15 exit ticket ideas for any subject or grade level!

Mummification, oxidation, electroplating, and more!

6 Weeks Exam Tomorrow... Sing the song, play some cell games. Play Jeopardy Know the difference between subjective (opinions) and objective (facts). Accuracy versus Precision... Know Cell Organelles Structure and Function Mitochondria - makes food into energy Golgi is the trucking system Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) packages proteins Nucleus - DNA the brain Cytoplasm - holds organelles in place Ribosomes - make protein Cell membrane - allows nutrients and waste in and out of cell and protects. How are organelles like body systems? Mitochondria turns food into energy like the digestive system.Some get rid of waste, lysosome - in animal cell only, like our excretory system. Plant cells have the large central vacuole, chloroplast and a cell wall. Animal cells do not. CTOOO? The organization of all living things... Cells make up Tissue works together to make Organs work together in Organ systems work together to form an Organism CELL TYPES Eukaryote - mutli cellular organism. Plant and Animal cells has nucleus (membrane bound organelle) Prokaryotes - single celled organism no nucleus - DNA floats freely. Links Cell Rap Life Processes Bill Nye Cells BBC Video: The Hidden Life of the Cell Great Images of Cells Cell Games Cell Games2 More Cell Games Cells Web quest Cells Game+ Osmosis working Cell R US Study Awesome Video on Osmosis Diffusion Osmosis Song Animations PowerPoints Click here to view Cell Structure and Function Click here to view Plant and Animal Cells Levels of Organization of all living things! Cells > Tissue > Organ > Organ Systems > Organisms Cells make up tissue Tissues makes up organs Organs make Organ Systems Organs Systems make Organisms Cell Shape and Movement You might recall that all living things are made up of one or more cells. As illustrated in Figure 1, cells come in many shapes and sizes. The size and shape of a cell relates to its job or function. For example, a human red blood cell cannot be seen without a microscope. Its small size and disk shape enable it to pass easily through the smallest blood vessels. The shape of a nerve cell enables it to send signals over long distances. Some plant cells are hollow and make up tubelike structures that carry materials throughout a plant. The structures that make up a cell also have unique functions. Think about how the players on a football team perform different tasks to move the ball down the field. In a similar way, a cell is made of different structures that perform different functions that keep a cell alive. You will read about some of these structures in this lesson. Figure 1 The shape of a cell relates to the function it performs. Cell Membrane Although different types of cells perform different functions, all cells have some structures in common. As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3, every cell is surrounded by a protective covering called a membrane. The cell membrane is a flexible covering that protects the inside of a cell from the environment outside a cell. Cell membranes are mostly made of two different macromolecules—proteins and a type of lipid called phospholipids. Think again about a football team. The defensive line tries to stop the other team from moving forward with the football. In a similar way, a cell membrane protects the cell from the outside environment. How does the cell get nutrients? The cell membrane... Diffusion is process of things moving in and out of the cell membrane to maintain homeostasis (balance). Osmosis is diffusion with water. The amount of water and nutrients inside and outside the cell determines the flow of water through the membrane. Hypotonic Isotonic Hypertonic more water less solute equal amounts of solute and water more solute, less water water leaves nothing happens water enters membrane 1. Reading Check What are cell membranes made of? Figure 2 The cell wall maintains the shape of a plant cell. Figure 3 The cytoskeleton maintains the shape of an animal cell. Visual Check Compare this animal cell to the plant cell in Figure 2. Cell Wall Every cell has a cell membrane, but some cells are also surrounded by a structure called the cell wall. Plant cells such as the one in Figure 2, fungal cells, bacteria, and some types of protists have cell walls. A cell wall is a stiff structure outside the cell membrane. A cell wall protects a cell from attack by viruses and other harmful organisms. In some plant cells and fungal cells, a cell wall helps maintain the cell’s shape and gives structural support. Cell Appendages Arms, legs, claws, and antennae are all types of appendages. Cells can have appendages too. Cell appendages are often used for movement. Flagella (fluh JEH luh; singular, flagellum) are long, tail-like appendages that whip back and forth and move a cell. A cell can also have cilia (SIH lee uh; singular, cilium) like the ones shown in Figure 4. Cilia are short, hairlike structures. They can move a cell or move molecules away from a cell. A microscopic organism called a paramecium (pa ruh MEE shee um) moves around its watery environment using its