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17 Crafting Connection and Building Trust In Your Upper Elementary Classroom03 août 202600:17:46

Most back-to-school advice says lock down routines first, then relax and get to know your students. I think that's backwards. Norms and routines don't come with consequences attached, they're just how a classroom runs, and they only hold when kids feel connected to you and to each other. Connected students take care of your supplies when you're not watching. They're kind to each other when you're not watching.

In this episode I walk through the strategies I actually use in my fifth grade classroom, why they work, and how they add up over time (tip off to Brené Brown's marble jar idea!). 

What I cover

  • why routines sit on top of relationships, not the other way around
  • 7 no-prep strategies and why they work
  • what I learned from Brené Brown's marble jar
  • why upper elementary students need this just as much as younger kids!!

Links


📬 Stay Connected


16 Why Your Students Can't Learn Until They Feel Safe20 juil. 202600:15:39

This is the first episode where we're really looking ahead to the back-to-school-season — and we're not starting with seating charts or procedures. Instead, we're digging into what's actually happening in your students' brains before they can engage with any of it.

Fun Fact: your brain's primary job is not learning. It's keeping you safe. And when a student is in threat mode — shutting down, pushing back, deflecting with humor — their brain has gone offline for learning. That's not a discipline problem. It's biology.

In this episode we get into what that actually looks like in a real classroom, why learning is inherently risky (and why NGSS science especially asks students to be vulnerable), and what two things signal safety to a nervous system that's scanning for danger.

In this episode:

  • what Zaretta Hammond's Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain opened up about why classroom community isn't just feel-good — it's foundational
  • what threat response looks like in upper elementary kids (it's not always shutting down — it's also defiance, humor, and the kid who'd rather be seen as too cool to try than risk being wrong)
  • why predictability is a neurological support, not just a management tool
  • the warm demander framework — high expectations and warmth at the same time, and why you need both

Grab this week's freebie — 5 First-Week Safety Moves — at iexplorescience.substack.com

Next week: building real relationships with upper elementary students. What it actually looks like at grades 3–5, where kids think they're too old to care.


📬 Stay Connected


15 The Reason Some Students Struggle With Science Questions (And What to Do About It)06 juil. 202600:14:13

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 with background knowledge
  • the advantage of knowing something about a topic (aka background knowledge) before standards-based classroom learning begins
  • what "bite-sized exposure" actually looks like in a packed school day — we're talking 5 to 10 minutes, not extra units!!
  • how to decide which topics to integrate
  • how to reframe this for your administrator when they ask about standard alignment


Links Mentioned:

📬 iExploreScience Substack — this week's issue includes a list of high-interest science topics with a simple classroom hook for each, ready to pull out on a free Friday: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/


📬 Stay Connected


14 Vertical Whiteboards In Science & Math29 juin 202600:27:24

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 them for everything from complex word problems to building food webs to analyzing data in real time.

In This Episode:

  • why vertical whiteboards let you see everything — who's stuck, who's off task, who's making the same mistake — all at once, without hovering
  • how the erasability of a whiteboard lowers the stakes and gets reluctant students actually participating
  • Nicole's step-by-step math problem solving sequence at the whiteboard — and how it builds habits that transfer to independent work
  • science applications for vertical whiteboards
  • how to start without spending a ton of money and without overhauling your whole classroom

If you've heard of Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl, this connects to that — but we're not doing a book review here. This is Nicole's unique strategy, evolved over four years of figuring out what actually works for her upper elementary math and science students!

📝 Want to go deeper? Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl is worth your time even if you're primarily a science teacher.

📬 Grab the Vertical Whiteboards Expectations Poster to support positive behaviors at the boards in this week's Substack post:  https://iexplorescience.substack.com/


📬 Stay Connected


13 How To Get Students Asking The Questions (Instead Of Just Answering Yours)22 juin 202600:23:31

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 science questions, why observations always come first, and the simple move that takes the whole experience to the next level.


In This Episode:

  • Why student curiosity starts to wane by upper elementary — and what we can do about it
  • The phenomenon-first sequence: observations before questions, volume before judgment
  • How to help students identify which questions are relevant without shutting down their curiosity
  • The abbreviated warm-up version you can use every single day in five minutes
  • The "call out" move: how to use student-generated questions to launch your lessons and why it builds buy-in fast


Links Mentioned:

📬 iExploreScience Substack — free weekly newsletter, resources, and the phenomenon prompt list for this episode: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/

📝 What Do You Look For When Selecting Science Phenomena?

