Our Year 2 science scheme of work and resources support pupils as they build on their Year 1 learning and develop greater confidence in observing, comparing, classifying and carrying out simple scientific enquiries. Linked to the Year 2 Science National Curriculum, the scheme develops scientific knowledge alongside the Working Scientifically skills pupils need throughout KS1.
In Year 2, pupils learn about Living Things and Their Habitats, Plants, Animals Including Humans and Uses of Everyday Materials. They explore habitats and food chains, investigate why materials are suitable for different purposes, learn how animals grow and what they need to survive, and observe how seeds and bulbs develop into mature plants.
Pupils ask simple questions and recognise that they can be answered in different ways, observe closely using simple equipment, perform simple tests, identify and classify, use their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions, and gather and record data to help answer questions.
Explore science planning across Key Stage 1, with sequenced units designed to build scientific knowledge, vocabulary and Working Scientifically skills from Year 1 to Year 2.
Explore the KS1 science schemeScience in Year 2 develops pupils’ understanding of the living world, materials and the processes they can observe around them. Pupils increasingly use first-hand observations and simple investigations to answer questions, while developing the vocabulary and scientific knowledge needed for the move into KS2.
The Year 2 National Curriculum covers four main areas: Living Things and Their Habitats, Plants, Animals Including Humans and Uses of Everyday Materials. In Scintillating Science, these are organised into five units so that pupils have sufficient time to build knowledge, revisit important ideas and apply their learning through scientific enquiry.
Pupils learn to distinguish between things that are living, dead and have never been alive before exploring habitats and microhabitats. They consider how habitats meet the needs of living things, investigate suitable environments and develop their understanding of how plants and animals depend on one another through simple food chains.
Building on their Year 1 knowledge of everyday materials, pupils consider why particular materials are chosen for different purposes. They compare suitability, investigate how solid objects can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching and apply their understanding through practical investigations.
Animals Including Humans is developed across two units. Pupils first explore offspring and how humans and other animals grow into adults, before considering the importance of food, exercise and hygiene. They also investigate the basic needs of animals for survival, developing their understanding of the importance of food, water and air.
Pupils move from recognising and naming plants in Year 1 towards explaining how plants grow. They observe seeds developing into mature plants, grow and measure runner beans and investigate germination. This helps pupils understand the important distinction between the conditions a seed needs to germinate and the light, water and suitable temperature a growing plant needs to remain healthy.
Scientific enquiry is built into the topics pupils are studying rather than taught separately. Pupils make observations over time, classify living things and materials, use simple measuring equipment, make predictions, carry out simple and comparative tests and use what they observe to answer questions and draw conclusions.
Each unit is supported by sequenced lesson plans, teaching slides, worksheets, practical activities and opportunities for assessment. Teachers can follow the sequence as a complete Year 2 science scheme or use individual units and lessons alongside their existing curriculum.
Browse the Year 2 science units, lessons and resources → You can also explore our KS1 science scheme or the complete primary science scheme of work.
