function. Conceptual principles and knowledge guide scientific inquiries. Historical and current scientific knowledge influence the design and interpretation of investigations and the evaluation of proposed explanations made by other scientists.

*Indicates a strong match between the ideas elicited by the probe and a national standard’s learning goal.

K–2 Scientific Inquiry

  • People can often learn about things around them by just observing those things carefully, but sometimes they can learn more by doing something to the things and noting what happens.

3–5 Scientific Inquiry

  • Scientists’ explanations about what happens in the world come partly from what they observe and partly from what they think. Sometimes scientists have different explanations for the same set of observations. That usually leads to their making more observations to resolve the differences.

6–8 Scientific Inquiry

  • Scientists differ greatly in what phenomena they study and how they go about their work. Although there is no fixed set of steps that all scientists follow, scientific investigations usually involve the collection of relevant evidence, the use of logical reasoning, and the application of imagination in devising hypotheses and explanations to make sense of the collected evidence.*

6–8 Values and Attitudes

  • Even if they turn out not to be true, hypotheses are valuable if they lead to fruitful investigations.*

9–12 Scientific Inquiry

  • Hypotheses are widely used in science for choosing what data to pay attention to and what additional data to seek and for guiding the interpretation of the data (both new and previously available).*

Related Research

  • Students generally have difficulty with explaining how science is conducted because they have had little contact with real scientists. Their familiarity with doing science, even at older ages, is “school science,” which is often not how science is generally conducted in the scientific community (Driver et al. 1996).
  • Despite over 10 years of reform efforts in science education, research still shows that students typically have inadequate conceptions of what science is and what scientists do (Schwartz 2007).
  • Upper elementary school and middle school students may not understand experimentation as a method of testing ideas, but rather as a method of trying things out or producing a desired outcome (AAAS 1993).
  • Middle school students tend to invoke personal experiences as evidence to justify their hypothesis. They seem to think of evidence as selected from what is already known or from personal experience or secondhand sources, not as information produced through experiment (AAAS 1993).

Related NSTA Resources

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). 1993. Benchmarks for science literacy. New York: Oxford University Press.

Keeley, P. 2005. Science curriculum topic study: Bridging the gap between standards and practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

McLaughlin, J. 2006. A gentle reminder that a hypothesis is never proven correct, nor is a theory ever proven true. Journal of College Science Teaching 36 (1): 60–62.

National Research Council (NRC). 1996. National science education standards. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Schwartz, R. 2007. What’s in a word? How word choice can develop (mis)conceptions about the nature of science. Science Scope 31 (2): 42–47.

VanDorn, K., M. Mavita, L. Montes, B. Ackerson, and M. Rockley. 2004. Hypothesis-based learning. Science Scope 27: 24–25.

Suggestions for Instruction and Assessment

  • The “scientific method” is often the first topic students encounter when using textbooks and this can erroneously imply that there is a rigid set of steps that all scientists follow, including the development of a hypothesis. Often the scientific method described in textbooks applies to experimentation, which is only one of many ways scientists conduct their work. Embedding explicit instruction of the various ways to do science in the actual investigations students do throughout the year as well as in their studies of investigations done by scientists is a better approach to understanding how science is done than starting off the year with the scientific method in a way that is devoid of a context through which students can learn the content and process of science.
  • Students often participate in science fairs that may follow a textbook scientific method of posing a question, developing a hypothesis, and so on, that incorrectly results in students “proving” their hypothesis. Make sure students understand that a hypothesis can be disproven, but it is never proven, which implies 100% certainty.
  • Help students understand that science begins with a question. The structure of some school lab reports may lead students to believe that all investigations begin with a hypothesis. While some investigations do begin with a hypothesis, in most cases, they begin with a question. Sometimes it is just a general question.
  • A technique to help students maintain a consistent image of science as inquiry throughout the year by paying more careful attention to the words they use is to create a “caution words” poster or bulletin board (Schwartz 2007). Important words that have specific meanings in science but are often used inappropriately in the science classroom and through everyday language can be posted in the room as a reminder to pay careful attention to how students are using these words. For example, words like hypothesis and scientific method can be posted here. Words that are banned when referring to hypotheses include prove, correct, and true.
  • Use caution when asking students to write lab reports that use the same format regardless of the type of investigation conducted. The format used in writing about an investigation may imply a rigid, fixed process or erroneously misrepresent aspects of science, such as that hypotheses are developed for every scientific investigation.
  • Avoid using hypotheses with younger children when they result in guesses. It is better to start with a question and have students make a prediction about what they think will happen and why. As they acquire more conceptual understanding and experience a variety of observations, they will be better prepared to develop hypotheses that reflect the way science is done.
  • Avoid using “educated guess” as a description for hypothesis. The common meaning of the word guess implies no prior knowledge, experience, or observations.
  • Scaffold hypothesis writing for students by initially having them use words like may in their statements and then formalizing them with if-then statements. For example, students may start with the statement, “The growth of algae may be affected by temperature.” The next step would be to extend this statement to include a testable relationship, such as, “If the temperature of the water increases, then the algae population will increase.” Encourage students to propose a tentative explanation and then consider how they would go about testing the statement.