📝 Four Ways To Actively Engage Students With Anchor Phenomena



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12 Criteria and Constraints: The Two Things That Make It Real Engineering15 juin 202600:16:13

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 how to set them intentionally before you hand out a single piece of tape.


IN THIS EPISODE:

  • What criteria and constraints actually are
  • Why a challenge that's too easy isn't fun — and how the right constraints add the right amount of struggle
  • What you lose when criteria are vague
  • How to ground your constraints in something real
  • Two questions to ask yourself before your next engineering challenge


LINKS MENTIONED:

📬 iExploreScience Substack — free weekly newsletter and resources for grades 3–5 teachers: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/






📬 Stay Connected


11 The Engineering Cycle: What It Actually Looks Like in a Real Classroom08 juin 202600:23:29

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 about the engineering design cycle, makes an honest confession about her own pollinator challenge, and gives you a clear picture of where you are as a teacher-engineer — and one thing you can do differently next year.

IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Why the engineering design cycle is non-linear from the very first step — and what we lose when we treat it like a checklist
  • Engineering doesn't have to mean building a physical thing — and why that misconception limits what we do with students
  • The most commonly skipped part of authentic engineering
  • Why iteration is where the real learning happens — and two practical ways to protect time for it even when your schedule fights you
  • Bite-sized ways to practice engineering thinking without a full build
  • A honest self-assessment: where are you as a teacher-engineer, and what's one thing worth changing next year?

LINKS MENTIONED:

📬 iExploreScience Substack — free weekly newsletter and resources for grades 3–5 teachers: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/


📬 Stay Connected


10 Take It Outside: 3 Easy Ideas for the Final Stretch01 juin 202600:17:51

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.

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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 into nature actually matters, and wraps up with a look at what's coming this summer on the podcast.


IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Three outdoor activities that work for upper elementary
  • How to run each activity on a spectrum — from totally open-ended fun to seriously academically rigorous
  • The bigger argument: is getting kids outside just end-of-year filler? (NO! And listen to find out what to say if your admin asks!)


LINKS MENTIONED:

🌿 John Muir Laws Nature Journaling — free curriculum and downloadable resources: https://johnmuirlaws.com

📬 iExploreScience Substack — free weekly newsletter and resources for grades 3–5 teachers: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/


📬 Stay Connected


09 3 Science Topics That Make Kids Forget It's June25 mai 202600:14:46

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 Substack.

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When the year is winding down and kids are coasting, you need topics that do the heavy lifting for you. In this episode Nicole walks through three science topics she keeps coming back to because they work — even in June. Space scale that makes kids go completely quiet and then explode with questions. Invasive species framed as a villain story that pulls in research, writing, and Canva. And extreme weather and natural disasters that connect science to things kids are already seeing in the news. For each topic: the entry point that hooks them, what to do from there, and how far you can take it.

IN THIS EPISODE:

  • he YouTube video that makes every class go silent within two minutes — and the space rabbit hole that follows
  • how to frame invasive species as a villain story — and why the wanted poster format works so well for upper elementary
  • tracking real weather events live and why kids develop a personal investment when they watch something unfold in real time
  • Canva as a technology integration that doesn't feel forced 
  • Kiddle — a kid-safe search engine Nicole just discovered and is now recommending
  • the invasive species project (middle grades version) available in the TpT store
  • a quick-start guide for all three topics with an entry point activity for each, free in this week's Substack


LINKS MENTIONED:

🎥 KLT Universe Size Comparison — Kids Learning Tube on YouTube: search "KLT universe size comparison"

🔍 Kiddle — kid-safe search engine: https://www.kiddle.co

🛒 Invasive Species Project (middle grades) — iExploreScience TpT store

📬 Quick-Start Topic Guide — entry point activity for each of the three topics covered, free for iExploreScience Substack subscribers: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/


📬 Stay Connected


08 How To Make Every Kid Feel Seen Before Summer18 mai 202600:15:08

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 across four categories to help you make the most of your final days.

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The last week of school is its own thing — academically winding down but emotionally still very much alive. In this episode Nicole walks through her favorite end-of-year traditions: the ones that are personal, low-cost, and actually land with kids. From a word cloud that shows students how their classmates see them, to class awards where every single kid gets recognized for something true to them, to a letter-writing tradition that connects fifth graders to their future senior-year selves — these are the ideas worth keeping in your back pocket year after year.

