What is Twig Science Reporter?
Twig Science Reporter is a free science news service that brings the latest STEM news, exciting discoveries, and breathtaking inventions to your students every week.
We want every student to have access to the information and tools they need to become engaged and productive citizens. In the 21st century, that requires continually developing STEM skills and science literacy.
Educational Impact
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Twig Science Reporter Reviews
from 33 Verified Reviews
User rating
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Sherry Mata
Classroom Teacher
Used Twig Science Reporter weekly for 4-6 months
Dec 2021
The twig science reporter addresses standards in just about every content area. The only barrier for more students experiencing it is the cost.
Sherry Mata found Twig Science Reporter:
- Slightly saves school money“Unknown”
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“Twig Science Reporter brings issues that are current and environmentally impactful to me rather than me taking my planning time to search for the information. It is a great resource.”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge“Several recent issues such as the toll of oil spills on ecosystems and the vast negative impact of plastic.”
- Moderately improves attainment“The students who have an interest in the topic look for other resources to either validate or refute the claims made by twig science reporter.”
- Moderately builds student knowledge“The students who have an interest in the topic look for other resources to either validate or refute the claims made by twig science reporter.”
Kendra
Elementary Science Content Specialist
Used Twig Science Reporter for 1-2 years
Apr 2021
Great content and information, very appropriate for all elementary students. My kindergarteners love it as much as my 5th and 6th graders do. Thank you for this wonderful resource, and for making it free!!
Kendra found Twig Science Reporter:
- Significantly improves attainment“I teach K-6th grade students at my school. I start every class with the current Twig Science Reporter of the week. They are always so excited to see it. It is one of their favorite parts of science. It helps support engagement, real world connections, career connections, and more.”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Often we spend a few minutes after the reporter talking about the topics just discussed. In just a few short minutes, students are able to learn more about multiple topics every week. For example, my 5th graders are talking about ecosystems in their current unit, and the segment on the Florida everglades was a perfect segway into discussing how when an ecosystem is impacted, it effects the entire system.”
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“It gives me a few minutes at the beginning of every class to get organized, hand out materials, etc.”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“The topics are current and informative, and not necessarily things I hear in the normal news. For example, I had not heard that they discovered a new archaeological site in Egypt!”
- Slightly saves school money“Nope.”
Carrie Attell
3rd grade teacher
Used Twig Science Reporter for 7–12 months
Apr 2021
I would give it a ten if it was as easy to access as last year. Last year I was able to post the link directly into Google Classroom, now kids have to sign up for it and many of them do not understand how to do this. Also, I am not sure they have easy access to it through their Twig accounts as I only see the teacher version.
Carrie Attell found Twig Science Reporter:
- Moderately improves attainment“The students really enjoy watching the current events from around the world and having discussion about the topics presented.”
- Moderately builds student knowledge“For some, the topics are totally new to them and for others it might enhance their understanding of topics.”
- Does not reduce teacher workload“It has not impacted my workload at all”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge and skills“Some of the topics are new to me as well”
- Does not save school money
Laura Solis
Teacher
Used Twig Science Reporter for 3-4 years
Apr 2021
I love it! My students love it! It makes our day feel like we acomplished something. It helps us think about certain topics and gets the conversation started.
Laura Solis found Twig Science Reporter:
- Moderately improves attainment“Makes my student want to learn more about Science.”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“It makes my students want to write their papers on certain Twig topics.”
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“It gives me ideas of what would be something to teach.”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge and skills“It helps me learn things I did not know before.”
- Slightly saves school money“I am not sure.”
Apr 2021
I have regularly recommended Twig when delivering cpd to other schools as it provides excellent up to date science education for children in ks2 particularly. A fantastic resource.
Karen Marks found Twig Science Reporter:
- Moderately improves attainment“Improved engagement of children in understanding the world around them and the impact of science on every day life.”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“For the year 3 children I work with it helps embed knowledge particularly of animals and plants”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“It is a good regular tool for encouraging questioning amongst children”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge and skills“New developments in science are always good for deepening teacher knowledge”
- Does not significantly save school money
Apr 2021
It is easy to use, has great content and is free. We also use Tig Tag which we have to purchase but it is worth it. It's great to be using science-reporter too now but without a cost.
