In Science, we have the opportunity to teach our students many things: how to conduct an experiment using the scientific method, how to research, how to make hypotheses, and how to form scientific questions. Another thing we have the opportunity to teach is how to properly create and label a scientific diagram. There are many opportunities to use scientific diagrams in 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade, so let’s set our students up for success and teach them how to properly create a scientific diagram.

SO much of science needs a diagram to help illustrate an idea. You might need to create a proper diagram in situations like…

• Learning life cycles of animals and plants

• Illustrating the water cycle

• Completing a STEM activities

• Labeling diagrams about animals or plants

Creating a diagram is such an important skill to teach at the beginning of the year so that students are ready to add more details as the year progresses. 

Why do we need to teach students to create diagrams for science?

Explicitly teaching our students different skills in science is important because not everything will come intuitively. Science involves accurate observations and this can be tricky to capture in a diagram, so it’s best that we teach our students how to create diagrams so they know exactly what the expectations are.

What Should a Scientific Diagram Include?

There are a few key components of a scientific diagram. You will need:

• A title at the top center of the page with a description of what is in the drawing. 

  • For example, if you are drawing a pumpkin seed, do not simply write “Seed”, write “Pumpkin Seed”. If you are drawing a picture of the Water Cycle, do not write “Water” write “Water Cycle”

• A clear, colored picture of the item

• Labels and annotations 

  • Generally, the labels go on the right-hand side of the diagram, but there can be exceptions to this rule

• Label lines without arrows

  • Make sure to use a ruler when creating your label lines so all the lines are straight

  • The lines should not cross over each other

• Scale

  • This is if you are drawing something larger than it is in real life (if you want to get really fancy with your elementary school students)

facts vs. opinions

Knowing the difference between a fact and an opinion can really help with creating a diagram.“The plant looks pretty” is an opinion. This isn’t something that we can measure and it might change from person to person.

qualitative vs. quantitative observations

Types of Observations reference guide - available as a free download on this page.

One of the first steps is to teach our students the difference between qualitative and quantitative observations. Qualitative observations and things that we use our senses to observe.

• The coffee feels hot. The coffee is dark brown. The coffee tastes bitter.

These are things we use the senses to observe.

Quantitative, on the other hand, are observations that include numerical measurements.

• There are 10 ounces of coffee in the mug. The coffee is 195F degrees. 

Teaching Qualitative Observations

When teaching qualitative observations, it’s time to do a solid review of the five senses. I love making popcorn when reviewing the senses because making popcorn involves all the senses: smell, sight, hearing, touch and taste! But we also need to get more specific when teaching about qualitative observations. Here are some things we can teach:

• Texture

• Shape

• Color

• Temperature (If you are describing temperature using adjectives like hot and cold, and not describing it using a thermometer number)

Teaching Quantitative Observations (Numerical Measurements)

This is where measuring skills really come in handy. First, we need to give our students practice in how to measure things using a ruler. Then we should give them practice with how to weigh things on various types of scales. These two things lend themselves naturally to some great hands-on lessons! Who doesn’t love measuring and weighing classroom objects!

Teach students different types of quantitative measurements:

• Height

• Width

• Weight/Mass

• Number of specific parts (ie 2 eyes, 8 petals, 4 leaves, etc)

Labeling the Diagram

Now that our students know what kinds of things we should be observing for our scientific diagram, it’s time to start creating diagrams. Together, label an example and a non-example of the same object. This is a great way to teach students expectations for when they create their own diagrams. 

Next, have students practice their observation skills. They can create diagrams of classroom objects and toys! 

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Science provides so many opportunities to create diagrams. Let’s set our students up for success by teaching them how to properly create and label these diagrams. Their upper grade teachers will be impressed when they come to class already having had ample practice with the concept!

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself or your students “What is a scientist? What characteristics and skills does a scientist need?” It’s an important conversation to have with our students. Why do we need to teach them the qualities of a scientist? All students can be scientists, but what do scientists do? Let’s take a closer look at what a scientist is and how we can create scientists in our classrooms.

in simple words, what is a scientist?

Nonfiction reading: “What is a Scientist?” - available as a free download!

A scientist is a person who conducts research to gain more knowledge in a particular area.

There are scientists in a variety of fields: biology, physics, marine biology, zoology, you name it! Scientists are NOT someone who just “knows” things or “guesses” answers. Scientists research!

why is peer-review so important?

Scientific discoveries and research go through a process called peer-review. This is when other scientists check or recreate the experiments and research that was done. Peer-review is a great way to ensure that the discoveries and research are correct.

Imagine that you conducted an experiment where you roll a ball down the hallway to see the path it takes. Your ball curves towards the left. You determine that all balls curve to the left when they are rolled down hallways.

THIS is where the peer-review process will come in. A group of scientists will try to replicate your findings and poke holes in your method. Eventually, they will see that balls don’t only roll to the left…I think you get the picture.

Scientists play an important role when it comes to discoveries and research. Scientists discovered the concept of gravity, they investigated space, and they invented the internet. Scientists also discover new medications and healthcare technology. Scientists study animal behavior and research the best ways to care for the environment. Scientists are researching and making discoveries on a regular basis. They play an important role in our society.

