Bridging the Gap

This article illustrates several types of at-home science experiences that could be incorporated during grades K-2 to provide enriching science experiences that are motivating for students without requiring exhaustive work and preparation. These activities are designed to augment science interest and enthusiasm of students in the classroom and then facilitate further engagement at home. The suggested activities vary in degree of teacher involvement and planning; therefore, teachers can pick activities that best fit their needs and school community. While examples are given of how these might be related to specific content aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS Lead States 2013), they could easily be modified to other content areas. It is acknowledged that students may live in diverse households and not just with their parent(s), so whenever the term parent(s) is used in this article, it is meant as a generic term for any adult caregiver that is found within a student's home.