2-PS1-1 lessons
Plan and conduct an investigation to describe and classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties.
The Next Generation Science Standards code 2-PS1-1 asks students to: “Plan and conduct an investigation to describe and classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties.” These Fieldbook lessons teach it hands-on, with everyday materials, a printable teacher guide and a student sheet.
Earth and Sky at Home Grades K–5 · partly supports this standard
- How do crystals grow? 40 min to set up, then 5 min a day for 5 to 7 days
Children watch the grown-up make strong salt, Epsom salt and sugar solutions, set out dishes and a string, then check them every day for a week. They finish able to explain that crystals form when dissolved particles line up as the water leaves.
Kitchen Chemistry for Families Grades K–5
- Is oobleck a solid or a liquid? 45 min
Kids mix cornstarch and water into oobleck, then poke, squeeze, slap and drip it to find out when it acts like a solid and when it acts like a liquid. They finish able to explain why speed and force change the way it behaves.
Test It, Choose It: Materials Grades K–2
- What is it made of? 40–50 min
Children reach into a feely bag, describe what they touch and guess what it is made of, then sort a tray of everyday objects into wood, metal, plastic, glass, paper, fabric, rubber and rock. They learn to tell an object from its material and to describe materials with property words.
- Which material keeps the rain out? 45–55 min
Children stretch squares of cloth, paper, foil, plastic and cardboard over cups, drip ten drops of water on each and look inside to see which ones let the water through. Then they choose a material and build a roof that keeps a toy dry.
- Which hat keeps the sun off? 50–60 min, or two 30-minute parts
Children lay dark cloth, light cloth, paper, foil and card in the sun or under a lamp, feel which gets warmest and test which makes the darkest shadow. They also stretch, bend and squash materials to see which spring back. Then they design and build a sun hat and say why they chose each material.
NGSS is used as written in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, so the code 2-PS1-1 matches there. Other states word and number their own versions: see curriculum alignment for your state's codes.
More NGSS standards for Grade 2
All standards we teach · Curriculum alignment by state and province
Three full lessons, free
Make a free account and download any three Fieldbook lessons as printable PDFs. No card needed.