Involving Students in Science

Children learn science by doing science.

Teachers need not be science majors to teach young minds. For the beginning students -- for all of us -- science is the closest thing to magic there is. Teachers must remember to DO science, not just talk about it. Young minds especially like to do things that involve creating new things. Teachers should tap into the natural curiosity and discovery. 

Improving Elementary Science Instruction

1. Show students something every day and explain the science behind it. A piece of science equipment like a beaker will do, and if it’s unfamiliar to students it will grab their attention and they anticipate something new when they enter the class.
2. Include simple, quick demonstrations in those initial class activities, especially activities that students can do at home. Seeing things happen is innately interesting.
3. Relate science topics and objectives to events and objects familiar to students. Make science relevant! Every grade will demand new examples as students become more academically sophisticated.
4. Decorate the classroom in an eye-catching science theme and change it periodically. Invite students to help.
5. Fill the room with science magazines and books. Allow some time for students to read. Some of the reading matter may be simply related to science – e.g., science fiction or cars ­– but expect students to discuss how science is involved.
6. Bring science news to class. When a particularly interesting news item pops up in the news, bring it to class and share it by reading to students.
7. Stress with every grade that science is fundamentally about force, motion, and energy. This is important in all aspects of science, because science, whether biology or geology, are interrelated by force, motion, and energy. Students need to become comfortable early with these three concepts because they will become increasingly complex and important.
8. Help students understand that science is a quest for simple explanations. For example, pick an example like evaporation and discuss how increasing kinetic energy makes the water molecules speed away into the air seeming to disappear.
9. Stress to students that science is a process more than a body of knowledge. Demonstrate that process ­– the Scientific Method ­– as often as possible and ask students to give examples.
10. Science is a great "show and tell." activity.

Elementary Science Links:

Science Buddies
Hand-on Science
Elementary School Science Fair Project Ideas
Kids Science Projects
Elementary Science Experiments
Penny Drops