Predators and Prey

• Teach your second-graders about the food chain with an exciting game of tag. Assign students to be either prey species or predators at a ratio of six prey to one predator. They can be from any food chain. For example, the predators could be ladybugs and the prey aphids, or the predators could be snakes and the prey mice. Give each prey a card with his species name on it. Tie red, green and blue permanent markers to trees to symbolize food sources and label a couple spots as safe with a sign (the safe spots represent shelters.) Each prey has to get to all three food source trees and mark his card with the marker without getting tagged. If he is tagged, he gives the predator his card and sits out; however, he cannot be tagged when he is touching a safe spot. Each predator has to tag two prey during the game to survive. Those predators and prey that ate enough food in 10 minutes survive, while those who were tagged or didn't get enough food are dead.
  
  

Sound Matching

• Humans and other animals use sound to find out information about their environment. Have your students test their own sound-identification skills with the sound-matching activity. Get 10 small, identical containers such as film canisters. Label half of the canisters with the numbers 1 through 5 and half of them with letters A through E. Put a different type of object in each of the numbered canisters--for example, put in lentils, rice, paper clips, nickels and thumbtacks. Then put the same five things in the lettered canisters in a random order. Shake Canister 1, slowly walking around the room so that each student gets a good chance to listen to it. Then, shake canisters A through E and have students write down which one they think it is. Continue with canisters 2 through 5. When you are done, ask your students what object they think is in each canister. See how well they can guess, based solely on listening. For a bigger challenge, Shake 1 through 5, then shake A through E and have the students try to match from memory.
  
  

Fizzing Bath Salts

• Everyone makes a vinegar and baking soda volcano at some point during elementary school to learn about chemical reactions. Fizzing bath salts use the same reaction to make a nice gift, perfect for Mother's Day. Blend Epsom salts in a blender ahead of time to create a fine powder. Have each child mix a quarter-cup of Epsom salts with a teaspoon of citric acid crystals and stir the mixture up. Add in some rose petals, cloves or other fragrant ingredients. Let each student drop a bit of her mixture in water to watch it fizz. Then, have each wrap her salts in crepe paper or cellophane, tied with a bow.
  
  

Cornstarch Slime

• Oobleck, or cornstarch slime, is a non-Newtonian liquid; when you touch it gently, it flows like a liquid but, if you strike it, it temporarily hardens like a solid. Give your second-graders a science treat by letting them make and play with this fascinating substance. Mix one cup warm water with one cup cornstarch in a bowl. Add a few drops of food coloring and stir until all the cornstarch is dissolved. Have your students experiment with pounding, squeezing and poking it to see how the cornstarch reacts.