Teaching 3rd Graders How to Be a Scientist

Looking for a fun and meaningful way to kick off the school year? Start by teaching your 3rd graders what it really means to be a scientist!

The beginning of the school year is the perfect time to introduce students to the idea that scientists are curious, ask questions, make observations, and investigate the world around them. Before jumping into your first Science unit, spend some time building excitement about what it means to think like a scientist.

One of my favorite ways to start the year is with the book What Is a Scientist? by Barbara Lehn. This simple, engaging book is a great introduction to the many ways scientists work and the different kinds of scientists who help us learn about our world.

Start with a Anchor Chart and Read-Aloud

Begin by reading What Is a Scientist? together as a class. You can also show a video version of the book if you'd like to give students a different way to engage with the story.

As you read, pause to talk about what the scientists in the book are doing. Ask questions such as:

• What do scientists do?
• What kinds of questions do scientists ask?
• What tools might scientists use?
• Do scientists all work in the same places?
• What makes someone a scientist?

This is a great opportunity to help students understand that there isn't just one way to be a scientist!

Create a Scientist Booklet Foldable

Booklet, Matching & Anchor Charts

After reading, students can create a scientist booklet foldable with a cloze reading passage and matching on the characteristics & types of scientists.

The foldable gives students a hands-on way to organize important information about scientists and their work. Students can refer back to their booklets throughout the year.

Hands-on activities like this are especially helpful at the beginning of the year because students are learning routines while also creating something they can be proud of.

Explore Different Types of Scientists

Next, introduce students to some of the different types of scientists they may encounter throughout the year.

This is a great chance to show students that science careers are incredibly diverse. Depending on your curriculum, you might introduce scientists such as:

• Arachnologist
• Archaeologist
• Astronomer
• Audiologist
• Biologist
• Botanist
• Chemist
• Ecologist
• Entomologist
• Geologist
• Herpetologist
• Ichthyologist
• Immunologist
• Marine biologist
• Meteorologist
• Microbiologist
• Ornithologist
• Paleontologist
• Physicist
• Zoologist

Students are often surprised to discover just how many different kinds of scientists there are!

Make It a Matching Game!

Turn learning about scientists into a fun matching game.

Give students cards featuring different types of scientists and cards describing what each scientist studies or does. Students work individually, with partners, or in small groups to match the scientist with the correct description.

This activity is a fun way to reinforce vocabulary while getting students talking about Science.

You can even turn it into a quick review game later in the year!

A Great Way to Start the Year!

Starting the year with a lesson on what it means to be a scientist sets a positive tone for your entire Science classroom.

Rather than simply telling students that they will be learning Science, you're showing them that they can actually be scientists themselves!

They can ask questions.
They can make observations.
They can investigate.
They can make predictions.
They can collect evidence.
They can learn from their mistakes.

And most importantly, they can be curious about the world around them.

This simple combination of a read-aloud, a booklet foldable, and a scientist matching game is a fun and engaging way to get your 3rd graders excited about Science from day one!

 

Teaching the Nature of Science Without a Textbook

One of the things I always want my students to understand is that Science is so much more than a list of facts to memorize. Before they can dive into topics like ecosystems, forces, cells, or space, I want them to understand the foundation of Science - how scientists observe, measure, analyze data, create models, and use evidence to explain the world around them.

The problem is that textbooks often don’t spend enough time on these important skills.

Most Science textbooks include a short section about the scientific method or a few pages about graphs and measurement, but these concepts are usually introduced quickly and then students are expected to apply them throughout the year. I found myself wanting my students to have a stronger understanding of how Science works before asking them to use these skills in labs, investigations, and real-world problem solving.

That is why I created my Nature of Science Booklet Foldable Bundle.

I wanted a resource that would allow my students to slow down, explore each concept, and build a strong foundation they could refer back to all year long without needing a textbook or a collection of extra resources.

