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39 Second Grade Science Experiments

39 Second Grade Science Experiments

We believe in the importance of early exposure to science. A hands-on activity or science experiment is the best way to introduce kids to science! We've handpicked a variety of second grade science experiments that will teach kids science and ignite their curiosity to the world around them.

White Daisies and Food Coloring
1. White Daisies and Food Coloring
Place white daisies in colored water and watch the petals change to blue or red within a single day.
Easy
The Greenhouse Effect in a Jar
2. The Greenhouse Effect in a Jar
Cover one thermometer with a jar in sunlight and watch the trapped air climb several degrees in ten minutes.
Easy
Microwave Popcorn Brand Comparison
3. Microwave Popcorn Brand Comparison
Pop three brands of microwave popcorn for the same time and count which one leaves the fewest unpopped kernels.
Easy
Plaster of Paris Fossils
4. Plaster of Paris Fossils
Press a leaf into wet plaster of Paris and let it harden. Peel it away to reveal a fossil imprint you made yourself.
Easy
Why Steel Ships Float and Nails Sink
5. Why Steel Ships Float and Nails Sink
Shape aluminum foil into a boat that floats, then hammer it into a ball and watch the same foil sink.
Medium
Oil Spill Cleanup with Cotton and Foil
6. Oil Spill Cleanup with Cotton and Foil
Build a tiny oil tanker from aluminum foil and discover which household materials absorb a cooking oil spill the fastest.
Easy
Raisins Rising and Sinking in Fizzy Water
7. Raisins Rising and Sinking in Fizzy Water
Drop raisins into a jar of vinegar and baking soda and watch them rise, float, and sink over and over again.
Easy
Seashells and Vinegar
8. Seashells and Vinegar
Place one seashell in vinegar and another in water, then check back in a week to see which one dissolves.
Easy
Elephant Toothpaste Foam Reaction
9. Elephant Toothpaste Foam Reaction
Pour a yeast mixture into a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and watch a giant column of warm foam erupt.
Easy
Earth and Sun Size Comparison Model
10. Earth and Sun Size Comparison Model
Build a scale model of the Sun and Earth and count how many Earths fit across its width.
Easy
Oobleck and Non-Newtonian Fluids
11. Oobleck and Non-Newtonian Fluids
Squeeze a simple mix of cornstarch and water into a solid ball, then open your hand and watch it flow back into a liquid.
Easy
Baking Soda Invisible Ink and Grape Juice
12. Baking Soda Invisible Ink and Grape Juice
Write a secret message with baking soda water and reveal it by painting grape juice over the paper.
Easy
Lemon Juice Invisible Ink and Heat
13. Lemon Juice Invisible Ink and Heat
Write an invisible message with lemon juice and watch your hidden words appear in brown when you add heat.
Medium
Household Solar System Model
14. Household Solar System Model
Turn a balloon into the Sun and shape play dough planets to build a tabletop solar system model.
Easy
Fruit-Sized Planets and Solar System Scale
15. Fruit-Sized Planets and Solar System Scale
Pick a fruit to match each planet's size and line them up to see how the solar system is spaced out.
Easy
Static Electricity and Jumping Cereal
16. Static Electricity and Jumping Cereal
Rub a plexiglass plate with wool and watch Rice Krispies leap off the table and stick to the charged surface.
Easy
Taste Without Smell: Candy Flavor Test
17. Taste Without Smell: Candy Flavor Test
Place a Life Saver on someone's tongue while they hold their nose and time how long it takes to name the flavor.
Easy
Moth Camouflage and Predator Evasion
18. Moth Camouflage and Predator Evasion
Color paper moths to match your surroundings and test how long it takes a searcher to spot each one.
Easy
Homemade Sundial from a Paper Cup
19. Homemade Sundial from a Paper Cup
