Top 10 Tools
for
Teaching Science
Be a
H.O.T.
Science Teacher!
Today’s Agenda:
1. Simulation:
The “Old” vs. “New” Science classroom
2. Introductions
3. Next Door Neighbor Chat: Engaging Teaching Table Tools
4. Inquiry Activity/Where’s the Nuts?
5. Brain Break
6. Demonstration of Technology use in Science Lab
7. Human Graph
8. Think, Pair, Share/Alphabet Roundtable
What do BROWNIES, BOOKS, & BALLS have in common?
Excitement fills the eyes of
students EVERY day upon
entering a science lab.
WHY? Tools for Inquiry
Our youngsters are
naturally filled with
wonder, so why not nurture
opportunities for students
to take charge of their own
learning with high quality,
engaging, relevant tools
designed for today’s
classrooms.
Engaging
Tools
Science Simulations
Using Simulations, role playing, and
even story telling in SCIENCE:
Teaches students how to make connections
Portrays authentic language experiences
Adaptable for multiple ability levels
Engages students with different learning styles
Builds confidence, motivation, and self esteem
Books! Books! Books!
The following books are just a small selection of
our favorite science-related picture books
aligned with the National Science Education
Standards. (YES, this can be implemented
at the high school level!!! )
 Over the Steamy Swamp by Paul Geraghty
 A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
 The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons
 Grand Canyon by Linda Vieira
 The Popcorn Book by Tomie de Paola
 Oil Spill by Melvin Berger
 Pancakes, Pancakes! By Eric Carle
Books!! (Continued)
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Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw
Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out!!! By April Sayre
Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
If You Find a Rock by Peggy Christian
Papa, Please get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
Girls Think of Everything by Catherine Thimmesh
Dr. Xargle’s Book of Earthlets by Jeanne Willis
Butternut Hollow Pond by Brian J. Heinz
Somewhere in the World Right Now by Stacey Schuett
The Remarkable Farkle McBride by John Lithgow
Weird Friends: Unlikely Allies in the Animal Kingdom by Jose Aruego
Everybody Needs a Rock by Byrd Baylor
The Big Rock by Bruce Hiscock
The Magic School Bus Series
 There’s a Hair in My Dirt by Gary Larson
Food for Fire…
Take food out of the
kitchen & into the
classroom to teach
science &
mathematics!!!
And… FOOD for Thought!!
When teaching scientific inquiry,
food can be one of MOST effective teaching tool.
Any time food can be incorporated into the lesson,
DO IT!! Your students WILL be actively engaged.
Some ideas for playing with your food in science lab are:
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Best Brownies- solid liquid & gas or mixtures
Ice Cream in a Baggie- solid, liquid, & gas
Fast Fudge- solid, liquid, & gas
Making Oobleck (cornstarch & water) solid, liquid, & gas
Mentos & Soda- solid, liquid, & gas or mixtures & solutions
Scrumptious Solar System models with cookies, M & M candy,
etc…
Lip-smacking Landforms made brownies, cookies, icing, cones,
etc…
Food for Thought (cont.)
8. Finding the Fizziest Formula- acids & bases
9. Apples & Lemon Juice- chemical changes
10. Floating eggs- density
11. Identifying & raising Herbs- parts of a plant &
it’s role ( grow lab)
12. Pumpkin Seasonal Science• baking pumpkin seeds-parts of a plant & role
• making pumpkin smoothies- solid, liquid, gas, mixtures/solutions
13. Phases of the Moon- Oreo cookies
14. Marshmallow Molecules Models
15. Dirty Decomposers- Various types of food in sealed jars
16. Growing Crystals- rock candy (types of rocks, caves)
17. Cookie Mining - (with choc. chip cookies) Earth’s land resources
18. Vinegar Volcano landforms; magma/lava; rock cycle
Food for Thought (cont.)
19. Volume of an Oreo vs. Double Stuffed
20. Plate Boundaries with graham crackers &
Rice krispies.
21. Smores- Mols
22. Gummi Bear Atoms
23. M & M or Skittles Bingo
24. Sink or Float- Coke & Diet Coke
25. Snickers Bar- The Rock Cycle
It’s NOT all Fun & Games
Games as a Teaching Tool
Music as a Teaching Tool
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Music is known to affect our feelings
and energy levels. It can prompt
memories, enhance brain activity and
stimulate the mind.
Onion Ball/Snowball fight
Slap
Hot potato
Connect Four
Battleship
Pong
Beach ball
Oh Deer!!
Hunting Minibeasts
Acorns!!
The Game of Life: Stem Cells
Play music & Create music!!!
Here are some science music series:
• “Blinding You with Science”
• “The Jammin Classroom”
• Bill Nye Science Guy music video
• Sid the Science Kid songs
OR
Go to You Tube , Teacher Tube & type
in the topic
Technology
www.mythbusters.com
www.howtosmile.org
www.hookedonscience.org
www.classdojo
www.scholastic.com
www.pinterest.com
www.lauracandler.com
www.sciencebuddies.org
www.discoveryeducation.com
Helpful Science
Websites
Technology (cont.)
www.sciencespot.net
www.edheads.org
www.brainpop.com
www.stevespanglerscience.com
www.sciencenewsforkids.org
www.billnye.com
www.eup.k12.mi.us/page/4178
www.nsta.org
www.nclark.net
Helpful
Websites
Technology
Science 360
Spacecraft 3D
Particle Zoo
Fotopedia: Wild Friends
Leaf Snap
Nature Mobile
Earth NOW
Biobots
Park Guides
Peterson
Animal Planet
WWF Together
Near Pad
Lab Timer
American Museum of
Natural History
Nature Tap
Helpful
Apps
Science Journals
Incorporating Writing into the Science Curriculum:
Science teachers typically think of a lab report as
a way of incorporating writing into the science classroom.
However, writing can be integrated into science in
many other ways.
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Begin class with a writing prompt that requires students to think.
Utilize illustrations, graphs, and other graphics in a new way.
Evaluate scientific articles.
Keep a journal outlining procedures and findings.
Evaluate a seminar, lecture, or media presentation. Develop a letter to the
editor of a scientific journal.
Science Journals
Suggestions for Effective use of
Reflective Science Journals:
1. Teacher teaches topic in class.
2. At the end of
each lesson, students write
in their Science Reflective
Journal.
3. At the end
of week, teacher collects
SRJ to read.
4. Beginning of the
next week, teacher highlights
one or two interesting
questions in class.
5. As part of a follow up, teacher/students
explore questions
with their peers
or with resources
suggested by the
teacher.
Goal Setting Notebook
http://www.lauracandler.com
Goal Setting - The
Key to Success!
Brain Breaks
Purpose
Our students should have a
kinesthetic brain break every 2530 minutes.
Brain breaks are
refreshing to students and
teachers alike.
They do take some
time out of class, but the
efficiency of our students goes up
when we incorporate them.
Please share out if you use a
particular brain break!!
Ideas
5-4-3-2-1
Trading Places
Six Spots
Mingle, Mingle, Group!
Dance Party!
Freeze Dance!
The Finger & Thumb
Yoga!!!
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AIMS (Human Graphs)
NSTA
Every Science Stories
Science Court
Science A-Z
Movement & Grouping
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Table Positions
Job Grid
Shoebox materials
Caddies & tubs
Grouping
Organization, organization, organization!! The
materials must be ready to go for each class period.
 Noise level-LOUD; can still be managed with index
card system, rainstick, xylophone or chimes, etc…
 Science is MESSY!!!!! You will spend A LOT of time
setting up & cleaning up every day!!