Early Elementary Science Year 2 Full-Year Curriculum

Early Elementary Science Year 2 is a complete, full-year, hands-on science curriculum designed for early elementary students. Through six Science Unlocked modules, students explore physical science, earth & space science, and life science while asking questions, investigating real-world phenomena, and building scientific understanding through hands-on learning.

The full-year curriculum includes:

• Full-colored Student Workbooks
• Teacher Guides with step-by-step teaching support
• Student assessments
• Required science materials for hands-on investigations
• Suggested schedules and lesson-planning guidance
• Support for teaching students of different ages and abilities

No science experience is required. Each module includes an easy-to-use Teacher Guide that helps parents understand the science behind each lesson, guide hands-on investigations, evaluate student responses, and support meaningful scientific discussion.

The Early Elementary Science Year 2 Full-Year Curriculum includes the following modules:

Physical Science 

Module 1: Brick by Brick

Properties and Purposes of Building Materials

Learn how small things stick together to make big things, how to make rocks bubble, and how to design a tiny house to explore chemistry.

Module 2: A-Maze-ing Mirrors

An Introduction to Light

Investigate the world of light and discover what happens when it hits different objects with a periscope, mirror maze, and more.

Module 3: That's a Sound Idea

Sound, Vibration, and Communication

Explore sound and vibration through hands-on investigations that help students discover how sound is made and used to communicate.

Earth and Space Science 

Module 4: Go with the Flow

How Dams Impact the Environment

Build and test dams and a watershed to learn how animals and people impact the environment by changing the flow of water.

Module 5: Not-So-Solid Ground

Fast and Slow Changes on Earth’s Surface

Learn how Earth's surface features are changed by natural and human-caused events with sand castles and landform models.

Life Science 

Module 6: Keys to Life

Food, Water, Shelter, and Space

Discover the four things that plants and animals need to survive by sprouting seeds, dissecting an owl pellet, and building animal homes.

More information about the learning objectives in each module can be found in the contents section below. This NAPPA Award-winning curriculum is based on the NGSS science standards for kindergarten through 2nd-grade science education. Read the contents section below to learn more about the standards met in each module. Find out why Science Unlocked is considered the best elementary homeschool science curriculum.  

Where does this curriculum fit in Science Unlocked?
Early Elementary Science Year 2 is the second year in the Wonder level of Science Unlocked, our early elementary science curriculum for grades K-2. Wonder follows a year-by-year sequence designed to build science knowledge and skills as your student grows.

What comes next?
After completing Early Elementary Science Year 2, continue to the third year of Wonder for the next step in the Science Unlocked pathway.

More Information

• Brick by Brick Safety Information (SDS)
• Go With the Flow Safety Information (SDS)
• Not-So-Solid Ground Safety Information (SDS)
• Keys to Life Safety Information (SDS)

This Wonder level Science Unlocked full-year curriculum includes the following modules:

• Brick by Brick
• A-Maze-ing Mirrors
• That's a Sound Idea
• Go With the Flow
• Not-So-Solid Ground
• Keys to Life

Extra student workbooks for this curriculum are available.

• Brick by Brick
  • 2-PS1-2: Analyze data obtained from testing different materials to determine which materials have the properties that are best suited for an intended purpose.
  • 2-PS1-3: Make observations to construct an evidence-based account of how an object made of a small set of pieces can be disassembled and made into a new object.
• Learning outcome: Build a solid chemistry foundation: learn how small things stick together to make big things. Make rocks bubble, construct bricks and mortar, and design a tiny house.
• NGSS science standards alignment
• A-Maze-ing Mirrors
  • 1-PS4-2: Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that objects can be seen only when illuminated.
  • 1-PS4-3: Plan and conduct an investigation to determine the effect of placing objects made with different materials in the path of a beam of light.
  • 1-PS4-4: Use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over a distance.
• Learning outcome: In this a-MAZE-ing hands-on exploration, students will investigate the world of light and discover what happens when it hits different objects!
• NGSS science standards alignment
• That's a Sound Idea
  • 1-PS4-1: Plan and conduct investigations to provide evidence that vibrating materials can make sound and that sound can make materials vibrate.
  • 1-PS4-4: Use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over a distance.
• Learning outcome: Make some noise! You’ll be cheering with delight when you do these hands-on experiments about sound and vibration.
• NGSS science standards alignment
• Go With the Flow
  • K-ESS2-2: Construct an argument supported by evidence for how plants and animals (including humans) can change the environment to meet their needs. 
  • K-ESS3-1: Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants or animals (including humans). 
  • K-ESS3-3: Communicate the solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.
• Learning outcome: Build and test dams and watersheds to learn how animals and people impact the environment by changing the flow of water.
• NGSS science standards alignment
• Not-So-Solid Ground
  • 2-ESS1-1: Use information from several sources to provide evidence that Earth events can occur quickly or slowly.
  • 2-ESS2-1: Compare multiple solutions designed to slow or prevent wind or water from changing the shape of land.
  • 2-ESS2-2: Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area.2-LS4-1: Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.
• Learning outcome: Build sandcastles and wash them away. Make landform models and prevent erosion. Learn how Earth’s surface features are changed by natural and human-caused events.
• NGSS science standards alignment
• Keys to Life
  • 2-LS2-1: Plan and conduct an investigation to determine if plants need sunlight and water to grow.
  • K-LS1-1: Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive. 
• Learning outcome: What are the four keys to life for plants and animals? Sprout seeds, dissect an owl pellet, and build animal homes to find out!
• NGSS science standards alignment