Elementary Programs
Registration for our elementary programming is now closed.
We currently have lesson plans and resources fully available for all educators to incorpate into their classrooms. Take a look at all 19 activities below.
Stay connected with us so you never miss an announcement!
- Generally sent once per term, this email announces all of our available school programs for the term and how to register.
- Our monthly volunteer newsletter allows volunteers to sign up for the events and shifts they're interested and available to help with. We'll provide training to get you started. See our volunteer page for more information.
- Our general newsletter keeps the public and our community informed about upcoming public events and programs related to science outreach.
Lastly, follow us on , , and to see what we're up to throughout the year!
STEM Workshops
We schedule activities on a first come, first served basis, according to our volunteer's availability. You may request more than one activity. However in order to provide access to our programs, we do not book multiple days with the same school. If you would like a second activity your second request will be placed at the bottom of the priority list and we will visit all new schools before re-visiting schools within the same school year.
Activity Details
- Length: Approx. 1 hour
- Class Size: max. 30
To request one of the below workshops please complete the Let's Talk Science Request Form. When asked "Do you have a specific Outreach Site you want to fulfill your request?" Select Yes and then select "91福利". We will receive your request and follow up.
1) Climate Change - in-person classroom visit
Our Climate Coordinator will begin visiting classrooms in October to facilitate climate science, justice and action workshops with elementary students. We will work with you to find a topic and activity that fits your class needs.
Materials: We will provide all necessary materials
Grade: 3-8
2) Digital Literacy - virtual activities
Perfect for a math or science class, our Digital Literacy activities combine STEM subjects with computer science to explore technology and science at the same time.
We are offering several activities this year including:
- Micro:Bits - Using Scratch or other coding languages, students can build games, sensors and other activities to explore coding. (Gr. 3 - 8)
- Sports Data - Students will learn about some of the basics of spatial analysis and use random number generation to play a baseball game. (Gr. 7 & 8)
Materials: Students will require access to a computer with the internet. Teachers can join our facilitators virtually and project into the classroom; students will not individually join the workshop (unless they are a virtual-based class).
Lesson Plans Available for Download
We have 19 activites specially designed for elementary students. Take a look at each themes section to see their lesson plans, worksheets, tutorial videos, and registrations for class visits.
Growing Plants
Description: Choose between 2 activities - propagating a plant from a clipping or creating your own terrarium. Both of these activities have students explore concepts in conservation, plant biology, ecosystems and biodiversity.
Subject: Plant Biology
Length of Time: 1 hour
Support materials: , ,
Ocean in a Jar
Description: The ocean can be divided into several layers with similar characteristics based on the amount of sunlight that penetrates each layer. Students will explore each layer while creating their own model ocean.
Subject: Environmental Science
Length of Time: 40 minutes
Support materials: , ,
The Rock Cycle
Description: Students will learn about sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks and the geologic processes of weathering, erosion, heat and pressure that create these rocks.
Subject: Geology
Length of Time: 30 minutes
Support materials: , ,
Cloud in a Jar
Description: Students will be introduced to rain and other types of precipitation. They will also be introduced to the water cycle and the details of its four phases
Subject: Environmental Science
Length of Time: 1 hour
Support materials: , ,
Why Do Leaves Change Colour?
Description: Students will be introduced to what pigments are, some of the main pigments that are seen in fall leaves, the importance of the chlorophyll, and the process of photosynthesis.
Subject: Environmental Science
Length of Time: 1 hour
Support materials: ,
Slime
Description: Non-Newtonian Fluid is always a fun activity! Students explore movement of molecules and different states of matter by making slime.
Subject: Chemistry
Length of Time: 30 minutes
Support materials:
Ice Cream in a Bag
Description: Students will review the three states of matter and phase transitions, and will go in depth on how their molecules behave.
Subject: Chemistry
Length of Time: 30 minutes
Support materials: ,
Milk Casein (Making plastic from milk)
Description: Students will investigate the concepts of monomers and how they can combine to form polymers. Students will examine how change between monomeric and polymer forms requires a chemical reaction. Students will learn what constitutes a chemical reaction, and practice identifying when one has occurred.
Subject: Chemistry
Length of Time: 1 hr
Support materials: ,
Is Your Microwave a Faraday Cage?
Description: This demonstration explores the idea of waves in our environment. How do cell signals, wifi and microwaves work? Students can test their own microwaves at home.
Subject: Physics
Length of Time: 40 minutes
Support materials:
Soap Powered Boat
Description: Students will investigate the concepts of forces and movement, as well as surface tension and use these concepts to make a simple boat move forward.
Subject: Forces
Length of Time: 50 minutes
Support materials: ,
Balloon Hoverboard
Description: Students will be introduced to the scientist Isaac Newton, along with his contributions and impact on science. They will also learn about Newton鈥檚 3 laws of motion. The concept of inertia will also be taught to allow for a better understanding of motion.
Subject: Laws of motion
Length of Time: 40 min - 1 hr
Support materials: , ,
Phases of the Moon
Description: In this lesson students will learn about how the moon rotates around the Earth and the different phases the moon undergoes within a lunar month. They will also be introduced to the concept of gravity and tidal forces.
Subject: Space
Length of Time: 1 hour
Support materials: ,
Solar Telescope
Description: The Sun cannot be observed directly, and so scientists have developed interesting ways to study it. Projecting the light of the Sun onto a white screen and following the dark spots over a long period of time allowed scientists to discover sunspots.
Subject: Space
Length of Time: 50 minutes
Support materials: ,
Parachutes
Description: Students will explore the concepts of gravity and air resistance. Students will learn about the history of parachutes. They will also be able to apply what they have learned by making their own toy parachute.
Subject: Flight
Length of Time: 1 hour
Support materials: ,
Robot Hand
Description: Students will explore human anatomy, in particular the anatomy of our hands, including bones, muscles and tendons. Students will also be able to apply what they have learned by making their own robot hand.
Subject: Biology, Anatomy
Length of Time: 1 hour
Support materials: ,
The Heart Beats On
Description: The heart is a very important organ and this activity will get the students thinking about what blood really is, how the heart and the circulatory system works to move blood around our body, as well as the differences between veins and arteries.
Subject: Biology, Anatomy
Length of Time: 1 hour
Support materials: ,
Candy DNA
Description: What does our DNA look like? Students build their own DNA model while learning about the building blocks of our genetics.
Subject: Biology, Genetics
Length of Time: 40 minutes
Support materials:
Strawberry DNA Extraction
Description: Students will learn about DNA as the basic building block of life, and how it contains the instructions needed for organisms to develop, grow, survive, and reproduce.
Subject: Biology, Genetics
Length of Time: 45 minutes
Support materials: , ,
DIY Stethoscope
Description: Students will be introduced to how the heart works and it's importance, oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, and where each type will go in our bodies. Also, they will learn the basic idea of gas exchange and the fact that the heart beats in order to move blood. Students will make a stethoscope and will be able to listen to their heartbeats.
Subject: Biology, Anatomy
Length of Time: 40 min - 1 hr
Support materials: ,
Stay Connected
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If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at scixchange@torontomu.ca (opens in new window) .
We enjoy posting photos of our school visits. Please have your students submit (PDF file) image consent forms (opens in new window) and let us know if any parents decline consent.