Second Grade, Materials Science Projects, Lessons, Activities (23 results)

Materials science is a fascinating area of research that is often at the cutting edge of science and engineering. It involves both developing new materials and improving on existing ones, and has important applications both for improving daily life and for advancing other fields of research. You can try your hand at making and testing all kinds of substances from plastic to slime.

Turn Milk into Plastic

STEM Activity

1303 reviews

Have you ever heard that plastic can be made out of milk? If this sounds like something made-up to you, you may be surprised to learn that from the early 1900s until about 1945, milk was commonly used to make many different plastic ornaments, including buttons, decorative buckles, beads and other jewelry, fountain pens, the backings for hand-held mirrors, and fancy comb and brush sets. Milk plastic (usually called casein plastic) was even used to make jewelry for Queen Mary of England! In… Read more

Erupting Diet Coke® with Mentos®

STEM Activity

295 reviews

Have you ever seen the Diet Coke® and Mentos® experiment, which is all over the Internet, and wondered what makes the reaction work? You might think that there is some ingredient in a Mentos candy causing a chemical reaction with the soda, like the way baking soda reacts with vinegar. But the amazing eruption that takes place when Mentos are dropped into Diet Coke is not a chemical reaction at all! Instead it is a physical reaction. That means that all of the pieces of the reaction… Read more

3D Print with Sand: No 3D Printer Required!

STEM Activity

45 reviews

Don't have your own 3D printer? No problem! In this fun activity you will make your own colorful 3D prints using craft sand and glue. No 3D printer required! Read more

Coke® & Mentos® - Exploring Explosive Chemistry!

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

You have probably seen it on You Tube™ — the exploding Coke® and Mentos® experiment. But what is it that makes the reaction happen, and what factors cause a larger or smaller eruption? In this science project, you will see if using crushed Mentos candies, instead of whole Mentos candies, will affect the reaction. Read more

Which Materials Can Catch a Bubble?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Can you catch a bubble with your hands? What if you use another material, like a piece of paper or aluminum foil? Try this science project to find out which materials can catch a bubble without popping it. Read more

3D Print with Icing: No 3D Printer Required!

STEM Activity

7 reviews

Are you wondering how a 3D printer works? In this fun activity, you will be the printer and make colorful 3D prints using royal icing. No 3D printer is required, and your prints are edible! Read more

Can You Catch a Bubble?

STEM Activity

19 reviews

Have you ever tried to catch a bubble without popping it? It's hard! What materials can you use to successfully catch a bubble? Do some materials work better than others? Try this activity to find out. Read more

Design and 3D Print Your Own Fabric

STEM Activity

13 reviews

When you think of 3D printing, you probably think of solid objects. But did you know that you can use a 3D printer to make a flexible fabric? This activity will show you how to design and 3D print your own fabric. Read more

Candy Snap

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever broken a candy bar in half to share with someone? Some might snap in half quite cleanly, but others might be gooey and flexible. If you stick a candy bar in the freezer, will this change how the materials break? Try this sweet project to find out! Read more

Design and 3D Print a Snowflake

STEM Activity

36 reviews