Integrating science and social studies with reading is a must. We all know that time is always a problem for teachers. There are simply not enough hours in the day to teach all that we're expected to teach. It's just not possible. Due to testing and/or district and state
STEM Activities Aren’t A Craft
Before going into any detail on STEM activities, I feel like I need to add a disclaimer. I like crafts. I have nothing against crafts. I'm only trying to clarify the difference between STEM activities or STEAM activities and craft projects, as well as share ways to implement STEM
Teaching About Space
This week completed our unit on space. I wanted to end the unit in a big way, so I dedicated an entire day to teaching about space through activities. I hung a space backdrop on one of my larger walls, which made a big show! Finally, I placed a space tablecloth on my two
Force and Motion Worksheets & Stations
I recently posted Force and Motion Stations in my TpT store. You an use these as centers or stations, or as individual force and motion worksheets. In the activity, I tried my best to give clear directions, but sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. I want to share ideas
Ecosystems Project & Activities
Students love this ecosystems project and activity! Science should be engaging and exciting for students, and they should leave a science lesson feeling curious and intrigued, not bored. This ecosystems project hits the mark! In this post I've shared ten of my favorite ways of
Classroom Solar System Project
This is the first year I've ever had the opportunity to teach about the solar system. I had always thought it would be one of those incredibly fun units to teach, but it was never part of my standards... until now! This classroom solar system project was hands-down my favorite
Social Studies and Science Vocabulary
It's no secret that vocabulary is a major predictor for student success. Unfortunately, academic vocabulary has always been one of my students' greatest challenges. Academic vocabulary words are the words that are traditionally used in academic text, which are words that are not
Teaching Science and Social Studies
State and federal mandates and high stakes testing have made teaching science and social studies a battle for time in the elementary classroom. This battle has resulted in minimizing social studies and science instruction to focus on tested areas. While I agree that the content
Simplifying the Scientific Process
As a student I dreaded learning about the scientific method. I still have memories of sitting at my kitchen table in tears, because I could not wrap my head around independent and dependent variables. As a teacher, I don't want my students to repeat that experience. The
Heat Experiments
This heat unit includes some of my favorite heat experiments. The heat experiments are easy to prep, and the activities really helps students understand the concept of insulators and conductors (which almost always gives my students trouble). All you need is a glass cup, plastic
