Squeezing In Science
Posted by Diane Badden on 29 Jun 2010 | Posted in: Drawings and Giveaways, Planning and Curriculum
Here’s my take on teaching formal science lessons in the elementary grades: When push comes to shove, it’s the science lesson (or the social studies lesson) that gets moved to the next day and then the next day, and before you know it your science lessons for next week are the same ones you planned for last week. Does this ever happen to you?
Because of my time-management issues, 
my best science lessons were spontaneous. My students and I were always on the lookout for items we deemed out of the ordinary. I thought I was quite the scientist when I bravely captured and secured a shiny black widow spider inside a mayonnaise jar. Honestly, I was glad when that investigation ended. Then there was the year of the pinecones. It all started with a pinecone the size of a 32-ounce jug of soda. Honest! I’m not pulling your leg. I’ve yet to see another pinecone that large. That year my room was overrun with pinecones of different sizes, shapes, and colors.
So how do you squeeze in science? Tell us what works for you, and we’ll put your name in a drawing for a free science book from The Mailbox Books. In fact, we’ll draw three winners! To be entered in the drawing, respond to this post before July 10.
You know, I still can’t resist noting something out of the ordinary. Check out what I found this weekend. Tree fungus! How cool is that?
Your science gal,
Diane
Congrats to our contest winners: Deanna, Tina, and Debbie!
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55 Responses to “Squeezing In Science”
More Comments Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 » Show All Comments
More Comments Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 » Show All Comments
At our school, we alternate science with social studies every four weeks. That way, there’s still a report card grade at the end of the quarter for both subjects. Scheduling science is good, but I agree with you, sometimes the best science lessons are spontaneous!
We found a way to make prep and teaching of science easier. We have two kdg. and two 1st grade teachers at our school. Because we felt we were not doing science justice, we decided to each choose a science topic and develop and gather materials for it. Then, we each had four well developed science themes at our fingertips to use whenever we wanted. You could also sign up if need be. This year we will do four more and then we will be able to repeat as the children from kdg of the first year will be in 2nd grade.
Integrating science with other subjects, is the best way that students can learn science. Because most of the time that science is shorten due to other classroom activities, i fell the best way is to integrate it with other subjects.
I am a science person. We do some sort of experiment or science lesson twice a week. I also have a science center in my classroom. There are bugs and observation bottles that the kids fill with whatever they find outside. We planted a tree for Arbor Day, planted seeds and compared the differences in zoo and jungle animals. This week will be ocean animals and the beach. Shells, sand and all kinds of sea creatures will fill the classroom. The kids love it.
Science has always been one of my favorite subjects. I remember one year our May calendar was planned, printed, and posted like every good preschool teacher. It was the first week of May and we were supposed to be staring out with “May Flowers” from the April showers bring May flowers theme. It was also Monday and sometimes Mondays don’t go as we plan. We came back to an invasion of ants. The children went wild. Our whole theme changed and the children were so into it. Our inspection for headstart was scheduled from the “big shots” from Iowa. They pulled up, and were spending the day with us. One of the inspectors asked why our calendar said May flowers and we were studying bugs. I told her the story and explained that I took the opportunity to teach during a window of opportunity. Thats when science is at its best, unplanned, spontaneous, and natural. I would encourage all teachers to respond everyday to childrens questions and you will find science there.
I like reading books about science or showing science related movies, especially “The Magic School Bus” series.
I teach elementary Life Skills, and we have a set time in our schedule three times per week specifically for science. I also keep a free center open every day that they can visit that has a basket full of different flip books made out of flash cards from the dollar spot (animals, insects, solar system, dinosaurs, etc.) and a small discovery station with manipulatives where they can look at and touch the the things we are learning about.
My students love the hands on science that we do. Their favorite is growing meal worms. They treat them like they are part of their family. It is a hoot to watch them create a habitat for them. They really treat those worms well.
I love teaching science! I use Science as the springboard for all my other subjects. It’s easy to integrate math and reading, but what really helps is to have the kids WRITE about what they are learning. I have gotten GREAT pieces in all the genre, and the kids love it! I haven’t figured out how to integrate Social Studies yet, but my co-teacher handles that subject really well, so I don’t have to worry!
I teach preschool, and I have a discovery (science) center every day as part of center time. This way either myself or my assistant can work with a small group, if need be. Sometimes the center requires teacher supervision, and sometime it is easily student directed.
Occasionall I do a whole group lesson during circle time as well, and tie in to the center that day.
I too have that issue of pushing back the science lessons! I’m glad I’m not alone in that! I try to incorporate science when I read a story, if there is something in the storyline that I can ask questions and discuss then I will do so at the end of the story. That is definitely squeezing in a little science as often as possible!
I agree, science always seems to get PUSHED to the next day! There is just SO many expectations for one day. My best lessons also seem to be spur-of-the-moment, and I think being able to do this is a sign of a great teacher. My favorite lesson this year came when our janitor found a salamander snuggling up to the warm bricks of our school on a chilly, rainy day. We brought him in, gave him a home for a week, and researched researched researched salamanders! After a week, we learned the best lesson of all–that wild animals are best left in the wild…. and with more than a few sad kiddos–we released him back where we found him. Not only was it spur-of-the-moment, I bet it’s one science lesson my little third graders will NEVER forget :)! Keep being spontaneous!