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SC Science Standards: Physical Science

  • Laura Rogers
  • Monday, November 16, 2020

Explore the world of energy, magnetism, and simple machines with your second or third grader.  

Physical science standards encompass all kinds of fascinating opportunities to encourage creative experimentation and discovery with children. From magnets to simple machines, physical science is exploring the physical world and learning to use your deductions to answer questions about how things work. How can I move this heavy load? What sinks and floats and why? Why do magnets stick to some surfaces and not others? What exactly is electricity? Answers to these questions beg for experiments to find the answers for yourself. 

Second Grade Physical Science: States of Matter and Magnets

What are the standards for second grade and how will I know if my child can meet them? Your child has met the Physical Science standards for second grade when: 

  • My child can demonstrate an understanding of the observable properties of solids and liquids.
  • My child can demonstrate how solids and liquids can be mixed and also separated. 
  • My child can conduct structured investigations to demonstrate the effects of heating and cooling on solids and liquids. 
  • My child can demonstrate an understanding of the properties of magnets. 
  • My child can investigate the properties of magnets and can compare the effects of magnets on various materials. 
  • My child can communicate how magnets are used in everyday life. 
  • My child can demonstrate an understanding of the effects of pushes, pulls, and friction on the motion of objects. 

Third Grade Physical Science: Electricity and Magnetism

What are the standards for third grade and how will I know if my child can meet them? Your child has met the Physical Science standards for third grade when: 

  • My child can demonstrate an understanding of how electricity transfers energy and how magnetism can result from electricity. 
  • My child can recognize that electricity can be transformed into other kinds of energy (heat, light, motion, and sound). 
  • My child can construct electrical circuits. 
  • My child can identify properties of conductors and insulators. 
  • My child can develop and use models to describe and compare properties of magnets and electromagnets (including polarity, attraction, repulsion, and strength). 
  • My child can plan and conduct investigations to determine factors that affect the strength of an electromagnet. 

Activities and Multimedia

What is matter and what is a solid, liquid, or gas?

What is a solid, liquid, or gas?

What is electricity and what is an open and closed circuit? 

Activities

Build an amazing set of circuit blocks for your classroom or home use. 

Play around with density with this sink or float activity. 

Explore physics with a whole page of great experiments at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls.

Create a magnet pendulum and explore magnetic fields. 

Looking for more resources to teach the SC Education Standards? Visit the SC Education Standards page. 

Books to Read: 

The titles below will help you and your child learn about Physical Science. Want us to pull books for you? Contact us at 803-799-9084 and request to have books sent to your nearest Richland Library location. 

Simple Machines

Simple Machines

Wheels, Levers, and Pulleys
Adler, David A., author.
Published in 2015
Kids use simple machines every day without realizing it. Teeth are wedges and so are knives, forks, and thumbtacks. Many toys such as slides, which are inclined planes, and seesaws, which are levers, are also simple machines. Two appealing kids and their comical cat introduce levers, wheels, pulleys, inclined planes, and more, and explain how they work. This lively introduction to physics will get kids excited about how simple machines simplify our lives.
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Book
 
Pulleys

Pulleys

Armentrout, David, 1962-
Published in 2010
In this series, you'll explore six simple machines. Each book describes a different one and explains how it helps make our work easier. Experiments and activities give you the chance to work with each simple machine. You'll be surprised at how many you've been using all along! - Back cover.
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Book
 
My Light

My Light

Bang, Molly.
Published in 2004
The sun narrates an explanation of light and energy in which the generation of electricity can be traced back to it. Tiny yellow dots represent the sun's power as it streams from light, water, wind, and electricity. Endnotes are used to illuminate everything from dark matter to atoms to pollution.
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Book
 
Experimenting with Physics

Experimenting with Physics

Farndon, John.
Published in 2009
"Explores and explains physics concepts--including energy, motion, simple machines, gravity, flight, electricity, and magnetism--and provides experiments to aid in understanding physics"--Provided by publisher.
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Book
 
Building a Roller Coaster in Minecraft

Building a Roller Coaster in Minecraft

Hellebuyck, Adam, author.
Published in 2019
"Using the fun, interactive world of Minecraft and key concepts in STEAM, two teachers developed the Minecraft and STEAM series to be used in and out of the classroom. In Minecraft and STEAM, students discover that Minecraft isn't just a game, it's a tool that can be used to learn about real-world science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Building a Roller Coaster in Minecraft focuses on science but includes other STEAM concepts in the sidebars. Includes table of contents, glossary, index, sources for further reading, and an extension activity"-- Provided by publisher.
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Book
 
Changing States

Changing States

Solids, Liquids, and Gases
Hurd, Will.
Published in 2009
Introduces matter and its three states, solid, liquid, and gas, along with instructions for simple experiments that can be done to demonstrate the properties of each state.
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Book
 
Magnets

Magnets

Magnetism
Lynette, Rachel.
Published in 2008
Describes magnets, including how they function, what materials are magnetic, and how they are used in many common machines.
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Book
 
Motion, Magnets, and More

Motion, Magnets, and More

The Big Book of Primary Physical Science
Mason, Adrienne.
Published in 2011
Introduces readers to basic ideas in physical science using simple terminology, examples, and activities, touching on such subjects as physical properties of materials, physical structures, states of matter, motion, and physical forces.
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Book
 
Flick a Switch

Flick a Switch

How Electricity Gets to Your Home
Seuling, Barbara.
Published in 2003
Describes how electricity was discovered, how early devices were invented to make use of it, how it is generated in power plants and then distributed for many different uses.
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Book
 
Experiments with Magnets

Experiments with Magnets

Thomas, Isabel, 1979- author.
Published in 2016
"Read and Experiment is an engaging series, introducing children to scientific concepts. Explore the world of magnets with clear text, real-world examples and fun, safe step-by-step experiments. This book brings the science of magnets to life, explaining the concepts and encouraging children to be hands-on scientists."-- Provided by publisher.
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Book
 
Author

Laura Rogers

Children's Room Education Studio Reading Specialist
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Multisensory Learning
SC Education Standards
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School age children (6-12 years)

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