Mississippi College & Career Readiness Standards 2nd Grade Science Activities

MS.L.2. GRADE TWO: Life Science

Hierarchical Organization

L.2.1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the classification of animals based on physical characteristics.

L.2.1.1. Compare and sort groups of animals with backbones (vertebrates) from groups of animals without backbones (invertebrates).

L.2.1.2. Classify vertebrates (mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, and reptiles) based on their physical characteristics.

L.2.1.3. Compare and contrast physical characteristics that distinguish classes of vertebrates (i.e., reptiles compared to amphibians).

L.2.1.4. Construct a scientific argument for classifying vertebrates that have unusual characteristics, such as bats, penguins, snakes, salamanders, dolphins, and duck-billed platypuses (i.e., bats have wings yet they are mammals).

Reproduction and Heredity

L.2.2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of how living things change in form as they go through the general stages of a life cycle.

L.2.2.1. Use observations through informational texts and other media to observe the different stages of the life cycle of trees (i.e., pines, oaks) to construct explanations and compare how trees change and grow over time.

Ecology and Interdependence

L.2.3A. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the interdependence of living things and the environment in which they live.

L.2.3A.1. Evaluate and communicate findings from informational text or other media to describe how animals change and respond to rapid or slow changes in their environment (fire, pollution, changes in tide, availability of food/water).

L.2.3B. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the interdependence of living things.

L.2.3B.1. Evaluate and communicate findings from informational text or other media to describe and to compare how animals interact with other animals and plants in the environment (i.e., predator-prey relationships, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore).

L.2.3B.2. Conduct an investigation to find evidence where plants and animals compete or cooperate with other plants and animals for food or space. Present findings (i.e., using technology or models).

Adaptations and Diversity

L.2.4. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the ways animals adapt to their environment in order to survive.

L.2.4.1. Evaluate and communicate findings from informational text or other media to describe how plants and animals use adaptations to survive (e.g., ducks use webbed feet to swim in lakes and ponds, cacti have waxy coatings and spines to grow in the desert) in distinct environments (e.g., polar lands, saltwater and freshwater, desert, rainforest, woodlands).

MS.P.2. GRADE TWO: Physical Science

Organization of Matter and Chemical Interactions

P.2.5. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the properties of matter.

P.2.5.1. Conduct a structured investigation to collect, represent, and analyze categorical data to classify matter as solid, liquid, or gas. Report findings and describe a variety of materials according to observable physical properties (e.g., size, color, texture, opacity, solubility).

P.2.5.2. Compare and measure the length of solid objects using technology and mathematical representations. Analyze and communicate findings.

P.2.5.4. Construct scientific arguments to support claims that some changes to matter caused by heating can be reversed, and some changes cannot be reversed.

Motions, Forces, and Energy

P.2.6. Students will demonstrate an understanding of how the motion of objects is affected by pushes, pulls, and friction on an object.

P.2.6.2. Generate and answer questions about the relationship between (1) friction and the motion of objects and (2) friction and the production of heat.

P.2.6.3. Develop a plan to change the force (push or pull) of friction to solve a human problem (e.g., improve the ride on a playground slide or make a toy car or truck go faster). Use an engineering design process to define the problem, design, construct, evaluate, and improve the plan.

MS.E.2. GRADE TWO: Earth and Space Science

Earth and the Universe

E.2.8. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the appearance, movements, and patterns of the sun, moon, and stars.

E.2.8.1. Recognize that there are many stars that can be observed in the night sky and the Sun is the Earth’s closest star.

E.2.8.2. With teacher guidance, observe, describe, and predict the seasonal patterns of sunrise and sunset. Collect, represent, and interpret data from internet sources to communicate findings.

E.2.8.3. Observe and compare the details in images of the moon and planets using the perspective of the naked eye, telescopes, and data from space exploration.

E.2.8.5. Use informational text and other media to observe, describe and predict the visual patterns of motion of the Sun (sunrise, sunset) and Moon (phases).

E.2.8.6. Create a model that will demonstrate the observable pattern of motion of the Sun or Moon. Use an engineering design process to define the problem, design, construct, evaluate, and improve the model.

Earth’s Resources

E.2.10. Students will demonstrate an understanding of how humans use Earth’s resources.

E.2.10.1. Use informational text, other media, and first-hand observations to investigate, analyze and compare the properties of Earth materials (including rocks, soils, sand, and water).

E.2.10.2. Conduct an investigation to identify and classify everyday objects that are resources from the Earth (e.g., drinking water, granite countertops, clay dishes, wood furniture, or gas grill). Classify these objects as renewable and nonrenewable resources.

E.2.10.3. Use informational text and other media to summarize and communicate how Earth materials are used (e.g., soil and water to grow plants; rocks to make roads, walls or building; or sand to make glass).

E.2.10.4. Use informational text, other media, and first-hand observations to investigate and communicate the process and consequences of soil erosion.