Build a sundial from a paper cup and straw, then see how closely the shadow marks match the real time.
Easy
Dish Soap and Milk Color Bursts
20. Dish Soap and Milk Color Bursts
Touch a soap-dipped cotton swab to food coloring in milk and watch the colors burst apart into swirling patterns.
Easy
Candy Models of Rocks and Minerals
21. Candy Models of Rocks and Minerals
Cut open different candies and classify them as rock or mineral models based on what the inside looks like.
Easy
Reflexes and Reaction Time
22. Reflexes and Reaction Time
Drop a ruler and use a conversion chart to turn the catch distance into your exact reaction time in milliseconds.
Easy
Parachute Design and Air Resistance
23. Parachute Design and Air Resistance
Build a parachute from a plastic bag and see how trapped air slows a falling toy to a gentle float.
Medium
Moon Phases with Cookie Models
24. Moon Phases with Cookie Models
Scrape the filling from sandwich cookies to model all eight Moon phases and see how the sunlit portion changes.
Easy
Vinegar and the Rubbery Egg
25. Vinegar and the Rubbery Egg
Drop a raw egg into vinegar for a few days and discover that the acid dissolves the hard shell, leaving behind a soft, rubbery egg.
Easy
Chocolate and the Rock Cycle
26. Chocolate and the Rock Cycle
Use chocolate shavings and heat to build three types of model rock that match real geology.
Medium
Capillary Action Walking Rainbow
27. Capillary Action Walking Rainbow
Connect cups of colored water with paper towels and watch capillary action build a complete rainbow overnight.
Easy
Galaxy in a Jar with Glitter and Paint
28. Galaxy in a Jar with Glitter and Paint
Swirl glitter and paint in a jar of water to create a miniature galaxy that sparkles when you shake it.
Easy
Cornstarch Oobleck and Shear Thickening
29. Cornstarch Oobleck and Shear Thickening
Punch a bowl of cornstarch and water and discover a liquid that turns solid under force, then flows the moment you stop.
Easy
Egg Drop Survival Challenge
30. Egg Drop Survival Challenge
Design a protective case from household materials and find out whether your raw egg survives a high drop.
Medium
Salt and Oil Density Lava Lamp
31. Salt and Oil Density Lava Lamp
Sprinkle salt onto a layer of oil over colored water and watch oil blobs get dragged down and float back up.
Easy
Frozen Ice Cube Lava Lamp
32. Frozen Ice Cube Lava Lamp
Drop colored ice cubes into oil and watch streams of melting color swirl downward like a slow-motion lava lamp.
Easy
Glow-in-the-Dark Lava Lamp
33. Glow-in-the-Dark Lava Lamp
Charge glow-in-the-dark paint and drop a fizzy tablet into oil to create a lava lamp that glows without a black light.
Easy
Density-Driven Alka-Seltzer Lava Lamp
34. Density-Driven Alka-Seltzer Lava Lamp
Drop an Alka-Seltzer tablet into oil and colored water and watch gas bubbles carry blobs up and down like a lava lamp.
Easy
Glitter Lava Lamp with Antacid Tablets
35. Glitter Lava Lamp with Antacid Tablets
Drop an antacid tablet into a bottle of oil, water, and glitter to create a sparkling lava lamp that keeps cycling.
Easy
Paper Airplane Folds and Flight Distance
36. Paper Airplane Folds and Flight Distance
Fold paper airplanes with different designs and launch them to discover which shape flies the farthest.
Medium
Baking Soda and Vinegar Lava Lamp
37. Baking Soda and Vinegar Lava Lamp
Drop baking soda and vinegar into a bottle of oil and water and watch colored blobs rise and sink like a real lava lamp.
Easy
Seed Sprouting on a Paper Towel
38. Seed Sprouting on a Paper Towel
Place kitchen seeds on a damp paper towel and watch roots and shoots appear within days as germination unfolds.
Easy
Sun Prints on Construction Paper
39. Sun Prints on Construction Paper
Lay leaves and flowers on construction paper in the sun to reveal sharp, colorful outlines where UV rays cannot reach.
Easy

