Inspire kids & teens will these FUN chemistry experiments that can be done at home! Favorites include glow-in-the-dark experiments, chemistry activities using fire and vortex experiments!
Popular television shows like Law & Order: SVU have captivated countless audiences by providing a bridge between chemistry, forensics, and the law. Help Teaching understands the challenges of engaging students in chemistry as a discipline and as a practice. Here are […]
Children will be amazed with science as they learn and explore with these Incredible Chemistry Experiments for kids! Great for kids of all ages!
Chemistry Magic Triangles Background Theory: In Chemistry, the measure the amount of a substance in a unit is called a ‘mole’. It is a convenient way of counting atoms and allows chemists to make predictions about the masses of different substances that are involved in reactions. Regardless of the element in question, one mole of […]
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.
Teaching “science” oftentimes sounds a little bit overwhelming, especially to those of us teaching at home, or who haven’t opened a science textbook in a while! Throw in trying to make science appeal to middle schoolers, and it may sound downright scary to jump in and teach! Additionally
Check out this awesome Liquid Solid Blob Preschool States of Matter Activity! Your little kids will have a blast exploring fun Chemistry concepts! If you're planning a preschool science theme, then don't forget to add this quick & easy, hands-on activity.
Using real, relevant science phenomena to build instruction from is the first piece in this big puzzle of engaging our students in authentic science learning.
Teaching “science” oftentimes sounds a little bit overwhelming, especially to those of us teaching at home, or who haven’t opened a science textbook in a while! Throw in trying to make science appeal to middle schoolers, and it may sound downright scary to jump in and teach! Additionally
I am sharing tips for using Cornell Doodle Notes to teach in your middle school science class!
Study mitosis and meiosis using student movement. Cut ropes into lengths and use them to model chromosomes and track their duplication.
In middle school science, I feel like it is important for students to really understand the steps of the scientific method. Knowing the order of the steps isn’t necessarily that important to me, but understanding each of the steps and what they entail is. I view the steps of the scientific method more as a way of thinking and problem solving than simply a way to conduct an experiment. Yes, students should know how to conduct an experiment correctly and they’ll need the steps for their future science classes. However, I realize most of my students won’t become scientists and won’t use the steps outside of school. What all of my students will need, regardless of their future career choices, is a way to approach and solve the problems that come their way. The scientific method can help with that, so that’s how I choose to present it to my students. Consider the six steps of the scientific method. Make an observation and ask a question about it Research if needed Make a hypothesis Test the hypothesis in an experiment Record and analyze the data Write a conclusion Students can use these steps to solve problems in their everyday, middle school lives. When I introduce the scientific method, I bring in a problem they can relate to. I don’t know about your students, but my students are always having some kind of friendship drama. So I walk my students through the steps of the scientific method in relation to a quarrel with a buddy. Make an observation and ask a question about it: You notice your best friend Ashleigh is being frosty to you but extra friendly to everyone else in your friend group. You ask yourself “Why is Ashleigh mad at me?” Research if needed: You ask your friends why Ashleigh is mad. Then you look through your Facebook posts to see if you wrote anything offensive. You see that yesterday you wrote a post saying Ashleigh’s skinny jeans don’t make her look very skinny. Make a hypothesis: You’re pretty sure Ashleigh is mad about your post. You think to yourself “If I remove the skinny jeans post and make a new Facebook post about my insensitivity, then Ashleigh will stop being mad at me.” Test the hypothesis in an experiment: As soon as you get home from school, you delete the old post and write a new Facebook post about how you made a mean and unfunny joke about a friend and how sorry you are about hurting her feelings. For good measure, you add that you’re a little jealous because you wish you had her curves. Record and analyze the data: Within an hour you have 67 likes on your new post and 13 comments praising your apology. You also have one rude comment from your annoying little brother, but he’s stupid and doesn’t matter. You get a message from Ashleigh saying that she forgives you and asks if you want to go shopping this weekend. Write a conclusion: You learned you shouldn’t write or say mean things about your friends (or anyone else…except your annoying