Ideas for Teaching Students about Scientists

We should be teaching our students what a scientist is, so they don’t have misconceptions moving forward. Learning about scientists is also a great way to expose students to the different careers they could have in STEM fields. Maybe one of our students will make the next greatest scientific discovery when they get older!

So here are some ideas to help teach our students about scientists:

Brainstorm About Scientists

It’s always fun to brainstorm with students about what they already know. A classic KWL (Know, Wonder, Learn) chart is a great way to start. Have students discuss and brainstorm what they already know. Then look up what they think they know to make sure it’s correct. This will help to demonstrate the research and “peer-review” aspect of science!

Research a Scientist

Have students research famous scientists (both from history and current scientists). Each student can do a little research on a specific scientist and create a ‘Scientist Trading Card’ to share with the class. This is such a great way to expose students to the many different people who have made a BIG difference in our world.

Here are some ideas of scientists your students could research:

• Isaac Newton

• Thomas Edison

• Albert Einstein

• Marie Curie

• Charles Darwin

• Stephen Hawking

• Rachel Carson

• Jane Goodall 

• Mary Anning 

• Bill Gates

• George Washington Carver 

These are just a few names of famous scientists. There are lists upon lists of famous scientists that can be found on the internet, just a short Google Search away.

Build on students’ curiosities

After doing some introductory work about what a scientist is, you can have your students put their new knowledge into practice. This might be a great time to introduce Genius Hour. Have students pick a topic they are interested in and let them research and explore the topic!

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Learning about scientists and the characteristics of a scientist might just be a key to helping our students better connect with science. Maybe one of our students will be the next to uncover something amazing in the scientific world!

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There is something about animals that fascinates children of all ages. Let’s be real, even adults are fascinated by animals! Whether it’s learning about why zebras have stripes or learning about how to classify animals, kids are drawn into the world of animals. Some animals survive by living in a group. Working together helps in so many ways. Take a peek at some of the best ways to learn about why some animals live in groups!

Why do animals live in groups?

Animals live in groups to help each other survive. Animals can hunt together, protect each other and help raise their young. A lone lion would have to do a lot of work in order to survive, but a pride can work together to thrive. One honeybee isn’t going to be able to survive alone, but a hive full of bees can thrive. 

What kinds of animals live in groups?

Some animals do thrive alone, like robins or polar bears. Other animals live in groups. Some of these animals include gorillas, bats, honey bees, deer, buffalo and lions. 

Teach About Animal Groups with One Click!

Looking for a FAST way to plan out your animal groups unit that already includes paired nonfiction passages? In just a few clicks you can grab all of the pieces you need: lesson plans, paired passages, reading comprehension, key reading skills, and a fun science project.

Click and print. Planning is really that easy.

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teach the importance of animal groups with a video

When putting together any Science unit, I like to have a few good YouTube videos on hand. I find that videos are great for introducing concepts or reviewing concepts. They also help to break up the teaching time. So here are a couple youtube videos I found about Animal Groups:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwH8xGmqGmo - I love a good SciShow Kids video and so do the students.

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2_npLl4Cyc - This video answers the question “Why do animals live in groups?”

Reading Passages

Reading Passages all about two animals who form groups to survive.

Combining science with reading is a great way to sprinkle in some informational text and reading comprehension. In these passages, we explore two different animals that form groups to survive. ‘Busy Bees in Action’ is a reading passage all about how honeybees work together and ‘Fierce Savanna Predators’ is a reading passage all about how lions work as a team to survive. While reading these passages, student get a good overview of the jobs each member of the pride or hive is responsible for.

Lone Lion Tag

A great way to demonstrate the power of teamwork is by playing a game of tag. In the first round, have one student (the “lone lion”) try to catch as many of their classmates (“the prey”) as possible. In the second round, have a group of students (“the pride”) try to catch as many students as possible. Your students will quickly see that working together as a team gives better results. In the same way, animals work together to get better results.

Animal Groups Science Project

Animal Group Spinners are fun to make with your students. Photocopy templates for your class so each student can choose the animal they would like to write about. Students then research either bees or lions. They can gather facts about their animals. They write these facts into the spinner template. This is a fun way to have students research and write. I especially like this activity because they don’t have to write in the traditional paragraph form.

animal groups sorting activity

If your students are extra interested and engaged in this topic, you can have students do some additional research about animals that live in groups. This sorting activity and research template is such a great way to help students discover which animals live in groups, and which prefer a more solitary life.

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There are so many activities you can do to teach your students about animals. And I’m just scratching the surface! You’re probably already thinking of an idea or two. Teaching students about animals that live in groups can be exciting and engaging.

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There’s something about animals and plants that fascinates children (and adults). We love watching how things grow and change throughout their lives. So I’ve always enjoyed teaching about animal adaptations. Teaching children about how animals can survive because of their adaptations is engaging and fun for students. There are some great activities to help students learn about animal adaptations.

What are examples of animal adaptations?

An adaptation is a characteristic that helps animals survive in their environment. Some examples of adaptations would be camouflage to help animals high from predators. A specific diet and the amount of water the animal needs are also adaptations. For example, a camel has a hump to store water, but an amphibian would not survive without water. 

Animal Adaptation Videos

Having YouTube clips on hand during science is a must-have for me. So here are some good go-to clips about animal adaptations:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2MibjJgyjs - This video explains what the term “adaptation” means in terms of a child’s life, such as adapting to a new time zone or adapting to a new house. Then the video goes on to explain the three types of animal adaptations: behavioral, physical and lifecycle.