IN THIS EPISODE:

  • the student word cloud — how to collect words from every classmate, add your own, and give kids a snapshot of who they are in fifth grade through the eyes of the people around them
  • a summer science kit that travels home with them
  • why class awards matter more than school awards for a lot of kids — and how to make sure every student gets recognized for something specific and true to them
  • the Challenge 24 tournament and why even the kids who don't make the finals get invested
  • two letter-writing activities: letters to next year's students and letters to their future senior selves — and the school tradition that delivers them at graduation
  • a 22-idea end-of-year checklist across four categories, free for Substack subscribers


📬 Stay Connected


07 5 STEM Challenges Using Only Paper, Tape, and Cardboard11 mai 202600:21:07

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 engineering — even outside your standards — is never wasted time.

No budget. No specialty supplies. No excuses. In this episode Nicole walks through five paper, tape, and cardboard STEM challenges you can run in the next few weeks, explains what makes each one real engineering (not just a fun build), and makes the case for why end-of-year activities that fall outside your curriculum standards still matter more than you might think.

IN THIS EPISODE:

  • All five challenges — Tallest Tower, The Bridge, Marble Run, Egg Drop, and Windproof Wall — with criteria, constraints, and what kids are actually figuring out in each one
  • Why criteria and constraints are what separate a real engineering challenge from just building something
  • The one challenge you should protect extra time for — and why the iteration loop is where the real learning happens
  • Why the Egg Drop is actually a great entry point for talking about engineering in the real world (think: NASA, limited resources, and what it means when you can't just test again)
  • Why activities outside your standards still build something valuable — and how background knowledge shows up in unexpected places


📬 Stay Connected


06 How To Run a STEM Challenge Without the Chaos04 mai 202600:16:08

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, engaged... but there's also a sense of "out of our control" when we do (although the "control" is always an illusion anyway -- but that's a discussion for another day!) The thing is, the chaos never really comes from the activity itself. It comes from what wasn't established before it started. In this episode, Nicole breaks down the three classroom management foundations you need before any STEM challenge can work, plus the mistake that turns well-intentioned hands-on learning into stress for everyone.

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Running a STEM challenge without chaos isn't about finding the perfect activity — it's about what you build before the activity ever starts. In this episode, Nicole walks through the classroom management infrastructure that makes hands-on science actually work, explains why giving students more freedom than they're ready for isn't trust (it's a setup for failure), and makes the case for why written instructions are always, always an equity issue.

IN THIS EPISODE:

  • The three things that need to be established, practiced, and working in your classroom before you run a STEM challenge — and why reviewing them the day-of doesn't count
  • Why chaos in a STEM activity is almost never caused by the activity itself
  • How to calibrate the right level of student independence for your class right now (not where you wish they were)
  • Why written instructions aren't just good practice — they're an equity move for students with ADHD and working memory challenges
  • What a clear "finish line" does for both students and teachers in open-ended challenges
  • A one-page STEM Challenge Planning Template (free for Substack subscribers) that walks through all of it

LINKS MENTIONED:

📬 Free STEM Challenge Planning Template — one-page reusable planner for any challenge or lab, free for iExploreScience Substack subscribers: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/


📬 Stay Connected


05 From Crafts to Thinking: What Makes an Activity Actually "STEM"?27 avr. 202600:17:50

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 minute science block!), and dig into where each does belong! Stay till the end for the simple self-check to determine, is this STEM play or STEM instruction?

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STEM play is great — but it belongs in morning bins and Friday afternoons, not your dedicated science block. In this episode Nicole explains exactly what makes an activity real STEM instruction vs. fun exploratory play, walks through three classic "Pinterest STEM" activities and shows what it looks like to transform each one, and shares a personal story about why she didn't feel the connection between science and society until college — and why she doesn't want that for her students.


IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Why STEM play is valuable — just not during your 45-minute science block on a Tuesday!
  • What actually makes something real STEM instruction and why this distinction matters more as kids get older
  • How you can turn three classic STEM play activities (oobleck, spaghetti marshmallow towers, and baking soda volcanoes) into actual STEM learning (let's talk practices + content!) 
  • A four-part self-check for crafting more rigorous and authentic STEM learning activities
  • A confession: when Nicole says "STEM" she mostly means science and engineering — math and technology are woven in but not the primary focus in this context (whoops!)


LINKS MENTIONED:

📬 iExploreScience Substack — free weekly newsletter and resources for grades 3–5 teachers: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/





📬 Stay Connected


04 STEM Bins for Slow Morning Starts20 avr. 202600:23:01

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 time to start.


IN THIS EPISODE:

  • What STEM bins actually are — and what they're not
  • Specific examples of what goes in each bin
  • Why the morning transition is hard and how bins address the real problem
  • Why bins work especially well for kids with ADHD — the landing pad idea
  • My actual rotation system: how many bins, how often I swap them, free choice vs. assigned
  • How to introduce bins mid-year or in the final stretch
  • Low-cost and no-cost sourcing — Dollar Tree, Target, parents, things you already have


LINKS MENTIONED:

📬 iExploreScience Substack — free weekly newsletter and resources for grades 3–5 teachers: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/


📬 Stay Connected


03 The Week After Testing: Why It Falls Apart and What To Do Instead20 avr. 202600:22:00

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 actually need after weeks of testing pressure — changes how you approach the whole week. Plus: the crash is real for teachers too, and that's worth saying out loud!!

In This Episode

  • The dandelion and orchid framework — why testing hits kids so differently and what it means for your classroom
  • Why orchid kids are most likely to crash after testing — and why it looks like behavior when it's actually dysregulation
  • The unseen ADHD characteristics that make post-test week especially hard: anxiety, working memory, emotional regulation
  • Why you might be crashing too — and why that's completely normal
  • What types of learning actually work this week: student choice, hands-on making, community building, outdoor time
  • The gazelle/shaking phenomenon — why movement literally releases stress hormones and how to use it with your class
  • Concrete strategies: student-choice "I'm the Expert" projects, schoolyard living things assessments, getting outside, and the six-word year reflection
  • The reframe: this isn't a throwaway week — it's a rare window, and kids who feel seen in it come back stronger


FREE DOWNLOAD — Testing Week Activity Menu: A one-page printable with every idea from this episode plus more — organized by phase, with a time estimate and materials list for each one. Free for Substack subscribers. 👉 Subscribe and download here: https://substack.com/@iexplorescience 


LINKS MENTIONED:

📬 iExploreScience Substack — free weekly newsletter and resources for grades 3–5 teachers: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/

📰 NPR Article -- Dandelion & Orchids


📬 Stay Connected


02 Ideas for the Week(s) of Testing13 avr. 202600:25:21

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 independent work (aka standardized tests 😂), and share the thinking behind why the community stuff matters just as much as the academic stuff in these weeks.


IN THIS EPISODE:

  • why testing week is harder to manage than people admit — and what actually helps
  • before the test: the "I've Got This" sticky note wall, breathing practice, and  letter to future self
  • during test week: STEM bins, nature journaling
  • after the test: open STEM free build
  • why the community stuff isn't fluff — it's the foundation


FREE DOWNLOAD — Testing Week Activity Menu: A one-page printable with every idea from this episode plus more — organized by phase, with a time estimate and materials list for each one. Free for Substack subscribers. 👉 Subscribe and download here: [your Substack URL]


LINKS MENTIONED:

📬 iExploreScience Substack — free weekly newsletter and resources for grades 3–5 teachers: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/

🎧 Teaching Science In 3D: Bringing Nature Journals Into Your 3D Teaching



📬 Stay Connected


01 Why I Started iExploreScience: STEM in Elem (And What's Coming)13 avr. 202600:15:30

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 convinced I was not a science or math person.

If you're a grades 3–5 teacher who wants more hands-on science and math in your classroom without the overwhelm — you're in exactly the right place.


IN THIS EPISODE:

  • the classroom moment that stopped me mid-sentence — and what a ten-year-old said that I'm still thinking about
  • why I think grades 3–5 is a super important window in a child's STEM education
  • a brief origin story — including growing up believing I wasn't a math or science person
  • what you can expect from this show: practical, hands-on, real classroom content every single week
  • a quick look at what's coming this season — testing week, STEM challenges, end of year, and more


LINKS MENTIONED:

📬 Subscribe to the free weekly Substack newsletter — resources, freebies, and the written companion to every episode: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/

📦 Browse the iExploreScience TpT store — NGSS-aligned, hands-on science and math units for grades 3–5: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/iexplorescience

🆓 Download your free STEM Starter Kit — my go-to supply list, next-level tools, and two activities you can run this week: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/


📬 Stay Connected


A Note for Longtime Listeners — What's Coming Next10 avr. 202600:09:28

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 their classrooms without the overwhelm.

If that's not your grade band, I get it — and I say as much in this episode. But if you're curious, or if you know upper elementary teachers who could use this, I'd love for you to stay.

New episodes start this week. Episode 1 drops Monday, April 13.

IN THIS EPISODE:

  • What Teaching Science in 3D meant to me and why it's evolving
  • Where iExploreScience: STEM in Elem is headed and who it's for
  • An honest acknowledgment of the start-stop history — and why this time feels different
  • An invitation to stay, and permission to go if this isn't your thing


📬 Stay Connected


Building a Classroom Community Series Part 3: The Science Classroom 19 août 202500:26:16

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:

More Resources:
Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & Facebook

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. She’ll send you instructions for EASY next steps. Click here to grab this FREE download.

You're invited to check out Bring Wonder Back, an on-demand video series designed to help you take your first steps to transforming your students into scientists with 3D teaching practices — what the NGSS is all about! Access the video series at iexplorescience.com/wonder and get ready to bring wonder, engagement, and a love for learning back to your science class.



📬 Stay Connected


Building a Classroom Community Series Part 2: Respect Agreements and Community Circles11 août 202500:33:06

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 community. From both the student and teacher perspective, this episode offers practical insight into building mutual respect and trust in the science classroom.

More Resources:

In the final episode of the series, we’ll share strategies for putting these ideas into action in your own classroom.

More Resources:
Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & Facebook

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. She’ll send you instructions for EASY next steps. Click here to grab this FREE download.

You're invited to check out Bring Wonder Back, an on-demand video series designed to help you take your first steps to transforming your students into scientists with 3D teaching practices — what the NGSS is all about! Access the video series at iexplorescience.com/wonder and get ready to bring wonder, engagement, and a love for learning back to your science class.

Support the show

Connect With Erin Sadler & Nicole VanTassel
Instagram: @SadlerScience // @iExploreScience
Website: Sadler Science // iExploreScience


📬 Stay Connected


Building Classroom Community Series Part 1: Interview with Erin's Daughter04 août 202500:31:33

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 weeks of school.

In the next episode, we’ll dive into Respect Agreements (aka Community Agreements) from her point of view and from the perspective of her 8th grade science teacher.

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. She’ll send you instructions for EASY next steps. Click here to grab this FREE download.

You're invited to check out Bring Wonder Back, an on-demand video series designed to help you take your first steps to transforming your students into scientists with 3D teaching practices — what the NGSS is all about! Access the video series at iexplorescience.com/wonder and get ready to bring wonder, engagement, and a love for learning back to your science class.

Support the show

Connect With Erin Sadler & Nicole VanTassel
Instagram: @SadlerScience // @iExploreScience
Website: Sadler Science // iExploreScience


📬 Stay Connected


"Start Small" Series: Deepen Learning By Reducing Tasks28 juil. 202500:12:57

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 reteach emerge, and better student learning. Let's invite our students to move away from the "I just need to get it done" mentality to focus on the actual content and skills they are learning!


More Resources: 


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. 

You're invited to check out Bring Wonder Back, an on-demand video series designed to help you take your first steps to transforming your students into scientists with 3D teaching practices — what the NGSS is all about! Access this video series at iexplorescience.com/wonder and get ready to bring wonder, engagement, and a love for learning back to your science class.


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"Start Small" Series: Quick Strategies To Get Your Students *Thinking*21 juil. 202500:14:38

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: 


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. 

You're invited to check out Bring Wonder Back, an on-demand video series designed to help you take your first steps to transforming your students into scientists with 3D teaching practices — what the NGSS is all about! Access this video series at iexplorescience.com/wonder and get ready to bring wonder, engagement, and a love for learning back to your science class.


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"Start Small" Series: Building Simple Routines With 3D Practices14 juil. 202500:28:14

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 extensions that deepen learning and connect to your content!

Relevant Links


2) What's Going On In This Graph?

Relevant Links:


3) Crosscutting Concepts Interactive Bulletin Board

Relevant Links:

  • Crazy Science Lady (Side Note: I hope she has found more value in the NGSS since writing this post, but either way, I love her idea!)


More Resources: 

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. 

You're invited to check out Bring Wonder Back, an on-demand video series designed to help you take your first steps to transforming your students into scientists with 3D teaching practices — what the NGSS is all about! Access this video series at iexplorescience.com/wonder and get ready to bring wonder, engagement, and a love for learning back to your science class.

