Science Stations

Grade Level: 1
Suggested Order: Week 1
Suggested Time: 1 hour
Lesson Type: Final Topic (Medical Sciences and Wellness)
Overview
Students will learn about the importance of observation in science, and understanding the world around us. They will practice becoming excellent observers by finding and exploring objects.
Vocabulary
Objectives
Required Project Materials
Multimedia Resources
Optional Multimedia Resources
Before the Lesson/ Background Information
The Lesson
Part 1. Gathering Materials
  1. Start by reading The Watcher and discussing Goodall’s years of dedicated observation with the students. Discuss the context, such as the fact that people knew next to nothing about the behavior of apes in the wild prior to Goodall’s work.
  2. Show “Pond Life”. Students will learn observation skills by discussing what they saw.
  3. Work through Watching the Seasons with the students.
  4. Allow students to gather objects from school grounds for observation and study.
  5. Students should bring Nature Log Kids: A Kids’ Journal to Record Their Nature Experiences. They can draw pictures and write in the journal as they like.
Part 2. Investigations and Observations
  1. Prepare shoe boxes or other plastic bins with like items in them. Students can help decorate boxes if you prefer. Arrange these boxes to create a “Science Station.”
  2. Students will sort like items, placing them in the boxes in categories. Then they will label each box with the type of item.*
  3. Students take turns choosing one item and a magnifying glass, tape measure, or ruler.
  4. Students discuss the item they have chosen and share some characteristics with the class: rough, smooth, colorful, soft etc.
  5. Students take a piece of paper and crayon and trace the item and color their drawing. Teacher can also have prepared templates if preferred.
  6. Students return items to the correct box and complete their drawings.
  7. Take photos of the science stations and journal entries.
  8. Share the drawings and photos at the end of the week.
*The class may create boxes for each season, if appropriate, or from different types of landscapes, ocean, river, lakes, land, trees, mountains, etc.