Matter & Energy
Grade 2: Matter & Energy
Properties of Liquids and Solids
For PDSB Educators: if you are looking to reach out to the Peel Field Centres for further ways to connect your learning to the environment visit the PDSB Field Centre Share Point site.
Nature Journaling: I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of...
Nature Journaling is an incredible tool for students to look for connections in liquid properties, by studying rain/snow fall, melting and evaporation. Their nature journal allows them to write/draw their observations helping to cement the concepts being taught.
At this age all three prompts "I notice..., I wonder...?, and "It reminds me of..." become very intuitive. However the last statement becomes very important for connection making. Encourage them to begin writing themselves using single words or simple sentences. Please note that spelling is not a focus in the nature journal. At this age you may start to see art fears - please ensure you are re-iterating it is not about a pretty picture. It is about their observations. Please see the link feedback at the bottom of this lesson for tips on this. Using words, pictures and numbers allows the students multiple tools to document their observations. With permission Bethan Burton has allowed us to link to her website as she has written a blog post for Teaching nature journaling at all ages.
Here are some more ideas to get you started.
Engage the fives senses (whenever possible)
Make leaf prints ( paint the leaf and press the print into the journal)
Make leaf rubbings
Trace the items they are looking at
Add leaves into the journal using tape
Count the birds/squirrels/insects etc.
Measure as much of the phenomena as the students can using non standard and standard units of measurement.
Here is a downloadable lesson from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. All resources shared with permission. "I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of..."
GIVING FEEDBACK here is a fantastic resource from Jack and Emilie
NOTE: You are encourage to spend time in the outdoors Nature Journaling. However, you can also bring nature inside, look out your wonder window, have a refrigerator Safari or even observe a house plant or pet.
For this activity you will need:
A container of any size that can be frozen (muffin tin, pie pan, container from recycling bin). It will need to be flexible.
A collection of biodegradable items (i.e. leaf, stick, food scraps, plant clippings, etc.)
String, yarn, thin rope or twine
A freezer or an outdoor space where you can leave the container
Journal to record predictions and weather!
Frozen Sun Catchers
In this activity, we will be creating our own frozen sun catchers to explore the conditions that cause water and ice to change form, while also exploring conditions in which liquids and solids remain constant.
After collecting your biodegradable items, fill your container with water and place your items inside the container! Using your yarn, string or twine, tie a small loop and place the tied off end into the water. The loop of yarn/string/twine should be large enough to be able to hang over a branch/hook/etc.
Place your container into a freezer or outdoor space. In your journal, record the steps you took to complete your experiment so far, and predict how long it will take your container to freeze. Include the following in your journal:
A list of the biodegradable items you used. For example, The items I used include...
Where you placed the container. For example, I placed the container….
How long you predict it will take to freeze. For example, I predict that…
Check on your container occasionally to see if it has fully frozen! This may take up to one full day. Once fully frozen, gently pop the ice block out of the container and find a space outdoors to hang it! It can be out on your porch/balcony or even hung at a tree nearby. Make sure to sit back and enjoy how pretty your frozen sun catcher looks!
Next, look at the weather for the next week and record it in your journal. You can use pictures, words, or numbers! Based off of the weather for the week, predict how many days your frozen sun catcher will remain frozen and explain why? For example, I predict that my frozen sun catcher will remain frozen for at least 8 days, because it is supposed to be -10*C or colder for the next week.
Keep a close eye on your frozen sun catcher to see if it can last all winter!
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
Ice Cube Cooking
Create ice cubes in different sized containers or all the same (add food colour or objects for fun). Have a least 3 that are the same size.
On a sunny day, take the ice cubes outside to try different experiments with them
In different colour containers place the ice cubes in the sun. How long does it take to melt? Does the colour of the container change how quickly the ice melts? Does the size of the container change how fast it melts?
Place ice cubes in different parts of the outdoors - in the shade, sun, under a tree, beside a building, under snow or inside of tin foil. Talk about how fast or slow the the ice melts. Why?
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
Sink or Float
This activity will investigate the buoyancy of liquids and solids. It can be completed indoors or outdoors with a variety of materials that are available to you.
Have you ever wondered why some objects sink while others float? Today, using water, we are going to experiment with different objects to see which sink or float. Using your science journal, you are going to predict what will happen when you put the object in the water. In your journal you can create a chart that looks like the following:
Collect 6 different objects you can find around your home or in nature. The objects should be different weights and sizes. Record your predictions in your science journal.
Find any water source available to you (you can use a puddle, a pond, a container of water or a bathtub!)
Complete your experiment by adding each object, one at a time, into the water source. Make sure to record your findings in the "Result" section of your science journal.
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
What Does it Matter? - The Science of Making Butter
Top set up the experiment you will need the following items.
You will need the following items
½ cup of water
½ cup of milk
½ cup of heavy cream
3 clean coffee filters
3 cups
A stopwatch or clock
Create a chart or other method for recording your findings
Describe the properties of the water, milk and cream, using science and technology vocabulary before you begin.
Time how long it takes for each liquid to move through the filter into the cup below and record your observations. Was there a difference in the times you recorded? Explain why or why not.
Watch the video on the left hand side and follow the steps to make butter.
Time how long it takes to notice visible changes in the cream. How long does it take to make butter? What state of matter is the butter in the jar? What could be done to change the state of the butter? Can you make butter using water? Why or why not?
Look for examples of changes of states of matter outside in nature.
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.