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). 1988. Science for all Americans. New York: Oxford University Press.

Driver, R., J. Leach, R. Millar, and P. Scott. 1996. Young people’s images of science. Buckingham, UK: Open University Press.

Pine, J. 1999. To hypothesize or not to hypothesize. In Foundations: A monograph for professionals in science, mathematics, and technology education. Vol. 2. Inquiry: Thoughts, views, and strategies for the K–5 classroom. Arlington, VA: National Science Foundation.

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Scientific Method For Kids With Examples

Kids have questions about the world around them every day, and there is so much to learn through experimentation with simple materials. You can begin using the scientific method with elementary kids. Below we’ll share with you how and when to introduce the scientific method, the steps of the scientific method, and some easy scientific method experiments. There are so many great ways to enjoy science projects with kids!

how to use the scientific method with kids

What Is The Scientific Method?

The scientific method is a process or method of research. A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is put to the test with an experiment to prove or disprove its validity.

Sounds heavy… What in the world does that mean?!? It means you don’t need to try and solve the world’s biggest science questions! The scientific method is all about studying and learning things right around you.

As children develop practices that involve creating, gathering data evaluating, analyzing, and communicating, they can apply these critical thinking skills to any situation.

Note: The use of the best Science and Engineering Practices is also relevant to the topic of using the scientific method. Read more here and see if it fits your science planning needs.

Can Young Kids Use the Scientific Method?

Kids are great scientists at any age, and can use the scientific method in context to what they are learning. It can be adapted for any age!

The scientific method is a valuable tool for introducing kids to a logical way to solve scientific problems. Scientists use the scientific method to study, learn, and come up with an answer!

The scientific method is a process that helps double-check that answers are correct and the correct results are obtained through careful planning. Sometimes the guesses and questions change as you run your experiments.

Kids can use the scientific method too on questions that are relevant to them!

Let’s break the scientific method for kids down into six parts, and you can quickly see how each can be incorporated into your next science experiment.

What Are The Steps In The Scientific Method?

  • Make initial observations.
  • Come up with a question of interest that is based on the observations.
  • Develop a hypothesis or prediction to go along with the question.
  • Experiment and test.
  • Gather and record results of tests and experiments and draw conclusions.
  • Share and discuss results.

Whoa… Wait A  Minute! That sounds like a lot for a young kid!

You are correct. Depending on your kid’s abilities, following all the scientific method steps precisely will not go well. Someone will get frustrated, bored, and turned off by just how cool science can be. We do not want that to happen!

Using The Scientific Method For Preschool and Kindergarten

Use the scientific method steps as a guideline in the back of your mind. You can cover most of the steps by talking with your kids about…

  • What do they think will happen?
  • What is happening ?
  • What happened compared to what they thought would happen ?

No writing is required! It’s also best to pick pretty straightforward ideas that aren’t overly involved or complicated to set up and test. Kids always have burning questions and “what ifs.”

See if you can tackle their next “what if” using the scientific method by listening carefully to their conversations. You can even have them keep a journal with their “what if” questions for your next science time.

Learn more about Science Activities For Preschoolers and Kindergarten Science Experiments .

Now on to how to apply the scientific method for elementary kiddos and beyond.

