Teacher Resources 

"Skype a Scientist" is a cool website that connects students in the classroom with real-world scientists. This can be a fantastic resource for kindergarten teachers since young kids are naturally curious and brimming with questions about everything around them. Through this platform, kindergarteners can chat with scientists, ask anything they are curious about, and get some insightful answers. By bringing "Skype a Scientist" into the classroom, teachers can spark a love for science in their young learners. This interactive experience can really get kids excited and curious, making them eager to explore science in a fun and engaging way. It helps them see that being a scientist isn’t just for grown-ups in lab coats; it’s something they can be a part of too! Connecting with real scientists can inspire kids to think big and ask more questions, leading them to dive deeper into how science works. Overall, "Skype a Scientist" is a fantastic tool to help kindergartners see science as accessible and relevant, and it lets them imagine themselves in those scientific roles.

The "Worm Word" lesson plan is a hands-on STEM activity that teaches students how to create and care for a worm composting system. In this lesson, students will follow step-by-step instructions to build a simple composting bin using household items like shredded newspaper. The lesson also encourages observational learning by prompting students to record the types of food worms prefer and how quickly they decompose. This lesson plan is an excellent resource for teachers in kindergarten classrooms. It is engaging and hands-on, which helps keep young students excited about learning. Additionally, it promotes environmental responsibility and scientific observation, allowing students to make predictions, observe changes, and record their findings in an age-appropriate manner. Furthermore, the lesson is available in both English and Spanish, making it helpful for any students who may prefer to work in Spanish. In terms of the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs), this resource addresses K.1, as students get to ask questions, define problems, carry out investigations, work with data, and draw conclusions. It also corresponds with K.7, which states that students will investigate and understand that plants and animals have basic needs and life processes. Through this activity, young learners will discover that worms require basic necessities like shelter, food, and air.

This lesson plan centers on a hands-on science activity designed for primary students, including kindergarteners. The aim is to help students explore the concepts of force, mass, and friction by predicting and observing how different objects move when a force is applied, specifically, by blowing on them. Students will measure the distances the objects travel and record their observations. This lesson serves as a valuable tool for kindergarteners learning about motion and the various factors that influence it. It aligns with the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) K.4, as students will understand that objects require an applied force to move.

This teacher resource includes six different lessons focused on investigating weather concepts. The first lesson, titled "What Makes it Rain?", allows students to explore the question of rain by using tiny drops of water on a laminated drawing of a cloud. The second lesson, called "Why Do Puddles Dry Up?", involves students creating a one-drop puddle on their hands and observing how the water evaporates. This activity helps explain why puddles eventually dry up. In the third lesson, "What Makes it Snow?", students watch a video of a snowflake forming. After the video, they use cotton swabs to create their own models of snowflakes, helping them understand the process of snowfall. The fourth lesson, "What is Wind?", encourages students to use their breath to move strips of paper, demonstrating how wind can create movement. The fifth lesson involves students making an insulating coat for a cup of warm water, teaching them about keeping warm in cold weather. Finally, the sixth lesson has kindergarteners design a shade structure to create a cooler area, exploring how to stay cool in hot conditions. Overall, this resource provides a range of lessons and activities that help kindergarteners explore and understand weather-related phenomena, including the causes of rain, evaporation, snow, wind, and methods for staying warm and cool.