It’s no secret that science is my absolute favorite subject to teach (and usually my students’ favorite to learn). I also understand that many primary teachers don’t have a dedicated science block and so it sometimes gets pushed to the back burner. BUT I’m a firm believer that science is SO important and can teach students so many transferable skills.
This is why I have dedicated much of my time to creating easy-to-use and follow science units! This post gives you a sneak peek into my Introduction To Science Unit which answers the famous question “What is Science?” (in kid-friendly terms) + gives you ideas and activities for how to introduce science to your elementary classroom!
How to Introduce Science in Your Elementary Classroom
Here’s a sneak peek into the 7 lessons included in my Scientists & Scientific Processes Unit and the high-engagement (I promise!) science experiments included in the unit. It’s guaranteed to make your planning easy AND keep your students engaged!
Lesson 1: What is Science? A Kid-friendly Introduction
To kids, science is all about the experiments. But, it’s important to introduce that science is all around us and is so important for solving problems and understanding how the world works.
When introducing science to kids, it’s important to connect it to their everyday lives by using real examples and interests.
Examples: Cooking, the weather, asking questions, playing sports, gardening, bug hunts, etc.
What else is included in Lesson 1? A complete lesson plan, teaching PowerPoint, Vocabulary Words, Anchor Chart idea + heading, science journal cover, 2 exit slips
Lesson 2: What is a Scientist?
After answering the question “What is Science”, the next logical step is to dive into teaching about the role of a scientist. Again, it’s likely that your students’ brains will jump to individuals in white lab coats completing experiments.
During this discussion, you should introduce students to famous scientists as well as different areas of science (Earth, life, and physical). Although each scientist has a different goal or job, there are many similarities between them (they all ask questions, draw conclusions, follow safety rules, use research, etc).
What else is included in Lesson 2? A complete lesson plan, teaching PowerPoint, Vocabulary Words, Anchor Chart idea + heading, 2 exit slips.
Lesson 3: Introduce Tools that Scientists Use
Now that your students can describe Science and explain what different scientists do, the next step is to discuss the tools that scientists use to effectively do their job.
It’s helpful to show students real photographs of these tools as well as connect them to prior knowledge (ex: What have you used to weigh something before? What types of things do you weigh?)
What else is included in Lesson 3? A complete lesson plan, teaching PowerPoint, science tools picture cards, and 2 exit slips.
Lesson 4: Teach About Science Safety
I’m sure your students are getting excited to start performing their very own science experiments. This lesson is important in preparing them to do so!
This is the perfect time to go over classroom expectations again + add in special science safety rules. Do not forget to talk about consequences as well. Remember, students thrive with routine and consistency!
What else is included in Lesson 4? A complete lesson plan, teaching PowerPoint, safety posters, safety contract, and 2 exit slips.
science safety task cards source
Lesson 5: The Scientific Method
To continue to answer the question, “What is science?” it’s time to start laying out the steps every scientist uses when completing experiments and research. Although you will be circling back to The Scientific Method often, lesson 5 is all about the introduction!
Make sure to reiterate that the scientific method ensures scientists are using facts and evidence to support their claims! Make sure students know that they will be following these steps in every future science experiment.
What else is included in Lesson 5? A complete lesson plan, teaching PowerPoint, journal cut and paste activity, scientific method bookmarks, and 2 exit slips.
Lesson 6: Becoming a Scientist
Your students will be thrilled because it is time for the first experiment! Inside the Introduction to Science Unit, you will find 3 different experiments to choose from (The Great Cookie Dunk, Marker Madness, and The Magic Paintbrush). Each one is meant to be a simple and engaging introduction to experiments and the scientific method!
What else is included in Lesson 6? A complete lesson plan, teaching PowerPoint, vocabulary cards, Becoming a Scientist checklist, and 3 complete science experiments to choose from.
Lesson 7: Design Your Own Science Experiment
After your class has mastered the scientific method and effectively followed the steps of an experiment, it’s time to move up the Bloom’s Taxonomy Pyramid. They will now be designing their own experiment!
Tip! If you see that your class needs more practice before this lesson, select another one of the above experiments to do as a class!
What else is included in Lesson 7? A complete lesson plan, teaching PowerPoint, and planning pages
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What is Science? A Kid-friendly Introduction to Science Unit FAQ’s
- What grade levels is this unit best for? 2nd and 3rd grade
- How many science experiments are included? 3 complete experiments
- What standards are the lessons aligned to? Each lesson is aligned to both Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards
- How many days will the unit take? It’s a flexible unit that will take between 8-11 days depending on how many experiments are completed
- Is there an end-of-unit test? Yes! A final assessment with optional pages for differentiation is included!
After completing the 7 lessons, your students will be able to tell you “What is Science?”, identify famous scientists and types of science, understand science safety rules, follow the scientific method, and even design their own experiments!
For more details or to purchase this unit to use in your class, click here! As always, I’m always happy to answer any and all questions!
For more back to school science ideas and activities, visit these posts!
12 Must-Do Science Activities for the first week in 3rd Grade!
4 Things to Teach in Science at the Beginning of the Year
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