cilia. The cilia in your windpipe move harmful substances away from your lungs. SPL/Photo Researchers Figure 4 Lung cells have cilia that help move fluids and foreign materials. Cytoplasm and the Cytoskeleton You might recall that water is the main ingredient in a cell. Most of this water is in the cytoplasm, a fluid inside a cell that contains salts and other molecules. The cytoplasm also contains a cell’s cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is a network of threadlike proteins that are joined together. The proteins form a framework inside a cell. This framework gives a cell its shape and helps it move. Cilia and flagella are made from the same proteins that make up the cytoskeleton. ACADEMIC VOCABULARY function (noun) the purpose for which something is used WORD ORIGIN cytoplasm from Greek kytos, means “hollow vessel”; and plasma, means “something molded” Cell Types Recall that the use of microscopes enabled scientists to discover cells. With more advanced microscopes, scientists discovered that all cells can be grouped into two types— prokaryotic (proh ka ree AH tihk) cells and eukaryotic (yew ker ee AH tihk) cells. Prokaryotic Cells The genetic material in a prokaryotic cell is not surrounded by a membrane, as shown in Figure 5. This is the most important feature of a prokaryotic cell. Prokaryotic cells also do not have many of the other cell parts that you will read about later in this lesson. Most prokaryotic cells are unicellular organisms and are called prokaryotes. Figure 5 In prokaryotic cells, the genetic material floats freely in the cytoplasm. Eukaryotic Cells Plants, animals, fungi, and protists are all made of eukaryotic cells, such as the ones shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3, and are called eukaryotes. With few exceptions, each eukaryotic cell has genetic material that is surrounded by a membrane. Every eukaryotic cell also has other structures, called organelles, which have specialized functions. Most organelles are surrounded by membranes. Eukaryotic cells are usually larger than prokaryotic cells. About ten prokaryotic cells would fit inside one eukaryotic cell. 1. Key Concept Check How are prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells similar, and how are they different? Cell Organelles As you have just read, organelles are eukaryotic cell structures with specific functions. Organelles enable cells to carry out different functions at the same time. For example, cells can obtain energy from food, store information, make macromolecules, and get rid of waste materials all at the same time because different organelles perform the different tasks. The Nucleus The largest organelle inside most eukaryotic cells is the nucleus, shown in Figure 6. The nucleus is the part of a eukaryotic cell that directs cell activities and contains genetic information stored in DNA. DNA is organized into structures called chromosomes. The number of chromosomes in a nucleus is different for different species of organisms. For example, kangaroo cells contain six pairs of chromosomes. Most human cells contain 23 pairs of chromosomes. In addition to chromosomes, the nucleus contains proteins and an organelle called the nucleolus (new KLEE uh lus). The nucleolus is often seen as a large dark spot in the nucleus of a cell. The nucleolus makes ribosomes, organelles that are involved in the production of proteins. You will read about ribosomes later in this lesson. Surrounding the nucleus are two membranes that form a structure called the nuclear envelope. The nuclear envelope contains many pores. Certain molecules, such as ribosomes and RNA, move into and out of the nucleus through these pores. 1. Reading Check What is the nuclear envelope? (r) Dr. Donald Fawcett/Visuals Unlimited/Getty Images Figure 6 The nucleus directs cell activity and is surrounded by a membrane. Manufacturing Molecules You might recall that proteins are important molecules in cells. Proteins are made on small structures called ribosomes. Unlike other cell organelles, a ribosome is not surrounded by a membrane. Ribosomes are in a cell’s cytoplasm. They also can be attached to a weblike organelle called the endoplasmic reticulum (en duh PLAZ mihk • rih TIHK yuh lum), or ER. As shown in Figure 7, the ER spreads from the nucleus throughout most of the cytoplasm. ER with ribosomes on its surface is called rough ER. Rough ER is the site of protein production. ER without ribosomes is called smooth ER. It makes lipids such as cholesterol. Smooth ER is important because it helps remove harmful substances from a cell. 2. Reading Check Contrast smooth ER and rough ER. (l) Dr. Donald Fawcett/Visuals Unlimited/Getty Images, (r) Dennis Kunkel / Phototake Figure 7 The endoplasmic reticulum is made of many folded membranes. Mitochondria provide a cell with usable energy. Processing Energy All living things require energy in order to survive. Cells process some energy in specialized organelles. Most eukaryotic cells contain hundreds of organelles called mitochondria (mi tuh KAHN dree uh; singular, mitochondrion), shown in Figure 7. Some cells in a human heart can contain a thousand mitochondria. Like the nucleus, a