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
09 3 Science Topics That Make Kids Forget It's June
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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
- 📰 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/