iExploreScience: STEM in Elem
iExploreScience: STEM in Elem is for upper elementary teachers — especially grades 3–5 —who want to make elementary science and math more engaging, without adding more prep or overwhelm to their day. If you’re looking for practical ways to bring STEM and hands-on learning into your classroom while still meeting standards like NGSS, this podcast is for you.
Each week, you’ll get (ideally) short, (always!) actionable episodes (about 15–30 minutes) filled with classroom-tested ideas you can actually use. From simple STEM challenges and low-prep science activities to math routines, lab management, and neurodivergent-friendly strategies, everything is designed to help you keep students thinking, moving, and engaged—especially during the most challenging times of the year.
You’ll also hear honest reflections from real classroom experiences, with a focus on what works (and what doesn’t) in my 5th grade science and math classroom — no perfection required.
I’m Nicole, and I share practical, hands-on science and math ideas designed specifically for upper elementary teachers who want engaging, rigorous lessons without the overwhelm.
Episodes
140 episodes
A Note for Longtime Listeners — What's Coming Next
If you've been here since Teaching Science in 3D — thank you. This short episode is for you.I'm using this space to be honest about what's changing, why it's changing, and what you can expect from this feed going forward. The short versi...
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9:28
Building a Classroom Community Series Part 3: The Science Classroom
In this episode, Erin continues her conversation with middle school science teacher Char Ritchie. Char explains how she builds on the community building practices discussed in the last episode to build a science routines that contribute t...
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Season 10
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Episode 9
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26:16
Building a Classroom Community Series Part 2: Respect Agreements and Community Circles
In the second episode of our 3-part series on building classroom community and expectations, Erin shares conversations with two special guests — Bailey and her 8th grade science teacher, Char Ritchie.They reflect on their experiences wit...
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Season 10
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Episode 8
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33:06
Building Classroom Community Series Part 1: Interview with Erin's Daughter
In this first episode of our 3-part series on building classroom community and expectations, Erin interviews a special guest — her daughter! Together, they reflect on the things that helped her feel seen, supported, and respected throughout mid...
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Season 10
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Episode 7
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31:33
"Start Small" Series: Deepen Learning By Reducing Tasks
In the third episode of this "Start Small" series, Nicole shares some ways we can deepen learning by replacing *quantity* with *quality* in our science classrooms. More isn't always better, and while it can sometimes feel counterint...
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Season 10
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Episode 6
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12:57
"Start Small" Series: Quick Strategies To Get Your Students *Thinking*
In the second episode of this "Start Small" series, Nicole shares a few strategies to create a better THINKING science classroom -- you know, the kind where students actually NOTICE that the bird isn't giving its energy to the worm or that it j...
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Season 10
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Episode 5
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14:38
"Start Small" Series: Building Simple Routines With 3D Practices
In the first episode of this "Start Small" series, Nicole shares three ideas to consider implementing this fall that will engage your students in three-dimensional learning in a way that builds skill through consistency and practice -- all with...
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Season 10
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Episode 4
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28:14
Erin's ADHD Diagnosis
Erin discusses her recent ADHD diagnosis. She recorded this episode in hopes that it may potentially help other people who suspect they have ADHD or who want to know more about what its like having ADHD. In this episode: <...
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Season 10
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Episode 3
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48:09
5 Things We Want Teachers to Know About ADHD
Both Nicole and Erin are parents of children with ADHD. Erin was recently diagnosed as having ADHD herself. In this episode, they share the things they've learned in the last year that they wish they would have known. More Re...
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Season 10
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Episode 2
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41:01
Where have we been for the last two years?!?
It's been two and a half years since we recorded our last episode. So, where have we been!?!In this episode we talk about: What we've been up toBig changes and life updates What this season will en...
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Season 10
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Episode 1
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27:39
129 Three Commitments I Made (And Mostly Kept) This Fall
In this episode, Nicole shared three commitments she made in her classroom as she transitioned back into the classroom this fall -- as well as strategies that she utilized to keep those commitments. "I’m not worki...
