Science and engineering practices are what we teach students to do to make sense of natural events and phenomena. They are a combination of skills and knowledge that scientists and engineers use to investigate the world and design and build systems to solve its problems. In this post I’ll share two free classroom kits I’ve put together with science and engineering practices posters and standards cards for 2nd and 3rd grade teachers. The posters make ideal visuals to reference during your lessons. The standards cards are a convenient way to display learning targets.
Scientists ask questions and use inquiry to explain the world around us while engineers identify and define a problem and then use design to solve it. Read more about the engineering design process and see the activities I use to teach it here.
The kits includes 8 full-page posters plus, 28 grade level learning target cards with student-friendly language for each standard.
Science and engineering practices:
- Asking questions and defining problems
- Developing and using models
- Planning and carrying out investigations
- Analyzing and interpreting data
- Using mathematics and computational thinking
- Constructing explanations and designing solutions
- Engaging in argument from evidence
- Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
I created individual kits for both second grade and third grade, each include the Next Generation Science Standards for science and engineering.
Print the cards on colored card stock, laminate if you wish, and they’re ready to display in your classroom. The half-page cards fit nicely in a pocket chart, or place them on a ring and hang them on your whiteboard.
Print a smaller version to keep in your plan book to make listing standards in your lesson plans easier.
Click here to choose your grade level. I’ll send the posters & standards cards straight to your inbox!
I highly recommend using a personal email address. Most schools block outside emails with attachments and I want to make sure you get the free download.
Find more science and engineering resources and hands-on activities in these posts:
Click here to see activities to teach the engineering design process.
Click here to see activities for teaching landforms and earth changes.
These look so helpful.