iExploreScience: STEM in Elem
iExploreScience: STEM in Elem is for upper elementary teachers — especially grades 3–5 —who want to make elementary science and math more engaging, without adding more prep or overwhelm to their day. If you’re looking for practical ways to bring STEM and hands-on learning into your classroom while still meeting standards like NGSS, this podcast is for you.
Each week, you’ll get (ideally) short, (always!) actionable episodes (about 15–30 minutes) filled with classroom-tested ideas you can actually use. From simple STEM challenges and low-prep science activities to math routines, lab management, and neurodivergent-friendly strategies, everything is designed to help you keep students thinking, moving, and engaged—especially during the most challenging times of the year.
You’ll also hear honest reflections from real classroom experiences, with a focus on what works (and what doesn’t) in my 5th grade science and math classroom — no perfection required.
I’m Nicole, and I share practical, hands-on science and math ideas designed specifically for upper elementary teachers who want engaging, rigorous lessons without the overwhelm.
iExploreScience: STEM in Elem
124 Your New Favorite Places To Find Authentic Science Texts Adapted For The Classroom
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
We win any time we can incorporate literacy in science into our daily lessons and activities. One low-prep strategy that I love to use is to ask students to analyze authentic science texts… but let’s be real, those are HARD to understand. Luckily, there are several organizations who do the amazing work at adapting real science work to a student reading level.
More Resources:
- Three Easy Ways To Support NGSS-Aligned Literacy (iExploreScience)
- Text Annotation Strategy Guide: Student Key & Rubric (Free Download)
- Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & Facebook
- Explore student-driven curricula and professional development through Spark Science.
Are you looking for a quick, easy and FREE way to improve your lessons? Download Erin's 3D Lesson Planner. Then, all you have to do is write down what you are already doing in class. Then, she will send you instructions for EASY next steps. Click here to grab this FREE download.
Support your own and your students' understanding of the aspects of each Science and Engineering Practice in language you'll all understand. Visit www.iexplorescience.com/practices to grab your own set.
📬 Stay Connected
- 📰 Substack: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/
- 🛍️ TpT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/iexplorescience
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- 💻 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolevantassel/