Science warm-ups can help students get focused right away. They are a classroom routine that provides predictability and stability. When students know what to do when they enter the room, they will be focused and productive.
Train students to come in the door and look for the science starter wherever you usually have it located. Train them also to record their answers in whatever format you prefer. Be consistent about having the task up when students enter the room, and this will provide a seamless start to the class.
I like to use a single projected slide with a question on it. Students are allowed to use the notes in the interactive notebook to answer the questions. I give students a single sheet of paper that has a space for each day of the week. Students record their answers and keep the sheet in their notebooks.
To ease my workload and because I want students to learn from the information, I have students grade/correct their own work at the end of the week. We discuss each question and students can share their answers. Everyone that has completed the sheep gets credit for their answer. The purpose of the science warm-ups is not assessment, it is review. For this reason, it does not matter to me if a student changes their answer when they hear the corrections.
Science warm-ups or as some people call them, bell ringers, are a great way to review content and reinforce previous concepts. Allowing them to look at their notes encourages them to review previous learning as well as may encourage students to take better notes during class.
Science Warm-ups Make Great Review Tasks
Response Sheets for Science Warm-Ups
I like to use weekly answer forms. Some teachers prefer quarter sheets or half-sheets, or just writing in the interactive notebook. I have students put their weekly forms in their science notebooks. Each day, they walk into the classroom, open their science notebook, look up at the screen and record their answers. At the end of the week, we go over the answers together and they correct their own. I glance at them for completion when I collect the interactive science notebook.
Thank you for viewing my post on Science Warm-Ups. Please take a look at this resource for Middle School Life Science.
These science warm-ups are great for engaging students in science concepts as soon as they walk through the door. These bell ringers can be used as a quick review of science concepts and as conversation starters. There are 50 life science warm-ups in the slide show presentation. Answer sheets for student responses are in a variety of formats. Answer keys for each warm-up are included. This set focuses on life science concepts from the middle school science standards.
