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4th Grade Science Activities, Experiments & Standards

Kayla Terry — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:25:32 +0000

Key takeaways

Teachers provide 4th-grade science activities that connect to relevant lessons while using prediction-result tables to develop scientific thinking.
Leveraging engaging 4th-grade science activities can turn 4th-grade science standards into a hands-on investigation.
Fourth-grade science is a pivotal time, marking a shift from simple observation to scientific thinking.

Fourth grade is a transitional period for many students. They begin to take in the world around them and develop renewed curiosity. Fourth-grade science students are eager to ask questions, notice patterns in the world, and test ideas, focusing on Earth systems, animals, plants, and weather. Scientific concepts are more memorable when presented in an interactive learning environment. Students can observe, touch, build, and influence, and are encouraged to discuss.

To teach the 4th-grade science, it is important to keep lessons practical and engaging. Cultivating a space for students to explore scientific thinking in an approachable manner. Demonstrating why classroom discussion, investigation, and hands-on activities are the heart of 4th-grade science.

Discovery Education provides science curriculum to support teachers who need ready-to-go resources, are short on prep time, or want a relevant and adaptable lesson.

What are the 4th-grade science standards?

Fourth-grade science standards focus on students’ learning about physical science, life science, Earth science, and the interconnectedness of living things. The specific 4th-grade science standards vary slightly by state, but they often ask students to test ideas, explain patterns, and actively engage with science.

During life science lessons, students explore life cycles, plant and animal processes, and habitats. In Earth science, they study topics such as the water cycle, rocks, erosion, and landforms. Physical science focuses on motion, energy, and the properties of matter, and is introduced in fourth grade. Across all of these areas, it is important to reinforce learning by building students’ scientific vocabulary.

Fourth-grade science serves as a vehicle for developing students’ confidence and capabilities. Students begin to see themselves as scientists when they practice data collection, experimentation, hypothesis testing, and discussing their big ideas with peers. At this age, it is paramount to instill confidence so that they continue to feel curious and passionate about scientific learning.

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10 4th-Grade Science Experiments and Teaching Activities

The 4th-grade science activities below are designed to be engaging, simple, and flexible across a variety of classroom settings. They may be adapted for small groups, pairs, independent work, or classroom exploration. They are designed to align with the 4th-grade science standards.

1. Plant Investigators

Materials depend on what is most available to the educator. This activity can be done with leaves, roots, stems, flowers, and seeds, or with cards depicting them. If allotted time, it is also fun to have the students draw the plant parts. All material methods have the same application. Matching the plant part to its name and describing its purpose.

2. Rock Cycle Bag

To show students the basics of erosion, you can provide a quick demonstration using chalk, water, and a bag. Students put the chalk and water in a bag, shake it up, and observe how the chalk changes shape under the influence of force and motion.

3. Wind Turbine

Give students a chance to build their own personal wind turbine with pipe cleaners, a soda bottle, and aluminum foil. If it is a windy day, students can go outside and test them out; otherwise, they can just blow on them inside. Allow students to tinker with a variety of designs after demonstrating one. This allows them to observe, compare, and practice engineering principles. With the top three wind turbines attach a small thread and see if any of them can spin with additional weight.

4. Energy Transfer Relay

Set students up with 5-15 dominoes, depending on time constraints. Students set up the dominoes in a line. Students will set in motion, observe how motion transfers from one object to the next, and write down what causes the energy to start and stop. This is a clear and concise activity on energy transfer.

5. Landscape Sculptures

Provide students with sand, playdough, or clay and ask them to pick a landscape to model. They can pick from mountains, valleys, deltas, or rivers. Have them label the features of their sculptures and verbally share how water and wind can affect them. This creates a visual for Earth surface changes and erosion.

6. Pollinator Match-up

Give students cards depicting a variety of flowers and pollinators, including bees, birds, bats, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Ask students to observe and describe the different parts and purposes of the flower and pollinators. This helps reinforce the lesson of plant and animal relationships. This can also be turned into a drawing activity where students are asked to imagine and draw their own pollinator pair.

7. Inheritance Traits

As a classroom, pick 2-5 visible traits, including: eye color, hair texture, height, and attached earlobes. Then develop a classroom chart that records how many students have each trait, and discuss how each trait is inherited. It is important to discuss how common these traits are in general and in the classroom. This introduces the concept of heredity in a fun and personal way.

8. Air Resistance

Initially, demonstrate at the front of the class and have students follow along, crunching one piece of paper, folding another, and leaving one as is. Then ask students to hypothesize which paper will fall the fastest. After recording their initial predictions, they must drop all the papers from the same height. Summarize the results and explain how air affects motion.

9. Heat Transfer

Set students up in groups with containers of varying materials: plastic, glass, metal, or styrofoam. Have them all filled with the same amount of water that is the same temperature. At the same time, place an ice cube in each of the 3-4 containers. Ask students to write down their predictions of the order in which ice melts, fastest to slowest. Then record the actual outcomes. After the experiment, students can compare and discuss the results. Effectively engaging in heat transfer with direct scientific testing.

10. Animal Adaptation Imagination Challenge

Present a fictional habitat environment to the class. Be sure to include specific details, such as weather, the type of water, and any predators or prey. Then assign small groups and ask them to devise an original animal specifically designed to survive the imaginary habitat. Have them draw, label, and describe the creature they created. Explaining how the animal is designed to survive. This is a fun and creative way to explore animal adaptations, structure, and function.

In practice, it is helpful to have students in pairs for the activities, specifically for the heat transfer and rock cycle bag, to facilitate peer discussion during hands-on learning. An additional method applicable to most 4th-grade science activities is a prediction-results chart. Help students write down their initial predictions and compare them to the result. This helps develop their scientific skills into a habit. All of these activities are informative lessons, but a few are connected and could be sequenced to demonstrate their connections. When completing a 4th-grade science standard on how living things are connected, it would naturally flow into teaching pollinator match-up and inheritance traits.

Teaching 4th-grade science goes beyond the 4th-grade science standards; it is about supporting students’ curiosity. To cultivate confident learners who feel welcome to ask questions and recognize patterns. Focusing on 4th-grade science activities that connect to the world around them, with a hands-on approach, facilitates meaningful learning. The best teachers provide opportunities for students to practice observation, comparison, testing, and discussion of their ideas and thinking.

4th-grade science covers relevant material that will help improve students’ scientific thinking—creating a fun, engaging, and welcoming classroom is the first step toward effective teaching.

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3rd Grade Science Activities, Experiments & Standards

Kayla Terry — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:04:15 +0000

Key takeaways

Curiosity, confidence, and observation skills are developed through 3rd-grade science activities.
Allowing students to participate in simple hands-on 3rd-grade science activities helps them understand science lessons.
Strong instruction is necessary to facilitate student understanding of patterns, comparison, and discussion.

A third-grade science classroom is a wonderful opportunity to help students start to see themselves as young scientists. At this grade, students learn best through sorting, testing, touching, and talking about what they are seeing or doing. An engaging science lesson encourages students to make a guess, wonder aloud, or discover new things.

For 3rd-grade science, lessons should be approachable, active, or immersive. It is important to focus on building classroom habits rather than complicated scientific explanations.

