If you’ve ever tried teaching science to split grades, you know it can feel like juggling a chemistry set while reciting a biology textbook—and somehow you have to make it all meaningful for two (or more) different grade levels at the same time.

But here’s the good news: with the right tools and multigrade teaching strategies, science lessons for multigrade classrooms don’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, they can be some of the most engaging, hands-on, and memorable moments of your entire school year.

Let’s explore how you can confidently plan and deliver effective split grade science activities that meet curriculum goals while keeping students curious, creative, and connected.

Science outcomes often overlap between grades—especially when it comes to themes like habitats, matter, forces, or Earth systems. Instead of planning two completely separate lessons, focus on the big idea that both grade levels share. Then, differentiate how students explore and show their understanding.

For example, if your big idea is “plants and their environments,” your Grade 3 students might investigate how plants adapt, while your Grade 4s explore the human impact on plant habitats. Everyone is learning together, but the depth and expectations are tiered.

Visual organizers, anchor charts, and collaborative science posters are fantastic tools for teaching science to split grades. They reinforce key concepts while allowing students to contribute in different ways. Plus, they double as stunning hallway displays that celebrate learning!

One of my favorite ways to integrate art, math, and science is through color-by-code collaborative posters. Students each color a piece based on what they’ve learned, then assemble it as a class. It’s creative, differentiated, and reinforces vocabulary and key ideas in a fun, low-stress way.

Trying to piece together science lessons week-by-week can be exhausting. That’s why I created a Full Year Science Bundle for Grades 3/4 that includes everything you need to teach science confidently in a split-grade classroom.

It’s packed with:

• Unit plans aligned to curriculum outcomes

• Student-friendly readings and activities

• Hands-on experiments and visual aids

• Assessment tools

• Plus, engaging collaborative poster projects for each unit!
  
  

This bundle was designed specifically for multiage classrooms, making it easy to meet both grade levels without doubling your planning time.

Don’t underestimate the power of student discussion, reflection, and choice in a science class. Allow students to choose tasks that reflect their understanding. After each experiment or activity, make time for students to share what they observed, what questions they still have, and how their thinking has changed.

Use tools like choice boards, science journals, reflection prompts, or group discussions to deepen understanding and allow for cross-grade learning.

With the right approach, split grade science activities can transform your classroom into a hub of curiosity and discovery. Whether you're new to multiage teaching strategies or a seasoned pro, planning science doesn’t have to feel like a guessing game.

Check out my Full Year Grade 3/4 Science Bundle on Teachers Pay Teachers—it’s full of creative, curriculum-aligned resources designed to support science lessons for multi-grade classrooms all year long.

Let’s make science work in every grade, together.