Setting a Foundation for Science in the Elementary Classroom

The new school year is the perfect time to establish a strong foundation in science by introducing key concepts and setting expectations. Whether you’re a seasoned science teacher or looking to refresh your approach, here are our tried-and-true tips for setting a foundation in science.

Explore Science Careers

Before diving into specific scientific concepts, let's engage our students by exploring the diverse world of science careers. Here are some ways to achieve this:

• Brainstorming Session: Start with a simple question: "What jobs involve science?" List student responses on the board. You'll likely hear everything from doctors and engineers to astronauts and paleontologists.
• Career Collage: Provide students with magazines, newspapers, and science-related brochures. Let them cut out pictures depicting various science professions and create a collaborative "Science Careers Collage" on the classroom wall.
• Guest Speaker: Invite a local scientist, veterinarian, or environmental engineer to speak to your class. This firsthand experience showcases the real-world application of science.

Introduce the Scientific Method (And More!)

The scientific method is a fundamental tool for scientific inquiry. However, it's crucial to highlight that it's not the only way scientists make discoveries. Here's how to introduce it:

• Engage students with a question like "Which paper towel brand absorbs water the fastest?" This activity guides them through the scientific method:
• Observation: Discuss what students already know about paper towels and their absorbency.
• Question: Formulate a testable question based on the observation. (e.g., Does brand A or brand B absorb water faster?)
• Hypothesis: Students predict what will happen based on their observations or prior experiences with different paper towels.
• Experiment: Design a simple experiment. Fill identical containers with equal amounts of water. Students can then test each paper towel brand by placing a piece in separate containers for a set time and observing which absorbs the most water.
• Analysis: Students record their observations, measuring the amount of water absorbed by each paper towel brand.
• Conclusion: Did the results support the hypothesis? Encourage students to analyze their findings and discuss any unexpected observations. Perhaps texture or thickness plays a role!

It's important for students to recognize that the scientific method has its limitations and is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Scientists often need to repeat or modify their experiments based on new findings.

Other methods, such as the engineering design process, are equally valuable for scientific discovery. Simplify Science® emphasizes a well-rounded approach by including foundational science and engineering units at the beginning of each grade level to build background knowledge.

Set Rules and Expectations for Lab Activities

Here's how to introduce lab rules and expectations:

• Collaborative Brainstorming: Engage students in creating a list of classroom rules specific to science activities. Focus on safety and respectful collaboration.
• Role-Playing Scenarios: Present hypothetical situations and guide students on how to respond according to the established rules. For example, "What if someone accidentally spills water on the table?"
• Display Lab Rules: Create lab rule posters or use the posters included in our foundational units. Display these posters throughout the year for an easy way to remind students how to stay on-task during hands-on activities.

Dive into Nonfiction

Choose age-appropriate nonfiction books that align with the science concepts you'll be exploring throughout the year. Our K-2 Simplify Science® units include e-books that are specifically written to accompany our units and are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. You can also visit your school library to find nonfiction books that align with each topic.

For older students (grades 3-5), nonfiction reading passages and articles provide an opportunity to dive deeper into the concepts. The passages included in Simplify Science® include multiple-choice and open-response questions that incorporate science and ELA standards.

Use a Consistent Format

The beginning of the year is a great time to start using a consistent format for science lessons, activities, and assessments. In Simplify Science®, our units follow a predictable structure and routine. Our beginning of the year foundational lessons introduce this format so students know what to expect in the coming units. This helps you track student progress and save time!

Ready to put these tips into action? Simplify Science® offers engaging, hands-on science units for grades K-5! Each grade level includes a Foundations of Science and Foundations of Engineering unit to introduce students to these concepts at the beginning of the year. The prep work is done for you, so you can focus on fostering a love of science in your classroom!