iExploreScience: STEM in Elem

Most of us were taught to think about teaching in terms of standards coverage. Hit the standard, move on. But there's a layer underneath that we don't talk about enough — and it's what actually determines whether a student can access the standards in the first place. In This Episode: the moment Nicole realized her students weren't struggling with skills — they were struggling w...

Vertical whiteboards are all the buzz in math circles -- and whether or not you subscribe to the whole BTC framework, the boards themselves? Golden!! The good news is, it works just as well in science as it does in math. In this episode, Nicole breaks down exactly how she uses vertical whiteboards in both her math and science classroom: what they are, why they work, and the specific ways she uses...

What if the most powerful thing you could do for student engagement wasn't a flashy lab or a big project — but just getting kids to ask the questions instead of you? Questioning is one of the most underused tools in upper elementary science. Not teacher questions — student questions. In this episode Nicole walks through the exact practice she uses to get students generating real, relevant sci...

Build a roller coaster for a marble. Fine. But what if the marble has to travel as slowly as possible without stopping? Now your students actually have to think . Criteria and constraints aren't fine print — they are the design of your engineering challenge. In this episode Nicole breaks down what criteria and constraints actually mean, why getting them wrong tanks the whole experience, and h...

You've seen the circle graphic. Define, design, build, test, improve. But if you're treating it as a linear checklist, you're missing what actually makes engineering work — and why iteration keeps getting cut. Real engineering isn't a straight line, and it doesn't (always) require a glue gun. In this episode Nicole breaks down the three things most teachers misunderstand a...

Mud, leaves, and praying mantises on the side of the building. The schoolyard is more alive than your students expect — and getting outside in the final weeks of school is not a reward. It's science. --- Season 1 goes out the way it should — outside. In this episode Nicole shares three low-prep outdoor activities for the final stretch of the school year, makes the case for why getting kids in...

The last few weeks of school are when even your most engaged students start mentally checking out. In this episode Nicole shares three science topics that consistently pull kids back in — space scale, invasive species, and extreme weather — with specific entry points, project ideas, and the framing that makes each one actually land. Plus a quick-start guide for each topic in this week's Subst...

The last week of school doesn't have to be survival mode. In this episode Nicole shares the end-of-year traditions she keeps coming back to — student word clouds, summer science kits, class awards that actually fit each kid, and two letter-writing activities that connect students across time. These are low-cost, low-prep, and genuinely meaningful. Stay for the freebie: a 22-idea checklist acr...

Tallest towers. Egg drops. Marble runs. These five challenges use nothing but paper, tape, and cardboard — and they're some of the most engaging engineering activities you can run in the final weeks of school. Listen in to get all five challenges with their criteria and constraints, understand why iteration is the part you can't skip, and hear why building kids' experiences with eng...

You know that feeling you get before you start a science lab or STEM challenge — excitement tinged with nervousness and maybe a little dread? You can imagine success -- kids exploring, talking, problem-solving ... and also the looming potential chaos -- supplies spilled, kids arguing, no one actually following the task? As science teachers, we want to get kids moving, discussing, exploring, engage...

Oobleck. Spaghetti towers. Vinegar and baking soda. These aren't bad activities by any means! — but most of the time they're not really driving STEM learning in your upper elementary classroom. Listen in to explore the differences between STEM play and STEM teaching, understand the value of each (because STEM play is still great play! even if it maybe doesn't belong in your 45 minut...

Morning arrival is one of the hardest transitions of the school day — and one of the most overlooked. In this episode I break down my STEM bin system: what goes in them, how often I rotate them, how kids access them, and why they work especially well for kids who struggle with transitions. I also talk about how to source bins on almost no budget, and why the end of the year is actually a great tim...

The post-test crash is one of the most misunderstood weeks of the school year — and it doesn't hit every kid the same way. In this episode Nicole introduces Dr. Thomas Boyce's dandelion and orchid framework: some kids bounce back from stress no matter what, while others are exquisitely sensitive to every disruption. Understanding which kids you have — and what their nervous systems actua...

