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Science Picture of the Day: Writing Prompts & Inquiry-Based Learning
$10.00
Science Picture of the Day is a critical thinking activity where students practice analyzing, inferring, and observing real life science in photographs. Targeted skills include making observations and growing scientific vocabulary. The goal is for students to observe science in our everyday lives.
These pictures each represent at least one branch of science – physical science, earth science, and life science – and can be utilized for nearly any topic of study in the science curriculum. Regardless of what grade level or content you are studying, students should be able to recognize many examples of science in all pictures.
This meets the common core standards of RI.1 (Inference, Key Details and Informational Text) along with SL.2 and 4 (Key discussion and use of vocabulary). Furthermore, this open-ended activity is a great way to get your students to think deeper and more critically.
I have provided an answer key for each picture prompt, but the science seen in these pictures are not limited to my answers, as there are many aspects of science in our daily lives. Be sure to have students justify their reasoning, and how deep you go with the science concepts is up to your discretion.
File Type
PDF (Acrobat) Document File in a ZIP file
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Description
Step into the fascinating world of science picture writing prompts with Science Picture of the Day! This resource is designed to inspire students’ curiosity while expanding their writing and critical thinking skills. Each prompt features real-life science pictures, fostering inquiry-based learning and encouraging students to use scientific vocabulary, draw inferences, and make connections to everyday life. Whether you use it for morning work, science centers, or discussions, this resource helps students develop important observation and reasoning skills across a range of scientific topics.
What Concepts & Skills Are Covered?
- Inference and observation skills using real-life science pictures
- Scientific vocabulary development across various branches of science
- Critical thinking: Analyzing key details and drawing conclusions
- Writing development: Responding to writing prompts and using graphic organizers
- Listening and speaking skills during discussions
- Engaging with inquiry-based learning and making real-world connections
What’s Included?
- 190 Picture of the Day writing prompts: Real-life science pictures for student observation
- Answer key for possible responses
- Graphic organizers to help students structure their thinking and writing
- Differentiated pages: To meet diverse student needs
- Printable and digital versions for flexible use
Why Grab This Resource?
This resource provides flexibility for use in various formats—whether for morning work, warm-up activities, science centers, or independent practice. It promotes cross-curricular learning, connecting science to language arts and improving skills in writing, critical thinking, and scientific reasoning. With differentiated options, it caters to all learning styles and abilities while making science concepts accessible and engaging for all students.
Inspire scientific thinking and writing in your classroom—grab this Picture of the Day resource today and watch your students’ inquiry skills flourish!