iExploreScience: STEM in Elem

In this episode, Nicole and Erin answer the listener question, "Are there fewer labs with the NGSS?"  Like many things with the NGSS, there isn't a simple answer.   Get their take on NGSS and lab activities.    More Resources:  Grab Erin's FREE 3D Lesson Plan Template Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & Facebook Submit a Question Explore phenomenon-based, discovery-center...

If you are a teacher, chances are you've been overwhelmed by students talking at least once in your career. And, we have all had those classes that are SUPER chatty. It feels like you can't get a word in edgewise. So, what do you do about it?  In this episode, Nicole and Erin discuss what to do when your students never seem to stop talking. They explore common assumptions around student...

One of the common mistakes that teachers make with Science and Engineering Practices is that they teach students the practice at the wrong grade band level. Written as a progression from kindergarten through 12th grade, the practices become more complex as students get older. The idea is that students have the opportunity to get more proficient as time goes on, carrying out each practice at a more...

In any community, communication is key. Your classroom is a community, and establishing effective communication practices is vital to success and "smooth sailing." But communication is HARD. Whether it's expressing directions or expectations, or digging deep into feelings and advocating our needs -- communication is not easy. In this podcast, Nicole shares the 5 Point Scale strategy...

When things aren't working, sometimes you need to come back to the basics. In this episode, we look at the brain science behind student engagement (or lack thereof) in the classroom. In the midst of a global pandemic, the "stuff that gets us by" might not be effective enough to "get us by" -- so we may find value in returning to the foundations of authentic engagement and...

Nicole and Erin have learned so much in the last 100 episodes! In this episode, they recount what they have learned about 3D teaching in the last 100 episodes.  They talk about where they are now and how it is different from where they started.  They discuss their wins as well as their challenges and mistakes.    📬 Stay Connected 📰 Substack: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/ 🛍️ TpT Store: ht...

Now that you've taught your students about the Crosscutting Concepts, it's time to use them in your classroom.   The more often that students make connections to the CCCs, the more valuable that they become.  In this episode, Erin provides you with 5 easy-to-implement Crosscutting Concept examples to use in your classroom.    Click here to see the full episode recap.    Also, before list...

Even though the Crosscutting Concepts are a vital part of student understanding of science, they are often forgotten in the lesson planning process.  In this episode, Erin discusses how to evaluate your lessons and teach the Crosscutting Concepts.    Check out the episode recap here . Other Episodes:  29: How to Integrate the Crosscutting Concepts 64: Quick wins with the Crosscutting Concepts Reso...

When you are starting your unit, you want to make sure that your activities are very accessible for all students.  In this episode, we discuss activities that don't require a lot of prior knowledge to complete.  These will help lead your students into the unit in a meaningful and attainable way.    Other Resources: Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & Facebook Submit a Question Explore p...

What Should We Do (And Not Do) When Beginning A Unit? In this recording from a pop-up training the Spark Student Driven Science Learning Facebook group, Nicole shares three things she keeps in mind when beginning a phenomenon-based unit. Related Episodes: Episode 17 : Using Student Questions to Build Storylines Episode 87 : How to Choose Better Phenomena  Episode 94 :  What To Do With Student Ques...

As we head into this school year, we know students didn't get the same quality of schooling that they had in the past. So, what do we do about it? How important is prior knowledge in a science class? Do you need to build background knowledge for your students in order for them to be successful? In this episode, we talk all about prior knowledge and explain why you don't have to frontload...

Asking questions is one of the Science and Engineering Practices.  But what is the significance of the practice?  What do you do with those questions?  Find out in this episode.    Read the full episode recap here .    Related Episodes: Episode 10 :  How to Teach for Student Discovery Episode 17 : Using Student Questions to Build Storylines Episode 87 : How to Choose Better Phenomena  Other Resour...

📬 Stay Connected 📰 Substack: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/ 🛍️ TpT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/iexplorescience 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iexplorescience/ 👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iexplorescience/ 💻 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolevantassel/

An NGSS classroom is a unique learning environment. Sometimes, this leads to confusion.  So, it's important to create buy-in right away.  Learn how to get parent and admin support for the major shifts that come with the NGSS. Related episodes:  3 Mistakes You're Making with Your NGSS Tests How to Teach for Student Discovery What to Avoid When You Head Back to School Other resources:  Cli...

If you have been teaching for a while you know that relationships are important in the classroom.  In fact, we have talked about it over and over on the podcast.  So, in this episode, we decided to dive deeper into this concept.  Let's find out why it's important to build relationships, especially in the science classroom.   Other Episodes to Listen to: How to Choose Better Phenomena  Ho...

Often, the first days of school are referred to as the honeymoon period. Generally, students are on their best behavior. They are quieter and more reserved than at any other point in the school year. But, this period doesn't last long. In science, it's important to take advantage of this back-to-school period to set the tone for the year.  Other Episodes to Listen to: 10: How to Teach fo...

NGSS aligned tests are very different from traditional assessments. The three-dimensional nature of the standards makes these standards challenging to assess.  Are you making one of these common mistakes on your summative assessments? If you liked this episode, you may also want to listen to: How to Prevent Cheating on NGSS Assessments Using the Performance Expectations to Build Units Developing a...

The performance expectations are a great place to start when building your units.  But, you need to be careful that you aren't just teaching what is listed in the PEs.  In this episode, we discuss how to use the performance expectations to build bundles and units with great phenomena.  The goal is to create units that authentically connect to the phenomenon so that it doesn't feel forced...

Choosing great phenomena isn't easy.  Phenomena need to be relevant and engaging in order to meet their intended purpose.  But, what makes a great phenomenon great?  Get examples of great phenomena and learn how to find your own in this episode. To check out the full episode recap, click here .   If you enjoyed this episode, here are a few others you can check out: Episode 77 - All About Anch...

Summer is finally here!  After the exhausting year that you have had, you need as much relaxation as you can get.  If you are a science teacher who is planning to spend some time prepping this summer, here are things to focus on.  These are quick and easy things you can do that won't eat into your summer rest time. Get More Help With 3D Teaching Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & Faceb...

This week on the podcast, listen as Nicole VanTassel from iExploreScience interviews Nicole H., a high school biology teacher who has done the work getting her school and district on board with three dimensional teaching and learning. It has not been an easy journey (and if you're in the same boat, I know you're nodding along!), but Nicole has some great insight on what worked and what d...

Are you making the most of your science investigations? When Erin started teaching, she definitely wasn't.  She started by using a mostly lecture-based model for her classroom. Then, when she began to incorporate investigations she didn't consider the purpose of the investigations. Therefore, they didn't add as much value to her classes as they could have.  In this episode, Erin sha...

Are you using recipe-style science labs in your classroom? While these activities are common, they don't teach students how to plan and carry out investigations. In this episode, Erin discusses the main reasons that teachers are afraid to ditch these recipe-style labs. Then, she provides easy to implement solutions. If you are interested in learning more about student-driven investigations, g...

This week, Nicole expands on the exploration discussion from last week and discusses how you can "flip" existing lessons to add more opportunities for exploration and discovery. You don't always have to reinvent the wheel, even when you're aiming for exploration-based three-dimensional learning. Oftentimes, simple tweaks and revisions can turn a flat traditional lesson into a t...

This week, Nicole and Erin answer a listener question from Michelle in Washington.  Michelle asked, "I would love to know more about how students go through the explore phase. How do you find activities for the students? How do you progress monitor?"  She also asks, "how long is an explore phase?"  We answer these questions and more in this episode.  More Resources: Episode 6:...