This bundle includes everything you need to introduce students to the skills scientists use every day:

• Observations
• Scientific Measurement
• Scientific Math Skills and Tools
• Graphs
• Scientific Method
• Scientific Thinking
• Scientific Models
• Scientific Laws and Theories
• Science and Society

Each topic includes an informational reading passage, comprehension questions, vocabulary practice, and a practice activity that students can add to their Science notebooks.

Another reason I love having this bundle ready to go is that it makes a great sub plan. When I am out of the classroom, I know my students can complete meaningful Science work independently without needing a textbook, extra materials, or complicated instructions for a substitute teacher.

States and Capitols Themed Crossword

Completing crossword puzzles is more than just a fun brain teaser - it's a powerful learning tool! 

Grab a pencil and dive into this crossword on the US States and capitals.

Crosswords promote critical thinking and spelling accuracy while keeping students engaged and challenged—and best of all, they make learning fun!

Click here for a ready made activity!

Dot to Dot Game

 Also called dots and dashes, dots and boxes or pigs in a pen.  This is a really old game by French mathematician Édouard Lucas.  Now it can be educational and fun.  I first saw this by Rebecca at Unbroken Bonds and adapted it for my students.  

I put descriptions in each box (rotation vs. revolution) but you could make a generic grid and use it with any worksheet.

Students take turns drawing lines.  When they complete a box, they get a point if they can answer the question.  Either rotation or revolution or a question from a worksheet.

This makes a great early finisher activity or as part of a station rotation.

Hurricane Resource

During hurricane season, it's important for students to understand more about these powerful storms and how they form. 

To help students prepare and learn, we're excited to share an anchor chart and booklet foldable that covers key facts about hurricanes including:

• Where & how hurricanes form
• Hurricane season dates 
• 3 main parts of a hurricane
• Differences between the terms: hurricane, typhoon & cyclone
• Hurricane names
• The Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale

With this resource, students can better understand hurricanes and stay informed during the hurricane season. 

Stay safe and be prepared!

• National Hurricane Center website
• The Weather Channel website
• CNN Weather website

Download the resource on hurricanes here.

Hope this helps students feel more confident and knowledgeable about hurricanes!

4 Ways to Use your Classroom Display as an Activity

I display various anchor charts around my classroom such as these Science Measurement Tools Anchor Charts.

Click image if you're looking for ready-to-use materials

Depending on the amount of time we have, students can do one of these activities: 

1. Scavenger Hunt - Divide into teams.  Give students a list of tools and ask them to write down what it measures. *Extend by having teams find the actual tools after completing the list.
• Thermometer - temperature
• Spring Scale - weight
• Balance - mass
• Graduated Cylinder - liquid volume
• Ruler - length
• Stopwatch - time
2. Interactive Lab Stations - Set up stations with measurement tools.  Students rotate through the stations using each tool to measure. 
3. Poster Project - Students choose  a measurement tool and make their own chart explaining how to properly use it. *Click here  for examples
4. Exit Ticket - Students answer a question about a measurement tool before leaving class.  Write the question on the board and have students write down their answer.
• What does a ruler measure?  length
• What Science tool would you use to measure liquid volume? graduated cylinder
• What Science tool measures how long something lasted? stopwatch
• What Science tool uses the standard units grams (g) and kilograms (kg)? balance
• What are the standard units does a thermometer use? Celsius or Kelvin (K)
• What Science tool is used to measure the amount of gravity on an object? spring scale

My students like getting out of their seats and there's not much prep for most of these activities.

Boost Science Safety in the Classroom with Tools & Equipment Anchor Charts

Looking for a way to ensure your students understand and use science tools and safety equipment properly? This resource is perfect for you! 

The Science Tools & Safety Equipment Anchor Charts provide clear, visual references for middle schoolers. The charts cover essential lab tools and safety rules, making it easier for students to follow proper procedures during experiments. 

These charts can be displayed in your classroom or used as a teaching guide to reinforce safety protocols and tool identification.

Check it out here.