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As a pre service teacher, I am concerned that I will lose their attention with science? What are some fun lectures or hand on activities that can be used with the little younger ones such as pre-k and kinder?
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Hi Roxana! I think that for younger students it is very important to create hands-on, engaging science lessons that help students build a love for investigation and observing phenomena. One of my favorite concepts to cover in early elementary classrooms is life cycles! Some online stores sell classroom butterfly kits online, which is a good for covering a unit on the life cycle of a butterfly! You could start the unit with a content area mentor text like The Amazing Life Cycle of Butterflies by Kay Barnham. This can help build students' background knowledge on the life cycle. You can also do anchor charts with your students as a way to pre-assess the knowledge they already have. Then, when you introduce the caterpillars, you can start introducing vocabulary. It may also be beneficial to do some cross-curricular activities involving ELA and with a focus on writing. You could have students write journal entries about their observations, write from the perspective of the butterfly as it continues through the cycle, and much more! Maybe, if the weather permits, you can take your students outside to search for butterflies in their natural habitat, release the ones from your kit, or even take a class trip to a conservatory!
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Hi Roxana! Throughout my experience as an Elementary Education major, I've learned that students, especially the littles, love anything hands-on and related to their interests. If they are able to interact with the lesson, it should keep their attention on science for the most part. I am currently in a first-grade classroom, and my CT did a pumpkin and apple investigation. Students could touch the insides, count the seeds, and measure them with blocks. Just getting them up and out of their seats and interacting with something will be so helpful in keeping them engaged!
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Hi Roxana, I am a preservice teacher currently at Wright State University placed in a Kindergarten classroom. Unfortunately we do not teach heavily on the science content at this age level, and I understand how important it is to get kids to go outside and explore science by hands-on activities to engage all students. I know there are many hands-on ways to incorporate science at this age level by exploring different animals and habitats, and tying in some sort of literature for these students. I wish science was stressed more for this age group.
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Hi, Roxana! I understand your concern, and I definitely share those same feelings. My advice would be to create hands-on lessons, use visuals, facilitate collaboration, and find ways to incorporate their interests as well. I would also try to use a variety of ways to teach concepts such as experiments, using various materials and teaching techniques, virtual field trips, or games, and I would try to incorporate many of these ideas into each lesson in order to keep it new and engaging. As for hands-on activities, I’d say that the younger students really love creating their own models or watching the teacher conduct experiments. These websites have some great ideas for possible experiments and lessons! We Are Teachers: Science Experiments , Elementary School Science: Lesson Plans , Science Buddies: Experiments
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PreKinder and kindergarteners have a very short attention span. Try to keep the lessons short and to the point also keep them involved with hands-on activities. I think making slime, making a lava lamp, and going on a nature walk to collect leaves or rocks are some activities that get the kids excited about science.
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I really like to immerse the students in the activity by telling them that they are going to become scientists or paleontologists for the day. This seems to get them excited and engaged in the activity. I usually bring a hands-on approach as well.
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Hello Roxanna, I am a pre-service teacher at Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. I am receiving my degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Reading. I too have the same worries as I am about to enter my own classroom here. Saying that, what has always helped me when looking ahead to keeping learning fun, I tend to look back to what I enjoyed as a student myself. I tend to steer more towards project-based learning and specifically using class time to work and ask questions. It is engaging and can be easily differentiated or accommodated. Hope this helps!
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Hello Roxana, I have found that little love to be involved in anything you throw their way. I recommend taking them outside and exploring nature. I am currently placed in a second-grade classroom and we are learning about the seasons changing. We took our students out to find leaves for them to try and describe. They loved getting to go outside and explore on their own. It was very engaging for the students and seemed to give us all a break from the classroom environment!
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Hiii Roxana, it's great that you're already thinking about engaging your students! For younger children, especially Pre-K and Kindergarten, hands-on activities and interactive lessons are key to keeping their attention and making science fun. At this age, children learn best through exploration, play, and sensory experiences.
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I think connecting learning to phenomena is a great way to engage younger students. Noticing something outside and asking 'why does that do that?' can help foster creativity and allow students to observe these things and develop their own hypotheses. Anything hands on often engages students even if they can't yet comprehend the 'why'.
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