mitochondrion is surrounded by two membranes. Energy is released during chemical reactions that occur in the mitochondria. This energy is stored in high-energy molecules called ATP—adenosine triphosphate (uh DEH nuh seen • tri FAHS fayt). ATP is the fuel for cellular processes such as growth, cell division, and material transport. Plant cells and some protists, such as algae, also contain organelles called chloroplasts (KLOR uh plasts), shown in Figure 8. Chloroplasts are membrane-bound organelles that use light energy and make food—a sugar called glucose—from water and carbon dioxide in a process known as photosynthesis (foh toh SIHN thuh sus). The sugar contains stored chemical energy that can be released when a cell needs it. 3. Reading Check Which types of cells contain chloroplasts? (l) Dr. R. Howard Berg/Visuals Unlimited/Getty Images, (r) Dennis Kunkel / Phototake Figure 8 Plant cells have chloroplasts that use light energy and make food. The Golgi apparatus packages materials into vesicles. Processing, Transporting, and Storing Molecules Near the ER is an organelle that looks like a stack of pancakes. This is the Golgi (GAWL jee) apparatus, shown in Figure 8. It prepares proteins for their specific jobs or functions. Then it packages the proteins into tiny, membrane-bound, ball-like structures called vesicles. Vesicles are organelles that transport substances from one area of a cell to another area of a cell. Some vesicles in an animal cell are called lysosomes. Lysosomes contain substances that help break down and recycle cellular components. Some cells also have saclike structures called vacuoles (VA kyuh wohlz). Vacuoles are organelles that store food, water, and waste material. A typical plant cell usually has one large vacuole that stores water and other substances. Some animal cells have many small vacuoles. 4. Key Concept Check What is the function of the Golgi apparatus? SCIENCE USE V. COMMON USE envelope Science Use an outer covering Common Use a flat paper container for a letter Lesson Review Visual Summary A cell is protected by a flexible covering called the cell membrane. Cells can be grouped into two types—prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells. In a chloroplast, light energy is used for making sugars in a process called photosynthesis. Dr. R. Howard Berg/Visuals Unlimited/Getty Images Lesson Assessment Use Vocabulary 1. Distinguish between the cell wall and the cell membrane. 2. Use the terms mitochondria and chloroplasts in a sentence. 3. Define organelle in your own words. Understand Key Concepts 4. The nucleus of a eukaryotic cell contains genetic information stored in DNA. DNA is organized into what structures? A. chromosomes B. lysosomes C. mitochondria D. ribosomes 5. Which organelle is used to store water? A. chloroplast B. lysosome C. nucleus D. vacuole 6. Explain the role of the cytoskeleton. 7. Draw a prokaryotic cell and label its parts. 8. Compare the roles of the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. 9. The arrow below is pointing to which cell part? A. chloroplast B. mitochondrion C. cell membrane D. cell wall 10. Which best describes vacuoles? A. lipids B. proteins C. contained in mitochondria D. storage compartments 11. Which cell shown below can send signals over long distances? A. B. C. D. 2. The figure below shows a cell. What is the arrow pointing to? A. chloroplast B. cytoplasm C. mitochondrion D. nucleus Interpret Graphics 13. Explain how the structure of the cells below relates to their function. 14. Compare Copy the table below and fill it in to compare the structures of a plant cell to the structures of an animal cell. Critical Thinking 15. List the function of each of the following cell parts: cell membrane, cell wall, chloroplast, cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, mitochondrion, and nucleus. 16. Name the kinds of organisms that have cells with cell walls. Name the kinds of organisms that have cells without cell walls. Briefly describe the benefits of cell walls for organisms. 17. Draw simple diagrams of an animal cell and a plant cell. Label the nucleus, the cytoplasm, the mitochondria, the cell membrane, the chloroplasts, the cell wall, and the central vacuole in the appropriate cells. Briefly describe the main differences between the two cells. 18. Analyze Why are most organelles surrounded by membranes? 19. Compare the features of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. 20. Compare prokaryotes and eukaryotes by copying and filling in the table below. 21. The photo below shows a protozoan. What structures enable it to get food into its mouth? Dr. Dennis Kunkel/Visuals Unlimited/Getty Images Writing in Science 22. Write a five-sentence paragraph relating the cytoskeleton to the walls of a building. Be sure to include a topic sentence and a concluding sentence in your paragraph. Copyright © 2011-2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Copyright © 2011. Texas Education Agency. All Rights Reserved. Levels of Organization of all living things! Cells > Tissue > Organ > Organ Systems > Organisms Cells make up tissue Tissues makes up organs Organs make Organ Systems Organs Systems make Organisms

