Change It, Keep It? - Year 2 Science

Change It, Keep It? - Year 2 helps children investigate familiar materials through folding, rolling, bending, twisting, gentle stretching and safe tearing. They compare shape and size before and after an action, name the material, and support an explanation with observations. The unit addresses the misconception that every physical change must be easy to reverse: torn paper can remain paper even when the sheet is difficult to restore exactly.

Children ask questions, make reasoned predictions, plan a useful comparison, follow safe steps, record actual observations and organise evidence in tables or drawings. They compare results with predictions and peers, consider sample differences and fairness, pose a further question, and explain how an observed pattern can inform a practical choice such as a standing card label.

Use ten complete 60-minute lessons or the supplied eight-session route. The shorter route combines selected teaching from lessons 1–2 and 9–10 while retaining essential inquiry and assessment. It uses earlier records and short conferences rather than requiring two full decks in one session. Assessment draws on three safe changes, including a size change, a new soft-cloth example and a useful application.

Children may speak, draw, gesture, choose pictures, use their usual communication support or dictate to an adult. An adult can demonstrate or handle a sample while the child directs and observes. These choices retain the science expectation. Optional extension questions ask for an evidence-linked reason, a new use or a limit of a conclusion.

Prepare large paper/card, smooth foil with folded edges, soft cloth and trays. Optional blunt scissors require teacher supervision. Activities use gentle physical changes; there is no heating, tasting or chemical reaction. Teachers select safe materials and adapt handling for their class.

What's included

• Ten separate editable lesson PowerPoints: Before and after; Shape changes; Size changes; Plan a comparison; Investigate actions; What stays the same; Can we undo it?; Material-change portfolio; Explain a new example; Useful physical changes. Each has 11 slides (110 lesson slides in total).
• Separate editable 24-slide quiz with ten questions, ten explanation slides, response guidance and reflection.
• 51-page Unit Plan PDF: teacher overview, preparation and safety, ten timed lesson plans, an eight-session route, access choices, card/game criteria, assessment guidance and quiz references.
• Two colour displays: Key Ideas; How We Explain Our Evidence.
• Material Change Cards: eight colour case cards on two pages.
• Evidence Trail: game rules, a six-stop path and eight challenge cards on three pages.
• Ten student worksheets: Before and after; Shape changes; Size changes; Plan a comparison; Investigate actions; What stays the same; Can we undo it?; Material-change portfolio; Explain a new example; Useful physical changes.
• Ten paired worksheet sample-answer pages, with red ANSWERS and red illustrative responses. Actual classroom observations may differ.
• Two-page assessment: My Three Changes; Explain My Evidence.
• One-page assessment rubric with four dimensions and three descriptive levels.
• Separate clean Table of Contents JPEG.
• 185-page combined Preview PDF: the 51-page unit guide, every slide from lessons 01–10 in order, then all 24 quiz slides. The first contents page is clean; subsequent pages are watermarked.

The 30 display/card/game/worksheet/answer/assessment/rubric pages are included within the 51-page Unit Plan PDF, not additional standalone files.

Learning focus

Identify material before and after a change; compare shape and size; distinguish material identity from a changed property; explain why a difficult-to-undo change can remain physical. Ask and predict, plan matched starting samples, observe and record honestly, represent a pattern, compare evidence, evaluate limits and communicate a useful application.

Classroom use

Use the independent lesson decks in a ten-lesson sequence or follow the supplied eight-session route. Display the colour cards, use the Evidence Trail prompts for paired explanations and gather portfolio/conference evidence during practical blocks. Children can respond through speech, drawing, gesture, pictures or adult scribing without reducing the learning expectation.

Formats

PDF, editable PPTX and JPEG. Unit Plan: 51 pages. Preview: 185 pages. Lesson presentations: ten files, 11 slides each. Quiz: 24 slides. Worksheet sample answers: ten pages within the Unit Plan; quiz explanations are included in the quiz. Teaching duration: ten 60-minute lessons, or eight 60-minute sessions using the compact route. Practical and inquiry evidence supports assessment; the quiz is supporting evidence.

Teacher benefits

• Separate editable decks support lesson selection and adaptation.
• Timed teaching plans and a compact route reduce repeated demonstrations and copying.
• Matching worksheet numbers, case-card IDs and game criteria support evidence discussions.
• Sample answers, practical assessment and a rubric support feedback while accepting observed variation.

SUGGESTED CATEGORY: Year 2 / Science / Materials and physical changes