Create opportunities for students to observe, compare, and voice their unique ideas or perspectives. Let them notice how things change. Hands-on learning is the foundation of 3rd-grade science. Discovery Education provides a science curriculum that offers pre-designed lessons and flexible resources to help keep students engaged.

What are the 3rd-grade science standards?

3rd-grade science standards explore some big ideas. Students learn about weather, rocks, matter, soil, erosion, plants, animals, and the water cycle. They also focus on improving science skills, including predicting, observing, comparing, and recording data.

Science lessons are centered on everyday experiences. Students can observe seed sprouting and the movement of shadows while strengthening their science skills. These lessons help students understand that science goes beyond the textbook. It is something they see around them and interact with daily. Connecting lessons to everyday phenomena helps students’ involvement.

Implementing the 3rd-grade science standards also helps build students’ confidence. Through data collection, discussion, and object sorting, students learn that they are independent and capable. As they improve at sharing their ideas, they gain confidence in their unique ideas and understanding.

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10 3rd-Grade Science Experiments and Teaching Activities

These 3rd-grade science activities are direct, simple, and concise. They are designed for student understanding and engagement, with ample opportunities to observe and discuss their scientific discoveries.

1. Sound Sleuths

Set up multiple stations around the classroom. Fill multiple bins with a variety of materials, including but not limited to marbles, cotton balls, rice, beans, and paper clips. Place lids on all the bins and number each container. Have students go around the classroom, shaking and guessing what’s inside each container. Have them record their predictions. This strengthens their observational skills and data collection in a fun and engaging way.

2. Animal Cover-Pp

Show a variety of animal photos in their natural environment. As a class, ask students to identify the animals’ environment, what helps them survive, and any defining features. Students may discuss fur, habitat, body shape, camouflage abilities, and more. After the classroom discussion, students can sort animals and habitat cards into matching pairs and explain why. These activities help students become familiar with structure and environmental systems.

3. Float your Boat

This is a fun and challenging activity for a 3rd-grade science class. Students receive aluminum foil with the only direction: create a boat to hold as much weight as possible. After building their boats, students test them in a bucket of water by adding pennies one at a time, then revise their designs based on what they learned. With multiple opportunities to test, redesign, and improve, the activity introduces students to the engineering design process.

4. Animal Track Detectives

Teachers show multiple animal tracks- bird tracks, hoof prints, or paw prints. The class discusses which animal may have left the tracks and what they can infer from shapes, nails, and size. Students may create their own tracks in playdough using animal figurines for comparison. This activity helps students build observational skills.

5. Day and Night Sort

Students are given a set of cards featuring objects, animals, and activities commonly associated with day or night, such as the sun and moon, breakfast and dinner, or roosters and fireflies. They work together to sort or pair the cards, then discuss why they made each choice and whether some examples could belong to either category. This simple, approachable activity helps introduce the concept of day and night as a result of Earth’s rotation.

6. Sound Travel

Students play the age-old game of telephone by hooking a paper cup, a string, and a paper clip together. Let students discover if sound travels better through a tight string or a loose string. Through play, students are exposed to sound, how it travels, and how it is affected by different materials.

7. Static Balloons

Hand out balloons and wool cloths to students- leave them to explore what they can pick up around the classroom. They may find they can pick up strands of hair, small pieces of paper, or other classroom objects. Prompt them to share and explain their findings. This is a simple, visible way to introduce the concept of static electricity that utilizes their scientific skills.

8. Mini Water Cycle

Place a large Ziploc bag filled halfway with water at the window in direct sunlight. Students will be able to observe how it changes throughout the school day. Prompt them to keep an eye out for droplets forming. This is an understandable activity that touches on the water cycle.

9. Seed Growth

A simple classic activity that helps students strengthen observational skills and learn what plants need. Provide each student with seeds, soil, water, and a cup to plant them all in. Students can make predictions and run trials to determine how much water and sunlight the seedling needs to grow, while observing and documenting the process.

10. Cotton Clouds

With a few materials — clear cups, cotton balls, water, and food dye — students can create a cloud. Have students place the cotton balls in the top cup to represent clouds, then slowly pour water on top. This leads to a rain effect, with water dripping through the cotton balls into the lower cups. Ask students to observe and write what they see before, during, and after. These observations can be connected to a lesson on condensation and precipitation. Explain to students how the cotton balls function as clouds holding onto moisture until they are so dense that it rains.

Third-grade science is about keeping scientific curiosity alive while simultaneously building scientific skills. Teaching lessons that are hands-on, simple, and grounded in everyday experience helps students engage with the material and remember what they learn. 3rd-grade science activities should give students a chance to sort, compare, and observe semi-independently, followed by a classroom discussion to connect the activity to the current lesson. Supporting 3rd-grade science standards through hands-on activities helps students develop scientific thinking.

When teaching 3rd-grade science, it is important to be open to last-minute lesson changes and to maintain a calm, supportive demeanor. All students learn best in different ways, so it is important to provide visuals, written directions, and to repeat important concepts to help everyone. Giving students a variety of options to engage with the material makes the science content more accessible, meaningful, and memorable. Incorporating classroom discussion, exploration, and observation aligned with 3rd-grade science standards helps students develop a fundamental understanding.

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2nd Grade Science Activities, Experiments & Standards

Kayla Terry — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:44:54 +0000

Key takeaways

Through structured, hands-on learning, second graders will learn to compare, test, and explain scientific evidence.
The 2nd-grade science standard covers material from physical, life, and Earth science.
Second-grade activities provide a structured format to help students collect data, discuss results, form predictions, and strengthen communication.

Second- grade science is when students come to class ready to investigate, collect data, and explain their findings. Teachers help students compare outcomes, track change, and use all of their scientific evidence to explain their reasoning. At this age, students are becoming independent. When provided with structure, routine, and clear expectations, they excel.

The 2nd-grade science standards are intended to build on prior understanding and delve deeper into physical, life, engineering, Earth, and space science. The underlying skills that will be strengthened across all scientific topics are students’ understanding of scientific thinking: questioning, investigating, data collection, and verbal explanation.

What are the 2nd-grade science standards?

Specific science standards vary slightly by state, but there is overlap on key concepts. Students are expected to develop their observational skills into the ability to recognize patterns. Taking a more active role in science exploration by making predictions, comparing outcomes, collecting data, and drawing conclusions that go beyond summarization. Second grade often includes weather systems, simple engineering, and force and motion within Earth and physical science units.

Second-grade science standards cover habitats, weather patterns, plant and animal survival, matter, and movement. Students are encouraged to strengthen their recording skills by using drawing, charts, written responses, or tally boxes. Science education resources can support teachers by providing pre-made visuals, charts, or lesson plans. In 2nd grade, instructors should challenge students to move beyond simple summarization. Encourage the class to explain their personal reasoning based on the how and why, and compare it to their predictions. Repeatedly promoting this shift in logic is important because it is necessary for the later grades.

Instead of stating observable facts, students move on to comparisons of outcomes, evidence-based conclusions, and discussions of their ideas. To prepare them for third grade, it is important to strengthen their scientific reasoning and investigative skills. Physical science in 2nd grade is focused on matter, change, and material purpose. Life science covers the needs, habitats, and biodiversity of plants and animals. Earth and space science primarily addresses the water cycle, water, and landforms. Engineering science focuses on problem-solving, comparing outcomes, and modeling simple systems. The 2nd-grade science standards cover a variety of topics in just one school year and set students up for success with the 2nd-grade science activities.

