Teach Your 6 Year Old Middle School Science🔬

Why Elementary Kids Can—and Should—Learn Advanced Science

✨It’s tragic we don't do more science in elementary school.

My daughter Sunshine age 8 - Photo by Maren Elizabeth Photography

Elementary kids are natural scientists. “Why?” is their favorite question. I’ve had graduate-level science discussions with my own kids just by answering these questions. I’ve talked to my 8-year-old about gut microbiomes, genetics (& epigenetics), neurosurgery, cloud formations, and they’ve been building molecules from our chemistry set since kindergarten.

Elementary minds are more ready than you think to learn incredibly deep science.

3 Reasons You Should Teach Your 6 year old Middle School Science👇

1. Leverage Young Brain’s Memory
   While the brain doesn’t fully mature until 25, the memory centers develop early. Elementary-aged kids outperform adults in recall—making this the perfect stage to absorb science facts.

2. Knowledge Fuels Advanced Learning
   Building a strong base of vocabulary and facts is key to deeper understanding. By introducing science ideas early, you're giving your child a foundation that will help them connect concepts faster and more effectively later on.

3. Train Critical Thinking
   The scientific method doesn’t just teach science—it trains young minds to question, test, and analyze. Teaching these habits while their brains are still forming new connections helps build sharper, more flexible thinking.

OK but so, how do you teach middle school science to a 6 year old?

Last year, I started a learning club with kids ranging from 1st grade to those nearly in middle school. My goal? Dive deep into rigorous science while keeping it joyful. Drawing on my 20 years as a scientist, we explored concepts beyond typical middle school levels—because kids can do far more than you think!

Today, I’m sharing what I’ve learned from this club and teaching my own kids. This post is also for big homeschool families balancing science with a wide range of ages and needs!

In today’s post, we’ll discuss👇

• 6 tips for teaching middle school science to elementary kids

• How to teach & scale scientific reports and note taking across ages

• How to ensure your middle schooler is getting a great education too!

• As always, my favorite resources & curriculums to make this work!

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6 Tips to Teach Middle School Science to Elementary Kids

My children’s science notebooks & microscope pictures