Resources
Research-based tools for early science learning.
Elementary students receive less science instruction today than at any point in recent decades—often averaging just 20 minutes per day, with many K–2 classrooms not teaching science weekly. This brief from the Lawrence Hall of Science examines the implications of limited instructional time and the systemic pressures that contribute to it, including accountability demands in mathematics and English language arts.
Bring science talk to life with prompts designed for K–2 explorations of motion, stability, and other physical science concepts. This resource offers examples of how to use productive prompts during investigations—helping students observe, wonder, and explain what they notice as they explore cause and effect through hands-on experiences with objects and materials.
Help young learners share their ideas, test explanations, and engage in the practices of science. This resource provides ready-to-use prompts that spark curiosity and deepen classroom discourse in grades K–2. Organized by the NGSS science and engineering practices, each prompt includes a clear purpose and sample questions to guide exploration and discussion.