little brother), and apologizing and admitting you’re wrong is important. In the future, you will treat your friends better. I think it’s important for students to realize the scientific method reaches beyond the science classroom. Besides the example above, I also use the Steps of the Scientific Method Activity with Rappers Scenarios. (You can learn more about the rapper activity here.) Using examples students can relate to and seeing how they and others can use the steps in their daily lives will help them remember the steps and actually understand them. With practice, they’ll begin to approach problems and work towards solutions differently. In order to give my students more practice with the steps of the scientific method, I use card sorting activities. My students enjoy them and the activities are more hands on than other approaches. In my Teachers Pay Teachers store you’ll find a set of three card sorting lessons about the scientific method. Each lesson can be used in multiple ways and comes in both English and Spanish so I can reach all of my students. (You can purchase the card sorting activities here.) Lesson Option 1 The first lesson option is a group card sorting activity. I use this activity as practice for my students at the beginning of the year when they’re first learning about the scientific method and again after winter break as a review. In this activity, the students work together to sort the cards into the six steps of the scientific method. For each step, there are five cards: a number card, a step description card, a step explanation card, and two example cards. Take a look at the picture below to see an example of each type of card. This activity gets students to understand what is involved in each step and see what it might look like in an experiment or a problem a student might encounter. The students can work together and discuss the groupings of the cards. After all the cards have been grouped, I have my students complete a two-part reflection sheet individually. The first part is about how well they would have done by themselves. For part two, the students pick out key words and phrases from the example cards and explain how those key words indicate what step the example was a part of. I like it because it gets the students thinking about why it represents a step and not just where a card should be placed. Lesson Option 2 The second lesson option is an individual card sorting activity. I use this activity instead of the group activity for my classes that get a little wild when given any kind of freedom. (It seems like there is always one of those that needs a constant thumb pushing down on it.) Alternatively, I sometimes use it in all of my classes as an assessment part way through the scientific method unit. I do this by having the students glue the cards on a paper to hand in. This lesson option has a lot of possible purposes: a review, a pre-assessment, formative assessment, or summative assessment. I’ve used it as a quick activity where students just sort the cards. And I’ve extended it by having students complete a reflection sheet where they explain how the examples represent each step. Lesson Option 3 The third lesson option I use with our interactive notebooks. The students sort the cards and glue them into their interactive notebooks instead of taking traditional notes. When they’re done gluing the cards, they have the steps in order, a description of what the steps contain, and an example of each step to refer back to in the future. You can use the cards as a part of your lesson and arrange the cards together as a class. Or you can give your lesson about the steps and then have the students arrange the cards afterward as a way to practice what they just learned. If there is time left over in class, I encourage my students to color their cards in a way that is meaningful for them. For example, they might color all of the steps in yellow, the descriptions in red, and the examples in blue. Or they might color all of the step one cards in red and step two cards orange and continue on in the order of the rainbow. While the steps of the scientific method are important for students to learn for their future classes and possible future science careers, I think it is more important for students to learn about the steps so they can use them in their everyday lives as a problem solving technique. When the steps are presented in this way, alongside of the typical science context, I find this approach helps students remember the order of the steps, understand why each step is important, be more motivated to learn the material, and be more likely to use the steps in real life outside of school. If you're interested in using these any of these card sorting activities in your classroom, take a look at the Steps of the Scientific Method Card Sorting Activities in my TpT store. Are you a middle school science teacher? Sign up for my newsletter! You'll get a free scientific method resource just for joining.
In this post I'm sharing how I use different types of manipulatives to teach chemistry concepts in middle school science!