Mummification, oxidation, electroplating, and more!

Looking for an exciting science experiments for 7th graders and beyond?? This list of 15 science experiments will catch your attention and will make you...

Are you looking for a way to scaffold math vocabulary and concepts and make math more visual? In this post are photos of math word walls for elementary, middle and high school math along with photos of math classroom word walls that teachers have sent to me of their math classroom set up. Included in this post are links to free math word wall cards and discounted printable math word wall bundles for a variety of math topics. I am updating each math word wall to include a virtual option. Now in the files will be color, black and white and interactive digital math word wall options.

Learn what the CER writing strategy is and how you can use it to strength analysis and writing skills in your grade 4 5 6 science classroom.

My kids weren't really interested in learning about cells until I said slime. Okay, it was a fairly cheap trick since I knew they loved slime. But I also knew that slime would be the perfect way to learn about cells. I can't say I've ever touched cytoplasm but it sounds very slime-like to me.

Free 7th & 8th grade worksheets, printable games, and activities to make learning math, literacy, history, and science engaging and FUN!

Need resources for teaching NC 7th grade science standards? Look no further! This blog post describes 9 resources that are perfect for...

It’s almost time for back to school! Get to know your students and help students start thinking about science in their own lives. This free resource, Science About Me, is a simple and fun activity for students to complete the first week of school. What’s included? Suggested Use page Full page printable Notebook-sized printable Who ... Read more

Use these six classroom management strategies in your science classroom on the first day of school. Back to school for new science teachers.

So one of my goals this year was to put student work up on the walls in my classroom. You see, with 200+ students, how do I put all student...

Do you use Math Stations in your classroom? Are you looking for an easy and quick way to engage your students in math? I was hesitant at first when I started using Math Stations, but quickly found out how valuable they are! {Click HERE to download} Math Stations (also called Math Workshops) is a system of different types of activities in the classroom for the students to complete based on the same topic. I have created the 7th Grade Math Stations BUNDLE to cover all of the Math topics related to grade seven and also cover all of the seventh grade common core standards. These Math Stations activities are helpful to students in that they review concepts, practice Math, apply Math, and read about the Math in the real world. There are many different ways you can use these stations as they are versatile for the teacher to pick and choose which ones you want to use on any given day. If you already use Math stations in your classroom these can complement your set with additional practice and applications for students to review Common Core Standards. This Middle School Math Station Bundle is a COMPLETED BUNDLE covering ALL 7th grade Common Core Standards! {Click HERE to DOWNLOAD} Included are the following Math Stations: Math Stations: Adding & Subtracting Integers Math Stations: Multiplying & Dividing Integers Math Stations: Rational Numbers Math Stations: Rates & Proportionality Math Stations: Proportions & Percents Math Stations: Expressions & Equations Math Stations: Inequalities Math Stations: Modeling Geometric Figures Math Stations: Circumference, Area, & Volume Math Stations: Random Samples & Populations Math Stations: Analyzing & Comparing Data Math Stations: Experimental Probability Math Stations: Theoretical Probability & Simulations This can be a great resource for your students to be actively engaged in the learning process. Students gain self-confidence and own their learning process when they are given the chance to work independently on Math Stations. See what teachers are saying about math stations, "The task cards are great for reviewing with small groups. Saves me tons of time. Thanks!" -Adelia "Major time-saver for me as I go from 8th to 7th!" -7th Grade teacher "These stations are great!" -Lisa There are many different ways to incorporate the math stations in your classroom. I have used book bins (from Lakeshore Learning) to keep them organized and easily accessible for the students. I also have a FREE math stations bin labels HERE for download. Happy Teaching!

