Science is Elementary
Science is Elementary provides elementary teachers with supplies to engage their students in hands-on learning right in their own classroom. Many of the activities come with the option for a virtual visit from one of our instructors. Science is Elementary serves grades 3–5.
Program Details
With a variety of engaging activities to choose from, teachers receive a loaner “classroom investigation kit” (shipped via FedEx) that contains all the necessary curriculum and supplies needed for your students to complete the hands-on activities for each lesson. Some modules have the option to add on a Virtual Field Trip, where our instructors meet with your students and lead them in an interactive online activity in which they learn about the lesson topic. Our Virtual Field Trips have flexible timing, but you can generally expect the experience to take 30-45 minutes.
Our activities align with the Maryland State Science standards and the Next Generation Science Standards. Each activity is based on real-world problems and issues, allowing students to engage in scientific and engineering practices while learning content in new and challenging ways.
What’s in Your Classroom Investigation Kit?
Each kit contains all the materials and resources necessary to engage your students in the hands-on, learner-centered activities that are part of Science is Elementary. Select the lab name in the table below for more detailed information on what is included in each lesson.
Unpack Your Classroom Investigation Kit
You received your kit, now what? Use the checklist provided to make sure you have received all of the materials. The checklist will also indicate if any materials need require other special handling. Notify us immediately at mdll AT_TOWSON if there are any problems with your kit.
Make a Reservation
Complete the Science is Elementary Request Form.
We will contact you within 5 business days of receiving your request form. If you do not hear from us, please email mdll AT_TOWSON.
Science is Elementary Activities
| LAB NAME | GRADE LEVEL | DESCRIPTION | Virtual Field Trip Add-on? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insect Investigations | 3-4 | Are mealworms afraid of the dark? Do darkling beetles prefer wet or dry areas? Students will conduct ‘fair tests’ with live insects to answer these questions and learn how changes to ecosystems affect the critters who live there. |
Optional |
| Oyster Encounter | 3–5 | Why are oysters so important to the Chesapeake Bay? Students will look at an oyster up close through a microscope and learn how they filter water and provide habitat to other Chesapeake Bay organisms. | Required |
| Rain Gardens | 3–5 | This lab gives students a chance to explore how rain gardens can help reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. We’ll make a model rain garden in the lab and test it out with some polluted water! | Required |
| Where the Wind Blows | 3–5 | Students become meteorologists in the activity that focuses on wind speed and direction. After building an anemometer and weathervane, students collect and analyze data on weather patterns. | No virtual field trip |
| Wonders of the Water Cycle | 3–4 | What is the water cycle? And how does it work? Students will learn about weather and climate by exploring different types of clouds and investigating their role in the water cycle. |
Optional |
Class Size
We typically conduct our Virtual Field Trips with a single class (up to 40 students) per session. If you have more students that you would like to participate in a single session, please indicate it on the request form.
Field Trip Fee & Payment
The field trip fee is $50 per session. You can schedule up to four sessions/day.
Field trip fees will be waived for Maryland public and charter schools in underserved communities (at least 50% of students receive free and reduced meals) and those that serve students traditionally underrepresented in STEM (at least 50% of students identify as African American and/or Hispanic). View the Fee Waiver Eligible (PDF) list to determine if your school is eligible for a fee waiver.
Payments are processed through Towson University’s invoicing system. We do not accept payments at our location. An invoice will be mailed to you separately by Towson University. Your school’s federal tax identification number (EIN) (PDF) is required. For acceptable forms of payment, please visit Towson University’s Student & University Billing Office website. Towson University does not accept purchase orders.
Need to Cancel?
Please let us know in advance if you need to cancel your Virtual Field Trip, kit, or both. Please do so by emailing us at mdll AT_TOWSON
Inclement Weather and Cancellation Policy
If your school is closed or has a delayed opening, you must contact us to reschedule your Virtual Field Trip. If our site is closed or has a delayed opening due to inclement weather, your Virtual Field Trip will be canceled. We follow University of Baltimore (UB) closures and delays. We will contact you the next open business day to reschedule your Virtual Field Trip.
We reserve the right to cancel your Virtual Field Trip at any time for emergency reasons. In the event of an emergency situation, we will make every effort to reach you via phone/email. If you have any doubts about whether or not your visit is canceled, please contact us at mdll AT_TOWSON.
Questions?
Email us at mdll AT_TOWSON.