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
I fit science in every other week, and I try to read books to my kindergarteners that have some topic that we can at least talk about connected to science, like Tiny Seed, or Hungry Caterpillar even books about magnets, they kids really seem to like that. Then when we have our science week we plant seeds, build terrariums, draw caterpillars and butterflies or work with magnets.
I would love to win a new book to help build up my science lessons.
I squeeze in Science by flip flopping Science and Social Studies. I only have the last hour of the day for both so instead of cheating both on time I will spend a week or two on a Social Studies subject or a Science subject. This way, whatever we are working on, we can really get our hands into it and accomplish something in the hour we have. I also take that topic and work it into our Language Arts and Math by using vocabulary words, have writing and reading assignments, or apply Math concepts to our Science topic. I love thematic units because I think the students get more out of the subject when it is reinforced in other subjects.
I squeeze in science by doing salmon and trout in the classroom and garden in a wheelbarrow. The kids learn about life cycles and river conservation and plants. We take our garden to the county fair where they all get a ribbon. One year we won 2nd place and $100.
I place different items on a table,some that a magnet will pick up and some that it want. My children is amazed. They go around all day seeing what the magnet wil stick to. One day my children put the magnet close to the computer. Needless to say it left a discoloration on the screen. Luckly after a few days it went away. I told the children they couldn’t go near the computer any more.
Each year we get caterpillars and watch as they change into butterflies. My Pre-Kers draw the changes they see each day in a journal. We have many crafts an d activities during this time relating to the Life Cycle but my favorite is making the life cycle with pasta. Use tiny rice like pasta for the eggt stage, rotelle for the caterpillar stage, small shells for the cocoon stage, and bowties for the butterfly stage. I try to incorporate Science into each subject I teach.
The Magic School Bus books and videos are a great way to get started on a topic. We access them through a program called Unitedstreaming on Discovery Learning. They are great - and the kids love them!
I squeezed science and social studies in with reading and recess. When we read a story about pioneers and the gold rush, we discussed that time in our history and talked about the differences in communities then versus now. When we read a story about penguins, we did our animal unit. When we read the expository passage about volcanoes, we also discussed rocks and minerals. I was amazed at the number of kids running to me at recess to identify the type of rock they’d just found. Approximately 5 of my students started a recess recycling/clean up club after we’d discussed the importance of keeping our environment clean. That stemmed from reading a kid friendly newspaper published quarterly by our county recycling center. It was a 5-10 minute activity squeezed into that free 10 minutes one day when my math leson finished earlier than I’d expected. That club lasted all year! They gained members from the other 3rd grade classes, and I was so proud of them. There is nothing like seeing your students put something they learned with you into action to help make this a better world! ; )
Science is a big part of my classroom because it is a big part of our reading classes. The students love to read the science books and articles and then conduct experiments based on what they have read.
Having a science shelving unit and table set up has helped bring science to the classroom everyday rather than waiting for those planned opportunities. We change around what may be on the shelves an add books, science tools to be used throughout the room for exploration. When we had rocks and gems out the children started looking for them when they were home or out on the playground. They can always add to the collections.Then we added pots of water and paint brushes so the children could see the difference when the rocks were wet. We added scales and magnifying glasses. Clip boards with paper so they could draw or make their own charts. Sorting boxes. One student went to Fl. for vacation so everything got switched out to shells. We found they were more drawn to the area when they were contributing to the items to be explored. Then we just supplemented with science activities to go with the child directed themes.
I hate to admit this, but I’d be lost without PBS’s Sid the Science Kid series! I use their Super Fab Lab Investigations to guide my science lessons and then augment each lesson with science readers as my language arts component. Depending on the lesson, we can even throw in a quick and easy math component (measuring, graphing, etc.)
At preschool camp 2 weeks ago we put a hard boiled egg and a raw egg (in the shell) in white vinegar for 4 day. The kids were so excited to come in every morning and check out the changes in the eggs! We had so many fun things going that week– crystals, volcanoes, geysers, jello etc.
In preschool we add science in to our lesson plans at least three days a week. There is so much for our children to learn and explore in the world. We need new and exciting ideas. A new book would be awesome to get more ideas. Thank you.