Australia · ACARA Content Descriptions
Year 2 Science
Students develop their understanding of how living things grow, how materials can be changed, and how the Earth resources are used. They engage in hands-on inquiry to observe patterns and make predictions about the physical and natural world.
01Life Cycles and Growth
An exploration of how living things grow, change, and have offspring that resemble them through various stages of development.
Students will set up an experiment to observe and record the initial stages of seed germination.
Students will document and illustrate the key stages of plant growth from seedling to mature plant.
Students will investigate the life cycle of insects that undergo complete metamorphosis, like butterflies.
Students will explore the life cycle of amphibians, focusing on the changes from egg to adult frog.
Students will observe and discuss how young animals resemble their parents.
Students will identify and discuss differences between offspring and their parents, and among siblings.
02Mixing and Moving Materials
Investigating how different materials can be combined, mixed, and changed for specific purposes in everyday life.
Students will experiment with dissolving various solids in water and other liquids, observing the changes.
Students will explore what happens when different liquids are mixed, observing if they combine or separate.
Students will use methods like filtering and evaporation to separate solids from liquid mixtures.
Students will experiment with techniques like sieving and hand-picking to separate mixtures of different solids.
Students will observe and record how heat affects the melting and freezing of common materials like ice and chocolate.
Students will explore how water changes from liquid to gas (evaporation) and gas to liquid (condensation).
03Earth's Precious Resources
Identifying Earth's natural resources and exploring how they are used and conserved in the local community.
Students will trace the path of water through the water cycle, focusing on evaporation and condensation.
Students will learn about precipitation (rain, snow) and how water collects on Earth's surface.
Students will investigate how water is used for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and hygiene in their homes.
Students will explore how water is used at school and in local businesses or public spaces.
Students will examine soil samples to identify components like sand, clay, silt, and organic matter.
Students will conduct experiments to compare how different soil types hold water.
04Forces in Motion
Exploring how pushes and pulls affect the movement of objects and how these forces are used in daily life.
Students will identify and demonstrate pushes and pulls in everyday activities and games.
Students will investigate how pushes and pulls can change an object's direction or speed.
Students will experiment with moving objects across various surfaces to observe the effects of friction.
Students will explore ways to reduce friction (e.g., wheels, oil) and increase friction (e.g., rough surfaces).
Students will observe and describe how gravity pulls objects towards the Earth in daily situations.
Students will explore how gravity affects balance and stability of objects.
05The Changing Sky
Observing and recording short-term and long-term changes in the sky and the landscape.
Students will observe and record the apparent movement of the sun across the sky from sunrise to sunset.
Students will investigate how the sun's position affects the length and direction of shadows throughout the day.
Students will observe and draw the different phases of the moon over a period of weeks.
Students will learn about stars and common constellations visible in the night sky.
Students will use thermometers and rain gauges to measure and record daily temperature and rainfall.
Students will observe and record wind direction, wind strength, and cloud types.
06The Science of Sound
Exploring how sound is produced through vibrations and how it travels to our ears.
Students will experiment with various objects to observe and feel the vibrations that create sound.
Students will investigate how sound travels through solids, liquids, and gases.
Students will learn the basic parts of the ear and how they work to detect sound vibrations.
Students will experiment with instruments and objects to change the pitch (highness or lowness) of sounds.
Students will investigate how to make sounds louder or quieter and understand the concept of volume.
Students will explore how different animals use specific sounds to communicate various messages.
07Light and Shadows
Investigating how light travels, creates shadows, and helps us see the world around us.
Students will identify and discuss natural sources of light, such as the sun, stars, and fire.
Students will identify and discuss artificial sources of light found in homes and communities.
Students will conduct simple experiments to demonstrate that light travels in straight lines.
Students will explore how opaque objects block light to create shadows.
Students will investigate how the position of a light source affects the size and shape of a shadow.
08Our Senses and Body
Exploring the five senses and how our bodies work to help us understand and interact with the world.
Students will explore how their eyes and ears help them perceive the world around them.
Students will explore how their senses of smell, taste, and touch help them interact with objects and food.
Students will learn about ways to protect their eyes and ears from harm.
Students will learn about ways to protect their skin, nose, and tongue and maintain good hygiene.
Students will learn about the basic structure and function of bones in the human body.