Student engagement on the first day of school is more important than you think. Upper elementary and middle school students need to be hooked into loving being back to school o instill curiosity and an interest in science. Including hands-on activities does not have to be costly or time-consuming. Providing fun learning experiences is most ... Read more

When it comes to teaching science, our number one concern is always safety! Science labs are traditionally what students enjoy most about science. Of course, that means students need to understand how to be safe and responsible in the science classroom.

10 Ideas to help students learn science vocabulary words10 Ideas to help students learn science vocabulary words-- awesome for 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade

Learn how you can start engaging your students with math task cards in the classroom. These ideas will give you some variety in how you use these valuable tools.

I actually meant to upload this post awhile back, but then State Testing madness and prep hit... so I didn't get a chance to post this. My...

Science vocabulary is crucial in science teaching, and as a teacher, It’s super important to do things to increase students’...

Reading Response activities will likely form a major part of your reading programme, whether you are running guided reading groups, a daily 5 system,

Enhance your child's science education with an engaging, fun lapbook of plant and animal cells.

Do you teach science? Today, on the blog, I'm sharing ideas and inspiration for decorating your science classroom.

You may have heard of a one-pager but aren’t really sure of what it is. A one-pager is a project that is typically given out in an English language arts class. Students have one page to respond to different criteria to show their knowledge of the book. A one-pager should include both visual and written ... Read more

How Did This Happen? Never thought I’d append “wiki” to a post, but here we are. Here, approaching the dead center of August, I’m getting Google hits along the lines of R…

