5 lessons you won’t learn in teacher training
I always know the teachers who have teaching practice integrated into their undergraduate study. You can see them a mile away. They’re more confident and have far better classroom management skills from the get go. Unfortunately, my teacher training was a bolt-on year after my undergraduate science degree. It had plenty of teaching practice (half day every […]
Classroom Differentiation: How ChatGPT can help you with a challenging class.
Classroom differentiation is a lot easier now when we can harness the power of ChatGPT. I wish it was around a few years ago! I remember when I had two science classes in the same year. 24 in each class. How different could they be? Night and day. One class was well-behaved and wanted to […]
Invasive Species Game: Wildlife Wipeout Teaches Students About Invasive Species
If you’re looking for an engaging way to teach students about this critical environmental issue, the “Wildlife Wipeout” game is what you’ve been waiting for! Students love to learn about invasive species; it appeals to their curiosity about how nature’s “troublemakers” can shake up entire ecosystems. What Is the “Wildlife Wipeout” Game? “Wildlife Wipeout” is […]
Teaching Kinetic and Potential Energy The Fun Way
As science teachers, we know that introducing students to abstract concepts like kinetic and potential energy can be a bit tricky. The challenge is finding ways to make these terms not just understandable but also relatable to the real world. In this blog, we’ll explore how to teach these fundamental ideas through a hands-on activity […]
Science Literacy: A Must-Have Skill for Middle School Students
As a middle school science teacher and creator of science resources, I see firsthand how important science literacy is for students. But what does it mean to be “science literate,” and why does it matter? What is Science Literacy? Science literacy is the ability to understand and apply scientific concepts and information. It involves […]
Cells Under A Microscope and Cells Graphic Organizer – Fun with Interactive Notebooks
Hey there, fellow science educators! Do you get your students to examine cells under a microscope or use a cells graphic organizer? This post is all about getting the tricky stuff to stick, like the names and functions of the cell organelles. Whether you’re introducing your students to cells for the first time or diving […]
A Fun Periodic Table Game for Your Class: Get a Reaction with Periodic Table Bingo!
A Fun Periodic Table Game? Surely an oxymoron if ever there was one! Let’s talk about something we all know can be a bit tricky – keeping students engaged while teaching the periodic table. The periodic table can seem like an endless sea of elements and numbers that can make any student’s eyes glaze over. […]
Making the Changing States of Matter Easy to Teach
“Well, hello there, my science friends! Today, we’re diving into something we’ve all seen in our everyday lives but might not stop to think about: the changing states of matter. I know, it sounds super science-y, but it’s actually pretty fascinating—and way more common than you might realize. Let’s break it down and keep it […]
Spooky Halloween Science Activities For 5th Grade
Looking for Spooky Halloween Science Activities For 5th Grade that’s educational, engaging, and not a complete mess? I’ve got just the thing! Say goodbye to the sticky pumpkin guts and endless cleanup from slime. This year, try something a little spooky that doesn’t require scissors, glue, or a mop—introduce your students to creepy, real-life science […]
Spooky Halloween Science Activities For 6th Grade
I love Halloween! Maybe it’s the Autumn, or maybe it’s because of childhood memories of bonfires, games, and carving scary faces in turnips. But finding engaging Halloween science activities for 6th grade that aren’t messy isn’t easy. Until now! Colored slime? I mean, sure, but it’s been done to death. And I don’t fancy the […]
The Power of Open-Ended Questions
Is there anything not made of atoms? What’s it like being a particle in a solid? Open-ended questions are a powerful tool in your arsenal. Open-ended questions don’t have a simple “yes” or “no”. Instead, they encourage the student to express their own thoughts and opinions and, importantly, to think critically. We want them to […]
Teaching Atoms and Molecules
An understanding of atoms and molecules is fundamental to understanding science. Getting your students hooked on atoms and molecules (and the differences between them) early is crucial. But it’s not that easy and it’s a fairly dry topic to teach. Here’s how I liven up this topic. I’ve created comics that the students use as […]
Repurpose Student Doodles
Students love to doodle. I like to repurpose their doodling skills for note-taking. Doodle notes are a great way to see the overall picture. Students love them because they’re actively learning. They interact with visual triggers, which increases their focus and boosts their memory for the lesson material. They become excited (imagine!) and engaged. What’s […]
Make Your Own Bottle Biome
I’ve been making bottle biomes on and off for about 10 years. They’re a fantastic way to show the cycling of air and water in a sealed biome. Students can easily relate this to Earth. You may see examples online where they add small insects to the biome. I don’t as (a) I don’t think […]
Fun Science Review Games
Are you looking for fun science review games? Do you make your own? Have you heard about Trashketball? I LOVE Trashketball. It’s such a fun way to review science. My students love it too. I’m only sorry I didn’t learn about it sooner. Trashketball is a simple, fun way to review any topic. It’s particularly […]