8 episodes
Naturally Teaching Elementary Science Victoria Zablocki
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- Education
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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Are you an elementary teacher that wants to add more science into your teaching schedule but feel like you don’t have the time? Do you know the value of cultivating science skills in your students but feel like you don’t know the best way to incorporate them in your classroom? Then this is the perfect show for you!
Naturally Teaching Elementary Science is a podcast designed for the elementary teacher with too much on their plate but a desire to best serve their students. Each week Victoria Zablocki and her guests will cover ways to integrate science into your ELA studies, demystify scientific concepts, and share tips and trips to take learning outside.
Victoria Zablocki is a former elementary educator with 10 years of experience integrating outdoor education into science learning. You can follow her on Instagram @naturally.teaching. To get more access to great content, head to https://www.naturallyteaching.com/
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7. Animal Characteristic Breakdown: Reaching Your Curricular Goals By Teaching with Animals
Animals are inherently interesting to students, so let's take advantage of their characteristics to help you reach your curricular goals! In this episode I introduce different Next Generation Science Standards that can be enhanced by teaching animal characteristics.
I also conduct an animal characteristic breakdown where I explain what makes mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and insects similar and different from each other. I do this by touching on 6 different categories of characteristics including:
Animal coveringHow they breatheHow they have youngIf they are warm-blooded or cold-bloodedIf they are a vertebrate or an invertebrateA unique characteristic to that animal group
Tune in to learn about the unique traits of these animal groups and get inspired to teach animal characteristics in your classroom!
Resources mentioned 💚
Amphibians Vs Reptiles: How to Teach the Difference in Your Elementary ClassroomAnimal Characteristic Booklet Bundle
Topics covered: animal characteristic, animal characteristics, teaching about animals, elementary science, Next Generation Science Standards, NGSS
TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching
💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com
📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching
💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching -
6. 5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching in Nature
If you've considered teaching outside but you're worried about safety, make sure to listen to this episode. I cover 5 outdoor education safety tips to help ease your mind and get you prepared for the upcoming school year.
After 8 years of teaching outside, it all boils down to these 5 things. Listen in as we talk about:
Preparing your outdoor spaceUsing natural boundariesSetting up safety expectations and rulesInstructing your students to use the bathroom before going outsideUsing a trail bag
Resources mentioned 💚
Outdoor Education: How to Use Nature to Improve Your Science StudiesEpisode 2 - Outdoor Learning Environment: 3 Things to Plan for Back to School
Topics covered: outdoor education safety tips, outdoor education, teaching outside, outdoor classroom safety, outdoor safety, safety
TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching
💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com
📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching
💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching -
5. Science Skills for Students: 10 Picture Books for Encouraging Kid Scientists
Science skills are abstract and can be challenging for students to understand. However, picture books are a great way to make science skills more concrete because they show skills in action. They can also show the results of those skills, illustrating why they are important in science.
In this episode, I cover 10 picture books that introduce science skills for kid scientists. Skills such as questioning, observing, notebooking, and more are explored through these wonderful titles. Press play to hear about What is Science? by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Notable Notebooks: Scientists and Their Writing by Jessica Fries-Gaither, Crow Not Crow by Jane Yolen, and more.
Resources mentioned 💚
Teaching with Books: How to Integrate Science and Literacy for Elementary ClassroomsEpisode 1: 10 Science Activities for Elementary Students That Aren't Experiments
Topics in the episode: picture books, books about science, books for kid scientists, science skills, teaching science
TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching
💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com
📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching
💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching -
4. 6 Invasive Species Activities to Use in the Elementary Classroom
Providing hands-on experiences with plants while teaching science can be challenging when we want to preserve the integrity of our school yard ecosystem. But I have a hack for you...invasive species activities!
Tune in to find out why invasive species are perfect for up-close investigations, harvesting, and being the subject of fascinating research. During the episode I share an invasive species activity for each grade, K-5, that are linked to a coordinating Next Generation Science Standard and a little natural history to give the concept context.
Get inspired by some of the activities for a grade other than yours and make it work for your curricular needs; these activities are easy to adapt and could work for many different age groups!
💚 Resources mentioned:
Episode 1: 10 Science Activities for Elementary Students That Aren't Experiments
Topics in the episode: invasive species activities, invasive species, exotic species, native species, Next Generation Science Standards, biodiversity
TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching
💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com
📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching
💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching -
3. Teaching with Books: Thinking Outside the Box with Steve Frisbee
Teaching with books is a great way to make science more approachable and enjoyable for your students. But it's not just about reading books, it's about making them engaging and integrating them into your science lessons.
That's why I'm excited to have Steve Frisbee on the show today. He shares my obsession with children's books and he has a lot of experience weaving literature into his science teachings in unique, authentic, and engaging ways. Make sure to listen in on this fun conversation!
📚 Books Mentioned:
Pond Life: A Golden Guide from St. Martin's Press by George K. ReidFlower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate by Sara LevineA Nest is Noisy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia LongNoisy Bird Sing-Along by John HimmelmanNoisy Bug Sing-Along by John HimmelmanNoisy Frog Sing-Along by John HimmelmanRobyn Boid: Architect by Maree CooteAn Egg is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia LongA Rock is Lively by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia LongThe Salamander Room by Anne MazerWhere the Wild Things Are by Maurice SendakSome Smug Slug by Pamela Duncan Edwards
Topics in this episode: teaching with books, integrating science and literacy, outdoor education, picture books, reading books
TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching
💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com
📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching
💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching -
2. Outdoor Learning Environment - 3 Things to Plan for Back to School
Outdoor education has many benefits for teaching science but can seem daunting, especially when your plate as a teacher is already so full. Listen in as I break down how to set up your outdoor learning environment to make outdoor education more attainable.
We'll talk through planning your routines and expectations and how to practice them your first week of school. I'll also introduce the differences between man-made and natural outdoor learning spaces and how they can benefit your science lessons. We'll also touch on viewing nature as an outdoor lab and how it can enrich your science education.
💚 Resources Mentioned:
Outdoor Education: How to Use Nature to Improve Your Science Studies
Topics in this episode: outdoor education, outdoor learning spaces, learning outside, routines and expectations, outdoor lab
TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching
💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com
📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching
💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching