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Great question, Samantha!
First, when you receive your first teaching position, check where science is first taught to the students in your school. I hope and pray it is kindergarten. We need to continue young children's love for science. I consider them the best scientist! We need to nurture their curiosity. Speak with your administrator about promoting science in the school's kindergarten classrooms. In your own classroom, encourage your students to bring in rock samples, insects, photos, anything that sparks their curiosity. Bring in things that you have observed or collected. Interrupt your class when you see something outside your classroom to spark curiosity and questions. Do you see migrating birds, the change in the position of a shadow on a building, or a strange cloud? Tell stories to your students of things you observed during the weekend or on the way to school. When introducing a unit, I like to use discrepant events to spark curiosity and generate questions. Fill your room with posters and objects for the students to hold and observe. Change these often.
Become familiar with the Framework of the NGSS. The Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts will guide you and your students into becoming excited about science. Lead them into designing their own investigations. Student-driven inquiry is so powerful!
As to motivating students to want to become future scientists, I watch my students to see which science they are drawn to, and I speak to them about becoming a scientist in that area. I also take advantage of the careers in our area and invite specialists into the classroom so students can hear firsthand what they do, and how they got to where they are. We also take field study trips to the workplace of these scientists to see where they work and how they work. The possibilities are endless and they begin with you and your enthusiasm! If you love science, your students will to!
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