SCIENCE CHECKLIST- GRADE 2   (Prepared by Paulette Cefalu-Walkwitz)

04-05

05-06

06-07

07-08

08-09

BENCHMARK

 

(GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATIONS ARE PRINTED IN BOLD PRINT.)

 

 

 

 

 

SI-E-A1 asking appropriate questions about organisms and events in the environment

 

1.  Ask questions about objects and events in the environment (e.g., plants, rocks, storms)

 

2.  Pose questions that can be answered by using students’ own observations, scientific knowledge, and testable scientific investigations

 

 

 

 

 

SI-E-A2 planning and/or designing and conducting a scientific investigation

 

3.  Use observations to design and conduct simple investigations or experiments to answer testable questions

 

4.  Predict and anticipate possible outcomes

 

5.  Use a variety of methods and materials and multiple trials to investigate ideas (observe, measure, accurately record data)

 

 

 

 

 

SI-E-A3 communicating that observations are made with one’s senses

 

6.  Use the five senses to describe observations

 

 

 

 

 

SI-E-A4 employing equipment and tolls to gather data and extend the sensory observations

 

7.  Measure and record length and temperature in both metric system and U.S. System units

 

8.  Select and use developmentally appropriate equipment and tools (e.g., magnifying lenses, graduated cylinders) and units of measurement to observe and collect data

 

 

 

 

 

SI-E-A5 using data, including numbers and graphs, to explain observations and experiments

 

9.  Express data in a variety of ways by constructing illustrations, graphs, charts, tables, concept maps, and oral and written explanations as appropriate

 

 

 

 

 

SI-E-A6 communicating observations and experiments in oral and written formats

 

10.  Use a variety of appropriate formats to describe procedures and to express ideas about demonstrations or experiments (e.g., drawings, journals, reports, presentations, exhibitions, portfolios)

 

 

 

 

 

SI-E-A7 utilizing safety procedures during experiments

 

11.  Identify and use appropriate safety procedures and equipment when conducting investigations (e.g., gloves, goggles, hair ties)

 

 

 

 

 

SI-E-B1 categorizing questions into what is known, what is not know, and what questions need to be explained

 

 

 

 

 

SI-E-B2 using appropriate experiments depending on the questions to be explored

 

 

 

 

 

SI-E-B3 choosing appropriate equipment and tools to conduct an experiment

 

12.  Recognize that a variety of tools can be used to examine objects at different degrees of magnification (e.g., hand lens, microscope)

 

 

 

 

 

SI-E-B4 developing explanations by using observations and experiments

 

(9.)  Express data in a variety of ways by constructing illustrations, graphs, charts, tables, concept maps, and oral and written explanations as appropriate

 

 

 

 

 

SI-E-B5 presenting the results of experiments

 

 

 

 

 

SI-E-B6 reviewing and asking questions about the results of investigations

 

13.  Explain and give examples of how scientific discoveries have affected society

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-A1 observing, describing, and classifying objects by properties (size, weight, shape, color, texture, and temperature)

 

14.  Classify objects as “bendable” or “rigid”.

 

15.  Record the temperature of objects (Celsius and Fahrenheit)

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-A2 measuring properties of objects using appropriate materials, tools, and technology

 

16.  Measure weight/mass and volume of a variety of objects and materials by using a pan balance and various containers

 

17.  Use standard tools to measure objects or materials (e.g., ruler, meter stick, measuring tape, pan balance, thermometer, graduated cylinder)

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-A3 observing and describing the objects by the properties of the materials from which they are made (paper, wood, metal)

 

18.  Observe, describe, and record the characteristics of materials that make up different objects (e.g., metal, nonmetal, plastic, rock, wood, paper)

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-A4 describing the properties of the different states of matter and identifying the conditions that cause matter to change states

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-A5 creating mixtures and separating them based on differences in properties (salt, sand)

 

19.  Describe and illustrate what remains after water evaporates from a salt or sugar solution

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-B1 observing and describing the position of an object relative to another object or the background

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-B2 exploring and recognizing that the position and motion of objects can be changed by pushing or pulling (force) over time

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-B3 describing an object’s motion by tracing and measuring its position over time

 

20.  Observe and describe differences in motion between objects (e.g., toward/away, cardinal directions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-B4 investigating and describing how the motion of an object is related to the strength of the force (pushing or pulling) and the mass of the object

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-C1 experimenting and communicating how vibrations of objects produce sound and how changing the rate of vibration varies the pitch

 

21.  Use students’ own voices to demonstrate pitch (e.g., low, high)

 