Support The Show


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Erin's ADHD Diagnosis 07 juil. 202500:48:09

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 and home 34:40 

Recommendations: 

Other episodes:

You're invited to check out Bring Wonder Back, an on-demand video series designed to help you take your first steps to transforming your students into scientists with 3D teaching practices — what the NGSS is all about! Access this video series at iexplorescience.com/wonder and get ready to bring wonder, engagement, and a love for learning back to your science class.

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 the show

Connect With Erin Sadler & Nicole VanTassel
Instagram: @SadlerScience // @iExploreScience
Website: Sadler Science // iExploreScience


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5 Things We Want Teachers to Know About ADHD 30 juin 202500:41:01

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: 

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Where have we been for the last two years?!? 30 juin 202500:27:39

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


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129 Three Commitments I Made (And Mostly Kept) This Fall19 déc. 202200:37:58

In this episode, Nicole shared three commitments she made in her classroom as she transitioned back into the classroom this fall -- as well as strategies that she utilized to keep those commitments. 

  1. "I’m not working [much] outside contract hours."
  2. "I’m not rushing through my curriculum to get it covered."
  3. "I’m not relying on grades as motivation."

She also shared a life update as she takes on a new role in her school and what's ahead for Erin, Nicole, and the Teaching Science In 3D Podcast in 2023.

More Resources: 


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128 It's A Tool, Not A Fix12 déc. 202200:15:02

In this episode, Nicole shares an aha moment she recently experienced as she was prompted to reflect on her thinking about the strategies and approaches she utilizes in her classroom. So often we seek out the "one right way" to do something, hoping it to be a "fix" for whatever challenge we are experiencing in the classroom. But the reality is, all of our strategies, approaches, materials, tricks... they're all just *tools* -- not fixes. Explore this idea more in this thought-provoking episode.

More Resources: 

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. 

You're invited to check out Bring Wonder Back, an on-demand video series designed to help you take your first steps to transforming your students into scientists with 3D teaching practices — what the NGSS is all about! Access this video series at iexplorescience.com/wonder and get ready to bring wonder, engagement, and a love for learning back to your science class.


📬 Stay Connected


127 Establishing An Anchor Phenomenon Routine05 déc. 202200:29:56

The anchor phenomenon routine plays an important role in science classes as students develop their abilities to figure out the questions they need to answer to meet their learning goals. In a perfect world, students work through an anchor experience, ask exactly the right questions, and all together identify and decide the most important question to investigate first... but we know these things don’t always (ever?) happen. So how can we get our students where they need to be? An anchor phenomenon routine builds student skills while navigating the learning forward. In this episode, Nicole shares her process to provide an example of what your anchor phenomenon routine might look like.


More Resources: 

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. 

You're invited to check out Bring Wonder Back, an on-demand video series designed to help you take your first steps to transforming your students into scientists with 3D teaching practices — what the NGSS is all about! Access this video series at iexplorescience.com/wonder and get ready to bring wonder, engagement, and a love for learning back to your science class.

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. 


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126 From Whole Group To Small Group Learning28 nov. 202200:32:08

In this episode, Nicole (iExploreScience) shares a few ideas for moving from whole-group instruction to stations-style, small-group learning. Small group activities create the opportunity to work with students individually, scaffolding and extending learning as needed. Because you can interact on a more personal level, it's a great way to meet students' needs academically while also strengthening student-teacher relationships. Moreover, small group learning keeps all students actively engaged (versus more passive whole-group approaches), reduces "chatter challenges," and as Nicole explains, just makes teaching-life so much easier in the process. This episode introduces several types of activities that work well with the small-group instruction format, as well as some tips and tricks on structure and timing.

More Resources: 

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. 

You're invited to check out Bring Wonder Back, an on-demand video series designed to help you take your first steps to transforming your students into scientists with 3D teaching practices — what the NGSS is all about! Access this video series at iexplorescience.com/wonder and get ready to bring wonder, engagement, and a love for learning back to your science class.


📬 Stay Connected


125 A Bell Ringer Approach To Start Class Smoothly21 nov. 202200:18:19

What is your start-of-class routine? Is it working? In this episode, Nicole shares her bell-ringer routine -- a transition time that can make-or-break a smooth class experience. She digs into the actual structure of her routine, how she holds students accountable for the tasks, and how she integrates curiosity-building, student-empowering, three-dimensional activities into those first few minutes of class.

More Resources: 

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. 


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124 Your New Favorite Places To Find Authentic Science Texts Adapted For The Classroom14 nov. 202200:23:53

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: 

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.


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123 Teaching Text Annotations - Your New Favorite Literacy Strategy07 nov. 202200:24:41

In this episode, Nicole shares how she teaches students to annotate texts, a strategy they can pair with any reading task in the science classroom. Text annotations increase student engagement and comprehension when working with science texts, and they provide the educator a better peek into student understanding of text-based tasks. Plus, text annotations make for a simple, low-prep substitute plan. But of course, you have to teach students the art of annotating texts, and in this episode, you'll get Nicole's step-by-step strategy to build student competence in this life-long learning skill.

More Resources: 

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.


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122 Rethinking THAT Class - What To Do When Classes Feel Like A Challenge31 oct. 202200:35:13
In this episode, Nicole shares her personal reflections on the "labels" we may (inadvertently) assign to classes and how that can impact our relationships, classroom culture, and teaching practice. She shares how this label developed with student block in her own classroom and what she is doing to "rethink and reset" her experiences with this group of students in order to bring more joy and ease back into their work of learning.

More Resources: 

Are you looking for a quick, easy and FREE way to improve your lessons?  Download Erin's 3D Lesson Planner. https://sadlerscience.com/3dplanner 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.




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121 Establishing A Positive Classroom Culture With Respect Agreements03 oct. 202200:24:07

In this episode, Nicole (iExploreScience) shares how she has used respect agreements to establish a positive classroom culture and prevent (and address) behavior challenges within her classroom.

What are respect agreements? In short, respect agreements are an effective classroom management strategy that create a stronger community culture than top-down rules and consequences. Through the agreement development process, all students are given a voice in the establishment of our classroom norms and are therefore held more easily accountable to adhering to them.

More Resources: 


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120 Informal Writing In Science Class29 août 202200:24:58

Incorporating informal writing opportunities in your classroom can improve student understanding of the scientific content while building student confidence in their ability to communicate in writing.  This episode explores some ways to support student writing and some quick and easy task formats to bring more writing into your science classroom.

Additional Resources


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119 The Best Strategies For Teaching Science Vocab22 août 202200:32:43

Way back in episode 19, Nicole discussed why you shouldn't front-load science vocabulary.    This is one of our most popular episodes.  So,  we decided to bring you more practical strategies and activities for teaching Science Vocabulary.  If you haven't already, check out episode 19 first.  


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118 Bringing Nature Journals Into Your 3D Teaching15 août 202200:44:53

In this episode, Nicole VanTassel of iExploreScience interviews Sarah Suloff, a life science/biology teacher with a passion for and expertise in using nature journaling in the classroom. She shares why you may want to consider bringing nature journaling into your classes, her experience doing so, and some practical tips and tricks to get started.

If you would like to follow up with Sarah, you can find her at https://www.instagram.com/sarah.lynn.science/ --- and please share your experiences with nature journaling with us, whether you're a veteran or just giving it a go! <3

Other Resources


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117 How to Improve Observation Skills in Your Science Classes08 août 202200:34:20

Have you noticed your students' observation skills aren't what you'd like them to be?  You aren't alone.  In this episode, we answer a listener's question about how to improve students' observation skills.  This episode s full of easy-to-implement ideas for the first few weeks of school.

Click here to read the episode recap.

Other Episodes to Check Out 

Other Resources


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116 Why You Shouldn't Teach An Intro Unit01 août 202200:23:43

Let's talk about those back to school activities. Despite the many shifts we've seen teachers making in their classroom, we've seen several teachers continuing to use old practices. Even if they've ditched the scientific method, many teachers are still teaching an intro to science unit. In this episode, Erin discusses some of the reasons why you should skip this intro unit. Instead, teach skills in context.

Check out the full episode recap here.  

Other resources: 


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115 How Can You Use Science Notebooks And Interactive Notebooking?25 juil. 202200:24:40

This episode comes from a listener's question about science notebooks. Lindsay from New Mexico asked the following question. 

"I would love to learn more about incorporating interactive notebooks into the NGSS classroom. Do you follow [the] left/right side [structure]? How do you grade them? Do you use them as a lab notebook as well?"

This is a simple question with lots of parts. So, we'll answer. them one at a time.   Click here for the episode recap. 