Scientific Method Steps In Action

Learn more about the steps of the scientific method below, which are great for science at home with your kids or in the classroom! We have also included some simple scientific method experiments for you to enjoy.

Ice Science Experiments are perfect for this! Try these 3 today !

making a hypothesis 2nd grade

STEP 1: Make Observations

Tons of everyday activities would make for cool science experiments using the scientific method. Listen to what your kids talk about and see happening. My son noticed that ice melted pretty fast in his water.

Observation is simply noticing what’s happening through our senses or with tools like a magnifying glass. Observation is used to collect and record data, enabling scientists to construct and test hypotheses and theories.

Learn more about observations in science.

STEP 2: Come Up With A Question 

Your kids’ observations should lead to some sort of question. For my son and his ice observations, he came up with questions. Does ice melt faster in different liquids? His curiosity about what happens to the ice in liquids is a simple science experiment perfect for using the scientific method.

Next! Do some research and come up with ideas!

STEP 3: Develop A Prediction or Hypothesis

You have made your observations, you have your question, and now you need to make a prediction about what you think will happen.

A prediction is a guess at what might happen in an experiment based on observation or other information.

A hypothesis is not simply a guess! It’s a statement of what you believe will happen based on the information you have gathered.

My son hypothesizes that ice will melt faster in juice than in water.

STEP 4: Conduct An Experiment

We made a prediction that ice will melt faster in juice than it will in water, and now we have to test our hypothesis. We set up an experiment with a glass of juice, a glass of water, and an ice cube for each.

For the best experiments, only one thing should change! All the things that can be changed in a science experiment are called variables. There are three types of variables; independent, dependent, and controlled.

The independent variable is the one that is changed in the experiment and will affect the dependent variable. Here we will use different types of liquids to melt our ice cube in.

The dependent variable is the factor that is observed or measured in the experiment. This will be the melting of the ice cubes. Set up a stopwatch or set a time limit to observe the changes!

The controlled variable stays constant in the experiment. The liquids should be roughly the same temperature (as close as possible) for our ice melting experiment and measured to the same amount. So we left them out to come to room temperature. They could also be tested right out of the fridge!

You can find simple science experiments here with dependent and controlled variables.

STEP 5: Record Results and Draw Conclusions

Make sure to record what is happening as well as the results—note changes at specific time intervals or after one set time interval.

For example…

  • Record when each ice cube is completely melted.
  • Add drawings if you wish of the setup up and the end results.
  • Was your prediction accurate? If it was inaccurate, record why.
  • Write out a final conclusion to your experiment.

STEP 6: Communicate Your Results

This is the opportunity to talk about your hypothesis, experiment, results, and conclusion!

ALTERNATIVE IDEAS: Switch out an ice cube for a lollipop or change the liquids using vinegar and cooking oil.

Now you have gone through the steps of the scientific method, read on for more fun scientific method experiments to try!

Free printable scientific method worksheets!

making a hypothesis 2nd grade

Fun Scientific Method Experiments

Sink or float experiment.

A Sink or Float experiment is great for practicing the steps of the scientific method with younger kids.

Grab this FREE printable sink or float experiment

making a hypothesis 2nd grade

Here are a few of our favorite scientific method experiments, which are great for elementary-age kids . Of course, you can find tons more awesome and doable science projects for kids here!

Magic Milk Experiment

Start with demonstrating this delightful magic milk experiment. Then get kids to apply the steps of the scientific method by coming up with a question to investigate. What happens when you change the type of milk used?

making a hypothesis 2nd grade

What Dissolves In Water

Investigate  what solids dissolve in water  and what do not. Here’s a super fun science experiment for kids that’s very easy to set up! Learn about solutions, solutes, and solvents through experimenting with water and common kitchen ingredients.

Apple Browning Experiment

Investigate how to keep apples from turning brown with this apple oxidation experiment . What can you add to cut apples to stop or slow the oxidation process?

making a hypothesis 2nd grade

Freezing Water Experiment

Will it freeze? What happens to the freezing point of water when you add salt?

Viscosity Experiment

Learn about the viscosity of fluids with a simple  viscosity experiment . Grab some marbles and add them to different household liquids to find out which one will fall to the bottom first. 

Seed Germination Experiment

Set up a simple seed germination experiment .

making a hypothesis 2nd grade

Catapult Experiment

Make a simple popsicle stick catapult and use one of our experiment ideas to investigate from rubber band tension to changes in launch angle and more. How far can you fling your objects? Take measurements and find out.

DIY popsicle stick catapult Inexpensive STEM activity

Floating Orange

Investigate whether an orange floats or sinks in water, and what happens if you use different types of oranges. Learn about buoyancy and density with a simple ingredient from the kitchen, an orange.

making a hypothesis 2nd grade

Bread Mold Experiment

Grow mold on bread for science, and investigate how factors such as moisture, temperature, and air affect mold growth. 

Eggshell Strength Experiment

Test how strong an egg is with this eggshell strength experiment . Grab some eggs, and find out how much weight an egg can support.

making a hypothesis 2nd grade

Free Printable Science Fair Starter Guide

Are you looking to plan a science fair project, make a science fair board, or want an easy guide to set up science experiments?

Learn more about prepping for a science fair and grab this free printable science fair project pack here!

If you want a variety of science fair experiments with instructions, make sure to pick up a copy of our Science Project Pack in the shop.

making a hypothesis 2nd grade

Bonus STEM Projects For Kids

STEM activities include science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. As well as our kids science experiments, we have lots of fun STEM activities for you to try. Check out these STEM ideas below…

  • Building Activities
  • Engineering Projects For Kids
  • What Is Engineering For Kids?
  • Coding Activities For Kids
  • STEM Worksheets
  • Top 10 STEM Challenges For Kids

Printable Science Projects Pack

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

making a hypothesis 2nd grade

19 Comments

A great post and sure to help extend children’s thinking! I would like to download the 6 steps but the blue download button doesn’t seem to be working for me.

Thank you! All fixed. You should be able to download now!

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it is so great, thanks a lot.

This helped for a science project.Thanks so much.

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~ Projects to Try Now! ~

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50 Exciting 2nd Grade Science Projects for the Classroom and Beyond

These simple ideas will help kids fall in love with science.

Collage of 2nd grade science projects, including tie-dye slime and insect pollination model

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

Food science activities and projects for 2nd graders, more 2nd grade science experiments and activities.

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

Pollinate like a bee

Pipe cleaner twisted into bee shape on a child's finger, sitting on a paper flower

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

Model house made of colorful sponges with bean sprouts growing from it

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

Plastic bag with clouds and sun drawn on it, with a small amount of blue liquid at the bottom

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

Layered model of the Earth built from playdough

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

Plastic cup holding sugar cubes and smaller candies

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

Four cups of soil, each labeled with a different type of liquid including tap water, bottled water, and soda

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

Pile of different colored towels pushed together to create folds like mountains

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

Children exploding a balloon with seeds flying out

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”

Leaf submerged in water with air bubbles

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

Small plants growing inside a plastic bottle filled with soil

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

Pine branches and woodland animal figurines on a tray labeled woodland

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

Two graham crackers overlapping on a bed of whipped cream

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

Child peering at a pile of rocks through a magnifying glass

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

Second grade science experiments can demonstrate layers of soil, as seen in this picture of a cup layered with chocolate pudding, Oreo cookie crumbs, and graham crackers.

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

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

Lemon with a nail and a coil of wire stuck into it

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

The Great Cookie Dunk printable worksheet with a blue pen

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

Slices of bread in plastic bags showing various amounts of mold

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

A root beer float in a clear plastic cup

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

Plastic cups filled with water and different flavors of DumDum lollipops

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

Two regular-sized gummy bears next to two large bears that have been soaked in water (2nd Grade Science)

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

Clear bottles on a freezer shelf labeled milk, juice, salt water, water, and sugar water

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

Child's hand holding magnifying glass over a cracker, with worksheet labeled Cracker Lab in the background

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

Picture of a child holding a Hershey kiss candy in the palm of her hand, as an example of second grade science experiments.

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

Watermelon with 50 rubber bands wrapped around it to demonstrate second grade science experiments for the classroom.

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

Photo of a child's hand shown above an egg that has been through a chemical change and is now rubberized and can bounce on top of a dish without breaking.

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

Solar ovens made out of pizza boxes and foil with smores inside are showing a second grade science experiment relating to solar energy.

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

Picture of an egg placed in a contraption constructed of straws to protect it in an egg drop experiment.

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

Photo of a second grade science STEM project of structures built by combining marshmallows and pretzels.

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

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

Student playing with neon colored 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

Child dissecting a large seed, with parts like plant embryo, seed coat, and leaf labaled

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

ATOMS Matter worksheet with cereal arranged to represent atoms in solids, liquids, and gases

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

Colorful tissue paper flowers with pipe cleaner stems

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

Small paper cups filled with colorful foam with a box of baking soda

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

Pipe cleaners and beads bent to form 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

DIY sundial made from a paper plate and a pencil

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

Simple cars made from clothespins and drinking straws

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

Bones made out of playdough sitting on a mat showing the human body

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

Child's hand holding crystal-covered pom pom balls (2nd Grade Science)

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

Black construction paper with gingerbread man outlines covered in sunscreen, showing paper has faded except where protected by sunscreen

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

Tower built from index cards in stacks and columns

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

Child's hands bending a blue plastic ruler

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

Glasses of liquid labeled baking soda water, sugar water, control plain water, and salt water

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

Student blowing on a drinking straw to launch a tiny rocket

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

Second grade science project modeling the planets in the solar system using 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

Photo of 5 pennies and a water dropper to demonstrate the second grade science experiment relating to water tension. One penny has 4 water drops on it.

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

DIY star projector for a second grade science experiment, constructed of an upside-down paper cup with seven holes punched on the bottom of it, a blue circle the size of a quarter, and a bigger white circle surrounded by dashes.

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

In this second grade science experiment, students write a letter with invisible ink, as shown in the photo. The secret message is visible when a flashlight is shined onto it.

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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Second grade science students will learn so much as they make foaming rainbows, tie-dye slime, crystal pom-poms, and so much more!

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Free Printable Making Inferences Worksheets for 2nd Grade

Making Inferences: Discover a world of learning with our free printable Reading & Writing worksheets for Grade 2 students. Enhance their comprehension and critical thinking skills in a fun and interactive way.

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Explore printable Making Inferences worksheets for 2nd Grade

Making Inferences worksheets for Grade 2 are essential tools for teachers to enhance their students' reading and writing skills. These worksheets are specifically designed to help young learners develop critical thinking abilities and improve their overall reading comprehension strategies. By incorporating engaging activities and exercises, these worksheets encourage students to make connections between the text and their own experiences, allowing them to draw conclusions and make predictions. As a result, students become more confident and proficient readers, which is crucial for their academic success in Grade 2 and beyond. Making Inferences worksheets for Grade 2 are an invaluable resource for teachers who want to provide their students with a solid foundation in reading comprehension.

Quizizz is an excellent platform for teachers to find a variety of educational resources, including Making Inferences worksheets for Grade 2, to support their students' reading and writing development. In addition to worksheets, Quizizz offers interactive quizzes, games, and other engaging activities that can be easily integrated into lesson plans. These resources not only help students practice their reading comprehension strategies but also make learning fun and enjoyable. Teachers can also track their students' progress and identify areas where they may need additional support or intervention. By utilizing Quizizz and its vast array of educational resources, teachers can ensure that their Grade 2 students are well-equipped with the necessary skills to excel in reading and writing.

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Gophers wrestling superstar Gable Steveson visits Buffalo Bills

Joe nelson | may 16, 2024.

Gable Steveson apparently worked out for the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

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Wrestlers don't always play football and football players don't always turn into wrestlers, but when they do they seem to become a superstar one way or another.

Brock Lesnar went from NCAA heavyweight champion and WWE superstar to a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings. Joe Anoa'i went from football star at Georgia Tech to a tryout with the Vikings before becoming WWE superstar Roman Reigns. Mike Rallis went from Edina High School in Minnesota to star linebacker at the University of Minnesota before a tryout with the Miami Dolphins and then the WWE, where he is now known as superstar Riddick Moss.

Gable Steveson might be the next to make the wrestling-to-football transition, though he doesn't need any help becoming a superstar. Steveson is already world famous as an Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler (2021 Tokyo), three-time Big Ten heavyweight champion and two-time NCAA heavyweight national champion.

On Wednesday, Steveson posted a photo of himself wearing a Buffalo Bills shirt while at the Bills' practice facility in Orchard Park, New York. He appeared to be drenched in sweat, was wearing football cleats and captioned his photo with "Good work" and a flexed muscle emoji.

On May 8, after Steveson was released from the WWE, mixed-martial arts insider Ariel Helwani reported that "multiple NFL teams" had "reached out" to Steveson. Helwani noted that Steveson also has one year of eligibility remaining in college so if he wants to chase a third national championship he could, and he could also explore a career in MMA.

Ryan Talbot, who covers the Bills for New York Upstate, reports that the Bills expressed interested in Steveson in 2021, so his 2024 visit isn't a complete surprise.

One way or another, the 23-year-old Gophers legend has exciting options.

Joe Nelson

IMAGES

  1. Science Skill: Making a Hypothesis (Gr. 2) Printable (2nd Grade

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  2. Making A Hypothesis For 2nd-5th Grade by Love And Excellence

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  3. Writing A Hypothesis in the Scientific Method: Lesson, Act Elementary

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  4. Hypothesis Maker

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  5. How to Write a Hypothesis in 12 Steps 2024

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  6. Hypothesis writing activity for second

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VIDEO

  1. Making a hypothesis. What would you add to this?

  2. GRADE 11 STATISTIC AND PROBABILITY (Q4 W1) HYPOTHESIS TESTING

  3. Statistical Inference and Decision Making: Hypothesis Testing

  4. Writing a hypothesis (Shortened)

  5. Introduction to Hypothesis Testing

  6. Two-Sample Test of Hypothesis

COMMENTS

  1. How to Write a Hypothesis: Lesson for Kids

    Follow this easy formula to write a strong hypothesis: If (I do this), then (this will happen). We call this an if - then statement. Here are some examples of an if - then statement: If I use ...

  2. Writing a Hypothesis for Your Science Fair Project

    The goal of a science project is not to prove your hypothesis right or wrong. The goal is to learn more about how the natural world works. Even in a science fair, judges can be impressed by a project that started with a bad hypothesis. What matters is that you understood your project, did a good experiment, and have ideas for how to make it better.

  3. Science Skill: Making a Hypothesis Printable (2nd Grade)

    Provided by Scott Foresman, an imprint of Pearson, the world's leading elementary educational publisher. Its line of educational resources supports teachers and helps schools and districts meet demands for adequate yearly progress and reporting. Students test their hypothesis as to whether they would jump farther from a standing position or ...

  4. The Scientific Method Lesson Plan: Developing Hypotheses

    Discuss the main points from the movie: a. Write the definition of the scientific method: the procedure scientists use to help explain why things happen. b. Make a list on the board of the steps mentioned as part of the scientific method: problem, fact finding, observation, inference, hypothesis, experiment, conclusions. c.

  5. Writing a Hypothesis for Your Science Fair Project

    A hypothesis is a tentative, testable answer to a scientific question. Once a scientist has a scientific question she is interested in, the scientist reads up to find out what is already known on the topic. Then she uses that information to form a tentative answer to her scientific question. Sometimes people refer to the tentative answer as "an ...

  6. How To Write A Hypothesis

    Step Three - Outline your hypothesis - Frame it as a cause and effect, like "if X is done, then Y will happen.". Make a prediction as to what will happen. You will also need to consider the ethics of what you are doing carefully. Step Four - Do the legwork - Conduct your research, go out into the field and investigate.

  7. Paper Rockets to Learn the Scientific Method

    Figure 1. Steps of the scientific method. Your students will build small rockets out of paper and tape. The rocket fits onto a straw, and can be launched by blowing into the straw (Figure 2). Image Credit: Ben Finio, Science Buddies / Science Buddies. Figure 2. Paper rocket.

  8. PDF Science SkillS Hypotheses

    Compare results to hypothesis: Did the results support the hypothesis? Explain why or why not. (Review the hypothesis and compare it to the results.) New research question: List one idea for a future experiment related to this one that you would like to try. New hypothesis: Using the "if . . . then . . . because" format, make a new hypothesis

  9. Scientific Method for Kids: Steps and FREE Printable!

    Steps of the Scientific Method for Kids. Here are the basic steps in the scientific method you'll want to teach your kids: Observe and ask a question. Form a hypothesis. Do an experiment. Evaluate your data. Draw a conclusion. Let's go over each of the steps in a little bit more detail with an easy example, so you can see how you might ...