Teaching “science” oftentimes sounds a little bit overwhelming, especially to those of us teaching at home, or who haven’t opened a science textbook in a while! Throw in trying to make science appeal to middle schoolers, and it may sound downright scary to jump in and teach! Additionally
American Chemical Society Educational Resources (Y,M,O,T) The American Chemical Society has an extensive collection of educational resources, lesson plans, and activities for learning about and teaching chemistry. Adventures in Chemistry (Y,M,T) Adventures in Chemistry is an educational website for kids, where they can explore chemistry with hands-on experiments, games, activities, lessons, and other educational resources. From the Continue reading »
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
Create textured ramps for kids to experiment and explore for a fun science and STEM activity; for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten.
Click on the links below for my activities! First, have the students explore diffusion with an inquiry activity: Diffusion Inquiry Activity & Vocabulary Study Then, have them investigate what happens to gummy bears in salt water and regular water: Yummy Gummy Bears Osmosis Lab Try the lab out yourself first. It's a matter of personal preference how long you want to leave the gummy bears in water. I chose to leave them in overnight. For your enjoyment: Had anyone tried this? If you have, I would love to see some comments and suggestions below! :)
This science center display helps children explore sound with common objects. I collected "found" items to display on the tray with a sign, "What
FREE scientific method worksheets for elementary and middle school. Guided template for independent investigations, coloring sheet, cut and ...
These periodic table activities will help you create an engaging unit for your middle school science students! Lesson, lab, task cards & more!
Teaching “science” oftentimes sounds a little bit overwhelming, especially to those of us teaching at home, or who haven’t opened a science textbook in a while! Throw in trying to make science appeal to middle schoolers, and it may sound downright scary to jump in and teach! Additionally
We are exploring magnets here in kindergarten! We sorted objects between magnetic and not magnetic. I wanted the kids to be able to glue down their sort to display in the hallway. You could use tape or regular glue, but in the interest of time I opted for a glue gun. This SUPER cool temp glue gun (you have to buy special glue sticks but they are not expensive) eliminates the worry over burns! But like I said, tape works too. We have some magnet sorting in our science station
Do you use card sorts in your science classroom? I like using them with my middle school students. Card sorts can be used in a variety of ways. They are a great way to see what students know going into a new unit. They can be used to practice new concepts. Or they can be used to review material your students haven't worked with for awhile. My seventh grade science students always enjoyed card sorts, and we especially used card sorts during our physical science unit. We brought out card sorting activities for elements, compounds, and mixtures; homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures; the changes in states of matter; and physical and chemical changes. My students liked card sorts because they could work together with classmates while they classified the cards. It felt like a game. I liked the card sorts because they allowed me to meet the needs of all the students in my class. The card sort was great for my many ELL students because each card had both words and pictures. The kinesthetic learners benefited as well because they could move and arrange the cards. The advanced students could provide rationale for each of their classifications or create their own examples to add to the card sort. Students who needed more practice with the content could work with partners who could explain the material while sorting the cards. Another thing I liked about using card sorts in my classroom was the versatility. The activity could take as little as five minutes by having students quickly sort the cards and checking their answers. Or the activity could last up to forty-five minutes, which allowed for students to record their answers, explain and defend their classification choices, and answer reflection questions. It was also flexible because it could be used as a unit introduction, a way to practice new material, a quick check of understanding, or a review. The activity could easily turn into a fun class competition by seeing which group correctly sorted the cards the quickest. Take a look at the many different card sorts I have used with my seventh grade science students. Physical and Chemical Changes Card Sorting Activity Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Mixtures Card Sorting Activity Elements,Compounds, and Mixtures Card Sorting Activity Changes in States of Matter Card Sorting Activity Measurement in Science Card Sorting Activity Steps of the Scientific Method Card Sorting Activities Genetics Vocabulary Card Sorting Activity Thank you ELA Buffet and Desktop Learning Adventures for arranging and including me in this Smorgasbord! An InLinkz Link-up An InLinkz Link-up
Here's an awesome guide to setting up effective lab stations in science classroom
This is a nine station lab that explores chemical and physical changes. This lab was designed for a ninth grade physical science class but could easily be used in middle school or as an introductory chemistry lab. A list of supplies needed is included below. Experiments are small scale only needing a small amount of each chemical. Do not be dissuaded if you do not have every chemical on the list, this lab could be done with a reduced number of stations or substitutions based on what you have available. Supplies Needed:Test Tubes, Pipets, Eyedroppers, or Dropper Bottles, Beakers for waste, Rinse Bottles or Water Supply, Milk,Lemon Juice (Vinegar can substitute),Corn Starch, Iodine, Foil,Toothpicks, Styrofoam, Acetone, Sodium Hydroxide (low molarity is fine), Phenolphthlalein, Cotton Balls, Isopropyl Alcohol, Iron Filings, Copper Chloride Solution, Ammonia,Copper Sulfate Solution,Sodium Polyacrylate (Instant Snow),Epsom Salt, Candle or other heat source, Test Tube Tongs
Explore rocks and minerals with this fun rock testing experiment that uses vinegar & sedimentary rocks -- also known as the Acid Test for Rocks!
