How do I make time for science?

Dear Mystery Science,

I feel exhausted when I even think about squeezing science into my day. There’s just too much on my plate to brush up on scientific concepts or prepare complicated experiments. When I say I’m busy, I mean it – I barely have time for bathroom breaks! And with testing coming up, I really need to focus on teaching writing and math – how am I supposed to make time for science?

Thanks,

Maria

Thanks so much for sharing your situation with us, Maria! Here at Mystery Science, we know how busy teachers are - one of our founders, Doug, taught science for 7 years, and many of us at the company have been classroom teachers ourselves.

We definitely understand that you’re short on time, which is why we’ve created a flexible curriculum with lots of options. Mini-lessons are a great way to ease into science, especially for teachers who are short on time.

Try showing a mini-lesson during a snack break, as cool content for transition times, or when there’s a bit of unplanned extra time at the end of another subject. Many teachers also enjoy using them as special “rewards” for their class - the students love them that much!

Many teachers also use mini-lessons as a springboard for writing assignments! The short videos help students build critical background knowledge, which is essential for reading comprehension, and many teachers adapt the questions as writing prompts instead of having a verbal discussion. Writing about science is a great way to inspire curiosity and practice written communication skills!

Mini-lessons cover a wide variety of topics, giving you tons of options to find one that relates to what you are teaching. Check out the full collection here. Whether you have 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or even more - there’s a mini-lesson that’s perfect for you!

Curious to learn more? Here are some other resources you may find helpful:

Does Mystery Science have any no-prep activities?

How much instructional time do I need?