Science Practices

Start your year right with four simple back-to-school science experiments. Designed especially for kids in 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade, these labs introduce methods used in investigations. Specifically, kids learn…

New science practices include the old scientific method (in more flexible terms). Additionally, you’ll find some new processes. Let’s take a look at the eight practices. In addition, we’ll explore…

Information in science, the standards say, should be obtained, evaluated, and communicated. But how can you do this without a bunch of research papers? Think outside the box! Instead of…

How can you encourage scientific argument in an elementary classroom? First, continuously refine arguments based on evidence. Second, foster critical thinking. Let kids judge, critique, argue, and communicate in your…

Constructing explanations in science trips kids up. After all, how can you explain complex phenomena? Try these surefire ways to do it. First, ask them to observe relationships. Second, change…

Trying to teach math in science? First, measure multiple properties. Second, use computation. Third, look for patterns. And fourth, graph. Read on for a few specific examples. (more…)

Analyzing and interpreting data are important science practices. Teach kids to measure, compute, compare, use tables and create graphs. Then they can quantify their experiments. (more…)

Plan investigations for kids in your third, fourth, or fifth grade science class. It’s actually pretty easy! All you need to do is control, compare, measure, and replicate. Read on…

How can you use models in science? It’s easy! Diagrams and 3-D representations make meaningful connections for kids. Additionally, you can weave analogies into your teaching. Let’s take a look…

What are testable questions? In fourth and fifth grade science, kids learn that it compares only one variable. Furthermore, it allows them to predict, observe, and measure. (more…)