Penny Crawford found Twig Science Reporter:
- Slightly improves attainment
- Significantly builds student knowledge
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“It provides relevant up to date scientific information presented in an exciting way and in a useful format. Saves teachers looking for this info.”
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge and skills
- Significantly saves school money“We don't have to buy it which is a significant saving especially for small rural schools with pupil numbers less than 50.”
Apr 2021
I have already recommended this to both colleagues (EYFS / KS1 and KS2) in both my school and others. It is a wonderful resource for school and home and stretches across age ranges as well as ability. Thanks!
Nikki Derry found Twig Science Reporter:
- Significantly improves attainment“Some children have used examples from the videos to make connections with learning in lessons”
- Moderately builds student knowledge“Children are finding out about life / inventions outside their immediate life, eg the seahorse hotels in Australia, the GPS medicine drops in Africa and the spider robot in space.”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“I use the video as a weekly science assembly and oracy session so it doesn't reduce my science planning time, but allows for a wider and more accessible coverage and links to the wider world as well.”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“I learn some of these new facts and discoveries while watching the videos and can then make connections for the children (and my own children at home)”
- Slightly saves school money“N/A - we don't have a budget for the peripheral science exposure that this allows”
Apr 2021
I choose 10 because Twig Science Reporter Each week uploads really interesting videos !
Apr 2021
Excellent videos which are informative and the children love.
Daniel Swaile found Twig Science Reporter:
- Moderately improves attainment“Vocabulary used in science reporter used in science write ups and investigations.”
- Moderately builds student knowledge“Student recall features shown when a new unit is presented”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“It is a helpful (and popular) filler but does not replace planning.”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge and skills“Awareness of technological developments (robotics/tech developments)”
- Slightly saves school money
Karen
Physics Teacher
Used Twig Science Reporter for 4-6 months
Apr 2021
It can help to apply concepts to issues of interest to students.
Karen found Twig Science Reporter:
- Does not significantly improve attainment“No sure what you mean by attainment. Is that comprehension of concepts? Students understand a concept better when it is related to something in their real lives. I've used the one City on Mars to relate energy choices to a possible future.”
- Slightly builds student knowledge“Just relating the concepts we're covering to the videos in Twig Science.”
- Does not reduce teacher workload“It gives me an extra assignment to develop and format.”
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge and skills“Not really. I do my best to keep up with new developments in physics with the organizations I belong to and magazines that I read.”
- Does not save school money
Marcia Dorfman
Para Educator
Used Twig Science Reporter for 4-6 months
Apr 2021
videos are very engaging, like the suggested questions, very informative, overall provides a lot of good science information in a way for my special needs students to understand and appreciate
Marcia Dorfman found Twig Science Reporter:
- Significantly improves attainment“More interest from students in science”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“My students are asking more questions and they are more engaged”
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload“I have more because I make up slides for Twig Reporter, but works well with my students”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“Learned so much about nature and space exploration”
- Slightly saves school money
Apr 2021
It has been very helpful teaching remotely.
Donna found Twig Science Reporter:
- Significantly improves attainment“They are engaged.”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“They enjoy the video.”
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“It is easy to show a video than find a page in one of four books.”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“It has updated information.”
- Slightly saves school money“It gives the teacher extra without being told NO.”
Apr 2021
because it has a lot of good information
Bree
Science Specialist
Used Twig Science Reporter for 7–12 months
Apr 2021
Bree found Twig Science Reporter:
- Moderately improves attainment
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Students are able to connect what we are learning about in class with the stories each week and see how the concepts are being applied in the world right now.”