10 2nd-Grade Science Experiments and Teaching Activities

The 2nd-grade science activities are designed to promote investigation beyond 1st-grade exploration. For effective 2nd-grade science activities, it’s important to prompt students to describe, test, revise, and provide explanations supported by scientific evidence. Students thrive with clear instruction, repeated attempts, and open discussion. An opportunity to explain what they thought would happen, what did happen, why it happened, and what they would change. Taking this approach keeps students engaged and develops communication skills and deductive reasoning.

1. Make a Filter

Compile a few resources for students to choose from, including coffee filters, rocks, pebbles, sand, clay, beads, and other safe materials. Ask the students to build a filtration system, and once everyone is done, test it with dirty water. Have students collect data on every filtration system and write a conclusion at the end. This activity sparks excitement, problem-solving, and independent data collection.

2. Motion Test

Give the students a ball and ask them to predict where it will roll fast and where it will roll slowly. Then let them go and test their hypothesis freely around the classroom. Ask them to collect data, and at the end of the activity, have students verbalize their findings. This reinforces the force and motion lesson in a real-world, tangible way.

3. Insulation or Bust

Set up stations around the classroom with Mason jars wrapped in foil, bubble wrap, paper, or other materials available. Ask the students to predict which cups will keep the ice from melting. This activity practices comparison and variables.

4. Sound Vibration Vibes

This lesson goes beyond sensory exploration and offers students a chance to develop their advanced science skills. Provide students with inexpensive instruments, rubber bands, cups, and other classroom materials. They can test what happens when changes are made to materials, tension, or size.

5. Design a Habitat

Let students pick an animal and list out everything they know about it before starting the activity. If you can take the students outside, the activity is easier, but it can be completed indoors. Let the students build a habitat for their chosen animal. They may draw parts of the habitat if they are not available; their imagination is their sharpest tool. Ask students to explain their choices when they finish the habitat.

6. Young Geologist

Make 3-5 trays with sand, dirt, pebbles, rocks, and a mixed tray. Ask the young scientist to predict what will happen when water is poured onto each tray. Students can compare results and, as a class, discuss different angles for dropping water—a great activity to touch on Earth science and investigative skills.

7. Simple Machines

Provide students with a variety of simple machines, including: levers, ramps, or wheels. Then give them a few tasks to try, lifting, moving or raising the object. Have them perform the task without the machines, then with them, to establish a baseline for comparison. Ask them to explain which machine works best for each task and expand on why. This activity helps students start to understand the basics of engineering science.

8. Strength Test

Gather a wide variety of materials and have students explore whether each is movable, breakable, sturdy, or soft. Ask them what purpose the material could serve. Have them record their findings and explain them to connect the function to the evidence.

9. Light Path

Bring in mirrors, semi-reflective surfaces, and flashlights. Let students discover how light moves and watch as they develop unique methods. Allow them to test how light hits a variety of surfaces and explain why.

10. We All Scream for Ice Cream

A fun and rewarding activity is making ice cream in the classroom. Prep a few bags with heavy whipping cream, sugar, and a pinch of vanilla. Put one bag together in front of the class. Then pass them out with a larger bag of ice, and have them add salt. Instruct some students to put 1 tablespoon, then 3 tablespoons, and so on. Just to give students the ability to compare. Ask students to make predictions and shake. A science investigation with a tasty reward.Have an alternative treat ready for any lactose-intolerant student.

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Classroom Suggestions

Setting up an efficient classroom sets teachers up for a successful year. The 2nd-grade science classroom should have a simple organization system with clear rules. Displaying charts, tables, and graphs that are relevant to a standard is a great way to build in content review. Having them posted on the classroom wall prevents them from being lost in folders, cubbies, or backpacks over the years.

Dedicating a wall to weekly student projects helps them take pride in their work and do their best. Accompanied by graphs, charts, or other important concepts available for quick reference. This leads to repetitive practice that builds students’ understanding and confidence.

Teachers may have a backup, ready-to-go science curriculum in case a barrier prevents the original lesson plan from going forward. Curriculum that has clear steps and visual support on relevant science topics. It helps students be present, proactive, and engaged.

2nd-grade science is a fascinating time. Students are moving past surface-level observation to pattern recognition and investigation. These scientific activities will help students record data, compare results, and explain ideas. Implementing 2nd-grade science standards with hands-on, organized, and exciting activities.

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Kindergarten Science: Activities, Standards & Teaching Guide

Kayla Terry — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:09:35 +0000

Key takeaways

Teaching kindergarten science is centered around exploration, curiosity, and real-world application.
Focusing on foundational concepts in the earth, physical, and life sciences aligns with most kindergarten science standards.
Cultivating young scientists develops thinking skills and confidence in their knowledge.

Teaching kindergarten science provides an opportunity to expose children to their first structured science lesson. At this age, lessons are not about memorizing vocabulary but about developing a scientific mindset and fostering healthy curiosity, observation, and independent hypothesis testing.

Kindergartners are naturally inquisitive, and it is important to encourage this mindset as it will serve them throughout their education. Students notice their environment and peers and learn through play. Structured play is an effective method to teach kindergarten science standards. Facilitating observation, prompting questions, and leading the class to form scientific explanations are important parts of kindergarten science activities.

What are the Kindergarten Science Standards?

The core of the kindergarten science standards is influenced by the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS); however, each state may make its own adaptations. Kindergarten science standards focus on:

Cross-cutting concepts
Disciplinary core ideas
Science and engineering practices

Because standards vary by state, kindergarten science standards are intentionally broad and adaptable. They guide teachers toward developmentally appropriate instruction while still allowing flexibility to build long-term understanding.

The majority of kindergarten science covers:

Being able to name the four seasons and describe their characteristics.
Patterns in nature.
Exploring material properties such as hard, soft, big, and small.
Observing motion through push and pull.
Knowing what plants and animals need to live.

The purpose of these standards is not memorization but observational understanding. Students are asked to describe the weather, plants, and animals. A teacher may ask whether they notice any patterns in the weather. Promoting observation and explanation with simple language is necessary. Over time, students will see that science is not just a lesson but a tool for understanding the world around them. At five years old, they are natural scientists with plenty of questions.

To support educators with kindergarten science instruction, you can view a science curriculum to save valuable prep time. Allowing teachers to spend less time designing lessons and more time present with students. The Discovery Education Science Platform can help by providing ready-to-use, interactive, and informative lessons aligned with kindergarten science standards.

Science lessons are also a great opportunity for students to practice other subjects. Incorporating math, reading, or writing can be a natural bolster to the curriculum. Students can draw or label a concept, read a short description or labeled diagram, and count objects in a lesson to strengthen their growing math skills.

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10 Kindergarten Science Experiments and Teaching Activities

To facilitate an effective kindergarten science lesson, it is important to maintain high energy and consistent interaction to keep students engaged. If students are not actively participating in an experiment or activity, they may lose interest at this grade level. Below are 10 kindergarten science activities that meet one or more of the kindergarten science standards. Repetition is important for learning at this age, so it helps to revisit successful activities multiple times.