22.  Give examples of objects that vibrate to produce sound (e.g., drum, stringed instrument, end of a ruler, symbol)

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-C2 investigating and describing how light travels and what happens when light strikes an object (reflection, refraction, and absorption)

 

23.  Change the direction of light by using a mirror and/or lens

 

24.  Describe how light behaves when it strikes objects and materials (e.g., transparent, translucent, opaque)

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-C3 investigating and describing different ways heat can be produced and moved from one object to another by conduction

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-C4 investigating and describing how electricity travels in a circuit

 

25.  Investigate ways of producing static electricity and describe its effects

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-C5 investigating and communicating that magnetism and gravity can exert forces on objects without touching the objects

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-C6 exploring and describing simple energy transformations

 

 

 

 

 

PS-E-C7 exploring and describing the uses of energy at school, home, and play

 

26.  Identify and describe sources of energy used at school, home, play

 

 

 

 

 

LS-E-A1 identifying the needs of plants and animals, based on age-appropriate recorded observations

 

27.  Match the appropriate food source and habitat for a variety of animals 

(e.g.,cows/grass/field, fish/tadpoles/water)

 

 

 

 

 

LS-E-A2 distinguishing between living and nonliving things

 

 

 

 

 

LS-E-A3  locating and comparing major plant and animal structures and their functions

 

28.  Describe structures of plants (e.g., roots, leaves, stems, flowers, seeds)

 

29.  Compare differences and similarities among a variety of seed plants

 

 

 

 

 

LS-E-A4 recognizing that there is great diversity among organisms 30. 

 

30. Identify physical characteristics of organisms (e.g., worms, amphibians, plants)

 

 

 

 

 

LS-E-A5 locating major human body organs and describing their functions

 

 

 

 

 

LS-E-A6 recognizing the food groups necessary to maintain a healthy body

 

31.  Identify and discuss the arrangement of the food pyramid

 

32.  Analyze selected menus to determine whether they include representatives of all the required food groups

 

 

 

 

 

 

LS-E-B1 observing and describing the life cycles of some plants and animals

 

33.  Compare the life cycles of selected organisms (e.g., mealworm, caterpillar, tadpole)

 

 

 

 

 

LS-E-B2 observing, comparing, and grouping plants and animals according to likenesses and/or differences

 

 

 

 

 

LS-E-B3 observing and recording how the offspring of plants and animals are similar to their parents

 

34.  Describe inherited characteristics of living things

 

 

 

 

 

LS-E-B4 observing, recording, and graphing student growth over time using a variety of quantitative measures (height, weight, linear measure of feet and hands, etc.)

 

 

 

 

 

LS-E-C1 examining the habitats of plants and animals and determining how basic needs are met within each habitat

 

35.  Identify the component of a variety of habitats and describe how organisms in those habitats depend on each other

 

 

 

 

 

LS-E-C2 describing how the features of some plants and animals enable them to live in specific habitats

 

 

 

 

 

LS-E-C3 observing animals and plants and describing interaction or interdependence

 

 

 

 

 

ESS-E-A1 understanding that earth materials are rocks, minerals, and soils

 

36.  Observe and record the properties of rocks, minerals, and soils gathered from their surroundings (e.g., color, texture, odor)

 

 

 

 

 

ESS-E-A2 understanding that approximately three-fourths of the Earth’s surface is covered with water and how this condition affects weather patterns and climates

 

37.  Compare bodies of water found on Earth (e.g., oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, glaciers)

 

38.  Explain why most of the water on Earth cannot be used as drinking (potable) water

 

 

 

 

 

ESS-E-A3

investigating, observing, and describing how water changes from one form to another and interacts with the atmosphere

 

39.  Design an experiment involving evaporation

 

 

 

 

 

ESS-E-A4 investigating, observing, measuring, and describing changes in daily weather patterns and phenomena

 

40.  Gather, record, and graph weather data (e.g., precipitation, wind speed, wind direction, temperature) using appropriate instruments

 

41.  Analyze recorded daily temperatures and weather conditions from newspapers, television, the Internet, and home/outdoor thermometers

 

 

 

 

 

ESS-E-A5 observing and communicating that rocks are composed of various substances

 

42.  Identify and use appropriate tools to gather and study rocks, minerals, and fossils

 

 

 

 

 

ESS-E-A6 observing and describing variations in soil

 

 

 

 

 

ESS-E-A7 investigating fossils and describing how they provide evidence about plants and animals that lived long ago and the environment in which they lived