🔬 2nd Grade Science · Unit 2

Building and Changing Matter

14 short narrated lessons in 3 chapters, each with pictures, a quiz with a hint and a second try, and an explanation for every answer.

Standards: 2-PS1-3 K-2-ETS1-2 2-PS1-4

2nd Grade Science · 4 units
  1. 1Properties of Matter
  2. 2Building and Changing Matter
  3. 3Plants and Animals Together
  4. 4Earth's Land and Water
Picture from the lesson “Made of Pieces”
Made of Pieces
Picture from the lesson “Take Apart, Build New”
Take Apart, Build New
Picture from the lesson “Same Blocks, New Shapes”
Same Blocks, New Shapes

What your child will learn

Big things from small pieces

  1. Made of PiecesExplain that many objects, like houses and toys, are built from many small pieces.
  2. Take Apart, Build NewDescribe how the pieces of one object can be taken apart and used to build a different object.
  3. Same Blocks, New ShapesShow that the same set of blocks can make a tower, a bridge or a boat.
  4. Big Things from Small Pieces: Review ReviewReview how small pieces can be put together in different ways to make new objects.

Build a model

  1. Plans and DrawingsExplain that builders use drawings and plans to show how pieces will fit together.
  2. Build a Strong TowerPlan and build a tower from small pieces and draw what it looks like.
  3. Rebuild It BetterTake apart a model and rebuild it in a new way to make it stronger or taller.
  4. Build a Model Review ReviewReview how drawings and models help us plan objects built from small pieces.

Heating and cooling

  1. MeltingExplain that heating can melt solids like ice, butter and chocolate into liquids.
  2. FreezingExplain that cooling can freeze liquids like water and juice into solids.
  3. Changes You Can UndoIdentify changes like melting ice that can be reversed by cooling again.
  4. Changes You Cannot UndoIdentify changes like cooking an egg or baking bread that cannot be undone.
  5. Heating and Cooling at HomeDescribe everyday examples of heating and cooling in the kitchen, such as making ice pops or toast.
  6. Heating and Cooling Review ReviewReview which changes from heating and cooling can be undone and which cannot.

Try a question from this unit

From the lesson “Made of Pieces”

Which one is made of many small pieces?

  • [object Object]
  • [object Object]
  • [object Object]
Show the answer

[object Object]. The tower is made of many small blocks stacked together.

Hint kids see after a wrong try: “Look for the one you could pull apart into little bits.”

Key words

  • piece
  • part
  • build
  • take apart
  • block
  • shape
  • plan
  • blueprint
  • tower
  • model
  • improve
  • rebuild
  • melt
  • heat
  • freeze
  • cool
  • reversible
  • change
  • irreversible
  • temperature
← Properties of Matter All 2nd Grade Science units Plants and Animals Together →

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Narrated lessons, pictures and quizzes for every grade from K to 8. Works offline.

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