  10. What Is a Hypothesis?

    A hypothesis, which is a tentative explanation, can lead to a prediction. Predictions forecast the outcome of an experiment but do not include an explanation. Predictions often use if-then statements, just as hypotheses do, but this does not make a prediction a hypothesis. For example, a prediction might take the form of, "If I do [X], then ...

  11. Scientific Method For Kids With Examples

    Make initial observations. Come up with a question of interest that is based on the observations. Develop a hypothesis or prediction to go along with the question. Experiment and test. Gather and record results of tests and experiments and draw conclusions. Share and discuss results. Whoa… Wait A Minute! That sounds like a lot for a young kid!

  12. PDF Hypothesis and Variables Worksheet 1

    IV: grade level DV: speed of growth Hypothesis: If a student is in eighth grade, then he will grow quickest. 4. Is riding the bus or riding a bike a quicker way to get to school? IV: bus or bike DV: time it takes to get to school Hypothesis: If a student rides the bus, then she will get to school faster. A hypothesis is a(n) educated guess or ...

  13. PDF Scientific Method Worksheet

    1. _____ Forming a hypothesis is the first step of the scientific method. 2. _____ A scientific law is different from a scientific theory because it describes something in nature without attempting to explain it. 3. _____ In order for a hypothesis to be testable, scientists need to be able

  14. How to Write a Strong Hypothesis

    Developing a hypothesis (with example) Step 1. Ask a question. Writing a hypothesis begins with a research question that you want to answer. The question should be focused, specific, and researchable within the constraints of your project. Example: Research question.

  15. Teaching the Scientific Method with Paper Rockets

    This lesson is designed to guide your students through the steps of the scientific method (Figure 1) using a fun, hands-on project: paper rockets. You can read about the scientific method in much more detail in this guide. Image Credit: created by Amy Cowen for Science Buddies / Science Buddies. Figure 1. Steps of the scientific method.

  16. 50 Fun and Easy 2nd Grade Science Experiments & Activities

    Drop a Mento in soda and watch it erupt. Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium. 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.

  17. Making Hypothesis Worksheets

    Making Hypothesis. Displaying all worksheets related to - Making Hypothesis. Worksheets are Hypothesis practice, How to write a good hypothesis using if then because, Hypothesis generation work, Variables hypothesis work, Scientific method work, Identifying variables work, The scientific method, Research question and hypothesis work.

  18. Printable 2nd Grade Making Inference Worksheets

    Make a Mental Picture. Worksheet. Scene Illustration. Worksheet. Vocabulary Cards: Inference Making. Worksheet. 1. Browse Printable 2nd Grade Making Inference Worksheets. Award winning educational materials designed to help kids succeed.

  19. Free Printable Making Inferences Worksheets for 2nd Grade

    Making Inferences worksheets for Grade 2 are essential tools for teachers to enhance their students' reading and writing skills. These worksheets are specifically designed to help young learners develop critical thinking abilities and improve their overall reading comprehension strategies. By incorporating engaging activities and exercises ...

  20. Hypothesis Testing Explained (How I Wish It Was Explained to Me)

    I first learned about hypothesis testing in the first year of my Bachelor's in Statistics. Ever since I've always felt that I was missing something about it.. What particularly bothered me was the presence of elements that seemed quite arbitrary, like those "magic numbers" such as 80% Power or 97.5% Confidence.. So I recently tried to make a deep dive into the topic and, at some point ...

  21. Second Grade Science Projects

    Our second grade projects are written and tested by scientists and are specifically created for use by students in the second grade. Students can choose to follow the science experiment as written or put their own spin on the project. For a personalized list of science projects, second graders can use the Science Buddies Topic Selection Wizard.

  22. Gophers wrestling superstar Gable Steveson visits Buffalo Bills

    On Wednesday, Steveson posted a photo of himself wearing a Buffalo Bills shirt while at the Bills' practice facility in Orchard Park, New York. He appeared to be drenched in sweat, was wearing ...