Testing season is a lot. This episode is for the days before, during, and after the test — what to actually do with your class when the schedule is weird, the kids are anxious, and your attention is divided seventeen ways at once. I walk through my favorite low-prep strategies for each phase of testing season, talk about what works with kids who may struggle with long stretches of quiet independen...

If you've ever stood in front of a class and realized your students are afraid to be wrong — this episode is for you. Episode 1 is the introduction to iExploreScience: STEM in Elem — who I am, what I believe about upper elementary science and math, and what this show is going to be. It's also an honest conversation about why I built this, including the part where I grew up completely con...

If you've been here since Teaching Science in 3D — thank you. This short episode is for you. I'm using this space to be honest about what's changing, why it's changing, and what you can expect from this feed going forward. The short version: iExploreScience: STEM in Elem is launching this week — a podcast for grades 3–5 teachers who want hands-on, rigorous science and math in t...

In this episode, Erin continues her conversation with middle school science teacher Char Ritchie.  Char explains how she builds on the community building practices discussed in the last episode to build a science routines that contribute to a safe classroom community.  More Resources: Episode 121: Respect Agreements Check out Char’s resources on Teachers Pay Teachers More Resources: Teaching Scien...

In the second episode of our 3-part series on building classroom community and expectations, Erin shares conversations with two special guests — Bailey and her 8th grade science teacher, Char Ritchie. They reflect on their experiences with Respect Agreements (also called Community Agreements) and Community Circles — what worked, what was challenging, and how these practices shaped their classroom...

In this first episode of our 3-part series on building classroom community and expectations, Erin interviews a special guest — her daughter! Together, they reflect on the things that helped her feel seen, supported, and respected throughout middle school. From small gestures to classroom routines, this conversation offers a unique student perspective on what actually matters during those first few...

In the third episode of this "Start Small" series, Nicole shares some ways we can deepen learning by replacing *quantity* with *quality* in our science classrooms.  More isn't always better, and while it can sometimes feel counterintuitive, cutting back on the amount of work we assign can open the gateway for richer discussions, natural differentiation as opportunities to extend and...

In the second episode of this "Start Small" series, Nicole shares a few strategies to create a better THINKING science classroom -- you know, the kind where students actually NOTICE that the bird isn't giving its energy to the worm or that it just doesn't make sense for a pencil to measure 8 meters!  More Resources:  Why You Need Vertical Whiteboards In Thinking Classrooms Buil...

In the first episode of this "Start Small" series, Nicole shares three ideas to consider implementing this fall that will engage your students in three-dimensional learning in a way that builds skill through consistency and practice -- all without eating up huge chunks of class time OR creating a sense of overwhelm for you or your students. 1) Notice and Wonder Warm Up -- with ideas for...

Erin discusses her recent ADHD diagnosis. She recorded this episode in hopes that it may potentially help other people who suspect they have ADHD or who want to know more about what its like having ADHD.   In this episode:  Deciding to be assessed - 4:25 Being a kid with ADHD - 9:45  Struggles as an adult and in the classroom 22:00  Deciding on medication - 30:15 Things that have helped at work an...

Both Nicole and Erin are parents of children with ADHD. Erin was recently diagnosed as having ADHD herself.  In this episode, they share the things they've learned in the last year that they wish they would have known.   More Resources:  122 Rethinking That Class: What to Do When Classes Feel like a Challenge  111 Rethinking Your Classroom Management Plan 101- The Brain Science Behind Your St...

It's been two and a half years since we recorded our last episode. So, where have we been!?! In this episode we talk about:  What we've been up to Big changes and life updates  What this season will entail.  Support the show Connect With Erin Sadler & Nicole VanTassel Instagram: @SadlerScience // @iExploreScience Website: Sadler Science // iExploreScience 📬 Stay Connected 📰 Substac...