There are several ways to get students engaged with the material, but one of the best ways is to create fun learning experiences in the classroom. Creating fun in science classes not only increases engagement, but it also instills a sense of passion and excitement in the context of science.
If students come into the class expecting to fall asleep or learn irrelevant material, it's much more difficult to inspire them to learn. But if they come to class expecting to enjoy their time in the class, they'll be far more receptive to the material and will be more likely to think of themselves as scientists.