[EL2] Grade 2 -- Curriculum Overview

Overview

  1. Major Topics Explored:
  • Understanding gravity and balance.
  • Basic chemistry (mixing substances and observing reactions).
  • Properties of air, water, and materials.
  1. Form Factor of Lab Session:
  • Demonstrations using large and colorful apparatus.
  • Group-based learning activities, allowing students to observe cause-and-effect.
  • Tactile engagement with materials (e.g., creating mixtures, observing solids and liquids).

Session 1: Exploring Life

  • Microscopic World: Dive deeper into examining tiny organisms, this time focusing on plant cells and other everyday objects like hair strands or leaves.
  • DNA Extraction: Extract DNA from fruits like bananas and tomatoes, giving students a hands-on look at biology and genetics.

Session 2: Energy and Motion

  • Newton’s Cradle: A demonstration of how energy is transferred through swinging spheres, illustrating the conservation of momentum and energy.
  • Domino Chain Reactions: A playful demonstration showing how energy from a small action (toppling one domino) can cause large effects.

Session 3: The Wonders of Light

  • Reflection and Refraction: Use lasers in water to explore how light bends and reflects, linking to classroom lessons about light properties.
  • Balloon Shooting with Laser: A fun physics demonstration that tests how light (a laser) can be used to pop balloons, reinforcing understanding of energy transfer.

Session 4: Chemistry in Action

  • Elephant Toothpaste: A visually engaging reaction that demonstrates how catalysts work in a chemical reaction.
  • Starch in Leaves: Test different leaves for starch to explore how plants produce food through photosynthesis, a concept introduced in early science classes.

Session 5: Forces and Friction

  • Tug of Friction: Use books to demonstrate how friction works in everyday life, helping students understand concepts like frictional force from their school curriculum.
  • Fire in Water (Sodium Reaction): Demonstrate how sodium reacts explosively with water, introducing basic concepts of chemical reactions and the properties of elements.

Session 6: Vibrations and Waves

  • Ripple Tank: Use this man-sized ripple tank to show how water waves behave, tying into lessons on waves, energy transfer, and movement.
  • Chladni Patterns: A fascinating way to show vibration patterns using sound and sand, helping kids visualize sound waves and frequencies.

Session 7: The Human Body

  • ECG and Blood Pressure: Give students a practical demonstration of how the heart works and how we can measure its activity using ECG and blood pressure monitors.
  • Rate of Photosynthesis: Study how the rate of photosynthesis changes under different light conditions, connecting biology with real-world observations.

Session 8: Forces of Nature

  • Earth Simulator: A hands-on way to simulate rivers, deltas, and oceans forming, helping students understand erosion and how water shapes the Earth.
  • Chain Fountain: A fun demonstration showing how objects move in unexpected ways, leading to discussions about gravity, inertia, and momentum.

Session 9: Creative Exploration

  • Spirograph: Use reflection laws to create intricate patterns, merging art with science.
  • Maker’s Space: Encourage creativity and teamwork by letting students use Jenga-like blocks to build their own large structures, relating to engineering principles in their lessons.

Session 10: Student Demonstration Day

  • DIY Demonstrations: Students will choose their favorite demonstrations from earlier sessions and present them to the class, reinforcing their understanding and helping them practice communication skills.