Help your students discover what science is with this easy-to-teach, developmentally appropriate What is Science? Unit for preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, and first grade learners. Through engaging visuals, simple experiments, and interactive activities, your young scientists will explore science safety rules, science tools, and science investigations in a way that sticks.
Whether you’re launching your science block at the start of the year or introducing the basics of science during a thematic unit, this resource includes everything you need to build routines, spark curiosity, and introduce what it means to be a scientist.
What is Science? Unit Lesson Plans
This unit introduces students to the world of science through five interactive lessons:
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What is Science?
Teach students about life science, earth science, and physical science using picture cards, sorting mats, and a student recording page. Students draw an example of each type of science to build connection and understanding. -
What is a Scientist?
Use sorting cards to explore what scientists do and who scientists are. Students complete a printable that lets them reflect and draw their own scientist self. -
Science Safety
Talk about what’s safe—and what’s not—during science experiments. Use picture cards and anchor chart headers for class discussion, then have students sign a Science Safety contract. -
Science Tools
Introduce real-life science tools like measuring cups, hand lenses, and rulers. Display vocabulary cards in your science area and use the student matching activity for reinforcement. -
Simple Science Investigation
Conduct a class science experiment that teaches how to follow directions and record observations. Students fill in a science investigation page as they go.
Science Centers and Literacy Integration
Support your students’ growing science skills with simple center-based and literacy-connected activities:
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Science Sentences – Use picture and word cards to build simple sentences describing science tools.
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Science Sorting – Match science topics to the correct type: life science, earth science, or physical science.
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Shared Reading Poem – A science-themed poem introduces vocabulary in a predictable, rhythmic format.
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Interactive Poem – Use image cards to complete lines in a poem all about scientists and the tools they use.
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Emergent Reader – “I Am a Scientist” features repetitive text and real-world connections perfect for early readers.
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Class Book Template – Students write and illustrate their own pages showing how they are scientists.
What is Science? Lapbook
This foldable activity is the perfect review tool. Students cut, sort, glue, and label different parts of what they’ve learned—types of science, science tools, science safety, and how they act like scientists. It’s a great take-home or end-of-unit reflection tool.
Science Songs, Posters, and Visuals
This unit also includes:
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A science poster defining what scientists do
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A What is Science? song that reinforces scientific habits
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A read-aloud book list (titles not included) that supports the unit’s key ideas
SKILLS COVERED IN THIS WHAT IS SCIENCE UNIT
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Understanding what is science and the types of science
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Learning and applying science safety expectations
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Identifying and using basic science tools
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Practicing early science investigations through observation and discussion
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Building science vocabulary, fluency, and confidence
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Developing inquiry, curiosity, and problem-solving through real-world connection
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