2nd Grade Science Project FAQ

What are some easy 2nd grade science fair projects?

Each of these second grade science experiments are easy to do with household items. They make a lasting impression on kids, from the classic baking soda volcano to making Oobleck from the Dr. Seuss' book. An easy second grade science experiment is a great way to teach kids about chemical reactions and nature!

  • Changing the Color of Flowers

  • Rocket Film Canisters

  • Popping Popcorn

  • Make Your Own Fossil

  • Magic Milk Painting

  • Sparkling Rainbow Crystal

  • Making Oobleck: Liquid or Solid?

  • Baking Soda Volcano

  • Explosive Elephant Toothpaste

  • Growing Mold

Science fair project details right above the FAQ!

What is the best 2nd grade science project ever?

We love the Changing the Color of Flowers science fair project for 2nd graders! It's a fun project for 2nd graders to explore transpiration, the way water moves from a plant's stem to its flowers and leaves. Plus, you'll get to make any colored flower you choose!

If you're looking for more 2nd grade science experiments, check out the 2nd grade science fair projects at the top of this page! 

Check out more Best Science Fair Projects →

What are some cool 2nd grade science fair projects?

Get ready to be amazed by these super cool science projects for 2nd graders! With just a few simple things, you can be fascinated by science and have tons of fun with these cool 2nd grade science projects!

  • Sparkling Rainbow Crystal

  • Rocket Film Canisters

  • Making Oobleck: Liquid or Solid?

  • Popping Popcorn

  • Make Your Own Fossil

  • Magic Milk Painting

  • Changing the Color of Flowers

  • Baking Soda Volcano

  • Explosive Elephant Toothpaste

  • Growing Mold

Science fair project details right above the FAQ!

What are 5 testable questions for 2nd grade?

A testable question is a question that we can answer through a science experiment. To do this, we do a control science experiment, then we change one thing in the experiment to see how it affects what happens. This is how we can discover the answer to our question!

  • What makes a cloud form?

  • Can drink and food taste different just by changing its color?

  • Does the color of light affect photosynthesis?

  • Does temperature affect seed sprouting?

  • What makes popcorn pop?

Here are more testable questions along with their science projects →

What are the top 10 science projects for 2nd grade?

These are our top 10 science projects for 2nd grade, with projects from Biology, Chemistry and Earth Science. These projects can be used as science fair project ideas or as a fun experiment to explore different areas of science!

  • Changing the Color of Flowers

  • Watering Plants: Does it Make a Difference?

  • Powering Up with Potatoes

  • Rocket Film Canisters

  • Sprout Success: Soil Temperature Experiment

  • Does Milk Help Plants Grow?

  • The Greenhouse Effect in a Jar

  • Popping Popcorn

  • Make Your Own Fossil

  • How Much Water is in an Orange?

Science project details right above the FAQ!

Can I do a 2nd grade science fair project in a day?

Yes! Quick experiments can be a great option for a science fair project! If you want to explore quick reactions, we have science project ideas on various topics to get you started.

  • Acid-base reactions: Mixing acids with bases quickly makes carbon dioxide gas!

Make a rocket fly sky high with just baking soda and vinegar! Rocket Film Canisters

  • Chromatography reactions: Separate out colors!

Did you know that some Skittles have a secret rainbow hiding inside them? Colors of Skittles Experiment

  • Heat reactions: Heat speeds things up!

Do you want to find out which color candle burns the fastest? Which Candle Burns the Fastest?

What are some hands-on ways to find inspiration for my science fair project?

Science museums are great places to explore if you're looking for inspiration for your next science fair project or just want to learn more about science. Science museums, natural history museums, space museums, and discovery museums are all great places to do that! You can discover all sorts of interesting things about science and find cool project ideas for science fairs.

There may be free admission days or free passes to a science museum near you! Check your local library for free museum passes, nearby science museums for free entrance days and your credit card for offers.

Find a science museum near you and prepare to be awed by all that you can learn there! I always learn something new and am inspired whenever I go to a science museum!

How do I start a science fair project?

Science fair projects are a fun and unique way to discover science by asking a question and doing a science project. We'll help you find a science fair project idea and guide you through the process of doing and presenting your science fair project with Science Fair Coach's Science Fair Project Guide.

What should I do after I have a science fair project idea?

If you have a science fair project idea, Science Fair Coach can help you turn it into a full science fair project! Starting at Introduction to Science Fairs, we'll guide you through how to do a science fair project, from designing and conducting your experiment to collecting and analyzing your findings. Then, we'll help you showcase your results on a science fair board with our Guide to Science Fair Posters.

How do I make a science fair board?

Your science fair board is where you show off your science fair project for everyone to see and learn from. With our Guide to Science Fair Posters, you can make sure your science fair board stands out and impresses at the science fair!

What is the scientific method?

The 7 steps of the scientific method helps us understand how nature works. Learn how the scientific method is used in a science fair project example, and how it's evolved through history as scientists used different ways to learn about nature with our Guide to the Scientific Method!

What is the engineering design process?

The 6 steps of the engineering design process helps us design an effective solution to a problem. Learn how to use the engineering design process with the example of the egg drop challenge in our Guide to the Engineering Design Process!

Where can I find a science fair competition?

Science fair competitions are an excellent opportunity to explore science. One of the of the premier science advocacy organizations, the Society for Science, is associated with more than 400 science fair competitions in almost every US state, as well as over 70 other countries, regions, and territories. You can find out if there's a Society of Science affiliated science fair near you!

The www Virtual Library: Science Fairs website also has a collection of science fairs from all over the world, as well as national, state, regional, local, and virtual competitions!

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