These 10 kindergarten science activities are meant to meet students where they are, with their natural curiosity about the world around them, using a hands-on approach to keep them interested throughout the lesson.

1. Plant Growth Competition

Help students label and prepare three separate plant beds. One gets no water, the second gets no sunlight, and the third gets everything necessary to grow. Have students observe the seedlings over a few weeks. Give them time to ask questions and form scientific observations. Students can draw all three saplings.

2. Sink or Float

Set up a water station with a variety of objects for students to choose from. Ask them to formulate a hypothesis about which objects will sink or float, then test each one together.

3. Five Senses

Set up five stations around the room, one for each sense: sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing. Ask students to describe each station and guess which sense it corresponds to. Be sure to double-check any allergies or dietary restrictions before this lesson. Taste can be a fun station when there are healthy and appropriate options.

4. Weather Watch

Every day, ask students to describe the weather and choose a symbol to represent it. Keep track of the weather on the board or another classroom visual. Helping students see patterns in nature. Consistency is integral here.

5. Secret Shadow

Allow students to pick classroom objects. Then use a flashlight to create a shadow and ask students to guess the object.

6. Magnet Madness

Give students magnets to experiment with through play. Offer gentle prompting and observation throughout, then ask students to share any patterns they noticed.

7. Nature Search

Take students outside and have them collect non-living items to bring back to class. Once back in the classroom, students can sort and share their findings. Offer an opportunity to draw, trace, or do frottage.

8. Ice Race

Have students pick three spots in or around the classroom to place ice. Ask them where they think it will melt first, second, and last. At the end, discuss why. To integrate math, teachers may have students time the ice melting.

9. Color Exploration

Give students primary colors, water, and paper. Let their imagination run. Ask them which two colors made a new color and how they would describe the result.

10. Bob the Builder

Give students recycled materials and ask them to build something strong. Once everyone is finished, test their creations with three weight levels—for example, a pencil, an empty pencil box, and a big book. Then give them a chance to rebuild.

All of these activities are fun ways to engage students. To help students learn the kindergarten science standards, it is important to include them in the dialogue during their activities.

Ask students:

What changed?
What do you see?
What do you think happened?
Why do you think it happened?

Guided play is where meaningful learning happens!

Kindergarten classrooms need to foster a sense of curiosity and independence. Keeping students’ materials low and accessible can help them get started. Keeping students’ finished projects around the classroom can bolster their confidence. Creating a daily routine of questions and discussion will keep them curious.

Digital tools created for science curricula can help keep students engaged. Discovery Education has a dedicated section focused on science curriculum to help students build a strong foundation.

Teaching kindergarten science is an opportunity to influence the next generation of scientists. It is easy to downplay the importance of sparking curiosity among younger learners, but a thoughtful approach to teaching kindergartners helps shape their academic interests early on. Planting the seed of a critical-thinking mindset starts here by encouraging questions, observations, and hypotheses.

Educators who teach the kindergarten science standards through engaging science experiments and activities are cultivating scientific mindsets. That will carry throughout their academics for years. Keep in mind that kindergartners learn best through exploration, so not every lesson needs to have a rigorous structure. These kindergarten science activities can be used again and again to reinforce a lesson or revisit a similar concept. Setting up the same activity and asking different questions can build on their existing knowledge. Be sure to cultivate open dialogue, because kindergartners have many thoughts, feelings, and ideas to share. They learn from sharing their thoughts out loud and building dialogue skills through explanations. Most science activities provide the perfect opportunity to promote student voices.

Over time, teachers will see students improve their understanding, explanations, and questions. At the cornerstone of any activity is developing curiosity. At five years old, students have it in spades, and educators have the opportunity to cultivate it into their next chapter. Teaching the kindergarten science standards in a fun way is the most effective approach.

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1st Grade Science: Activities, Standards & Teaching Tips

Kayla Terry — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:32:53 +0000

Key takeaways

Developing 1st grader curiosity into observation, comparison, and explanatory skills.
Covering 1st grade science standards, including: foundational life, observing patterns, investigation, Earth and physical science.
Interactive 1st-grade science activities to facilitate student learning and confidence building.

1st graders are entering a developmental stage that prepares them for early scientific thinking. Students in this age range still learn best through hands-on exploration, but they respond more positively to structured, intentional lessons than in kindergarten. It’s helpful to ask students to notice patterns, discuss scientific evidence, and make predictions rather than to allow free exploration in science activities. The activities and facilitated learning should not be overly complex. For the 1st grade, it’s necessary to build intellectual confidence through structured observation and application.

1st grade science is a chance to help students build a foundation for scientific thinking that they will use in later grades. By providing repeated opportunities to observe, notice, and verbalize patterns, students begin to build confidence in their science capabilities.

1st grade science activities provide a structured way to teach the 1st grade science standards. Also, it creates an opportunity to touch on other subjects. Having students draw, write, or solve simple math problems that align with the scientific activity helps build communication skills and contributes to well-rounded student development.

What are the 1st grade science standards?

The 1st grade standards fluctuate by state but are generally aligned with core concepts. In 1st grade science, students are developing the ability to explain scientific evidence, notice patterns, and compare, while building on their previous observation skills. Connecting these skills to Earth, life, physical, and space science curriculum.

1st grade standards:

Observe, notice, and explain patterns in the sky, weather, seasons, and everyday environment.
Characteristics of plants and animals.
The physical needs of plants and animals are to live.
Push and pull forces.
How to sort materials and objects.
Describe changes and patterns with observed evidence.

1st grade science standards are focused on concepts and understanding, not memorization. To facilitate learning, it is important to keep materials easily accessible to students, fostering a sense of independence. Maintain clear verbal and written directions for all 1st grade science activities.

Over the course of the school year, students will begin to notice patterns and repetition in science class. Building an understanding of science and how to record, notice, and explain what they see. These are big steps and will be applied the following year to broaden their understanding further.

10 1st Grade Science Activities and Experiments

1. Outdoor Observation

Students keep a log of all their outside findings and when they occur—building a log over time to notice any patterns. Then compare with a classmate. They might notice flowers blooming, birds on a particular tree, or lots of mosquitoes near water. Giving students a chance to observe, communicate, and notice patterns.

2. Texture Trail

This can be done inside and outside the classroom; however, it is easier to facilitate outside. Gather objects with a variety of textures and create a trail with them. Allow students time to explore. Ask them to feel, describe, and compare the objects with their classmates.

3. Season Match

Have students make cards to represent the four seasons. Include seasonal clothing, weather, and holidays. Allow students to match cards and explain why each pair goes together. Promoting sorting skills with a connection to the real world.

4. Sunlight and Shade

Take the class outside on a sunny day and have them describe how they feel in the sun versus the shade. Bring out a couple of cups of water, a plant, or another sun-exposed object. Place one object in the sun and one in the shade. Ask students what they think will happen, monitor their responses, and discuss. Gives students a chance to form opinions, test them, and ultimately reach a conclusion based on evidence.

5. Animal Sort

Making cards that display parts of an animal, its environment, or ways they move. Let students sort them into correct pairs and explain their logic. Students build their communication skills and sorting skills.

