Who doesn't love dioramas?  They were one of my favorite things to make as a kid and kids today STILL love them!

We were studying these six different land biomes:  Desert, Temperate Forest, Taiga, Grassland, Tundra, and Rain Forest.

Students were required to do research using books and the Internet.  They created an informational file about the ecosystem and then used the information to design the diorama.  They had to give me a list of materials they would need to make the ecosystem.  We used storage boxes I found at Staples for the dioramas.  Once they were created, students had to teach their classmates about the ecosystem and create a worksheet for classmates to complete.

Writing can be tough for my students, so I try to make it as interesting as I can in order to get my kids to enjoy writing.  During our space unit, we researched the 13 different planets in our solar system (yes, I said 13!).  There are 8 major planets and 5 minor (or dwarf) planets.  These flap reports are made by using three sheets of white construction paper.  Lay the paper staggered with about an inch gap, then fold the three sheets over to create the other flaps.

Students used books and the Internet to research the planet of their choice.  They created five headings, one per flap, based on this research, so not all reports have the same headings.  Each section contains information and drawings or pictures.

 

Students then made a model of their planet using Crayola model magic.  We displayed the model hanging under the report.  These reports are interactive because readers can flip through the flaps to quickly find information.

Looking for a fun way to survive St. Patrick's Day on March 17th?  This FREE pack may be just what you and your little leprechauns are looking for!  At my school, we love to connect STEM with literature and we found a great book to use from Scholastic or Amazon!

This is also a great STEM project to send home and get family involvement!  We challenge our kiddos to make one with all "found" materials (like recyclables and things they find around their house).

Each classroom received a copy of the book and a bag of 6 little leprechauns!  There are also cut-out versions included in the STEM pack.  Click here to grab the FREE STEM Pack!

Click here for the link to the book!

Just got some adorable pictures of leprechaun traps from a 3rd grade teacher in Georgia!  These kids are so creative!

 

I love that you can use just about anything to make a successful trap!

During our solar system unit we did a crater lab and the students went crazy for it!  You need three containers, one for corn starch, one for sugar, and one for flour.  In addition, you will need small and large marbles.  Students drop the marbles from different heights and see how the surface composition affects the depth and width of the crater.

Once the marble is dropped, students record data and make observations.  This lab is great for having students connect what they are learning about to real world science labs.  Students can then make predictions about what the surface composition of the moon and Mercury are like based on their experiences with the lab.

Get the Crater Lab pack here for just $2!

What color were the dinosaurs?  This is a question sure to grab students' attention!  During a fossil unit, I asked students this question and then gave them a pack of white model magic (a modeling compound made by Crayola) and a plastic dinosaur skeleton.  They came up with some great ideas!

Once students had created their dinosaur, they had to write about WHY their dinosaur had these colors, patterns, etc.  That really made them think about why animals today are different colors.  Some coloration has to do with camouflage, but there are also animals that have warning colors, or that use mimicry.  This quick lab led to some great conversations as well as the idea that there are a lot of questions that science still cannot answer.

To make the shelves for the bulletin board, I cut a square of cardboard and then stuck a T-pin through it from underneath (just stick it on the top and spin the shelf).  These shelves hold a decent amount of weight and they make it easier to display 3D objects!

What science questions have led to some of your best lessons?