The pencils are sharpened, your classroom is clean and the bell rings…gulp…here they come! My feelings on the first week of school are conflicted. On one hand, it’s one of the most important weeks. Explaining and practicing the class procedures and expectations sets the tone for the rest of the school year. Success is vital. On the other hand, I’m so excited to start teaching my historical content that waiting until all the expectations are explained requires a lot of patience! Every teacher has their own plan of action for that pivotal time. Here are 5 things I can’t live without during the first week of school: One: An Icebreaker. I aim to try and make kids feel comfortable in my classroom on day one. One of my favorite little activities is Fact or Fiction. Each student receives a small slip of paper and they’re instructed to write one fact and two fictions. Then each person (including myself!) introduces themselves and we all try to guess which statement is the fact! It’s a great way to quickly learn about each other. Two: Classroom Information and Expectations. This is every teacher’s staple, I know, but it had to go on the list because it’s a must-have! When you’re making your own, spell everything out – from the obvious grading procedures and late work policy to how to pass back papers and when to sharpen pencils and go to the bathroom. Trust me, leave no stone unturned. Your classroom will function much better if you set the tone from day one. (Oh, and don’t forget a seating chart!) Three: Fun and Games. On the second day of school, I love to start class with a little game. It’s a great way for the kids to start practicing our classroom procedures and expectations while getting familiar with their teacher and classmates. Here are some of my favorite games that I use during the first week of school: (P.S. Some of these activities can be found in my Back to School Activities resources! Click the grade level you’re teaching to check them out: Sixth, Seventh, Eighth) InstaFriend: This activity gets students moving around the room and interviewing fellow classmates! Their InstaFriend paper has a series of descriptions and characteristics. When they find a student who matches the description, they write their name in the box. Each name can only be used once! Right or Wrong: I love skits. LOVE THEM. I like to introduce students to the idea of skits during the first week by allowing them to create their own based on our class expectations. I first divide students into small groups of 2-3. Each group then randomly receives one of our class procedures or expectations. As a group, they have to work together to create two mini skits – one showing the RIGHT way to follow the expectation, the other showing the WRONG way. They get to be silly and I get to reinforce my class expectations. After each skit I happily point out all the positive behaviors as well as each time a class policy was violated. It’s a light-hearted way to grab their attention and create a positive atmosphere all while practicing the laws of the land. Classmate Bingo: I love to play this game at the end of the first week. I give each student a blank bingo board with a large selection of personal characteristics, hobbies, etc. at the bottom. The students choose 16 off the list and create their customized board. Then, I randomly select characteristics from the list. If a student has that characteristic on their board, they have to write down a student’s name that matches the characteristic – but no cheating! They have to use what they’ve learned about others during their first week of school to try and win the game. Four: A Pre Test. After a few days of class information and fun, it’s time to start getting down to business. Each year, I make a short pre-test on the information they’ll learn about that year. It gives me a chance to see what the kids already know and gives them a feel for what subject matter they’ll be learning about in the coming weeks. FYI: Your pre-test probably won’t take the whole class period. Make sure to have plans for other activities, too, on the day you give your pre-test! Five: A Writing Activity. True fact: when I tell kids they’re going to do a writing activity, they groan every time. It’s a signal that the “real work” is about to begin. Luckily, they’re always relieved when I assure them that this activity will require very little research because it’s about a subject they’re experts in – themselves! I have a few different activities to choose from each year. Here are some suggestions: Student Survey: What are your strengths? Weaknesses? What do you hope to learn in this class? These are just some of the questions I ask students in the survey. The more I know about my students, the better I can help them achieve success in my class. Write Away: A staple of many: write a letter to a future you! I ask students to write goals for the year, dreams they wish to see realized, and questions they want to ask their “End of the Year” self. I tuck these letters away and revisit them during the last week of school. I’m Ready: Like every middle school history class, we do a lot of writing and students always have to back up their reasons, statements, etc. with evidence to support their claim. In this writing activity, students have to identify which class rule or expectation they believe is most important and provide evidence to support their claim. This activity both reinforces my classroom policies and secretly gives me a preview of their writing proficiency. Have I left anything out? If you have any fun plans for the first week of school, share them in the comments. I’m always looking for new ideas for my classroom!