6. Circuit Exploration

Give students a bulb, a battery, and a wire, along with a group demonstration, so that they can assemble their own. In this activity, they will discover what an open and a closed circuit are and how they can influence each other—a fun activity to demonstrate cause and effect.

7. Egg Splat

Have students build an egg basket—anything they build counts as a basket for this exercise. The goal of the basket is to keep its egg safe when dropped from a predetermined height. Give ample resources so that imagination can be tried and tested. Then drop all of the eggs in their basket to see which ones survive.

8. Plant Project

Give students the same materials and a couple of seeds. Allow them to plant, water, and pick a place to watch them grow. Naturally, some students will pick spots with direct, indirect, and no sunlight. If the students don’t place a plant in all three, put one there for observation. Have them log their actions, monitor for patterns, and share their results.

9. Water Inspector

Give students a pipette and a cup of water, and designate 3–5 surfaces for them to drip water onto. Ask them to observe, discuss, and document how the water acted on the different surfaces. Students can work on comparison and verbal communication.

10. Draw, Shape and Sort

Ask students to draw three shapes and find these shapes in objects around the classroom or outside. Have students share their shapes and objects. An opportunity to work on shape recognition, and a teacher could incorporate basic math skills.

Throughout all 1st grade science activities, it is important to prompt students. Having students explain their thinking helps solidify their understanding. Some effective questions include:

What changed?
Is there a pattern?
What do you think will happen?
Do you think there is a way to improve?
Were you surprised?

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1st Grade Science Classroom and Supports

Have students create scientific drawings with labels, charts, and short written explanations for posting around the room. Including student work in the classroom helps them build confidence and feel important. Cultivating a sense of pride and ownership helps students feel eager to contribute and work on their science skills.

Student work being displayed also helps with content review. It makes it easy to return to past lessons and build on them. Teachers can have students design a weather chart that the class will revisit each month to build a larger seasonal pattern. A labeled plant drawing can facilitate a review of characteristics and evolve into a discussion on needs. Repetition is how students learn; coupled with scaffolding, it is often how lasting learning occurs.

Helping students organize their class work by setting up graphic organizers can save class time down the line. Creating tables, graphs, or other forms of comparisons together as a whole class can save lecture time while still efficiently covering material. Having a ready-to-go 1st grade science curriculum is another time saver. By using the education resources provided by Discovery Education, teachers can spend less time designing activities and more time helping students. Structured resources also help students by providing clear steps, expectations, and visuals. A well-prepped curriculum meets the developmental needs of 1st graders and promotes thinking around new ideas.

Teaching first grade is focused on balancing natural curiosity with scientific structure to keep students excited and learning. Focusing on 1st grade standards through 1st grade science activities helps students build skills while learning the science curriculum. It builds their confidence in pattern observation, scientific questioning, trying new things, and seeing what happens. These learning tools will help them in all subjects as they grow and learn.

First grade science offers the opportunity to inspire young students to become self-assured, investigative learners. With a warm and purposeful approach, teachers can help 1st graders enjoy science.

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5th Grade Science Teaching Guide | Activities and Standards

Kayla Terry — Mon, 11 May 2026 20:35:13 +0000

Key takeaways

Overview of 5th-grade science standards traditionally covered: life science, physical science, Earth and space
10 interactive science activities aligned with 5th-grade science standards
Building critical thinking skills through real-world experiments and activities connected to 5th-grade science

Fifth-grade science standards are exciting to cover with young scientists. Helping students gain a better understanding of the world around them and build critical thinking skills is a purposeful pursuit. Active engagement, coupled with hands-on experience, fosters learning. Moving away from basic memorization toward active experience is necessary to help students feel confident in their newfound knowledge. Earth science, physical science, and life science help students understand landslides, food webs, and energy. Connecting these independent systems to human impact and reliance helps students become informed humans. After completing the 10 activities and experiments, students will have covered: chemical and physical reactions, matter, energy, ecosystems, decomposition, radiation, and more!

What are the 5th Grade Science Standards?

Every state has its own set of standards, but they share a few core concepts. State standards cover life science, physical science, and earth and space science. Always check your state standards, but the material provided below is generally covered in 5th-grade science.

Physical Science: Focus on matter, chemical reactions, and energy through hands-on experiments. Exploring kinetic and potential energy relationships connected to conduction, radiation, and convection. Building an understanding of how energy moves through matter gives students the tools to understand the physical science they see in their daily lives. Why does the cold water bottle get condensation, or why does the mug get hot when they pour in warm liquid? These are the foundations for building a curiosity for the world around them.

Life Science: Studying living organisms, the relationships within ecosystems, matter cycles, how energy flows, photosynthesis, and decomposition. Students learn about how these individual cycles are interconnected and dependent. Life science connects all living organisms and matter cycles, briefly discussing how human involvement can shape them and how vulnerable they are when a piece of the web or cycle is missing.

Earth and Space: Learning where Earth is in the solar system, how water cycles shape Earth, and the human impact. The how and why of landslides, tectonic plates, and weathering are covered. Earth science covers thermal convection in the mantle and the effects of thermal expansion and contraction on tectonic plates. These topics help students understand energy as more than a vocabulary word but as a driving force behind Earth’s natural systems.

Fifth-grade science standards are expanding students’ learning from vocabulary to complex systems that require critical thinking and curiosity. Students participate in hands-on experiments to collect data, analyze results, and draw their own conclusions. Check your state standards to ensure the material aligns with them. There are ample science education resources to utilize, saving teachers time while actively engaging students.

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10 5th Grade Science Experiments and Teaching Activities

Science activities to help students learn the 5th-grade science standards. Building an inclusive classroom is the first step towards effective teaching. Having students actively participate, engage with peers, and watch a complex concept unfold before them makes the concepts discussed in class become concrete knowledge. Visuals are necessary; using diagrams that illustrate convection, landslides, and phase changes while simultaneously depicting energy shifts gives students a point of reference.

Physical Science:

Good’ol Baking Soda and Vinegar: Chemical v.s Physical change
Prep small cups of baking soda and vinegar for each lab pair. Discuss what evidence of a chemical reaction is as a class. Ask students to mix their cups and watch for any gas, bubbles, or temperature change. Follow up by asking: Did you notice a mass change?
Mad Scientist Lab: Discover Matter by Properties
Allow students to put on their lab coats and use deductive reasoning to identify the substances in front of them. Provide mystery powders (cornstarch, baking soda, salt, and powdered sugar) and test liquids (water, vinegar, and iodine). The students record the results for each mixture and identify the powders using scientific evidence.
Energy Transfer: Convection, Conduction, or Radiation
Set up three unlabeled demonstrations of heat transfer around the room. Have one booth be ice being placed directly onto metal (conduction). To demonstrate convention, drop food coloring into water in a clear container. For radiation, have students step into the sun. Have students, in groups, go to each demonstration and write down which form of energy transfer they think it is and why.

