Optional Resources

Prompts

Lesson Resources

Download a Copy of CRS What is Science? Slide deck (English)
Download a Copy of CRS What is Science? Slide deck (Spanish)
Download a copy of this CRS Science Scavenger Hunt slide deck as a resource for doing scavenger hunt activity in class, or to set the stage for assigning it as homework, or to do together as a class activity after students have done it at home

CRS Scientists Observe and We Can Too Examples - Slides with examples of some of our scientists notebooks
I am a Scientist
Skype a Scientist
Find a Field Trip or an in-class program

CRS page Science Outdoors
CRS page Climate and Environmental Literacy Resources

Details about this year's challenge

Purpose: Encourage & recognize authentic scientific explorations & meaning making, engagement with STEM role models, discovery of science all-around-us, and building student scientific literacy for bright futures

Who: Elementary students and teachers (general classroom and specialists who are CRS members)

How: There are six challenges for your students this year. Do them once a month or catch up anytime. It’s up to you as long as you turn them all in by Friday, February 20, 2026.

Deadline: Complete challenges by Friday, February 20, 2026

Recognition & Prizes: Complete 4 challenges to earn recognition; Complete all 6 challenges for top prizes including an experience with a scientist! The more challenges your class completes, the bigger the prizes. We will also have whole school prizes for schools where 75% of the classroom teachers turn in 4 or more challenges.

Science Resource Teachers: Complete all 6 challenges. You do NOT need to do every challenge with every class, but we would like to see examples from different grades you teach. Example: 1st Grade does September Challenge and 2nd grade does October challenge...etc.

**All teachers participating acknowledge and agree that the information submitted may be shared publicly via Community Resources for Science’s social media platforms and website. CRS may share images of student sample work, with student first name only and in accordance with school guidelines.

I think students feel much less intimidated by science than I did at their age. They have more of a sense of how science fits into daily life and is not something that happens in a laboratory far removed from our normal routines. I hope that in the future science will not give them a sense of dread, but a feeling of excitement and curiosity.

- Teacher in West Contra Costa

Meet Our Past Champions Of Discovery Teachers

2025 Champions of Discovery
& Sponsors

Go to the Champions of Discovery Challenge Hall of Fame

The mission of CRS is to empower teachers and STEM professionals serving schools in historically marginalized communities to activate TK-8 students’ curiosity about the world, foster critical thinking, and inspire children to imagine future career pathways. We envision a community of educators, scientists, families and partners working together to build school cultures that equip all children to explore the world around them and build the skills needed to become innovators, problem solvers, environmental stewards, life-long learners and leaders. CRS leads a dynamic network, fostering relationships and collaborations that leverage expertise and resources to transform science teaching and learning toward greater equity, opportunity, and success for all students.

Our goal is simple: help teachers give students more opportunities to “do science” – to ask questions, test ideas, get their hands on real science activities. We need to inspire the next generation of thinkers, makers, problem solvers, and leaders!

Champions of Discovery Challenge Resources