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a85lHqFhyw4 - This is a short virtual field trip all about animal adaptations. Your students will get to see mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates. Each of the animals in the video has adaptations that help them survive. 

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOIRci0CKzg - Here’s a video all about camouflage!

There are a ton of great videos on animal adaptations. The ones listed above are just scratching the surface! 

adaptations science project

This adaptations science project is a part of these ‘Animal Adaptations’ lessons.

I love giving my students opportunities to use their creativity and critical thinking skills. Have students research an animal of their choice. Then they have to create a diorama to show how their animal adapts to its environment.

After creating their diorama, have them use critical thinking skills to examine if their animal would survive somewhere else. Have the student place their animal in another student’s diorama to think about how their animal would survive in a different environment. 

For example, if a student created a diorama for a clownfish, would that clownfish be able to survive in the ocean trench diorama? Would the amphibian be able to survive in the desert diorama?

Teach Animal Adaptations Today!

Looking for an easy way to plan out some animal adaptations lessons that already includes paired nonfiction passages and the science project seen above?

In just a few clicks you can grab all of the pieces you need: lesson plans, paired passages, reading comprehension, key reading skills, and a hands-on science project.

Click and print. Planning is really that easy.

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explore local animals

Take a look at some local animals to explore how they are adapted to survive. There is also an amazing Magic School Bus episode all about how animals survive in the city. It’s called “In the City”. Here’s a link to it on YouTube! (please let me know if it stops working or the video gets pulled down).

Try taking a walk around your school ground to notice plants that are adapted to where you are right now!

Reading about Animal Adaptations

Informational text passages that focus on animal and plant adaptations in two distinct habitats.

There is a hilarious series by Sandra Markle and Howard McWilliam called “What if You had?” Each book deals with a different animal adaptation. For example, “What if you had an Animal Tongue?” or “What if you had Animal Hair?” The books delve into information about how these features help different animals around the world. Click here to see the books on amazon (it’s not an affiliate link, I’m not that cool!)

These passages about animal and plant adaptations are great if you’re looking for student-level informational text that you can print and use today. Each passage explores how plants and animals are uniquely adapted to their own environments.

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Looking for more blogs about 3rd Grade Science? I have a post for every single 3rd Grade Next Generation Science Standard. See the whole 3rd grade science series here!

There are so many fun things to do while teaching our students about animal adaptations. Many children love learning about animals, so lessons about animal adaptations naturally lend themselves to wonder and curiosity.

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It seems like everywhere you look, there is trash on the ground. Have you ever seen someone throw trash and it misses the garbage can, but they just walk away?! Litter is everywhere. It’s even in the oceans, and this causes changes in the environment. These science activities for kids specifically look at how changes in the environment can affect plants and animals.

How do you explain “environment” to a child?

One way to explain “environment” to a child is to go for a walk. Have them look around and notice the things they see like trees, grass, the sky, animals, etc. Essentially, the environment is everything around us, so letting the child make observations about what is around them will help them understand better. 

What are some examples of changes in the environment? 

The environment is constantly changing and people are causing many of these changes. Deforestation is a huge change. There is also pollution causing environmental changes. And as mentioned previously, litter on the ground and trash in the ocean is another big change to the environment.

Since there are several types of environmental change, you can either try to tackle them all at once, or you can break them down into smaller units. I like to break things down into smaller units so students get a more in depth look at a topic, but that’s just a personal preference.

For today, I’m to focus on environmental changes caused by trash and plastic waste. Let’s look at some learning activities to help our students engage in the learning.

YouTube Videos about environment changes

Here are some helpful YouTube clips that you might want to show your students as they learn about how trash changes the environment.

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKFV9IquMXA - This is a clip from National Geographic where kids explain how plastic pollution is affecting the ocean around Hawaii. 

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFPoIU5iiYQ - This video is a cartoon, so it might be more palatable for students to watch, instead of watching real life footage of animals struggling in the ocean because of plastic. While it is a cartoon with no words, it still gives good insight into the problems of trash in the ocean. Students can also use their inference-making skills while watching this video clip.

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrPBYS5zzF8 - This video also explains how plastic is causing environmental changes and focuses on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Make an Ocean- Cleaner Tool

Teaching materials for the ‘Design an Ocean-Cleaning Tool STEM Challenge

If your students love hands-on learning, they will be engaged during this activity. First, you’ll have to fill a kiddie pool or a water table with water. This will become your pretend ocean. Next, you need to add some garbage and plastic to the ocean. Now it’s time to introduce your students to the activity. 

Challenge the students to create a tool that they can use to clean the litter out of the ocean. Brainstorm together and then have students use their imaginations to create. They can use various materials like popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, tape, string, etc.

This STEM Challenge is part of the ‘changes in the environment’ reading unit for grade 3 science.

Read about the Problem

In order to get a better understanding of the plastic problem, students need to be exposed to it. This means it’s a good idea to read passages about the problem of pollution. We can’t address a problem we don’t know about! So find some good reading passages that your students can read to expose them to the problem of plastic. 

the ‘less plastic challenge’

Once students have some information about the problem of pollution, give them a challenge to use less plastic. Especially single-use plastics.

