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.
iExploreScience: STEM in Elem
17 Crafting Connection and Building Trust In Your Upper Elementary Classroom
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Most back-to-school advice says lock down routines first, then relax and get to know your students. I think that's backwards. Norms and routines don't come with consequences attached, they're just how a classroom runs, and they only hold when kids feel connected to you and to each other. Connected students take care of your supplies when you're not watching. They're kind to each other when you're not watching.
In this episode I walk through the strategies I actually use in my fifth grade classroom, why they work, and how they add up over time (tip off to Brené Brown's marble jar idea!).
What I cover
- why routines sit on top of relationships, not the other way around
- 7 no-prep strategies and why they work
- what I learned from Brené Brown's marble jar
- why upper elementary students need this just as much as younger kids!!
Links
- iExploreScience Blog: Strategies To Build Trust And Classroom Community
📬 Stay Connected
- 📰 Substack: https://iexplorescience.substack.com/
- 🛍️ TpT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/iexplorescience
- 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iexplorescience/
- 👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iexplorescience/
- 💻 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolevantassel/