Using Science Task Boxes
using science task boxes in the special needs classroom

Science Task Boxes are a Game-Changer!

Science task boxes have been a game-changer for teaching those hard-to-teach skills, like science.  In my special education classroom, we use a lot of ULS (Unique Learning Systems) that my district has paid for, and to supplement that curriculum, we use hands-on, colorful, unique science task boxes that I have been creating over the years.  

I have created two different sets of these that cover Kindergarten through second-grade materials.

I have Science Task Boxes: Set One and I also just added Science Task Boxes: Set Two.   Each set has 16 different boxes to help teach and support those really hard skills. 

Once my students have practiced and mastered one task box, I put it into their independent work system for them to practice and maintain those skills. 

Science task boxes for special education
This is a picture of Science task boxes(contains 32 different task boxes)

Science Task Boxes: Set One

These 16 task boxes include the following skills:

  1. The Five Senses
  2. Animal Classification
  3. Life Cycles
  4. Animal Habitats
  5. The Human Body Systems
  6. Solar Systems
  7. States of Matter
  8. Identifying Insects
  9. Magnets
  10. Recycling
  11. Measuring Tools
  12. Seasons Sort
  13. Plants & Animals
  14. Weather
  15. Force & Motion
  16. Living & Non-Living

For Example, if the ULS subject for the month was all about planets, I could easily use my task box from Science Task Boxes: Set One, on solar systems in a reteaching area, in an independent center, for morning work or even send it home for extra practice.

I know a lot of teachers that would never send a task box home for fear of them getting lost.

I know that we have spent so much time and energy prepping all of these, so the thought of sending them home is crazy.  However, hear me out!   I think if you have a great relationship with the parent and trust the student, you should send them home so they can get extra practice with that skill.

You can even print them out, black and white versions, and don't laminate or Velcro and have the kids just cut and paste!

Science task boxes for special education
This science task box is animal adaptations from my Science Task Boxes: Set Two

Science Task Boxes: Set Two

These 16 task boxes include the following skills:

  1. Properties of Materials
  2. Push and Pull
  3. Living and Non-Living
  4. Animal Identification
  5. Animal Characteristics
  6. Label the Plant
  7. Parts of a Spider
  8. States of Matter
  9. Our Bodies (Organs)
  10. Units of Time
  11. Shells
  12. Simple Machines
  13. Animal Adaptations
  14. Herbivores, Carnivores, Omnivores
  15. Animals in Winter
  16. Chicken Facts
 

Using science task boxes has been great because students are able to practice really hard to teach skills in a fun and engaging way!  Students think they are playing a game!

Science task boxes for special education
A science task box called Our Bodies organs, targets understanding the body's organs

Each of the these is unique and targets a different science standard.

This is the Organs science task box.  Students read the short passage and choose the corresponding matching piece for the fill-in-the-blank!   This is a great task box if you are working on the human body.

 

In this task box, students need to label the parts of a plant or fruit!  This is a great task box to use in the spring units when you are talking about the parts of a plant. 

For this task box, students need to decide the type of animal is pictured and find the matching vocabulary card.  Each animal type is color-coded.

Again, each different science task box is colorful, engaging, and hands-on, so that the students are having fun and are excited to learn!

In addition, each task card has corresponding Boom Cards that can be used with any device!

Purchasing Bundles?

If you would rather purchase these in the academic bundles, you can do that here:

Academic Task Box Bundle: Set One

Academic Task Box Bundle: Set Two

Each Academic Task Box Bundle comes with 96 different task cards for all subjects areas.  Math, ELA, Social Studies, and Science!

If you are to purchase both sets of academic task box bundles, that would give you a whopping total of 192 task cards!!

You can use the image below to pin this blog post to read for later!

using science task boxes in the special needs classroom

I am a High School, self-contained Autism teacher from Central New York, who is passionate about individualizing student learning. I am a mommy of three, lover of all things Disney, married to my best friend and addicted to chocolate!! I hope that you find great ideas and inspiration here, so welcome!!

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