• Switch to a reusable straw

• Use reusable lunch containers

• Reuse plastic bags (even the single-use ones!)

• Use a refillable water bottle

• Swap plastic wrap for a reusable alternative or container

Are there any changes you can make in your classroom to create less waste?

We set up a chart to track the different ways we were trying to eliminate single-use plastics in our classroom.

Do a Plastic Pick Up

After exploring the harm of plastic, go on a field trip to pick up trash and plastic. If you live close to the ocean, go to the beach. If you live close to a forest, go collect garbage from the forest floor. This will help our students feel a sense of ownership in their environment and it will give them real life experience seeing the trash all around.

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Teach about these environment changes TODAY!

Helping students understand the impact of garbage is easy with these lessons that combine SCIENCE and READING. You get two paired passages, reading comprehension activities, and a STEM challenge all about changes in the environment.

Grab the lessons!

It’s hard to teach about how trash is changing the environment because it really pulls at the heartstrings. It’s heartbreaking to see animals struggling to survive because of the pollution that humans are creating. BUT it’s so important for us to teach our students. Like I said earlier, we can’t address a problem we don’t know about! So we need to teach about environmental changes so we can address the problem…both now and in generations to come.

Science can be exciting no matter what grade level you teach. In the early grades, students learn the five senses and how to be a scientist. In later years, students take a deep dive into topics like biology, physics and chemistry. Teaching grade 4 science can be a fun combination of worksheets, science projects and hands-on activities.

If you’ve been around here for any length of time, you’ve probably figured out that I love to teach science by doing hands-on projects, and also by integrating science into other curriculum areas: science and art, science and writing, science and comprehension. Grade 4 science is no different. There are some awesome grade 4 science projects and grade 4 science worksheets that you can use your students.

What are the topics in Grade 4 science? 

Here in BC, our science curriculum is guided by the BC Big Ideas. The BC Big Ideas for Grade 4 Science are…

• All living things sense and respond to their environment

• Matter has mass, takes up space and can change phase

• Energy can be transformed

• The motions of Earth and the moon cause observable patterns that affect living and non-living systems.

When teaching these big ideas, I teach four distinct topics: Biomes, Changing States of Matter, Energy and Motions of the Earth. To read an in-depth post on each topic, be sure to click through. 

Everything You Need to Teach Grade 4 Science

A complete (scripted) unit for every single grade 4 science unit in BC. Lesson plans, vocabulary, projects, experiments, activities, and more!

Click and print. Planning is really that easy.

check out the units

Teaching about Biomes

In our biomes unit, I like to highlight how animals and plants have special traits that help them survive in their environment. A polar bear wouldn’t be able to survive in the desert, just like a lizard wouldn’t be able to survive in the tundra. Why? 

After learning about the biomes and characteristics of animals and plants in each biome, it’s time to start using imagination about what it would be like to live in each biome, what traits would they need to have in order to survive? 

Check out some of my favorite activities for teaching about the biomes of the world.

Teaching about Changing States of Matter

Matter is something that we return to again and again in the BC curriculum.

Students start learning about matter in Kindergarten and each year, the topic gets built on. So by the time students have reached grade 4, they generally have a good understanding of the states of matter and now it’s time to implement some more hands-on activities to help them engage with the topic in meaningful ways.

I also like to incorporate food when teaching about matter. When students can use all FIVE of their five senses during science, it’s always a good day! To check out some ideas, including ideas on how to incorporate food, check out this post.

This post breaks down my favorite activities and lessons for Grade 4 that teaches how matter changes state.

Teaching about Energy

When teaching about energy, I love to have a variety of hands-on learning activities. Energy is one of those topics that can naturally lead into exploration and discovery. Magnets, gravity, sound, light, push and pull….all these areas are great for hands-on experiments. Check out some of the fun ideas in this energy blog post. 

Teaching about Motions of the Earth

In our Motions of the Earth unit, students discover how the earth rotates, revolves and orbits. They also discover what causes eclipses and tides. Through a series of lessons, students will gain a better understanding of how the motions of the Earth affect, not only them, but the things around them. During this unit, they also get to put on their artistic hats to create comics about an eclipse. Read about everything you need to teach space science in grade 4.

What are some good science experiments for grade 4?

Grade 4 is a great age to dive deeper into science experiments. There are some awesome science experiments out there, and here are some of my favorites:

1. Melting, Boiling and Freezing: To teach students about melting, boiling and freezing, I like to do an experiment using a transparent kettle and ice cubes. Drop an ice cube into the kettle and set it to boil. Have students observe what happens to the ice cube. Also have the students observe the steam as the water boils. 

2. Energy Science Stations: Set up stations around the room so students can experiment with energy. Flick a marble into a group of other marbles to see what happens. Roll marbles down a track to see how height of the track affects the marble. Experiment with flashlights and glow sticks. Use a contactless thermometer to measure temperatures. You can check out even more station ideas here.

3. STEM Challenges - I’ve rounded up some of my favorite STEM challenges that are easy to set up and use very few costly supplies (if any!)

Grade 4 is a fun age to really delve into project-based learning as well as do experiments. You’ll still have to do a bunch of scaffolding before diving into the experiments, but with the right scaffolding, your students will be ready to explore. Whether they are doing science worksheets, or science projects, there is always something to learn in grade 4 science. 