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Season 9
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Episode 9
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37:58
128 It's A Tool, Not A Fix
In this episode, Nicole shares an aha moment she recently experienced as she was prompted to reflect on her thinking about the strategies and approaches she utilizes in her classroom. So often we seek out the "one right way" to do something, ho...
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Season 9
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Episode 8
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15:02
127 Establishing An Anchor Phenomenon Routine
The anchor phenomenon routine plays an important role in science classes as students develop their abilities to figure out the questions they need to answer to meet their learning goals. In a perfect world, students work through an anchor exper...
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Season 9
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Episode 7
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29:56
126 From Whole Group To Small Group Learning
In this episode, Nicole (iExploreScience) shares a few ideas for moving from whole-group instruction to stations-style, small-group learning. Small group activities create the opportunity to work with students individually, scaffolding and exte...
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Season 9
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Episode 6
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32:08
125 A Bell Ringer Approach To Start Class Smoothly
What is your start-of-class routine? Is it working? In this episode, Nicole shares her bell-ringer routine -- a transition time that can make-or-break a smooth class experience. She digs into the actual structure of her routine, how she holds s...
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Season 9
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Episode 5
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18:19
124 Your New Favorite Places To Find Authentic Science Texts Adapted For The Classroom
We win any time we can incorporate literacy in science into our daily lessons and activities. One low-prep strategy that I love to use is to ask students to analyze authentic science texts… but let’s be real, those are HARD to understa...
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Season 9
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Episode 4
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23:53
123 Teaching Text Annotations - Your New Favorite Literacy Strategy
In this episode, Nicole shares how she teaches students to annotate texts, a strategy they can pair with any reading task in the science classroom. Text annotations increase student engagement and comprehension when working with scienc...
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Season 9
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Episode 3
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24:41
122 Rethinking THAT Class - What To Do When Classes Feel Like A Challenge
In this episode, Nicole shares her personal reflections on the "labels" we may (inadvertently) assign to classes and how that can impact our relationships, classroom culture, and teaching practice. She shares how this label developed with stu...
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Season 9
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Episode 2
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35:13
121 Establishing A Positive Classroom Culture With Respect Agreements
In this episode, Nicole (iExploreScience) shares how she has used respect agreements to establish a positive classroom culture and prevent (and address) behavior challenges within her classroom.What are respect agreements? In short, res...
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Season 9
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Episode 1
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24:07
120 Informal Writing In Science Class
Incorporating informal writing opportunities in your classroom can improve student understanding of the scientific content while building student confidence in their ability to communicate in writing. This episode explores some ways to su...
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Season 8
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Episode 11
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24:58
119 The Best Strategies For Teaching Science Vocab
Way back in episode 19, Nicole discussed why you shouldn't front-load science vocabulary. This is one of our most popular episodes. So, we decided to bri...
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Season 8
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Episode 10
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32:43
118 Bringing Nature Journals Into Your 3D Teaching
In this episode, Nicole VanTassel of iExploreScience interviews Sarah Suloff, a life science/biology teacher with a passion for and expertise in using nature journaling in the classroom. She shares why you may want to consider bringing nature j...
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Season 8
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Episode 9
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44:53
117 How to Improve Observation Skills in Your Science Classes
Have you noticed your students' observation skills aren't what you'd like them to be? You aren't alone. In this episode, we answer a listener's question about how to improve students' observation skills. This episode s full of...
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Season 8
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Episode 8
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34:20
116 Why You Shouldn't Teach An Intro Unit
Let's talk about those back to school activities. Despite the many shifts we've seen teachers making in their classroom, we've seen several teachers continuing to use old practices. Even if they've ditched the scientific method, many teachers a...
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Season 8
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Episode 7
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23:43
115 How Can You Use Science Notebooks And Interactive Notebooking?
This episode comes from a listener's question about science notebooks. Lindsay from New Mexico asked the following question. "I would love to learn more about incorporating interactive notebooks into the NGSS classroom. Do you follo...
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Season 8
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Episode 6
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24:40