A metal art STEAM project that explores the fascinating phenomenon of metal and various forms of oxidation to create gorgeous art pieces.
A: When a student enters sixth grade, the curriculum shifts to meet them just where they are in their development in many ways…
Learn which essential classroom supplies will make your day easier with this list of science classroom must-haves!
When I say science activities for middle school, do you groan or cheer? It's one of our favorite subjects. And why not? It's full of cool hands-on experiments that help kids explore their world.
Groundhog Day STEM Activity is a fun way to explore this very old tradition on February 2, that was used to predict the coming of spring.
Science task cards are a flexible resource that can be used lots of ways. One of my favorites is pairing it with a game.
Help your students explore ecosystems with this engaging ecosystem circle book! In this resource, you will find the option to create a circle book for one particular ecosystem or a circle book for multiple ecosystems and their characteristics. (This also works well with biomes!) This ecosystem activity is perfect for researching in your science classroom! Students' work can demonstrate what they learned through a beautiful display! File Type PDF (Acrobat) Document File Be sure that you have an application to open this file type before downloading and/or purchasing.
Vsepr Worksheet from lewis dot diagram worksheet , image source: homeschooldressage.com
Physical and Chemical Changes Lab Activity for Middle School Science conducted with a CSI Scenario to maximize engagement and allow classification of physical and chemical changes.
If you have middle school aged students, these STEM projects for middle school will be great additions to your collection of STEAM activities for kids.
FREE scientific method worksheets for elementary and middle school. Guided template for independent investigations, coloring sheet, cut and ...
We love rainbow science, and this STEAM / STEM light activity using a blank CD and paper is a really fun one! Not only will kids create rainbow reflections with the CD, but they’ll use paper to alter the patterns of the light. Follow our Science for Kids and STEM for Kids Pinterest boards! …
There are several science lessons associate with a pendulum. Learn how a pendulum was used to demonstrate that the Earth does rotate. This activity combines science and art and can be used with all grade levels.
This poster is part of the Quarterhouse Line of Science Classroom Learning Materials, designed to help teachers create a visually engaging and educational environment for their students. Explore the vast world of biology, chemistry, and physics—concepts essential to a comprehensive understanding of science—from your classroom walls! Our posters feature high-quality images and clear, easy-to-read text that will captivate students' attention and spark their curiosity about the world. Each poster focuses on a learning theme, examples of which include evolutionary biology, chemical bonding, and thermodynamics. Whether you teach elementary, middle, or high school, these posters are an excellent addition to any classroom. We print each poster on durable, high-quality paper that can withstand the rigors of daily classroom use. With lamination, Quarterhouse posters will last for years without fading or tearing. Additionally, the posters are easy to hang with adhesive strips or push pins, making them simple to display in your classroom. Invest in your students and enhance their learning experience with a Quarterhouse Classroom Science Poster today. Watch your room transform into an engaging and stimulating learning environment that will inspire and empower your students to become curious, lifelong learners.