As a middle school science teacher, I always love teaching the scientific method to my students. There are so many routes you can take with teaching it, and I’ve tried many of them. If you’re gearing up to teach the scientific method, then you might benefit from reading this post. (See what I did there?) You probably have many questions. When should I teach the scientific method? What all should I include in my unit? What order should I teach the topics of the scientific method? How do I go about teaching the scientific method? In this post I’ll share what’s worked for me. Plus, you’ll find some links to FREE resources to help get you started. When Should I Teach the Scientific Method? I want my students to have a good handle on lab safety before getting started with the scientific method because it involves labs, tools, and sometimes harmful chemicals. The scientific method is important for studying science in general, so I teach it as early in the year as possible. It is my second unit (right after lab safety). I bring the scientific method up throughout the year, whenever we have labs. After winter break I have a week-long review to brush up on the more difficult aspects of the scientific method. What Should I Include in My Scientific Method Unit? In What Order Should I Teach the Topics? Obviously, all groups of students are different. My seventh graders always come in with very, very little experience with the scientific method. Knowing that, I start with the basics and go over everything I think they need to know to successfully use the scientific method. I recommend giving your students a preassessment before the unit to gauge what topics you can skip and which you need to hammer into your students’ skulls. Here are the topics I always include in my scientific method unit and the general order in which I teach them: The Steps of the Scientific Method Independent and Dependent Variables Scientific Questions Hypotheses Observations and Inferences Research and Procedures Constants/Controlled Variables Analyzing Data/Graphs Scientific Conclusions How Do I Go About Teaching the Scientific Method? In my class, each of the nine topics listed above starts with interactive notebook notes in combination with a PowerPoint. (See the video below of the interactive science notebook pages I use. They're all available in my store and you can get the INB pages in my Scientific Method Interactive Notebook Pages Bundle.) After introducing the topic via notes and a PowerPoint, the students get practice in the form of stations, activities, and/or worksheets. Lastly, I assess each topic with an exit ticket to determine if we need to keep working on the current topic or if we’re ready to move on to the next. The single most important scientific method resource I have is my Scientific Method Stations. I use them at least three times in the unit because they’re so versatile. They give students practice identifying variables, writing good hypotheses, designing procedures etc. I just post them around the room at the beginning of the unit and they stay there until the day of the unit test. I truly believe they are a great resource for the middle school science classroom. They are one of my most loved and best selling resources, so I decided to make a second set. I added my Scientific Method Stations V2 to my store in September 2023! But Really, What Do You Do for Each Topic? The Steps of the Scientific Method: I go over what the scientific method is, what it’s used for, the order of the steps, and what each step might look like. Independent and Dependent Variables: I go over the definitions of independent and dependent variables and how to identify them in an experiment. Then we practice. And practice. And practice some more. Eventually it clicks and then my students HAVE GOT IT DOWN. Scientific Questions: Students learn about what a good scientific question needs to have. We review variables again while examining good and bad scientific questions. Group work and games can be fun with this. Hypotheses: Students learn what a hypothesis is and how to write a good hypothesis. Even my best students need to learn the If/then version of writing a hypothesis because they have only been taught the “I think blah blah blah will happen” version. Hypotheses typically need a lot of practice. Here is a free coloring worksheet to help your students write good hypotheses and identify independent and dependent variables. Observations and Inferences: Students learn the definitions of qualitative and quantitative observations and how to use those to make inferences. Here is a free observation activity you can use in your class. Research and Procedures: Research is straightforward so we briefly discuss where to find accurate information. For procedure, we learn what it is, why it’s important, and what happens if a procedure is poorly written. Constants/Controlled Variables: This is hands down the hardest part of the scientific method for my students. We go over what constants are, why they are important, and how to identify them in experiments. Students need TONS of practice with this. Here is a free exit ticket to check if your students have mastered constants. Analyzing Data/Graphs: I go over where independent and dependent variables go on graphs, what good graphs include, and types of graphs. Then we practice interpreting graphs. I try to include as much data analysis throughout the year as possible because my students always need practice with this. Here is a free data analysis worksheet and a free data analysis Boom Deck. Scientific Conclusions: Students learn what should be included in a good conclusion and practice writing a good conclusion using a data table and graph from an experiment. I hope this post gives you a good starting point for planning your scientific method unit. I love teaching the scientific method and have created many resources for my students. You can find my scientific method resources here, including interactive notebook pages, activities, worksheets, and assessments. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to post a question below or message me. Thanks for reading and have a great school year! You can get another free scientific method resource just for signing up for my newsletter. Sign up for my newsletter here. I added an option in my store to get all of my scientific method resources in one discounted bundle: Scientific Method HUGE Bundle.

Learn how to set up your classroom and strategies for classroom management as well as other back to school tips for science teachers.

Use one pagers as a fun science project for kids to complete to demonstrate their knowledge of science content in grade 4 5 6 classrooms.

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This is a complete set of the posters to be used to display Tennessee State Standards for 8th Grade Science (as of July 2018). All standards are covered on individual posters. Each poster contains the standard number and standard words/phrasing. You will receive three different options for each standard (colored background with clipart, white background with clipart, and words only). This will allow you to print on astrobrights to save ink or jazz it up with the colored background. Disciplinary Core Ideas Included for 8th Grade Science Standards: -8.PS2: Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions -8.PS4: Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer -8.LS4: Biological Change: Unity and Diversity -8.ESS1: Earth's Place in the Universe -8.ESS2: Earth's Systems -8.ESS3: Earth and Human Activity -8.ETS1: Engineering Design If you like this resource check out the following: ~Symbiosis Review Task Cards~ ~Moon, Season, Eclipses, and Tides Task Cards~ ~Interdependence Task Cards or Science Starters~

Nothing is worse than an emergency sub day because you’re sick or you have to stay home to care for someone else. Coming up with science sub plans can be a

Words on walls are a great way to display important vocabulary words in your science classroom. Not only will it help your students learn...

Five activities to use to get to know your grade 4, 5, 6, and 7 science students on the first days of school. These back to school activities will allow students to be creative through hands-on activities, writing, or sharing about their personal lives through art to foster personal relationships.