Matter is all around us, as you might remember from your elementary school days, the states of matter can change. And when it comes to teaching kids about the changing states of matter, there are so many different activities we can do. Let’s take a look at some activities we can do to teach about the changing states of matter.

How does matter change states?

Matter is made up of atoms. And for the purpose of elementary school, there are three states of matter: solids, liquids and gases. Temperature has the ability to change the state of matter. When heat is added, the atoms move around and eventually break apart from each other. When matter is cooled, the atoms slow down and draw closer to each other.

Reading passages about the changing states of matter.

The most common ways that temperature affects matter is through melting, boiling and freezing.

What is matter? Take a peek at this post that’s just about teaching the 3 states of matter!

We always start our unit with a set of reading passages on matter. I find that it helps to give students some background information before we dive into hands-on learning.

Changing States of Matter Videos

As always, I like to have some YouTube videos on hand in case we have a few extra minutes throughout the day. These are a couple videos I found that teach about the changing states of matter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwCUqG7GA3Y

• This video gives an overview of the states of matter and atoms. It also delves into the changing states of matter through melting and freezing. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZBt4_Ds3lI

• Here’s a brief video that explains about boiling point. It also explains why popcorn pops because of the boiling. 

Make it Delicious with Chocolate

‘Gooey Chocolate Melt’ is the most delicious experiment to teach changing states of matter. Find it here!

This is a fun activity that explores melting and cooling using chocolate. So not only is this experiment educational, but it’s also tasty!

In a nutshell, this experiment has students using their problem-solving skills to turn solid chocolate into a liquid. Each students will get their own bag with some chocolate in it. They have to figure out how to melt the chocolate. Then students will have to make predictions about how they can change the melted chocolate back into a solid.

And of course, when the experiment is finished, each child can eat their chocolate!

matter + hot chocolate?

Another great way to explore the changing states of matter is to make hot chocolate. You can even have students write about whether they think whipped cream is a liquid or a solid….what do you think it is?

Show Melting, Boiling and Freezing

For this experiment, you’ll need an electric kettle with water. A transparent kettle is best because then students can see what’s happening inside. You’ll also need ice cubes. After reviewing the definitions of melting, boiling and freezing, pull out a kettle filled with water and also put ice cubes in a bowl. 

Drop an ice cube into the water and watch what happens. Then turn on the kettle and watch what happens. As the ice cube melts and the water heats up, steam will form. 

Throughout the whole process, explain to students what is happening and have students record their observations. 

Plan Your Changing States of Matter Lessons with a CLICK

Looking for a FAST way to prep that Changing States of Matter unit that includes nonfiction text AND engaging experiments? In just a few clicks you can grab all of the pieces you need: scripted instructions, vocabulary, informational text, experiments, and more.

Click and print. Planning is really that easy.

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matter game

If you want to do an extension of the above activity, have your students pretend to be molecules and act out the process of melting, boiling and freezing.

Have students stand close together to be the ice. Then have them move further apart to be liquid and far, far, far apart to be gas. When you say “freezing” students will stand close together. When you say “melting” students move further apart. When you say “boiling” students have to move furthest apart. 

Into Thin Air

If you have a few days to do an experiment, you can give each child or group of children a cup. Have them fill it with water and draw a line to mark the water level. Then have the students place their cups in a sunny place, like the window sill of the classroom. Over the next few days have students make observations about the water level. 

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Hands-on activities work so well for learning about the changing states of matter! When our students can use their five senses (yes, I’m including taste!), science comes alive on a whole new level!

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Energy is a magnificent thing. It is something adults all wish we had more of and children seem to have an endless supply of. And yes, this is very true, but I’m talking about energy in terms of science. Teaching students about the forms of energy can lead to some pretty engaging lessons. So let’s check out four types of energy lessons.

What is the Law of Conservation of Energy?

The Law of Conservation of Energy is a law stating that energy can be changed, but it cannot be created or destroyed. Energy can change from one form to another, but energy is never lost during this transformation process.

What are the Types of Energy?

The exact number of energy types is a bit open for interpretation, but here are some of the most common types of energy:

• kinetic energy

• light energy

• sound energy

• thermal energy

• elastic energy

• nuclear energy

• chemical energy

• magnetic energy

• gravitational energy

• electrical energy. 

Energy is all around us and we use it every day.

Types of Energy Videos

I love introducing new concepts by showing video clips and here are some great videos about energy.

1. Dr. Binocs is a classic science YouTube channel that many teachers use for introducing science topics. This short video goes over a few of the most common types of energy. It also delves into the concept of potential energy.

2. This video also gives a good overview of energy. It categorizes energy into two main areas: potential energy and kinetic energy. Then the video delves into the different types of energy. 

3. If you’re looking for a video that’s a little longer, you might love this Bill Nye the Science Guy video about energy. Did you watch Bill Nye as a kid? This video sure does bring back memories from my childhood!

Hands-On Energy Stations

These hands-on stations teach students all about how energy transfers from one form to another. (Bonus: they’re super easy to set up!)

Who doesn't love some good hands-on science stations? During this science lesson, students will complete four student-led stations. Each station will have an activity to determine the energy input and output. For example, students have to flick a marble into a group of other marbles to see what will happen. You can check out the other stations here.

