Elementary Science Education Articles for Teachers

Springtime is a season of growth, change, and renewal. The smells in the air and the brilliant sunshine make it a favorite time of year for everyone. However, it also a time when children of all ages may see changes occurring. Perhaps they no longer feel close to the best friend they have had for...

Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow on Groundhog Day to announce 6 more weeks of winter. Keeping his prediction alive and well, the chill in the air brings a myriad of opportunities for winter inspired activities and lessons. Delighting the senses in a winter wonderland Exploring the sens...

In the real world, our activities rarely involve a singular discipline. The process of purchasing a car often requires researching various models online (language arts and science), crunching numbers to determine how much one can afford (math), and talking to friends or neighbors about their expe...

Myths. Folklore. Urban legends. Most students are familiar with at least a few examples of these; for instance, mention the idea that Americans never landed on the moon, and you’re sure to elicit a bevy of opinions!  Fascination with urban legends is one reason the television show Mythbusters, h...

The beginning of every school year is an exciting time for both children and teachers – everyone is ready for new opportunities, friends, and learning experiences. The first few months set the tone in our classrooms, and it is the perfect time for teachers to show students that science is not onl...

Busted!  The Mythbusters phenomenon has proven or busted hundreds of urban legends over the years, and many science teachers have transferred the techniques used by the quirky duo of Adam and Jamie to the classroom. Using modern day science to separate fact from fiction seems as though it might r...

Since the beginning of time the Earth has been subject to constant erosion caused by water, wind, ice, and waves. It is the reason valleys form and beaches shift along the coastline. There are many interesting, interactive ways for your students to learn about this scientific process here are s...

There is a moment in every child’s life when they begin asking that magical question, "Why?" As a teacher, I think it is my job to promote this type of questioning. I want my students to thrive on a quest for knowledge, taking pride in the process and discovery of the answer to this most importan...

Organic produce is becoming more readily available, farmer’s markets are springing up everywhere, and community gardens have been appearing in the most unlikely places. Many schools are starting their own gardens and are placing the control in their students’ hands. The results are astounding: st...

When students found out that we were going to study rocks for our next science topic, I heard groans from every corner of the room.  It turned out that after a preschool fascination with the shiny, round, and sparkly varieties, rocks don’t hold the attention of many elementary students. Changing ...

Last fall, our school’s parent organization raised funds to beautify the courtyard between the two main buildings on our school campus. In addition to new foliage, a natural stone path was created from large rocks leftover from a construction dig. While walking through the courtyard this spring, ...

In many classrooms, measurement concepts are often practiced using assigned problems requiring conversions, identifying correct measurements from pictures, and basic measurement of various lines on a worksheet. After completing these types of problems, students often show a basic comprehension of...

As state assessments conclude and the smell of freshly cut grass hits the air, students’ spring fever is at an all-time high! Spring is a wonderful time to get your students outside after a long winter of indoor activities and grueling test preparation, and this time of year also provides teachab...

“Wow, what’s that?!” “Gross!  Are those bugs?” “Cool - do we get to do experiments with those things?” These are just a few of the comments from my students when I introduced our newest class pets a few weeks ago – Madagascar Hissing Cockroa...

With spring upon us, many of our students will soon be partaking in the age-old traditions of coloring eggs and community egg hunts. While eggs can be great for dying and hiding around this time of year, most people don’t realize that they can also provide a wealth of “egg-citing” science – and n...

As an elementary teacher specializing in math and science, I often work with others on my team to develop interdisciplinary units. Sometimes this happens purposefully; sometimes by accident! One such example of an accident occurred several months ago when all of our upper elementary students were...

In March of 2011, the country of Japan experienced one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded, resulting in a tsunami that devastated the coastal region. Hundreds of thousands of Japanese people have been displaced, with more than 18,000 listed as dead or missing. To add to this tragedy, ...

With spring right around the corner, teachers are thinking about third quarter grade cards, state assessments, and spring break! This is a tough time of year to keep students motivated, as many would rather be outside enjoying the nice weather than preparing for math and reading tests. Now is a g...

On March 10, 2011, many Americans awoke to the shocking news that the east coast of Japan had been rocked by an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.9 – one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded. Worse yet, a tsunami (a Japanese word meaning “harbor wave”) caused by the earthquake yielded even m...

When students walk into my classroom and find “science” listed on the daily schedule, the energy in the room goes up a few notches. Kids love hands on science, and they live for the portions of our week dedicated to predicting, investigating, and learning in a kinesthetic way. Unfortunately, due ...

With the current national interest in protecting our environment, involving children in environmental studies is a sure way to get them fired up about learning. While there are hundreds of topics to which teachers could expose their students, one that nearly everyone can relate to is water.  Mos...

Step into any young child’s bedroom, and you’re likely to see toy chests full of stuffed animals and shelves lined with plastic dinosaurs. Take a look at the bookshelf, and you’ll encounter everything from books on talking forest critters to cows that type! If that child is fortunate enough to ha...

In school, students are accustomed to the idea that there is one right answer to a problem.  If they come up with the correct answer, they get a good grade. If they don’t, their grade suffers. In the real world, right or wrong answers aren't obvious. Scientists base explanations about the natural...

As students become better and better at taking standardized tests, schools that are making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) can give themselves a pat on the back and breathe a sigh of relief once assessments have concluded. For students in those schools, countless hours of drilling, reviewing, and ...

With all the emphasis on making sure each student passes state reading and math assessments, the idea of teaching higher order thinking skills is sometimes placed on the backburner. With most required assessments consisting of multiple choice questions at the knowledge and comprehension levels of...

“Why would anyone want to be an engineer? Don’t they just sit in an office with their calculators staring at a computer screen all day?”  Unfortunately, this is the perception that many students, girls in particular, have of those in the engineering field. Females often overlook engineering as a...

One afternoon while lining up for recess, several of my students noticed a number of different birds at the bird feeder outside our window. Transfixed, they watched as the birds fed, noting the number and various species represented. Suddenly, the outside door burst open and several classes of el...

With the beginning of the new school year approaching, teachers are busily preparing their rooms, creating seating charts, and planning the first lessons of the semester. For those of us who teach science, our year normally begins with a unit related to science process skills.  These skills are u...

Last spring, many teachers used the oil spill in the Gulf to teach topics ranging from ocean currents to environmental awareness. Although the situation has improved, cleanup is still a hot topic among the general public – making it a continuing teachable moment for various topics in science.  A...

Fifty years ago, science fiction enthusiasts dreamed of a world in which people would travel in flying cars, eat rehydrated meals, and sit back to relax while robots cleaned the house.  While this “Life of the Future” didn’t exactly come to pass, our present-day lives have definitely become more ...