Science Penguin Blog — Page 2 of 16

CER (Claim Evidence Reasoning) in 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Science

CER stands for claim, evidence, and reasoning. It is a scaffolded way for students to prove their understanding of scientific concepts in a written format.

End of the Year Teacher Hacks for 4th Grade & 5th Grade

1. Plan an engaging project that takes time to work on. I know how BUSY the end of the year is with paperwork, cleaning out

How to Teach Food Chains for 2nd and 3rd Grade

Let’s take a look at teaching 2nd grade and 3rd grade about food chains. Food chains aren’t just about ”who eats who.” They are about

Countdown to 5th Grade Science STAAR 2026

The countdown to 5th Grade Science STAAR is upon us! Don’t let this be a stressful season; The Science Penguin is here to help! We’ve

5th Grade Science STAAR: 3 Tips to Master Short Constructed Response (SCR)

STAAR testing…the phrase that makes most teachers groan, right? We’ve all got opinions on standardized testing, but the reality is that we need to prepare

Teaching Kids About the 2024 Solar Eclipse

Let’s take a look at 6 ideas teachers can use to teach students about the 2024 solar eclipse. What is a Solar Eclipse? A solar

Digital Science Vocabulary Lessons in Google Forms– You’ll love this!

Science is a vast and complex subject, and it can be difficult for students to learn all the associated vocabulary. The digital vocabulary line that

Opposites Attract! 5 Engaging Ways to Teach Magnetism in 3rd Grade

Magnets are so useful. Whether on our fridge, holding up papers on our whiteboard, or in our preschool playrooms, our students are interacting with magnets

8 Best Investigations for Conservation of Matter

My students are only allowed to drink water in our classroom. Over the years, I have had parents ask if they could have powdered flavors

Animal Senses and Information Processing for 4th Grade NGSS

Animals and Their Senses: 4th Grade NGSS Models for Information Processing

We begin this unit by watching a Phenomenon video that asks the question “How do animals receive, process, and respond to information from their senses?”.