I know, I know. You’ve got a pacing guide breathing down your neck. Your admin wants data by Friday. Your seventh graders just asked if they’re dissecting frogs today. But before we start teaching the difference between mass and weight, let’s talk about the actual glue that holds your science classroom together:
Relationships.
(And no, not ionic ones.)
Take a Breath—Community First, Content Second
It’s tempting to hit the ground running with labs, lectures, and that shiny new unit on energy transformations. But slow down, Science Star. The real transformation comes from building trust, comfort, and connection first.
Before students will engage, participate, or—gasp!—ask questions, they need to feel like:
- They belong
- You see them
- They won’t be judged for not knowing something (or for saying they are looking forward to “digesting a frog” this year)
Why Community Building is a Science Teacher’s Secret Weapon
1. It boosts engagement
When students feel connected—to you and to each other—they’re more likely to try, speak up, and care about the material. Even the quiet kid who only communicates in shrugs will eventually join a lab team if the vibes are right.
2. It reduces behavior problems
Classroom management is a lot easier when students feel known and respected. It’s hard to throw a fit when your lab partner just helped you with a foldable and you kind of want to impress your teacher.
3. It lays the groundwork for collaboration
You want students working in teams, doing labs, solving problems, peer-reviewing CERs. That all works way better when students know (and like-ish) each other.
4. It makes YOU enjoy teaching more
Let’s be honest: it’s a lot more fun to teach when your classroom has personality. Inside jokes. Nicknames. That one group that always gives their variables hilarious names in labs.
Yes, You Can Still Be Academic
Building classroom community doesn’t mean sacrificing science. It means:
- Doing get-to-know-you activities with a science twist
- Using group tasks that sneak in norms, collaboration, and classroom procedures
- Modeling curiosity, kindness, and collaboration from the jump
Try a FREE Science-Themed Would you Rather or a FREE Science-Themed Codes and Jokes (I’ve got a few of these ready to go, by the way. Wink.)
Ideas to Get Started (That Don’t Feel Like Icebreakers From 1997)
- Would You Rather: Science Edition
“Would you rather explore space or the deep ocean?”—watch them light up and argue with actual reasoning - Team Building Memory Escape
Students work as a team and use their memory to escape
- Group STEM challenges
Give ‘em straws and tape and ask them to build something ridiculous—then reflect on teamwork - This or That Walls
Quick polls about science, snacks, or school vibes. It builds rapport AND movement.
Bottom Line: Connection = Confidence = Better Scientists
If you take time to build relationships now, the payoff lasts all year. Students will:
- Take academic risks
- Participate in labs and discussions
- Trust you when things get hard (or when your lesson flops and you need them to roll with it)
So yes, you could dive right into the curriculum on Day 1.
Or—you could build a classroom community that makes your content stick, your year smoother, and your students feel like they actually want to be in science class.
And let’s be honest… that’s the real win.
Ready to Build Community Without Losing Instructional Time?
Check out these resources that make it super easy to start the year with connection and science:
Get-to-Know-You Activities
Easy print-and-go options that build community and sneak in critical thinking
Lab Safety Escape Room
Builds teamwork, gets them moving, and reviews safety rules and lab equipment the fun way
Lab Safety Scenarios & Team Tasks
Turn safety rules into collaboration moments
You’ve got this. And if your classroom starts off a little awkward and overly chatty—good. That means they’re starting to feel safe. That means it’s working.
Now go build that science squad.
EzPz-style.
ezpz-science.com 