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
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| Booklet, Matching & Anchor Charts |
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!
