Literacy

Professional Development

May 8, 2016

Integrating Science into Reading and Writing

Science was, hands down, a favorite time in my class for all of my students year after year! We were not only able to explore fun topics, but we were able to get our hands dirty and carry the topic throughout the day as we learned reading and writing skills.  And let’s be honest–with everything that I had to cover with reading, writing, and math, science time always seemed squished.  I never felt like I was giving it enough attention no matter how hard I tried.

This is exactly why I integrated science throughout our day as much as possible! It was easy to do, made our learning run smoothly, and the little learners loved it! They were excited all week about our science topic! Let’s take a peek at how I integrated science into our reading and writing and how you can, too!

Integrating science into reading and writing is a breeze once you see how this teacher does it! She provides a detailed look into how she squeezes it all in and includes activity ideas!  #firstgrade #lessonplans

I always liked to have everything mapped out for the month based on the science standards.  (I am a Texas teacher so we have our own standards that are a little more topic-specific than the Next Generation Science Standards.)Integrating science into your reading and writing block does not have to be hard! See how this teacher plans out her science themes and has her little learners reading and writing while teaching science!

Integrating science into reading and writing is a breeze once you see how this teacher does it! She provides a detailed look into how she squeezes it all in!

Shared Reading

Shared reading is a time that you, the teacher, are providing an opportunity for the students to read WITH you. You are inviting the students to join you in practicing reading skills. I like to use poems (to the tune of songs, mostly!) with a science theme for the week integrated.  You use the same poem for the whole week and each day has a different focus.

I also used this time to weave in some phonics practice based on what phonics patterns are included in the poem.Shared reading is the perfect time to integrate a science topic and phonics practice! All of those important topics wrapped into 15-20 minute of instruction. Simple and my students LOVED this time of our day!

Shared reading is the perfect time to integrate a science topic and phonics practice! All of those important topics wrapped into 15-20 minute of instruction. Simple and my students LOVED this time of our day!

Shared reading is the perfect time to integrate a science topic and phonics practice! All of those important topics wrapped into 15-20 minute of instruction. Simple and my students LOVED this time of our day!

If you want to take a closer look at shared reading, watch THIS VIDEO on Facebook Live on my Facebook Page!

Close Reading

Close reading is a time that you, the teacher, are providing the students with a text rich in details that results in pushing the students to be thoughtful readers.  This is not an independent reading time, but a time for you to guide and scaffold the students as they are building skills to become solid readers. Integrating science can be done simply by using non-fiction science themed passages.Close reading passages for first grade students that are non-fiction and science themed are perfect for integrating science when you are running short on time! Students can think critically about topics that they are engaged in and you, the teacher, squeeze in science!

Each day of the week there is a different task for the students to do with the same text.  The plus side to this is that the routine stays the same and students learn and know what to expect!Close reading passages for first grade students that are non-fiction and science themed are perfect for integrating science when you are running short on time! Students can think critically about topics that they are engaged in and you, the teacher, squeeze in science!

Shared Writing

Shared writing is a time for you, the teacher, to invite the students to think WITH you. You will do the writing correctly, providing a proper model for the students, but they will generate the ideas. Writing about a science topic we are focusing on is super simple to do during this block of time. Creating anchor charts with your students is a great way to squeeze in some shared writing!

Independent Writing 

Releasing the little learners to do things independently and seeing how powerful all of the shared and interactive activities are is the goal. You are able to see the little learners use their phonics skills and sentence structure they have learned. We always were able to do independent writing as we researched and dug deep into our science units.  They would become little researchers as they would read the animal fact pages and record information in the flip books.

Also, any time students created flip books for their interactive notebooks, they would implement their writing skills.  (I still 100% value the writer’s workshop process, but I think it’s important that we provide more writing opportunities for our little writers beyond writer’s workshop.)Using science interactive notebooks is a great way to work in some independent writing time for your students. This zoo facts flip book book does just that!

Independent writing time does not only include writer's workshop--don't forget that science interactive notebook writing is also independent writing for little learners to practice their writing skills.

We also were able to squeeze in some independent writing as we wrapped up our science units with these adorable crafts!

Integrating Writing into Science doesn't have to be hard! This teacher uses writing crafts to wrap up her science units and get her little writers engaged in writing!

So what are you waiting for? Get busy integrating!!  You can snag a Science for August Curriculum Map FREE! If planning for science is on the back burner, know that it doesn't have to be! You can grab this FREE curriculum map for August and it has all the details you need to be set for science, close reading, shared reading, and phonics!

Planning all of this out for each month is made simple in my First Grade Science Bundle found HERE.First Grade Science for the whole year is made simple with these monthly bundles! Don't have time for science like you want to? Don't worry! You can squeeze it in and integrate it throughout your day! See how this teacher does it and grab the FREE curriculum map while you are there!

Do you integrate science throughout your day? Is it a struggle for you? What would make it easier? I’d love to hear more from you!

Integrating science into reading and writing is a breeze once you see how this teacher does it! She provides a detailed look into how she squeezes it all in and includes activity ideas!  #firstgrade #lessonplans

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Happy Teaching,

Amanda

Mega Read Aloud List

Use this FREE mega list of science-related read alouds for kindergarten through second grade to help you teach science all year long! This list covers 39 science topics with 4+ book suggestions for each topic. Grab it today to be set for the entire year of science read alouds!

Hi, I'm Amanda

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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11 Responses

  1. I am homeschool the last three months of the school year, March, April and May. I’m wondering if I could just buy theses months from you.

    Thank you

  2. Do you have a Kindergarten Science for the Year? I am a Texas teacher and a 60 minute block for science everyday is hard. I feel like integrating Science with Literacy is the answer. I just need proof my administration….and a plan!
    I really enjoy your site.
    Thanks!
    LT

    1. Hi Lindsey! At this time, I do not. But A lot of my units you can use with your kinder kids. Integrating is DEFINITELY the answer to helping you kill two birds with one stone. Just have to make sure things are aligned. 😉 A lot of the time, I used my literacy block to help build background knowledge. Then, when I got to science they were ready to rock and roll at a faster pace.

  3. Hi. All of your items look amazing. I started with Kindergarten reading because I have an Arabic speaking only 2nd grader and I went down the rabbit hole of all your TPT products. I am so A.D.D. because I Iooked at something and then something else piqued my interest and then something else and then 45 minutes went by and I added 15 things to my wish list! So my question for you is, what is the difference between your monthly science units and your science interactive notebook? If I were to just purchase one or the other would you recommend the January science unit or the interactive notebook? I’m going to see if there is school money available for the whole science unit ($182.00). I love, love, love, all your ideas! Thank you so much for finding your niche and helping teachers!

    1. Hi Lynn! I apologize for the delayed response! I received multiple notifications with blog comments yesterday, and it seems that somehow many were stuck! My monthly science units have science activities and several literacy activities. The science interactive notebook has only foldables for interactive notebooks. If you are looking for something all-inclusive with lesson suggestions, then I’d go with the monthly science bundle. If you are looking for just a few activities to supplement what you are already doing, then I would choose the interactive notebook pieces. The HUGE money-saving bundle that has all the science units ALSO includes the science interactive notebook pieces and reading comprehension passages as a bonus. Thank you so very much for your sweet words. They truly were an encouragement to me during a week when I needed it most! <3 Let me know if you have any other questions! I am happy to help!

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