Students’ Misconceptions about science:
“If you asked a 3rd and 4th graders why are there seasons, you’d tend to get varied answers. Most of which are only partially true or not true at all. “
Have the group of teachers submit anonymous explanations of why the seasons occur. We could then do a fun explanation of how our misconceptions can be given to the children and show that many of us have a hard time with science facts and concepts.
We don’t want the teachers feeling judged so make sure no one knows who wrote what. If it needs to be a silent activity let it be silent.
Tally on the board beliefs of teachers in the training. Probably one group is tilt of axis and indirect / direct light is the correct category and all others, elliptical orbit – distance from sun is usually the main misconception, and all other ideas, in another category.
OR do poll everywhere.com
See how even teachers have misconceptions. DO NOT LET THAT DETER YOU. Just do a little research.
Here’s a great video explanation of how seasons occur. Cans lids tilted video bill nye seasons. (clip starts at 2:32 –5:19)
Insert some research you’ve done in your science instruction here. “I had to re-teach myself all about the rock cycles and how they formed before I taught that unit.”
We’re not all knowing.
Some think we are further from the sun in winter. Our orbit is elliptical. Nope.
How can Northern and Southern hemispheres be opposite seasons in an elliptical orbit model? They can’t.
Where did these misconceptions originate?
Let the group come up with ideas. No exact answer I’m guessing.
How can we get rid of cultivating misconceptions?
Harvard grads season misconceptions
Another misconception: Drop a bowling ball and an apple at the same time. Which one hit’s the ground first. They heavy object will fall faster right? Wrong.
Bill Nye bowling ball apple (clip starts at 1:48 – 3:04)
Questions from kids are the hard thing for us. Sometimes we have to say I don’t know and that can be embarrassing as a teacher. Don’t let it be. Have it be an opportunity to learn.
What is a question you’d hear from a student during the bowling ball apple? (why feathers fall slower)
Wind resistance. In a vacuum the fall at the same speed.
Bill nye hammer feather (starts after previous clip at 3:05 – 3:30)
Common elementary student science misconceptions:
3. We experience seasons because of the earth's changing distance from the sun (closer in
the summer, farther in the winter).
4. The moon can only be seen during the night.
5. The phases of the moon are caused by the shadow of the earth on the moon.
6. The phases of the moon are caused by the moon moving into the sun's shadow.
7. Dinosaurs and cavemen lived at the same time.
8. Humans are responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs. .
13. Rocks must be heavy.
18. Mass and weight are the same and they are equal at all times.
*Taken from Operation Physics at
I left the ones that apply to our range of students.
Boom done. Almost
Just shows these after.
– Minute Physics – Misconceptions of Gravity and relativity – Wow. Super complex. We won’t be teaching this stuff to our students but it is a great reminder of how many scientific facts are out there.
– Ten misconceptions
Hand out the academic article in groups. Maybe groups of 5 ish. Have them jigsaw the articles bullets. Discuss whole group, each group presenting their multiple bullets from the article.