Project-Based Learning: Energy Machines

I LOVE using project-based assessments to cap off a science unit. They’re a great way to check for student understanding without having them sit down for a timed test (that doesn’t always show understanding anyways!)

In this project, students will have the opportunity to design and build an ‘Energy machine’.

This machine will have the power to transform energy into different forms. As a simple example, some students might build a machine that uses a hair dryer to melt a piece of chocolate. (Electric energy to Heat Energy!)

Students will create a blueprint, gather materials and build a prototype to show their classmates! Not only is this project a fun way for students to demonstrate their learning, it is also a great way for them to use their creativity! 

The full instructions, planning pages, and assessment rubric are included in the Energy Unit.

A Complete Energy Unit is Here!

Learn all about Forms of Energy and Energy Transfer with this one hands-on unit that has everything you need.

Scripted lessons… check!
Reading Passages… check!
Hands-on projects and stations… check!
Vocabulary and Assessment… check check!

Take the planning off of your plate and grab all ten scripted lessons here…

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Energy Experiments

There are SO many experiments that you could do with your class to demonstrate the various types of energy. So let’s take a look at a few types of energy activities:

• Magnets: Give students magnets and have them locate things that are magnetic and things that are not. You can also find some other fun magnet activities in this blog post dedicated to Magnet Activities!

• Shooting Rubber Bands: Give students different sized rubber bands and teach them how to stretch the rubber bands and shoot them across the classroom (or field outside) to see which bands fly the furthest. BUT make sure to teach them about safety so no one gets hurt.

• Gravity: Have students drop various objects from the same high so they can see that all objects fall at the same speed.

• Rubber Band Guitar: Students can experiment using rubber bands stretched over various objects to explore the sounds created when stretching different shaped elastics.

• Egg Drop Experiment: Have students design a contraption that will protect a raw egg when it is dropped from a high place. How can you protect the egg from the kinetic energy it is about to experience?

As you can see, there are a plethora of experiments you can have students do while they are exploring the types of energy and energy transformation. Google has TONS of great ideas!

“Ground control to Major Tom!” This song SO easily gets stuck in my head when I’m working on anything space related. And it’s not even the David Bowie version that gets stuck in my head, it’s the Chris Hadfield version, where he sings it from space. I love teaching students about the motions of the Earth, moon and Sun. There are so many awesome space science lessons for kids. So let’s check out a few!

Space Science For Kids - The Motions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.

What’s the Motion of the Earth?

The Earth is constantly in motion. The Earth orbits around the Sun. An orbit is the path that an object takes when it revolves around another object. A revolution is the circular movement of an object around another object. The Earth also rotates on its axis. 

What causes day and night?

As the Earth orbits the Sun, it also rotates on its axis. It takes the Earth 24 hours to rotate. The side of Earth facing the Sun experiences day and the side of Earth facing away from the Sun experiences night.

Why does earth have seasons?

Top: Informational Text passages all about how the earth, sun and moon move in the sky.
Bottom: Informational text passages all about tides.

The earth’s orbit isn’t a perfect circle. This means that sometimes it is closer to the Sun and the weather is warmer, like in spring and summer. Sometimes the Earth is further away from the Sun and the weather is colder, like in the winter. The Earth’s revolution causes the changes in seasons.

What causes ocean tides on earth?

Tides are always changing and it is the moon’s gravitational pull that causes these changes. Tides rise and fall depending on where the moon is in the sky. 

Now that we have some background information about the motion of the Earth, moon and Sun, let’s take a look at some activities to get students excited about space!

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Get ready to teach your ‘Motions of the Earth’ science unit in one step.

This engaging unit includes everything you need to teach students about how the earth, sun, and moon move.

Reading passages, scripted lessons, activities, and project-based learning are all included!

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Make a Moon Board

Using this moon board, students can poke their heads through the middle and rotate the board to see why the moon appears to be different shapes at different times.

I love creating visuals that help my students learn. This Moon Board activity will help students identify why the moon appears differently in its separate phases. You’ll need a few things for this activity, including black foam board, 8 small white balls like ping pong balls, black paint, a print out of the Sun, Phases of the Moon labels, sharp scissors and hot glue.

Using these supplies, create a Moon Board that looks like this one. After creating the Moon Board, students can put their head inside and as they rotate the board around, they will observe each of the different moon phases! 

Detailed instructions and print-and-cut templates are available in this Motions of the Earth unit.

Want to watch me assemble this moon board? I made a Reel over on Instagram. You can check it out here.

Anchor Charts

Anchor charts are a great way to show how the Earth and moon move. I’m a huge believer that anchor charts should be made with students instead of ahead of time. I also love printing out labels and pictures so students don’t have to watch me try to draw things! Gluing labels and pictures into place is SO much easier than trying to draw and print neatly.

For example, I like to print out large cards of moon phases and put them on a chart paper to create an anchor chart. 

As another anchor chart idea, you can make a Venn Diagram anchor chart about the similarities and differences of solar and lunar eclipses. Have students come up with the ideas and you write them down as the ideas arise.

Act it Out

Head out to a place, like a field or the gym, where your students will have space to move. Then label kids as “Sun”, “moon”, “Earth”. Have your students rotate and revolve with their bodies to act out how the Sun, moon and Earth move. 

Create an Eclipse Comic

I love combining science with other curricular areas. In this activity, students will use their knowledge of comic strips and writing, as well as their artistic skills and creativity,  to create a comic about either a lunar eclipse or a solar eclipse. You will likely have to review characteristics of a comic and how to properly use speech bubbles.

Students can pick a comic template and begin to draw. Throughout the process, make sure to review and use checklists to ensure students know what criteria you are looking for in their comic. I love seeing what students come up with as they create their eclipse comics.

There are so many fun ways to teach about the motions of the Earth, moon and Sun. If you have any other awesome lessons, send them my way! I love seeing what other people do.

There are so many exciting things to learn about biomes in upper elementary. Students can delve into learning the seven biomes of the world, research animals that live in each place and get a better understanding of the biome’s characteristics. There really is something for every student and every interest. Let’s check out some interactive biome lesson plans.

What is a Biome? 

A biome is a habitat with unique vegetation, climate and wildlife. The plants and animals in each biome have specific traits that help them survive.

What are the 6 Biomes of the World? 

There are six major biomes on the Earth. These include desert, temperate rainforest, tropical rainforest, marine biome, savanna (or grassland) and tundra.

Biomes Videos

As a fun introductory activity, you might want to watch a video or two about biomes. Here are a couple videos I found on YouTube:

This video introduces four major biomes: tundra, forest, grassland and desert. It’s a cartoon and goes over some of the different characteristics and animals found in each biome.

This biomes video takes a look at five biomes: desert, grassland, forest, aquatic and tundra. It also goes over some of the different characteristics and animals found in each biome. It uses real video footage of each video. We break out our sketchbooks and make a few diagrams as we watch.

Creative Writing Activity

The ‘Biome Travel Journal’ is a great way to combine reading, writing, and science!

I love combining science with other subjects: science and art, science and reading, science and writing.

This activity combines reading and writing in an engaging way to help students learn about biomes. The Biomes Travel Journal asks students to imagine that they are traveling to the six different biomes.

Using non-fiction reading passages, students will write a travel journal all about what they see and experience in the six biomes they visit. Not only will students practice their literacy skills while doing science, but they will also be able to get a little creative!

Plan Your Biomes Lessons with One Click!

Are you looking for a FAST way to plan out your biomes unit that already includes reading passages and TEN scripted lesson plans?

In just a few clicks you can grab all of the pieces you need: lesson plans, projects, activities, and assessment.

Click and print. Planning is really that easy.

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Biome Diorama

If you want to combine science with art, try giving each student a shoebox or a paper plate. Then, using materials like construction paper, plasticine and magazines, ask students to create a diorama of what the different biomes look like. For example, if a student were creating a hot desert, they might use yellow plasticine to create sand, green construction paper to create cacti and other small shrubs, and cut out pictures of animals to show which animals live in the desert. 

assess it with a Survival Guide

Pages from the Biomes Survival Guide project.

After your students have had a sufficient time to learn about the biomes, a Biomes Survival Guide is the perfect way to assess learning with a project.

This is a great chance for students to present everything they have learned about a specific biome, and show that they understand the bigger concepts like climate, predators, food sources, and more!

I’m a big fan of summative assessments that go beyond tests/quizzes. This is an awesome way for students to show what they know in a way that isn’t time-sensitive and encourages creativity and critical thinking.

Biome Twenty Questions

Another fun activity you could do is a biome guessing game. After learning about the characteristics and animals of each biome, it’s time to put your student’s knowledge to the test. Put a piece of tape on each student’s back. On each tape, is the name of one of the biomes. Students then have to go around the classroom asking ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions about the biome on their back. As they gain information, they will be able to guess which biome is on their back. 

These biome lessons are great for engaging our students in fun ways as they learn. 

Did you ever play those games growing up where you had to look at a group of pictures and identify what’s different? I think the phrase “One of these is not like the others” was commonly used in these games. I can’t help but think about this phrase when it comes to learning about inherited traits in plants and animals. I think this is such a fun topic to teach students because it really gets them to use their observation skills. So let’s take a look at some engaging activities for teaching third graders about inherited traits in plants and animals.

What Is An Inherited Trait?

An inherited trait is a trait that is passed down to the offspring from its parents. These are traits that the animal has from birth. Some examples are eye color, patterns on the fur, fur color and length of legs. In plants, there are still two parent plants, even though plants don’t mate. Pollen from one plant travels to another plant, by wind or by animals carrying the pollen. That plant then grows seeds, which become the offspring of the plant. Some inherited traits in plants are seed color, seed shape, leaf shape, height and root shape. Now that we have a better understanding of what inherited traits are in plants and animals, let’s look at some activities to teach third graders about them.

A note to teachers: I try to be mindful when teaching about inherited traits, as the concept of human inherited traits can be a trauma trigger for many students. There are many family situations where inherited traits and genetics simply cannot be known by the student. The question “What traits did you inherit from your parents?” may seem innocuous, but could be hurtful for many different family situations. The NGSS standard about inherited traits is also “limited to non-human examples” - so we don’t have to worry about addressing that piece at all!

Read Informational Text

Two paired informational text passages about inherited traits. Grab them here!

If you’ve been around here for any length of time, you know that I’m a huge fan of paired information passages. This really gives students the knowledge and vocabulary for further exploration of a topic. 