Life Science:

Ecosystem Diagram: Energy Flow As a class, work through a food web diagram, adding colored arrows to illustrate the flow of energy from the sun to plants, then to producers, and finally to consumers. Ask them to predict what happens when a species is removed.
Grow a Plant: Learn What They Need Set up the same plant in four different environments. One plant gets sun exposure, water, and healthy soil. One gets no light but the same soil and water. One gets sun and soil, but no water. One gets sun and water, but dirt with no nutritional value. The class makes weekly predictions, tracks progress, and, after a month, writes their conclusions.
Levels of Decomposition: How Does It Work? Get four clear buckets of soil and organic material and place them in different environments (wet, dry, light, dark). After a few weeks, students collect evidence and write conclusions about which environment facilitated the fastest rate of decomposition. Ask students if they would try decomposition at home. What could be added to the soil to help organic matter decompose faster? What can be included in the compost pile, and what can not?

Earth and Space:

Types of Water on Earth
On the whiteboard, write the percentages of Earth’s water distribution, including groundwater, freshwater, and saltwater, and have them draw and label a simple bar graph that depicts the water distribution. Discuss water distribution as a class and how important fresh water is for humans and other organisms. Ask them about the importance of conserving water. Do they think they will be more mindful of their water use going forward?
Energy Movement: Landslides
Give pairs of students a bucket with damp sand piled on one side and nothing on the other, and have them take turns triggering mini landslides while discussing potential and kinetic energy. This activity presents a great opportunity to apply differentiated instruction. Students ready for an additional challenge can apply the activity’s core concepts to plate tectonics, while those who need more support can benefit from facilitated peer discussion, guiding questions, or visual models. This approach helps meet students where they are and build on their current knowledge.
Earth Movement: Shadow Tracking Experiment
Students step outside the classroom to measure the length of a shadow cast by a fixed object multiple times a day. Graphing this data and writing a conclusion on Earth’s rotation.
Slinky Waves: Earthquake Simulator
Have one student volunteer to hold the opposite end of the slinking at the front of the class. Move the slinky to generate P-waves and S-waves. Ask the students to guess which is which. Connect this lesson to potential and kinetic energy if they have been previously discussed.

Teaching 5th-grade science is a great opportunity to get kids excited about learning and to help them become aware of the systems in the world around them. Taking abstract ideas and demonstrating them through a fun, engaging experiment helps students create lasting learning. It is important to continually consider how best to support students with diverse learning needs. One of the best ways to ensure everyone is learning is to repeatedly provide content in a variety of formats. Providing hands-on tasks, definitions, visual aids, and, when necessary, additional auditory examples. Learning should be meaningful and purposeful, and connecting 5th-grade science standards to human impact makes it so. When following the approach described, you can help students learn a new 5th-grade science standard in a real-world, connected way that will serve them outside of the classroom.

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Stop the Summer Slide: 6 Engaging Resources to Keep Kids Learning

Lindsey Davis — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Summer’s here, and while the sun is blazing, so are the opportunities to keep young minds shining bright! Whether you’re a teacher sharing resources with families or a parent looking to keep the learning spark alive, we’ve rounded up six opportunities from our Corporate Partnerships that turn summer into a season of discovery!

From hammering at Home Depot to swinging into STEM with LIV Golf, these activities are brain-boosting adventures that will keep that learning spark alive throughout the summer!

Junior Fire Marshal® Training Academy

Equip students with vital fire safety and prevention skills, empowering them to protect their families. The Junior Fire Marshal® Training Academy offers K–3 students an exciting opportunity to delve into fire safety essentials and earn their Junior Fire Marshal Certificate. This program features a collection of standards-aligned classroom resources designed to make learning both fun and impactful.

Build, Learn, and Explore This Summer with Home Depot Workshops!

Home Depot’s free, hands-on Workshop Days are a fun and engaging way for kids to keep building their skills all summer long. From hammering to painting, each project sparks creativity and introduces STEM concepts in a playful, practical way. The free in-store kids’ workshops are held on the first Saturday of every month, 9:00 AM local time, while supplies last.

Plus, explore a trove of digital resources at Science Fair Central to keep the discovery going. Whether you’re crafting in-store or learning online, have kids grow, create, and learn together this summer!

LIV to Learn: Keep Minds Bright All Summer

Where curiosity meets adventure — on and off the golf course! Whether you’re exploring the wonders of science, diving into digital creativity, or unlocking new golf skills – LIV to Learn, a collaboration between LIV Golf and Discovery Education, keeps young minds active and engaged.

This program turns summer into a season of exploration with backyard experiments and virtual field trips. With resources that blend sports, STEM, and real-world learning, LIV to Learn helps students stay sharp while having fun — because learning doesn’t stop when the bell rings, it just gets more exciting!

Verizon’s Immersive Explorers: Your Summer Learning Hotspot

As we wrap up the school year, we’re excited to highlight the Immersive Explorers program, in collaboration with Verizon. This initiative uses immersive techniques, ready-to-use activities, resources, and professional development materials to create interactive and engaging learning experiences.

The program goes beyond traditional teaching methods, encouraging active participation, critical thinking, and real-world application of knowledge. It’s a great opportunity for students to experience next-generation education.

Keep Curiosity Cool with Media Literacy Bundles!

How do you determine what’s real or reliable online? With the Digital Citizenship Initiative’s new Media Literacy Bundles, you’ll empower learners to evaluate information critically and share responsibly. From fun activities like Digital Detectives to lessons like Going Viral, there’s something for every grade level.

Help create informed digital citizens today.

Virtual Field Trips: On-Demand and Perfect for Summer

Summer is a fantastic time to explore our on-demand virtual field trips for engaging and educational experiences. Whether you’re looking to dive into history, sports, science, or art, virtual field trips offer a convenient way to learn and explore from the comfort of your home.

Check out our most recent VFTs:

Meet the Magnets: A Virtual Field Trip to the NSF MagLab

Swing into STEM: A Virtual Field Trip to LIV Golf’s Team Championship

The Superpower of Story: A Virtual Field Trip to Warner Bros. Studios

Total Health with NBA and WNBA

Don’t Let the Learning Drift Away!

As the days get longer and the popsicles melt faster, remember summer is the perfect time to explore, create, and grow. These programs aren’t just a way to pass the time—they’re a passport to new skills, big ideas, and unforgettable experiences. Whether it’s building birdhouses, exploring virtual worlds, or becoming a Junior Fire Marshal, there’s something here for every curious kid. So share these resources, spark some summer joy, and keep the learning wave rolling all season long.

Lindsey Davis

Lindsey Davis partners with leading brands to bring innovative educational programs to life. As a Senior Partner Marketing Manager at Discovery Education, she blends strategy, creativity, and collaboration to amplify learning experiences in classrooms across the country.

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Shifting to Student-Centered Instruction

Rose Lattanze — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 19:30:19 +0000

The shift to student-centered instruction is well worth the effort.

Student-centered instruction and learning lead to greater rates of achievement and transferrable life skills for success in school and long after. The goal is to move beyond passive learning and help students become actively engaged through increased agency, hands-on and group experiences, and high—but completely realistic—expectations.

Benefits of Student-Centered Learning

Actively processing new material through thinking, discussing, investigating, and creating helps encode new information in student memories, forming the basis for deeper learning. Information, concepts, and skills are embedded by connecting prior learning, organizing knowledge, and creating. This also results in strengthened neural pathways which aid in future recall.

To facilitate these active processes, it’s important to step back from directing and let students take the lead. Encourage student agency through guided lessons. The bulk of the work lies in the planning stage rather than through lectures and student direction. Think ready-to-use activities and Studio Boards where students can investigate and collaborate to chase after information and demonstrate learning in creative ways. Teachers become facilitators and guides as students take ownership of their learning.

