Classroom Critters and the Scientific Method

Unleash Curiosity with Hands-on Science Classroom Critters and the Scientific Method by Sally Kneidel transforms traditional science lessons into a dynamic laboratory experience by bringing animals directly into the classroom. Featuring 37 innovative behavioral experiments, this resource guides students through the rigorous steps of the scientific method—from forming a hypothesis to analyzing results—using familiar animals like goldfish, hamsters, and crickets. Each lesson is designed to bridge the gap between simple observation and formal analysis, turning natural curiosity into structured scientific inquiry.

Versatile and Educator-Friendly Tailored for elementary and middle-school classrooms, these 45-minute activities focus on independent and dependent variables while requiring minimal specialized equipment. The book includes ready-to-use reproducible data sheets and clear diagrams to help students systematically record their findings. By moving science out of the textbook and into the "touch tank," Kneidel provides a practical framework that empowers students to view themselves as active, practicing scientists.

Sally Kneidel grew up surrounded by woods and spent her youth befriending and exploring the small critters around her. While earning a PhD in Biology at the University of North Carolina, Sally's fascination with woodland creatures expanded and transformed as she learned the joys of field experimentation. Eager to share her enthusiasm and expertise with open-minded students, she became an elementary science teacher. Sally has now taught for more than 15 years and her passion for wild things has taken her to the rainforests of Asia, Africa, South and Central America, as a photographer, journalist, and educator. She writes on a variety of science topics from health to wildlife conservation and has won several awards for writing, blogging, and photography. The first edition of this book, and the sequel to it, were both named to Science Books & Films' "Best Books for Children" list.