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills
- Does not save school money
Apr 2021
Superb free, high quality resource
Louise Beacock found Twig Science Reporter:
- Significantly improves attainment“The children are engaged and want to find out extra information about news stories”
- Significantly builds student knowledge
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“Able to add to planning, knowing that the content is superb”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge and skills“Keeps me up to date”
- Slightly saves school money
Nikki
Teacher on Special Assignment - Literacy/STEAM
Used Twig Science Reporter for 7–12 months
Apr 2021
The topics are very engaging, but time is always the issue. First and foremost, I want my students to have the time needed to be successful in the full Twig program. If there is time for Twig Reporter, it is worth spending the time. However, teachers are often spread so thin that these are the types of resources that do not get as much time devoted to them as they should.
Nikki found Twig Science Reporter:
- Does not significantly improve attainment
- Moderately builds student knowledge“They are able to have a better understanding and speak to current scientific events.”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge and skills“Teachers may not have the time to dive deeper into some of the topics put forward by Twig Reporter. This is a wonderful and engaging way to do so.”
- Slightly saves school money
Gemma Mowat
Primary Teacher
Used Twig Science Reporter for 4-6 months
Apr 2021
I have already shared to colleagues, as I feel it is a really worthwhile resource for all ages.
Gemma Mowat found Twig Science Reporter:
- Slightly improves attainment
- Significantly builds student knowledge“can build on previous learning or allows discussions about new intiatives etc”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge and skills
- Slightly saves school money“It is a valuable current affairs resource, so that frees up budget for other areas”
Apr 2021
I love the video, audio and information
Carli Diodati found Twig Science Reporter:
- Significantly improves attainment“Student interest in science”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Show students that science is every where”
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“Helps with sparking interest and transition into science”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“I learn something new each week”
- Significantly saves school money“We do not have to search out science videos”
Apr 2021
Really good science facts, like Newsround, but science based
Corrie Gillespie found Twig Science Reporter:
- Slightly improves attainment“Enjoy watching and learn in snippets”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Learning more varied”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“Planning short lessons”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“find out new facts”
- Slightly saves school money
Apr 2021
I have just started using it and it is great, I would need to use it more to be able to give it a 10, which I am sure I would if I was doing the survey next week or the week after.
Manjit Perkins found Twig Science Reporter:
- Moderately improves attainment“The information we use, including short video clips, keep students engaged and talking afterwards. The more they talk, the more they remember.”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“They talk a lot about what they have read or watched and this helps them retain information which in turn helps them remember more when in tests.”
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“I can find what I need through the search and it is of a high standard, I do not need to search for appropriate video clips, for example, and this is a huge time saver.”
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge and skills“It gives a extra fun facts for those who have a good degree of knowledge already and would be a significant help to those who do not have science as their first subject specialism.”
- Does not significantly save school money
Apr 2021
Great Videos
Ann found Twig Science Reporter:
- Moderately improves attainment
- Moderately builds student knowledge
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge and skills
- Moderately saves school money
Mary Lynagh
Second Grade Teacher
Used Twig Science Reporter for 1-2 years
Apr 2021
It is current, interesting, global and has superior video images and recording.
Mary Lynagh found Twig Science Reporter:
- Significantly improves attainment“My students love the current science news.”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“We discuss what the reporter reports in detail and refer to the global impact of what is reported.”
- Does not reduce teacher workload“Maybe, it is offering information prepared and I don't have to go looking for it or prepare it.”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“I learn every something every time I listen to the reporter.”
- Slightly saves school money
Apr 2021
The students and I love the vast array of topics
Jenn found Twig Science Reporter:
- Moderately improves attainment“We look forward to this every week”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Elephants was awesome”
- Does not reduce teacher workload
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“I learn something every week along with the kids”
- Does not save school money
Apr 2021
There’s always room for improvement
Martha Mayorga found Twig Science Reporter:
- Slightly improves attainment“Science oriented”
- Moderately builds student knowledge“Vocabulary”
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“Vocabulary.”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“Strategies are made easier for teachers use”
- Slightly saves school money
Apr 2021
Annabel Butler found Twig Science Reporter:
- Moderately improves attainment
- Moderately builds student knowledge
- Slightly reduces teacher workload
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge and skills
- Slightly saves school money