Hands-On Science in the Special Education Classroom

The cover of my Hand-on Science TpT download that has pictures of tools needed like measuring cups, baster, and supplies from the kitchen.

As a special education teacher, I know the challenge of differentiating instruction.

While my district provides a specialized reading and math curriculum for special education classrooms, they are seriously lacking in the science and social studies department.

“Oh, just take what the grade level is doing and modify that,” I was instructed, as a general education teacher handed me a 6-page multiple choice test to review as a guideline.

I will tell you this, though: one can only adapt the Declaration of Independence so much.

Differentiating curriculum is time consuming

I would spend hours planning my lessons, and nearly twice the amount of time searching for resources and making accommodations and modifications to everything. It was truly exhausting.

The sole purpose of my TPT store is to provide teachers with resources that have already been adapted and meet the needs of your students.

I take the prerequisite skills needed to master grade-level standards and provide you with engaging, hands-on activities that make learning exciting and appropriate.

This week I tested out one of my science resources on magnets.

My students LOVED them.

And I’m not just saying that because I spent two weeks manipulating little boxes in Power Point and downloading more clip art than I should have.

I’m saying this because my kids were participating.

Cards with pictures of scissors, coins, etc. are scattered on a desk for students to guess if they are magnetic or not.

Student is bending over a white board placing small cards under the title "not magnetic." — Classifying Objects

You can see the hands of a student using a green marker to predict if it is magnetic. — Classifying Objects

Hands-On Science Curriculum Kids Love

My students were excited to make predictions with their table tent prediction cards.

They were dashing around the room to test the magnetic properties of anything and everything in the classroom.

Most important, they were the little scientists I knew they could be, and they were accessing the grade-level curriculum in a way that best met their needs.

I love science and am so happy I found a way to make my students care even just a little bit more!