Ep 37 How to Integrate Science into your Teaching

In this episode I unpack how to easily and effectively integrate science with English Language Arts and other subjects, thereby making learning not only authentic and relatable for students but a whole lot more fun for educators too.

I break down all the important parts we need to consider when planning an integrated curriculum and give examples of how well planned and spontaneous learning experiences can add to children’s understanding of the world, and help them make connections to other learning areas and to their own lived experiences.

I unpack why we should be thinking about bringing themes back, and talk about the impact that having specialist science teachers in elementary schools has on student learning.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Design and Technologies Planning Sheet

Integrated Planning Template

Investigation Planner

Open-ended wonder questions

Inquiry and Investigation Recording and Planning sheets

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Other episodes to listen to:

Interview with Jessica Vance

Interview with Claire Warden

How to Plan for and Integrate Inquiry into your existing lessons

How to Integrate Inquiry and Nature Curiosity

Links to articles and research about specialist teaching in elementary schools:

https://www.aaspa.org/news/teacher-specialization-in-elementary-grades-hurts-student-learning

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1375106.pdf

https://www.iier.org.au/iier20/ardzejewska.pdf

https://blog.aare.edu.au/tag/specialist-teachers-in-primary-schools/

Inquiry and the specialist teacher by Kath Murdoch

Is Subject Specialisation in Elementary School Worth it?