Lessons from the Science Community

We can draw from the science community when constructing lessons for student efficacy. The goal of the scientific community is to explain the world around us. And the scientific method relies on the precepts of description, prediction, explanation, and control. As students learn to take control of their learning, lessons can employ an inductive approach drawing on discovery rather than rote memorization.

Student Sensemaking

The scientific concept of sensemaking is one method worth exploring. Student sensemaking is simply deciphering how things happen and how the world works. The teacher’s job is to spark curiosity and guide students to figure things out for themselves.

As an example, a 6th grade math class is tasked with how to find the areas of parallelograms and triangles. In a teacher-centered classroom, the teacher lectures about the concepts and directs students on how to solve the equations.

In a student-centered classroom, teachers introduce an engaging activity that sparks the students’ curiosity leading them to ask questions, investigate, hold discussions, and eventually apply their knowledge. Student questions guide instruction and students are deeply involved in the learning process as they make connections across concepts.

Examples in Scientific Discourse

Students need time to make sense of the material at hand during the learning process. Rich and productive small and whole group discussions help solidify concept attainment and encourage them to think critically and creatively.

The first step is to define classroom norms for successful discourse—respect for others, participation by all, and the need to work toward a common goal are essential.

Productive discussions work best at specific stages of inquiry:

Eliciting initial questions and explanations when encountering new information.
Gathering and analyzing data and information. Guide students to accumulate data and then teach them to sift through the most relevant material.
Refining models and explanations. At this point, constructive arguments are based on evidence, which enriches students’ understanding of the concepts.

It takes time to build the skills necessary for productive student-centered discourse, but eventually, students feel confident enough to conduct their discussions without your help—which is amazing to witness!

Student-Centered Approaches Can Be Life-Changing

We all use some iteration of the scientific method daily. Trial and error inform our daily efforts, from cooking dinner to creating a budget. However, excelling in our careers requires a skill base and attention to detail that transcends our everyday experience.

Allowing students to take ownership of their learning and discover and practice life-changing methods like sensemaking and productive scientific discourse helps prepare them for success in school and careers. Companies today expect their staff to think critically, have productive discussions, investigate thoroughly, create new systems, and solve problems. And we can help our students get there.

Watch Your Students Bloom

Shifting to a student-centered classroom increases student achievement and introduces fresh, newfound energy to classroom interactions. Engaging students with the help of student sensemaking strategies and examples from scientific discourse only add to the efficacy of your efforts. There’s nothing better than watching your students bloom into self-directed, capable individuals ready to take on the world!

About the Author

Rose Lattanze is an educational consultant and writer helping educators blend technology with instructional growth. She trained in Dr. Robert Marzano’s research-based instructional strategies, serving schools and districts as they transformed from teacher-based to student-based instruction. Currently, she writes about all things education for various EdTech companies. Read more >

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Sparking Student Interest in Space

Tim Needles — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 19:23:21 +0000

Thanks to numerous events occurring this school year, it’s an exciting time for those of us that teach about space and space travel! From solar eclipses to developments in NASA’s Artemis programs, this school year offers unique opportunities to spark students’ interest in our galaxy.

Discovery Education has a wealth of resources to support educators teaching students about these events, as well as ways to add context to student learning by connecting scientific principles to space content.

Starting Your Space Exploration

Start your space lessons with the Explore Space: NASA’s Missions of Exploration Channel, where you can find fantastic resources on popular space topics. There are great introduction videos on the James Webb Telescope, the largest, most powerful, and most technologically challenging space telescope. Understanding how this technology is used can help students consider how galaxies are studied, and then they can view images captured by this amazing telescope! This channel also includes news on the Ingenuity helicopter, which is miraculously still going strong after recently completing its 59th flight in September 2023.

For younger students, you can introduce the excitement of space with fun animated segments such as Planet Cosmo and Earth to Luna! There are many ways to make your space lessons fun, exciting, and best of all, relevant! If you aren’t sure where to infuse space content into your science lessons, finding space-related events that are coming up and using these events to build context for your students can help the introduction feel meaningful.

The upcoming Artemis missions will create a ton of excitement as the four-astronaut crew was recently named and we are moving closer to the November 2024 launch date! Discovery Education has some terrific resources to share in the Moon Channel on the historic missions to the moon, such as The Apollo Project, as well as information about the moon phases from the DEmystified series, and an overview of the partnership with NASA and SpaceX in The Future of Space Travel.

The upcoming solar eclipses are other exciting space events you can connect into your lessons! An annular solar eclipse occurred on October 14, 2023, and a total solar eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024. The Solar Eclipses Channel has great resources, videos, and activities for students in grades K-12 that both describe the natural phenomenon of an eclipse.

Eclipses are unique solar events, and after the April 8 total solar eclipse, the next eclipse won’t occur over the United States until 2044! Discovery Education Experience has new resources to help students explore the wonders of this upcoming eclipse such as a video on How to Safely Watch a Total Solar Eclipse, activity to create a Pinhole Projector, and a video giving students a tour of NASA’s 2024 Solar Eclipse Map. NASA is also sharing a livestream so students can watch as the total solar eclipse moves across Mexico, the United States and Canada.

Additional Solar Eclipse Resources

Eclipse Facts Sheet

Describes how a solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth and about different types of solar eclipses, eclipse safety, and eclipse activities.

Solar Eclipse Video Playlist

Videos in both English and Spanish explaining the phenomena of the "disappearing sun" and offering context about the total solar eclipse.

NASA's 2023 and 2024 Eclipse Map

Based on observations from several NASA missions, this map details the path of the Moon’s shadow as it crosses the U.S. during the annular solar eclipse in 2023 and total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

Creating Relevant, Fun Learning Opportunities

Adding a short, creative project-based learning element to your lessons around these current events can bring some additional engagement and excitement, even for students who may not think they’re passionate about space topics. For example, you can incorporate TimePod Adventures to allow students to “visit” another planet’s surface or launch and fly a rocket in HOME: Impossible Field Trip, which can bring the space concepts of a lesson to life. The AR Adventure Kit offers fun ideas that pair with the state-of-the-art, life-size augmented reality featured in TimePod Adventures.

Gamification and animation can make any topic fun and offer students a chance to use new technology tools! By using a free tool like Animate with Audio in Adobe Express, students can research a mission, planet, moon, or other phenomena and then create their own cartoon guessing game just using audio. This is always fun because the games can be played outside of the classroom with friends, family, and future students for years to come!

Resources like these are only the start, as there are so many amazing videos, articles, interactives, and more to discover. Even virtual field trips like the Journey to the Extreme: Virtual Field Trip to Mars, which includes an interview with NASA astronauts and program executives about the Curiosity mission and the ultimate goal, a journey to Mars! Start with one space lesson around a current event and create interested students who want to blast off to further exploration!

Jean Johnson

Inspire Your Students with Firsthand Accounts of Career Journeys with NASA

Taking Steps to Stellar Careers

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Creating a “Cool” Career Studying Polar Bears

Alysa McCall — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 19:00:57 +0000

The path to a “cool” career may be covered in snow or dusted with sand, but it certainly takes hard work! Finding ways for students to explore different career paths can help them determine their next step after K-12 education—and can help them figure out if they’ll need a scarf or a swimsuit to pack for their workday.

Here to share about her journey to a cool job (so cool it’s cold) is Alysa McCall, who works with Polar Bears International. She gave the DE team a behind-the-scenes look into her career path and offers advice to students considering ways they can turn their interest in animals into a career.

Meet Alysa McCall

Director of Conservation Outreach and Staff Scientist

Alysa lives in Whitehorse, Yukon. She has a Bachelor's of Science (Hon.) in Animal Biology from Thompson Rivers University and a Masters of Science in Ecology from the University of Alberta where her thesis focused on the polar bears of western Hudson Bay. She gained hands-on experience with polar bears from multiple fall and spring field seasons in Tuktoyaktuk and Churchill and has been heavily involved in tracking Hudson Bay polar bears, as well as coexistence efforts. She also spearheads Polar Bears International's Tundra Connections webcast program. Prior to joining Polar Bears International's staff, Alysa volunteered for several years in multiple capacities, including being a panelist on the Tundra Connections program and assisting with the Polar Bear Tracker. She is passionate about science education and polar bear conservation and is dedicated to ensuring that future generations inherit a healthy planet.

The Journey to Polar Bears International

I am the Director of Conservation Outreach and Staff Scientist for Polar Bears International. Most of my current work is around polar bear conservation, with a focus on how to coexist safely with them as they spend more time on land. Working with the Arctic and polar bears is very interesting—did you know that the Arctic Sea’s ice acts as the world’s air conditioner? It helps regulate and cool climates around the world. I always feel lucky to work with such an important part of our planet!

From a very young age, I have loved animals and was fascinated by them. Growing up we had all sorts of wildlife around, and black bears were often in my yard during the summer. I knew I wanted to work with animals, but I had many different ideas for careers when I was young. I wanted to be a pony trainer and Dairy Queen cake decorator, which evolved over time to wanting to be a biologist (though I did also briefly decorate cakes for a while). I found out that being a biologist was a great way to turn my fascination with animals into a job!

I am still amazed every time I go into the field to see polar bears. I also love watching people's reaction when they see their first polar bear—it's so fun, every time!

Alysa McCall

Director of Conservation Outreach and Staff Scientist for Polar Bears International

I studied biology and ecology at my university, held a bunch of different jobs, and then decided to attend graduate school. When I was looking for a graduate school, my mentor/supervisor Karl encouraged me to apply to the polar bear lab in Edmonton. It was not on my radar before that suggestion, because I was more focused on small mammals. But I’m so glad it worked out!

During graduate school, I eventually volunteered with Polar Bears International. After I completed my thesis, PBI hired me as the first Canadian on staff!

Advice for Aspiring Scientists

If you have set your sights on a future career in science, my best advice is to get as much hands-on experience as possible.It doesn’t need to be directly related! I worked in animal care, tracked toads and mice, did insect surveys, and learned about plants along my journey to Polar Bears International. The more knowledge and experience you have, the more skills you can bring to a team, and the more confident you’ll be when you’re ready for that next big step in your career.

Additionally, a lot of work opportunities and projects are shared from people you’ve worked with in the past, so being easy and helpful to work with can go a long way. It’s important to make good impressions (like chipping in by doing dishes when you’re living with colleagues in the field) to ensure you get invited back!

The work of a scientist may not be as glamorous as a movie star, but for me it’s the most fulfilling because I get to do what I love and for the greater good!

Each day, students explore scientific concepts, historical facts, and mathematic equations—but how often do they look ahead to consider how these skills fit into their futures? Highlighting different careers in the classroom can help students connect the dots between what they think is “cool” and what could become a “cool career.” Discovery Education’s Virtual Field Trips, videos, and learning resources help make career exploration easy to implement into your existing lessons!

Bring Alysa’s work into your classroom with these engaging career-focused resources from Discovery Education

Arctic Adventures Virtual Field Trip

Career Connect Spotlight

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Science | Discovery Education

4th Grade Science Activities, Experiments & Standards

Key takeaways

Teachers provide 4th-grade science activities that connect to relevant lessons while using prediction-result tables to develop scientific thinking.

Leveraging engaging 4th-grade science activities can turn 4th-grade science standards into a hands-on investigation.

Fourth-grade science is a pivotal time, marking a shift from simple observation to scientific thinking.

What are the 4th-grade science standards?

Explore K-12 Science Resources

10 4th-Grade Science Experiments and Teaching Activities

1. Plant Investigators

2. Rock Cycle Bag

3. Wind Turbine

4. Energy Transfer Relay

5. Landscape Sculptures

6. Pollinator Match-up

7. Inheritance Traits

8. Air Resistance

9. Heat Transfer

10. Animal Adaptation Imagination Challenge

3rd Grade Science Activities, Experiments & Standards

Key takeaways

Curiosity, confidence, and observation skills are developed through 3rd-grade science activities.

Allowing students to participate in simple hands-on 3rd-grade science activities helps them understand science lessons.

Strong instruction is necessary to facilitate student understanding of patterns, comparison, and discussion.

What are the 3rd-grade science standards?

Explore K-12 Science Resources

10 3rd-Grade Science Experiments and Teaching Activities

1. Sound Sleuths

2. Animal Cover-Pp

3. Float your Boat

4. Animal Track Detectives

5. Day and Night Sort

6. Sound Travel

7. Static Balloons

8. Mini Water Cycle

9. Seed Growth

10. Cotton Clouds

2nd Grade Science Activities, Experiments & Standards

Key takeaways

Through structured, hands-on learning, second graders will learn to compare, test, and explain scientific evidence.

The 2nd-grade science standard covers material from physical, life, and Earth science.

Second-grade activities provide a structured format to help students collect data, discuss results, form predictions, and strengthen communication.

What are the 2nd-grade science standards?

10 2nd-Grade Science Experiments and Teaching Activities

1. Make a Filter

2. Motion Test

3. Insulation or Bust

4. Sound Vibration Vibes

5. Design a Habitat

6. Young Geologist

7. Simple Machines

8. Strength Test

9. Light Path

10. We All Scream for Ice Cream

Explore K-12 Science Resources

Classroom Suggestions

Kindergarten Science: Activities, Standards & Teaching Guide

Key takeaways

Teaching kindergarten science is centered around exploration, curiosity, and real-world application.

Focusing on foundational concepts in the earth, physical, and life sciences aligns with most kindergarten science standards.

Cultivating young scientists develops thinking skills and confidence in their knowledge.

What are the Kindergarten Science Standards?

Explore K-12 Science Resources

10 Kindergarten Science Experiments and Teaching Activities

1. Plant Growth Competition

2. Sink or Float

3. Five Senses

4. Weather Watch

5. Secret Shadow

6. Magnet Madness

7. Nature Search

8. Ice Race

9. Color Exploration

10. Bob the Builder

1st Grade Science: Activities, Standards & Teaching Tips

Key takeaways

Developing 1st grader curiosity into observation, comparison, and explanatory skills.

Covering 1st grade science standards, including: foundational life, observing patterns, investigation, Earth and physical science.

Interactive 1st-grade science activities to facilitate student learning and confidence building.

What are the 1st grade science standards?