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iExploreScience: STEM in Elem episodes
- 98 How To Teach The Crosscutting Concepts
Even though the Crosscutting Concepts are a vital part of student understanding of science, they are often forgotten in the lesson planning process. In this episode, Erin discusses how to evaluate your lessons and teach the Crosscutting Concepts.
Check out the episode recap here.
Other Episodes:- 29: How to Integrate the Crosscutting Concepts
- 64: Quick wins with the Crosscutting Concepts
Resources:
- Get Erin's FREE 3D Lesson Planner Template
- Buy Erin's Crosscutting Concept Reference Sheets and Graphic Organizers
- Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & Facebook
- Submit a Question
- Explore phenomenon-based, discovery-centered learning with iExploreScience.
- Get on the waitlist for the Spark Subscription.
📬 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/
17 min - 97 Start Your Science Unit With These Accessible Activities
When you are starting your unit, you want to make sure that your activities are very accessible for all students. In this episode, we discuss activities that don't require a lot of prior knowledge to complete. These will help lead your students into the unit in a meaningful and attainable way.
Other Resources:- Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & Facebook
- Submit a Question
- Explore phenomenon-based, discovery-centered learning with iExploreScience.
- Get on the waitlist for the Spark Subscription.
- Get on the Waitlist for the Student-Driven Investigations Course by clicking here: SadlerScience.com/investigate
📬 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 - 96 How To Start Your Phenomenon-Based Science Unit
What Should We Do (And Not Do) When Beginning A Unit? In this recording from a pop-up training the Spark Student Driven Science Learning Facebook group, Nicole shares three things she keeps in mind when beginning a phenomenon-based unit.
Related Episodes:- Episode 17: Using Student Questions to Build Storylines
- Episode 87: How to Choose Better Phenomena
- Episode 94: What To Do With Student Questions
Other Resources:- YouTube - Why Your Students Won't Ask Questions - By Nicole VanTassel
- Blog Post - Using Student Questions in Your NGSS Storyline - By Erin Sadler
- Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & Facebook
- Submit a Question
- Explore phenomenon-based, discovery-centered learning with iExploreScience.
- Get on the waitlist for the Spark Subscription.
- Get on the Waitlist for the Student-Driven Investigations Course by clicking here: SadlerScience.com/investigate
📬 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 - 95 What You Need to Know About Building Prior Knowledge in Your Science Class
As we head into this school year, we know students didn't get the same quality of schooling that they had in the past. So, what do we do about it? How important is prior knowledge in a science class? Do you need to build background knowledge for your students in order for them to be successful? In this episode, we talk all about prior knowledge and explain why you don't have to frontload information in your science units.
This episode is part of the three-episode series that discusses meeting our students where they are when they enter our classrooms this year. Here are the other episodes in the series:
Episode 96 - Coming Soon
Episode 97 - Coming Soon
Other Resources- Be Curious Community Cohort - Click here for application information.
- Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & Facebook
- Submit a Question
- Explore phenomenon-based, discovery-centered learning with iExploreScience.
- Get on the Waitlist for the Student-Driven Investigations Course by clicking here: SadlerScience.com/investigate
📬 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 - 94 What To Do With Student Questions in Science
Asking questions is one of the Science and Engineering Practices. But what is the significance of the practice? What do you do with those questions? Find out in this episode.
Read the full episode recap here.
Related Episodes:- Episode 10: How to Teach for Student Discovery
- Episode 17: Using Student Questions to Build Storylines
- Episode 87: How to Choose Better Phenomena
Other Resources:
- YouTube - Why Your Students Won't Ask Questions - By Nicole VanTassel
- Blog Post - Using Student Questions in Your NGSS Storyline - By Erin Sadler
- Be Curious Community Cohort - Click here for application information.
- Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & Facebook
- Submit a Question
- Explore phenomenon-based, discovery-centered learning with iExploreScience.
- Get on the Waitlist for the Student-Driven Investigations Course by clicking here: SadlerScience.com/investigate
- Get on the waitlist for the Spark Subscription.
📬 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/
31 min - 93 Getting More Out of the SEPs
📬 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/
24 min - 92 Building Community Support For 3D Learning
An NGSS classroom is a unique learning environment. Sometimes, this leads to confusion. So, it's important to create buy-in right away. Learn how to get parent and admin support for the major shifts that come with the NGSS.
Related episodes:- 3 Mistakes You're Making with Your NGSS Tests
- How to Teach for Student Discovery
- What to Avoid When You Head Back to School
Other resources:- Click here to grab your FREE 3D Planner.
- Click here to grab your FREE Storyline Starter and check out the Spark Subscription.
- Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & Facebook
- Submit a Question
- Explore phenomenon-based, discovery-centered learning with 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/
29 min - 91 The Importance of Building Relationships in the Science Classroom
If you have been teaching for a while you know that relationships are important in the classroom. In fact, we have talked about it over and over on the podcast. So, in this episode, we decided to dive deeper into this concept. Let's find out why it's important to build relationships, especially in the science classroom.
Other Episodes to Listen to:- How to Choose Better Phenomena
- How to Use Relationships to Support the NGSS Classroom
Other resources:
- Click here to grab your FREE Storyline Starter and check out the Spark Subscription.
- Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & Facebook
- Submit a Question
- Explore phenomenon-based, discovery-centered learning with iExploreScience.
- Get on the Waitlist for the Student-Driven Investigations Course by clicking here: SadlerScience.com/investigate
📬 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 - 90 What To Avoid When You Head Back To School
Often, the first days of school are referred to as the honeymoon period. Generally, students are on their best behavior. They are quieter and more reserved than at any other point in the school year. But, this period doesn't last long. In science, it's important to take advantage of this back-to-school period to set the tone for the year.
Other Episodes to Listen to:- 10: How to Teach for Student Discovery
- 19: How to Teach Science Vocabulary
- 36: Letting Go of the Scientific Method
Other ways to connect:
- Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & Facebook
- Submit a Question
- Explore phenomenon-based, discovery-centered learning with iExploreScience.
- Get Erin's back-to-school freebie here.
📬 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 - 89 Three Mistakes You Are Making With Your NGSS Assessments
NGSS aligned tests are very different from traditional assessments. The three-dimensional nature of the standards makes these standards challenging to assess. Are you making one of these common mistakes on your summative assessments?
If you liked this episode, you may also want to listen to:- How to Prevent Cheating on NGSS Assessments
- Using the Performance Expectations to Build Units
- Developing and Using Models for NGSS
Here are other ways to connect with us:
- Click here to grab your FREE Storyline Starter and check out the Spark Subscription.
- Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & Facebook
- Submit a Question
- Explore phenomenon-based, discovery-centered learning with iExploreScience.
- Get on the Waitlist for the Student-Driven Investigations Course by clicking here: SadlerScience.com/investigate
📬 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/
17 min
About iExploreScience: STEM in Elem
From the publisher's feed
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.