We’ve All Been There

Some standards just don’t sparkle—until you make them! Students who are enjoying themselves are far more likely to learn and remember what you’re teaching. Here are some tips on how to make science lessons fun!

I think different standards and interesting to different people. For some people, earth science (the rock cycle) is dull, but other people love the rock cycle. I was bored with relative and absolute dating until I figured out how to make it fun, and now it’s a perennial favorite with my students. Physical properties of matter are another often complained about standard, but the right activities can make it fun. In other words, it’s not the content that’s boring, it’s the activities your students are completing to learn to the content.

I’m not pretending that my students would prefer to be in science class rather than playing video games or hanging with their friends. Believe me, it’s not a confetti and balloon party every day. I’m just suggesting that teachers have the power to select activities that make kids say, “This isn’t so bad.” And maybe, if you can engage them, they’ll be more likely to learn and remember the content.

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#1 – Why it matters

While making the concepts relevant won’t be “fun,” it does help engage your students. When students understand how today’s lesson is important to their lives or to the bigger picture, they’re more likely to pay attention.

What does this look like? When you’re introducing a lesson, start with a bellringer that introduces a phenomenon or a problem students must solve – “What shape is a flame in zero gravity?” or “Count how many times you can fold this paper.” Ask them a question to connect with real life – “Have you ever been stung by a bee?” or “Did you watch the news report about the earthquake last week?”

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#2 – Add Mystery

Curious students are active and engaged students. Try puzzles or mysteries that students must solve. While they’re solving the mystery, they’ll uncover clues that will help them understand a larger concept.

What does this look like? Case studies of environmental disasters can lead to deep understanding of acid rain or climate change. Mini crime scenes can be used for many concepts such as blood typing (whodunit?), physical properties (what is the mystery powder?), Use inquiry-based setups or phenomena to introduce the topic. invasive species (what caused the collapse of the ecosystem?), extrapolation of data (when did the ice cube start melting?), seismic waves (where did the earthquake start?), geologic time (did humans live at the same time as dinosaurs?).

Another great way to add mystery is by creating an escape room.  Using Breakout or escape rooms in the classroom, students are immediately curious  and they use problem-solving skills as they make mistakes but keep trying.

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#3 – Add movement.

Any time students can get up out of their seats and move around the classroom makes it more fun for them. Not only do they get a change of scenery, they get some oxygen in their brains and a small brain break.

Try a scavenger hunt around the room. Hang clues around the room and have students solve riddles using the clues.

Try a gallery walk with images or graphs around the room that students need to use to solve a puzzle.

Try stations. As students travel around the room, they engage with different activities or texts to learn about a topic.

Play charades by having students act out vocabulary terms for a quick brain break.

Play 4 corners. Label each of the corners of your classroom with the letters A through D and then ask a multiple choice question, asking students to move to the correct corner.

Allow students to walk and talk instead of think-pair-share. Pair them up and let them walk around the room explaining a concept to each other.

#4 – Make it a game.

A little friendly competition boosts buy in. Gamify vocabulary with Bingo, Kahoot, or Taboo. Modify board games from home by using science concepts to take a turn instead of rolling dice.

I use prizes like inexpensive tokens – lollipops or fancy pencils, but free prizes like “choose your own seat for a day” work just as well. Even better, let students “level up” in mastery with a badge or tracker system.

Why does this work? Activities that are appropriately challenging without being too difficult are more engaging for students in much the same way that playing slot machines is engaging – you’re never quite sure if this time is going to get you the prize.

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#5 – Integrate Art or Storytelling

Creating something not only helps make science lessons fun, it also helps concepts “stick” with students. Have students create comics, songs, or posters about a concept.

Some examples: “Write a diary entry from the point of view of a water molecule in the water cycle.” I had great success with an activity in which students used climate change graphs to illustrate a climate change concept. Students also had a great time making green screen videos to demonstrate their understanding of the nitrogen , carbon , and water cycles.

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#6 – Borrow a Theme

When in Doubt, Add a Costume or Holiday. This makes it feel like a party even though it’s just science class.

What does this look like? To teach dichotomous keys last year, (and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jaws), I played the Jaws theme and flew a helium filled shark balloon around the classroom. For Halloween, we learned to graph zombie populations and practiced the scientific method by trying to create a recipe for fake blood. At Thanksgiving, we created menus using all of the states of matter.

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The Content Isn’t Boring—It Just Needs a Spark

You don’t have to overhaul everything to make science lessons fun —just tweak the delivery. For middle schoolers (and probably for all humans), joy translates into memory. The more fun it is, the more it sticks.

Download this lesson plan organizer to help you brainstorm ways to kick it up a notch!