Prompts And Bell Ringers To Help Start Science and STEM Class
The Science/STEM Class is an exciting place where students come in with enthusiasm, ready to explore all the exciting tools you have prepared for the day's lesson. A prompt or Bell Ringer at the front of the room is a great way to get them to sit down instead of touching the lab setup. It will also get them focused for the day. Have a slip of paper when they first walk into the room or a page in their science notebook. The first thing they do is sit down and complete today's prompt. You could also include a picture or science Demonstration to intrigue their interest more.
Here are some great prompts to start out class.
- What would you do if.......
- Do you think...........?
- List everything you know about......
- What would happen if........
- Look at the supplies. What do you think we are doing today?
- How would life be different if there was no ......?
- Write 5 things you know about ........?
- Explain how to make .......
- Name one thing you remember from the last class.
- Write 5 words related to .......
- Describe how ______________ and _______________ are similar.
- Describe how ______________ and _______________ are different.
- Using the 5 senses, describe ..........
Add pictures to your prompts to get them thinking more.
- Look at what is happening in the news. Find a picture and add a question.
- Find a picture showing what they are learning in class. Use the prompts or create your own question.
- Find pictures of common kids' toys. Add questions about how they work or what they like or dislike about them.
- Put up pictures of scientists and ask questions about what they are doing.
Here are some more prompt ideas for pictures.
- What is the person looking at?
- What do you think this animal/person is thinking?
- What would you do if this happened to you?
- Name 5 scientific things you see if this picture.
- Make a hypothesis about what caused this to happen.
- What claim can you make from this picture?
Use a Science Demonstration to Spark their Interest
As the students enter the room, you stand at the front, ready to present a science demonstration that captures their attention. Perform the demonstration and ask the students to record observations. Engage them in a discussion about the results and seamlessly transition into the day's lesson. Ensure that the demonstration is quick and uses basic materials.
LEARN MORE
Create Classroom Bellringers.
These take a little more time than prompts but are a great way to get the kids working. Bellringers are more in-depth and might also provide some spiral review. They can be posted on the board or a page they take when they enter the room. They might get a few minutes to start them, and then they finish them at the end of class. It might be questions they answer, and then they, as a class, go over them. Keep the bellringers short and then lead into your lesson for the day.
Have fun integrating a starter activity into your classroom. Remember to make it engaging to spark their interest.
LEARN MORE
