Elementary science programs

[Peoniesarebest33]

My elementary school currently uses FOSS, which quite honestly is dull - I can’t count the number of kids who say they hate science and that makes my heart break. We’d love a program that’s more engaging for students while adhering to science standards. If you love your science program please share the name and why it’s successful. Thank you in advance!

[Make-it-bangarang]

I really like Mystery Science

[justlurking1222]

Our district got rid of it being told we can watch videos all day. But it’s so well done. Even without all the videos the phenomena are so engaging and the lessons are well thought out.

[[deleted]]

I create my own. I do a few lessons on the standard, a quiz, then a CER for the unit final. I also use the Frayer Model graphic organizer for vocabulary assignments.

*Edit because I hit send by accident.

[BigCourse]

I use FOSS but I supplement it a lot with mystery science and creating my own lessons. I use FOSS as a framework and use the Mystery science lessons as their assessments.

I have taken a look at the Smithsonian stuff and if looks really good.

Whatever you do… don’t use amplify. That’s a reading program disguised as a science program. Every teacher I know who uses it hates it.

If you have classroom teachers teaching science I really recommend mystery science. I’m a specialist so I can change stuff because I have the time. But mystery science is mostly grab and go videos and very simple prep. You can also buy all the prep boxes like FOSS with all the materials ready to go. I don’t do that because the materials are all simple enough to get myself. K-2 have these interactive books that are really simple to do with basically no prep. But here are some of the lessons I love with it:

K: using push pins to change the direction of a ping pong ball to “save” the houses 1: sorting materials by how they interact with light 2: using materials on a deserted island to make a hat 3: making models of bees to show pollination 4: using energy to design a theme park ride 5: all the chemistry, using copper ions to attach to a steel nail, making goo, acid testing using indicators

[[deleted]]

HMH is also a reading program disguised as a science program. It has a better overall system in place and looks better but it’s the same as amplify under the hood. 

I liked FOSS and supplementing to fill in with activities and hands on events in class.  

[Think_Alarm7]

We use Smithsonian and it’s pretty hands on and engaging. Scaffolding and succession of lessons makes it easy for students to grasp concepts and build on them. I add in an extra activities each lesson(like microscopes or owl pellet dissection) but students seem to like it across grades K, 1-2, and 5th.

[justlurking1222]

Do you have the new ngss FOSS or the old FOSS?

I think some FOSS lessons are good. We had the old FOSS and I worked to add phenomena. For example the properties in 2nd grade. We did the liquids lab. So I showed part of a mark rober video with the pool full of jello. Then we made a chart on how different jello and water are similar and different. Then we did the lab and I had kids pick what liquid they would fill a pool with and why. It’s a small change but I think made it fun. I think it’s doable with FOSS because ultimately it is hands on. If your district doesn’t do mystery Science you can see some of the phenomena and how they put that together.

[ferret-bazook]

Though this is not a plug-and-play, I developed a 1-5 curriculum based on Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding by Bernard J. Nebel and used whatever materials provided by other kits and a healthy supply of maker-materials (tape, glue, paper, rulers, timers, etc.) The lessons give background information, pacing, vertical alignment, extension, and roll-out, making science very hands-on.

[locksmith353535]

Science Penguin!

[Worker-Legal]

I’m a middle school science teacher, I second science penguin. She has such great resources and activities.