The Sunrise Science Classroom Blog
Hey teacher friend! This blog is your go-to spot for creative ways to teach science with clarity and confidence. I’m sharing ideas, classroom-tested tips, and meaningful strategies to help you keep things rigorous and engaging... because science class should be anything but boring! ☀️
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Engaging the 5E Explore Phase with PhET Virtual Labs
A couple of years ago, I started writing my lesson plans using the 5E instructional model. IT WAS A GAME CHANGER! Something about scrapping those ‘old school’ teacher terms of “anticipatory set”, “input”, “independent practice”, etc. helped me to plan […]
Students Become Wizards in this Potions Science Lab!
As an 8th grade science teacher, when Halloween time crept up in the Fall, I always wished that I had a fun, potions-themed, Halloween-esque science lab for my students. But with all the craziness of jumping into the school year, […]
Heat Stations to Warm Up Your Thermal Energy Unit!
What better way to learn about heat transfer than to experience it firsthand?! Basic thermodynamic concepts provide a fantastic foundation for students learning chemistry and physics. One of my favorite station labs of the year are my heat stations and […]
A Fun Mystery Puzzle to Add to Your Physical Science Class!
After I do the Gummy Bear Demo to pique their interest, I have found that this Mystery Solutions Puzzle is a great way to grab my students by their brains! I have used Flinn Scientific’s Mystery Solutions Activity for […]
Classroom Prep Tips for Middle School Science
Even when you end one school year with exhaustion, inevitably the beginning of a new school year brings rejuvenation. You take out your beloved boxes of classroom decor and materials. You pop them open and feel the welling of […]
Free Websites for Finding NGSS Anchoring Phenomena
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) ask us as science teachers to provide anchoring phenomena, opportunities for real-world application of concepts, and flexibility to allow students to follow their own curiosities while learning science. They are asking us to learn […]
Sniffing for Patterns : Connecting Chemistry and Smells
How important is the sense of smell? Your sense of smell guards you from eating rotten foods, conjures up memories from the past, gives you a stronger sense of place, helps you to find a mate, connects you with a […]
How to Teach a Brief History of Space Exploration
When I was in elementary school I was obsessed with the idea of space and astronauts. I remember consistently requesting permission from my 4th grade teacher for my best friend and me to be allowed to go to the library […]
10 Awesome Podcasts for Teachers
I started finding solace in podcasts on my hour-long commute to school across the state of New Jersey. My husband and I lived at the beach (#surfwifelife) and I would leave the house at 6 a.m. to arrive at school […]
Review Rigorous Science Content with Escape Games
Escape games in education are all the craze these days! They are part imaginary story, part scavenger hunt, part competition, and part rigorous content review (which the students usually don’t even notice!). If you need to review science content, try […]