### Lesson Plan: Simple Investigations for Grade 2
**Grade Level**: 2
**Subject**: Science
**Duration**: 45 minutes
**Topic**: Simple Investigations
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#### Objectives
- Students will understand what a scientific investigation is.
- Students will learn how to ask questions, make predictions, and conduct a simple experiment.
- Students will be able to record and share their observations.
#### Materials Needed
- Magnifying glasses (one per student or group)
- Small plastic cups
- Soil samples
- Small spoons
- Plant leaves or other small nature objects
- Science journals or notebooks
- Pencils
- Chart paper and markers
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#### Lesson Steps
**Introduction (10 minutes)**
1. **Greeting and Attendance (2 minutes)**
- Welcome students and take attendance.
2. **Set the Stage (3 minutes)**
- Briefly introduce the topic of the day and explain what investigations are. “Today we are going to be scientists and learn how to investigate the world around us! We will ask questions, make predictions, and use our tools to find answers.”
3. **Lesson Objectives (2 minutes)**
- Go over the lesson objectives with the students. “By the end of the lesson, you will know how to ask scientific questions, make guesses about what you might find, and conduct investigations to see if your guesses are correct.”
4. **Engagement Activity (3 minutes)**
- Show students a magnifying glass. “Who knows what this is? How do you think scientists use it?” Allow a few students to share their ideas.
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**Main Activity (25 minutes)**
1. **Explain the Activity (5 minutes)**
- Demonstrate how to use the magnifying glass to look at the provided soil samples and leaves. Ask an open-ended question such as, “What do you think you might see if you look closely at the soil?”
- Explain recording observations: “We will use our science journals to write down what we find. Scientists always record their observations because it helps them remember what they discovered.”
2. **Divide into Groups (2 minutes)**
- Split students into small groups and give each group the materials they will need.
3. **Conduct the Investigation (15 minutes)**
- Allow students to explore their soil samples and plant leaves using the magnifying glasses. Walk around the room, guiding students as needed and asking prompting questions.
- Encourage students to write or draw their observations in their science journals.
4. **Collect Materials (2 minutes)**
- Have students place their materials back on the table and return to their seats.
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**Conclusion (10 minutes)**
1. **Sharing Observations (5 minutes)**
- Have a few groups share their findings with the class. Ask guiding questions to encourage deeper thinking: “Did anyone find anything surprising? What did you predict you might see?”
2. **Reflect on the Process (3 minutes)**
- Go over the steps they took during their investigation: asking questions, making predictions, conducting the investigation, and recording observations.
3. **Wrap-Up and Homework (2 minutes)**
- “Today you worked like real scientists! For homework, take a magnifying glass (if provided) or any similar tool at home and investigate something interesting from your yard or home. Write or draw what you observe in your science journal.”
- Answer any remaining questions and thank the students for their participation.
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**Assessment**
- Informal assessment based on participation in group work and sharing observations.
- Review students’ science journals for understanding and effort in recording observations.
**Extension Activities**
- Set up an ongoing investigation station in the classroom where students can explore different objects (shells, rocks, seeds, etc.) using magnifying glasses.
- Invite a local scientist or naturalist to give a talk or demonstration on how they conduct investigations in their work.
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Hope you have fun investigating!