I have a few students with IEPs who are SO engaged with science lessons. They LOVE experiments and hands-on activities. One student in particular with autism is very quiet and did not talk very much in class at the beginning of the year. He didn't talk to his partner during turn and talks, and he was unsure how to initiate conversations with classmates at all. But once we started doing the science experiments and activities, he became very animated during turn and talk times, and this transferred to other subjects as well! He becomes a different kid during science- asking questions, sharing his observations, etc. It's been lovely to watch