Other Episodes to Listen to


Other Resources 


If you are just starting your journey with the NGSS and are looking for a clearer picture on what it looks like in the classroom and means for your instruction, check out the Bring Wonder Back Workshop.   This is a FREE workshop series designed to get you started.   Visit iexplorescience.com/wonder for details.   

 



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114 What To Do When Your Science Curriculum Isn't Built for 3D18 juil. 202200:24:28

Your district adopted a science curriculum. You hoped it would be well aligned with the NGSS. But, after reviewing it, you realized it wasn't built for 3D learning. You aren't alone. 

This week we answer this question from Kim in California. The name of the publisher she mention has been removed because we believe the problems she is discussing are not unique to this particular publisher. 

Kim says "I am a 7th and 8th-grade science teacher. Our district adopted [an integrated curriculum]. As a team, we don't love the program. The spiral organization doesn't really make sense and the SEPs and CCCs don't seem smoothly integrated. Do you have suggestions on how to adapt or utilize [this curriculum] specifically or adopted curricula in general? Thanks!"

Check out the full episode recap here.

Once you've listened, here is an episode for each of the things you can choose to work on:

Other Resources:




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113 Incorporating Student-Centered Science Stations11 juil. 202200:30:33

While traditional classrooms put teachers as tellers front and center, transitioning to the Next Generation Science Standards and a more student-driven approach to science instruction understandably moves the work of students to the main stage. Incorporating science stations is one way to create a classroom that values and emphasizes active learning, shifts ownership and responsibility for student work where it belongs (to your students!), and creates an environment where teachers can more easily meet the needs of individual students and small groups.

In this episode, Nicole VanTassel of iExploreScience shares how she sets up science stations to shift ownership of learning to her students and create more ease and flow for herself in the classroom. Beyond the logistics of implementing stations, she shares some thoughts on the types of activities - from phenomenon-focused questioning and exploration to explain-style tasks and formative assessment - that work great as science stations.

Other Resources 


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112 What's The Difference Between Evidence And Reasoning?04 juil. 202200:19:18

The CER is a framework that was created to help students with the practice of engaging in an argument using evidence. It helps them understand the difference between parts of an argument. However, it is often confusing for them to distinguish between evidence and reasoning. 

We received this question from Ben in Michigan. "The difference between evidence and reasoning gets very blurry. I don't understand the difference." Don't worry Ben! We are here to help. 

In this episode, Erin explains the difference and gives you tips for using the CER Framework in your classroom.

To view the full episode recap, click here.

Other Resources 


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111 Rethinking Your Classroom Management Plan26 juin 202200:33:30

Most often, we think of the back-to-school time as the best time to rethink your classroom management plan. However, it's never a bad time to rethink your strategy in the classroom. 

Arguably, this school year was the most difficult one for teachers. If you struggled with classroom management, you weren't alone. In this episode, we discuss what traditional strategies to keep. Then, we let you know which strategies are better left in the past.

To read the full episode recap, click here.

Other Episodes to Listen to

Other Resources 


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110 How to Start Teaching Science in 3D - 2 Simple Strategies20 juin 202200:31:13

Teaching science in a three-dimensional learning environment often feels overwhelming. Many teachers ask us where to start. Here's our answer: It depends.

Each teaching situation is unique. There are differences in time constraints, demographics, resources and so much more. Therefore, your strategy for approaching 3D teaching and learning also needs to be unique. 

In this episode, Nicole and Erin discuss two main strategies for getting started.  And, they list several episodes that you can listen to once you've decided which approach to use.   To get a full list of episodes that accompany this episode, check out the FULL Episode recap here.   

View Erin and Nicole's resources on their blogs: 


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Spring 2022 Update - What's Happening Next?18 avr. 202200:02:00

Wonder where we have been?  Listen to this quick update to find out about the next episode of the podcast.   

We would love to answer your questions on the podcast.   Please submit them at teachingsciencein3d.com/quesitons.  


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109 Resetting Your Classroom Culture After Break20 déc. 202100:19:23

In this episode, Nicole and Erin help you craft a game plan for returning after a break -- from actually taking a rest to making the transition back to teaching in a way that sets you and your students up for success.

More Resources: 


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108 How Your Students CAN Do This! 13 déc. 202100:17:37

What do you do when you feel like your students can't do something? In this episode, Nicole and Erin discuss steps that you can take to move your students forward when they are struggling.   

More Resources: 


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