A fun project for a second grade science lesson or even a science fair experiment, the battery life project teaches kids a little about electricity, the scientific method and truth in advertising. You'll need three identical flashlights, three different brands of batteries---two of each brand---and two test batteries. Make sure the flashlights work using the test batteries. Next, label each flashlight with a battery brand and put those types of batteries in the flashlight. Turn on all the flashlights at the same time. Periodically check on them to see which one goes out first. Write down the time and date you turned on the flashlights and the time and date each flashlight turned off.
When teaching your students about plants, do the transpiration project so they can discover how much water different plants evaporate. You can conduct this experiment by sending each student home with different plant or perform the experiment as a class project with a variety of plants. Using a plastic bag, carefully cover a few leaves or a small branch of each plant and tightly tape the bag shut. Make sure you cover the same size and number of leaves in each bag. After 24 hours, collect the water from each bag and pour each into a separate test tube. Compare the amount of water evaporated from each plant.
Teach your second graders how to make fizzing bath balls that they can use themselves or give as gifts. You'll need measuring cups, Epsom salts, baking soda, lemon juice, scented oils, food coloring, mixing bowls, wood spoons, spray bottles, melon ballers, waxed paper, a blender and cookie sheets. Line the cookie sheets with waxed paper. Turn ¼ cup Epsom salts into a fine powder using a blender. Combine the blended Epsom salts with 1 cup baking soda using a wooden spoon. Combine 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, two drops of scented oil, two drops of food coloring and ¼ cup water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture into the dry ingredients, carefully stirring. You'll notice the mixture begin to bubble as the citric acid reacts with the baking soda. When the mixture looks like damp sand and holds together, use the melon baller to scoop the mixture out and onto the cookie sheets. Allow it to dry overnight. Drop a fizzing bath ball into your next bath.
After reading your class classic fairy tales such as Hansel and Gretel or Little Red Riding Hood, have them create their own magical forest. Everyone in the class needs to bring in an old cereal or cracker box from home. You'll also need scissors, glue, construction paper, markers, paint and paintbrushes. Cut your cardboard in a rectangle then fold the cardboard in half. Open the cardboard back up and paint it to resemble a forest floor. Next, each child draws two or three characters from her favorite story, trees, bushes, plants and rocks on construction paper. Cut each drawing out and leave a small tab at the bottom of each drawing. Fold the tabs down so each figure can stand up. Glue the tabs to the cardboard. Fold the cardboard and write the name of the story on the front.