In this set of inherited traits paired passages, students will read about why animals look like their parents and they’ll read about whether or not plants have parents. Through these texts, students will learn about the inherited traits in plants and animals. Then, we move on to some reading comprehension that helps to let me know how much students have understood.

zoo field trip

This is the perfect topic to head out for a field trip to the zoo, especially if you end up teaching this unit around the time when the animals are giving birth to their babies. How amazing would it be to visit real animals and observe their inherited traits?

Can’t head out on a field trip? No Problem! There are so many options for virtual zoo field trips. In Canada, the Toronto Zoo offers a virtual field trip. For our friends in the states, this is a great round up of some of the virtual ways your students can see live animals from your own classroom!

sculpt or draw inherited traits

Inherited Traits sculpting activity.

If you have students who love art, then this activity is the perfect way to combine art with science. First, have students read about some characteristics of two parent animals. This might be in some information passages or it could be on cards of paper, like the ones pictured!

Then have students use playdough to sculpt what they think the offspring would look like. If you don’t want to use playdough, students can also use paper to draw what they think the offspring would look like.

inherited traits videos

YouTube is also a great resource, but keep in mind that a lot of videos about inherited traits do talk about inherited traits in humans. While doing a deep diving into the world of YouTube to find videos free from this, I found this cute video that has students looking at parent animals and baby animals. However, the last slide of the video does ask “How are you similar to your parents?”

Plan Your Inherited Traits Lesson with One Click

Looking for a FAST way to plan out your fossils unit that already includes paired nonfiction passages? In just a few clicks you can grab all of the pieces you need: lesson plans, paired passages, reading comprehension, key reading skills, and a fun STEM challenge! Click and print. Planning is really that easy.

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Opposites attract! Polar opposites! Magnet puns are all over the place. And magnets are all over the place. Chances are, our students have seen magnets on their home refrigerators, in the classroom, holding signs up at some groceries stores…you name it. This is really attractive (see what I did there) for teaching about magnets because many students will have some previous knowledge to help them connect with the topic. There are so many fun and engaging activities that we can use to teach our students about magnets.

How do magnets work?

A magnet is a material that has a magnetic field. A magnetic field is an invisible force that draws objects to a magnet. Magnets pull things made of steel or iron toward them. A magnet has two ends. One end is called the north pole and the other end is called the south pole. There is a magnetic field around each pole. 

Use paired passages about magnets

Informational text articles about Magnets - written at a 3rd grade level. See them here.

Paired passages are a great way to integrate literacy skills and science. I have my students read about magnetism (in general) and then I have them read about junkyard magnets. I find that this helps them get a more well-rounded understanding of magnets. They might not be able to go to the junkyard to see how electromagnets are used, but students can read about it (and then watch a youtube clip about it!) Integrating informational texts into science is a great way to help students develop their vocabulary and comprehension. It’s also good to have students read about a topic alongside doing hands-on activities.

Make a magnet maze

Speaking of, check out this fabulous hands-one magnet maze activity. In this open-ended STEM challenge, students used their creativity and their problem-solving skills to create a maze with a variety of materials. They test out ideas and theories about what will make an amazing maze. And be sure to give students time to test out each other’s mazes. You can grab the activity and lesson plan for this maze challenge here.

make some magnetic slime

How many of your students love slime? Did you know that you can make magnetic slime! It’s as fun as it is educational. You can peek the whole magnetic slime recipe here - it’s a great one for grabbing students’ interest!

magnetic scavenger hunt

Give out a magnet to each of your students and have them wander around the school (both inside and outside) to see how many magnetic objects they can locate. You’ll be surprised about how many things are magnetic: doors, door frames, metal poles, door knobs, fences…. 

While exploring, make sure that students are recording all the magnetic objects they find. When you return to the classroom, have a discussion about why the magnet stuck to some things and not to other things.

Magnet Videos

After doing some hands-on activities, your visual learners might want to sit and watch some clips about magnetism. Here are a few that I found useful. The first two clips are less than five minutes each and give a short introduction to magnets. The last video is a Bill Nye episode all about magnetism. While this show might be from my childhood, our students can still learn tons from Bill Nye!

You can also check out this clip from Dr. Bino’s Show all about magnets and this SciShow for kids episode!

• Dr. Binos Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXCeuSiTOug

• SciShow Kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s236Q1nuWXg
  

Build a magnet car maze!

I love STEM challenges, especially when they’re open ended. In this magnet car challenge, students have to sketch and build a maze using the materials provided. Then, using only a magnet, they have to navigate a magnetic car through the maze. They cannot use their hands to touch the car! Before students start, have them record the materials they plan to use and the procedure they will use to construct their mazes. Afterwards, have students reflect on what went well and what could have gone better.

If you’re looking for lessons that are completely prepared for you, check out my Reading into Science: Magnets unit. This unit is designed to teach third grade students all about magnets and magnetism. What is a magnetic force? How are magnets used in everyday life? How can we use them to solve problems and have FUN?

Complete lessons plans mean you don’t have to worry about a thing.

Plan Your Magnets Lessons with One Click!

Looking for a FAST way to learn about magnets that already includes paired nonfiction passages? In just a few clicks you can grab all of the pieces you need: lesson plans, paired passages, reading comprehension, key reading skills, and the hands-on magnet maze. Click and print. Planning is really that easy.

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