How to Make Scientific Observations: Activities for Kids

how to make observations in science post

Teaching kids about scientific observations and how to make them are great skills your students must be able to master in elementary school. This post is a collection of hands-on activities that address first and second-grade science standards by teaching the how behind making scientific observations. All of the materials used are easy to find and will help you teach your students the skills needed to complete the scientific process.

Making Scientific Observation Student Activities

The low-prep activities in this post are from my Five Senses and Science Observations Activities and Worksheets unit and my Five Senses and Science Observations Digital Activities pack.

How To Introduce Scientific Observations to Kids

I wanted to start our unit on teaching observations by reviewing our five senses. I love having the kids create an anchor chart that reviews what they have learned in the past. Once my class is done making an anchor chart, I like for them to draw their own in a science notebook or on a blank piece of paper. This makes a great reference to turn back to when they are working on independent actives in class.

how to make observations in science anchor chart

Here are some free traceable anchor charts perfect for teaching five senses and the scientific method to your class. If you are short on time, these make perfect note-taking pages or handouts as well.

Practice Making Scientific Observations in Class

Once students review their five senses, have them practice by moving around the room and collecting objects to observe. Use a fun worksheet or notepad for them to check off what they notice about the different objects. I like to use one that has a spot for each sense.

how to make observations in science activity

Be sure to intervene if you see kids sticking things in their mouth! You don’t want anyone getting carried away. If you want to have more control on what they observe, you can always put objects on tables and have students rotate around the room making scientific observations of the different items.

Explore Nature: How to Make Observations in Science

Another low-prep activity that kids can do at home or in school is to walk around outside, making scientific observations about the world around them.

Pick a day where the weather is pretty and nice. Have your class take magnifying glasses with them on the playground. Bring clipboards and small pencils with you. Then, have students relax outside while they learn how to make observations in science. Once your class is done writing down their observations, share what they saw and observed outside. Your students will love using small magnifying glasses to get a closer look at objects they find.

Science with Food

how to make observations in science worksheets

Not every class/school can eat food in their room. If you’re able to, popcorn, apples, or crackers make a great addition to a lesson on making scientific observations.

If you aren’t able to have snacks in your classroom, you can always assign a fun homework assignment where your students write down what they ate for dinner. Parents and family members can get involved and discuss the different observations that they make while eating mom/dad’s cooking.

Adjectives and Making Scientific Observations

Another fun way to teach kids how to make scientific observations is to integrate a fun language arts lesson on adjectives with your kids.

I like to quickly go over adjectives using this chart with description words. First, I have the students practice picking words from the list to describe objects on the carpet. Once my class gets the hang of it, we practice on other objects around the room.

A fun extension to this activity is to have your class come up with their own list of adjectives to add to their observation chart.

Show Videos: Five Senses and Observations

Here are two videos that I like to use in my class when teaching how to make observations in science.

FREE Science Anchor Charts

Grab free traceable anchor charts that will make the perfect addition to your science class. HERE

More 5 Senses and Scientific Observation Resources

Check out these Five Senses and Science Observations Units:

Hopefully, this post has inspired you with some ideas on teaching 5 senses and observations! Make sure you save this pin so that you can come back to these ideas later.