iExploreScience: STEM in Elem

Nicole VanTassel
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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.

  1. 1D AGO

    05 From Crafts to Thinking: What Makes an Activity Actually "STEM"?

    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? ----- 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 olderHow 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 activitiesA 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 📰 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/

    18 min

  2. APR 20

    04 STEM Bins for Slow Morning Starts

    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 notSpecific examples of what goes in each binWhy the morning transition is hard and how bins address the real problemWhy bins work especially well for kids with ADHD — the landing pad ideaMy actual rotation system: how many bins, how often I swap them, free choice vs. assignedHow to introduce bins mid-year or in the final stretchLow-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 📰 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/

    23 min

  3. APR 20

    03 The Week After Testing: Why It Falls Apart and What To Do Instead

    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 classroomWhy orchid kids are most likely to crash after testing — and why it looks like behavior when it's actually dysregulationThe unseen ADHD characteristics that make post-test week especially hard: anxiety, working memory, emotional regulationWhy you might be crashing too — and why that's completely normalWhat types of learning actually work this week: student choice, hands-on making, community building, outdoor timeThe gazelle/shaking phenomenon — why movement literally releases stress hormones and how to use it with your classConcrete strategies: student-choice "I'm the Expert" projects, schoolyard living things assessments, getting outside, and the six-word year reflectionThe 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 📰 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/

    22 min

  4. APR 13

    02 Ideas for the Week(s) of Testing

    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 helpsbefore the test: the "I've Got This" sticky note wall, breathing practice, and  letter to future selfduring test week: STEM bins, nature journalingafter the test: open STEM free buildwhy 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 📰 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/

    25 min
  5. 01 Why I Started iExploreScience: STEM in Elem (And What's Coming)

    APR 13

    01 Why I Started iExploreScience: STEM in Elem (And What's Coming)

    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 aboutwhy I think grades 3–5 is a super important window in a child's STEM educationa brief origin story — including growing up believing I wasn't a math or science personwhat you can expect from this show: practical, hands-on, real classroom content every single weeka 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 📰 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/

    16 min

  6. TRAILER

    A Note for Longtime Listeners — What's Coming Next

    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 evolvingWhere iExploreScience: STEM in Elem is headed and who it's forAn honest acknowledgment of the start-stop history — and why this time feels differentAn invitation to stay, and permission to go if this isn't your thing 📬 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/

    9 min

  7. 08/19/2025

    Building a Classroom Community Series Part 3: The Science Classroom

    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 AgreementsCheck out Char’s resources on Teachers Pay TeachersMore 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 📰 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/

    26 min

  8. 08/11/2025

    Building a Classroom Community Series Part 2: Respect Agreements and Community Circles

    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: Episode 121: Respect AgreementsCheck out Char’s resources on Teachers Pay TeachersIn 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 📰 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/

    33 min
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Nicole VanTassel
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    145
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 © 2026 iExploreScience LLC
  • Show Website
    iExploreScience: STEM in Elem

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