Making Science Come Alive
Science isn’t something that exists only in textbooks and labs. It’s happening all around us — from climate change to space exploration to the latest tech trends! But how can teachers get students excited about these complex topics?
The answer: Use the news they’re already talking about
Using current event articles for students in science class can anchor abstract ideas to the real world, making lessons more engaging, relevant, and fun! The Juice produces news articles every day that cover the latest in scientific developments.
In this blog, we’ll explore how using informational texts and news for students in science class can boost engagement, improve critical thinking, and foster better scientific comprehension.
Interested in sharing science current events with your students?
Why Use Current Events in Science?
Think about how much kids hear about science without realizing it — stories about hurricanes, electric cars, new diseases, or the latest advancements in space travel. Students love discussing things they’ve seen on social media or heard their parents talk about, so why not channel that curiosity into learning?
Incorporating current events for students helps them:
- Connect Science to Real Life: When students see how scientific concepts impact the world, they begin to care.
- Develop Critical Thinking: Analyzing current event articles for students trains students to question, evaluate, and discuss information from multiple perspectives.
- Enhance Engagement: Familiar, exciting topics hold students’ attention longer.
What Science Classes Can Use Current Events?
Whether students are in middle or high school, there’s no shortage of news for students in science classes. Here are some popular science classes and how you can incorporate news for students into them:
Life Science
Biology
Follow stories about species extinctions, advancements in DNA testing, or breakthroughs in human evolution.
Chemistry
The Juice is a dynamic supplementary resource for chemistry classes that provides current event articles for students that connect classroom concepts to real-world applications.
For example, when teaching chemical reactions, students can read about advancements in sustainable energy, such as breakthroughs in battery technology or hydrogen fuel development.
Articles related to climate change, like those on carbon capture methods, help students understand how chemistry addresses environmental challenges.
These informational texts spark curiosity and promote critical thinking by encouraging students to analyze how chemistry principles apply to global issues.
Environmental Science
Show students how extreme weather events like hurricanes or wildfires connect to broader climate trends. Use The Juice’s database of informational texts to explain concepts like greenhouse gases and global warming in the context of real-time events.
Physics
Students love stories about space! Whether it’s a mission to Mars or discovering new planets, space exploration captivates young minds. Introduce current event articles for students about NASA’s latest findings.
Health
From new vaccines to groundbreaking surgeries, medical science is a hot topic. Use teaching the news to discuss the ethics and impact of these advancements.
How to Make Science Lessons Fun with Current Events?
The trick to keeping students engaged is to turn current events for students into dynamic learning experiences. Here are some formative assessment ideas to make it happen:
Bell Ringers
Start each class with a quick question about a current event article for students. For example: “Why do you think scientists are trying to grow food on Mars?”
Group Debates
Choose a hot topic like renewable energy vs. fossil fuels, and have students debate. Provide them with informational texts from multiple perspectives to support their arguments.
News Report Projects
Assign students to become “science journalists” by creating their own reports on current events for the environment. This activity builds both information literacy and communication skills.
Think-Pair-Share
Ask students to read The Juice’s current events articles on a scientific breakthrough, then discuss their thoughts with a partner before sharing them with the class.
Tracking Progress on Science Concepts with Formative Assessments
Integrating current events isn’t just about fun — it’s also a great way to assess learning. Using formative assessment tools, teachers can gauge how well students understand key concepts in real-time.
Here are some formative assessment ideas you can try:
- The Juice Standards-Aligned Questions: Each article in The Juice includes a comprehension question that is aligned to state standards. Review how students are doing on these questions in the dashboard to determine if they are successfully comprehending the ELA news article.
- Quick Writes: Ask students to summarize a Juice article in their own words.
- Reflection Question: All Juice articles also include a reflection question students can respond to in their own words. This is a great way to assess students’ understanding of scientific concepts and how they relate to the world.
These assessments give insight into what’s working and where students need more support.
Encouraging Critical Thinking
One of the biggest benefits of teaching the news in science class is that it encourages critical thinking. When students encounter multiple viewpoints on issues like climate change or artificial intelligence, they learn to analyze, evaluate, and draw conclusions.
Here’s how you can promote these skills:
- Source Evaluation: Teach students how to identify credible sources and avoid misinformation.
- Comparative Analysis: Use current events for students to compare how different countries approach issues like pollution or healthcare.
- Reflection: Ask students to consider how science impacts their community and personal lives.
By consistently exposing students to informational texts, you’re helping them build the habits of critical thinkers.
Connecting STEM to Students’ Lives
Science doesn’t happen in isolation; it’s part of a broader cultural and societal landscape. By using current events for the environment and other STEM topics, teachers can show students that what they’re learning matters.
Imagine a lesson on renewable energy. Instead of sticking to textbook diagrams, highlight how countries are racing to develop better solar panels. Or, in a unit on ecosystems, use ELA news articles about endangered species and conservation efforts to anchor concepts like extinction and biodiversity.
These real-world connections make lessons more memorable and impactful.
Practical Tips for Teachers
Integrating current events for students into your lessons doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some practical strategies to get started:
Subscribe to Reliable News Platforms: Use The Juice’s news for students platform, which offers leveled content and ready-made lesson plans.
Create a Current Events Bulletin Board: Post weekly informational texts for students to read and discuss.
Collaborate Across Subjects: Work with social studies or ELA teachers to create interdisciplinary projects using teaching the news.
Build a Digital Library: Curate current event articles for students that align with your curriculum topics.
Make Science Engaging with Current Events
Incorporating current event articles for students is a game-changer for science teachers. It boosts engagement, improves information literacy, and develops critical thinking while showing students how science shapes the world.
So why wait? Start using The Juice today. Learn more about our database of current events articles for students, formative assessment tools, and accessible texts in your science class.
