Do you struggle to get to science every day? Do you find your students needing more support to master science content and vocabulary? One way I love to tackle science concepts is through read alouds. There are so many beautifully illustrated and well-written nonfiction and fiction books out there to help teach our students many topics in science. Let’s dig into using science read alouds.
Science read alouds are a fantastic way to integrate science into your day. They build background knowledge for your students before you introduce a new topic. They can also provide visual support for your ELL students to be more successful. Science read alouds can easily engage students and begin the conversations they will have with new vocabulary.
Have you ever gotten to the end of the day and only had a few minutes left for science? If you integrated science into a read aloud that morning, you already have a head start on your science lesson. This leaves more time for science in your day!
If not, you can squeeze in a read aloud on that topic so you get something in for the day. By finding meaningful ways to integrate science and reading, you can double up on your teaching standards to make more room for science in your day!
First, make sure to read it ahead of time just like you do for regular interactive read alouds. Sometimes the titles sound like it will go with your topic or experiment, but then the book goes somewhere totally different. Other times the book is just too difficult or too detailed for what you need.
Next, you want to make sure it’s on the students’ listening level, not their reading level. It can be a harder text than they could read on their own, but they should be able to follow along (comprehend it) when you read it to them. Books with great pictures and strong vocabulary will help your kids become familiar with the topic you are teaching.
Friends, I have some great news for you! I’ve already made a mega list of science read alouds for you for FREE that covers EVERY science topic for kindergarten through second grade. Click HERE to grab your free copy.
Print it out and keep it handy so you’ll be able to use science read alouds more easily in your classroom. No more hunting around for book ideas!
If you want to get more ideas on how to integrate science into reading and writing, click HERE to read more about that.
I’m a K-1 teacher who is passionate about making lessons your students love and that are easy to implement for teachers. Helping teachers like you navigate their way through their literacy block brings me great joy. I am a lifelong learner who loves staying on top of current literacy learning and practices. Here, you’ll find the tools you need to move your K-2 students forward!
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This is amazing! Thank you!
You are very welcome! 🙂