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.

Teaching energy transformations in middle school can be fun and engaging. Learn the tips and resources to use for this unit.

FREE scientific method worksheets for elementary and middle school. Guided template for independent investigations, coloring sheet, cut and ...

Don't lose your marbles with this fun law of momentum lesson. Grab some marbles, and toilet paper rolls to try out this science lesson.

Viewing the stomata under the microscope is an incredibly simple, truly awe-inspiring lab to do with your middle school science students. Easy setup and everyday items make this lab a must do for any life science class!

Middle school students need to get outside and experience science. This field lab allows students to do a simple quadrat observation study in any green space around your school or during a field trip. This is a real technique used by ecologist to study populations in nature. This lab asks students to make descriptive observations of plant and animal populations in a small area. Once complete, we return to the lab to create an infographic that allows students create, analyze and evaluate their work. Students enjoy being outside and “doing” science, this is a great opportunity to make populations and communities come alive in your own backyard. Students will need a device to capture images in the field and a computer to complete the informational graphic. Note: This is part of my Ecology Lab Bundle for Middle School This Product Includes: Student Guide Project outline Lesson Presentation with Bell Ringers Project Sample Grading rubric Teacher Notes Extra Slide and Activities for Lesson Extension. Cells for Middle School Bundle Ecology Video Guide with Wall-E Fidget Spinners for Middle School Feedback & Followers Did you know that you can receive credit towards future TpT purchases by reviewing this product? If you enjoy this product, please leave a review at the product page or through “My Purchases” under “My Account” at TpT. Ratings make the TpT world go round. :) You can also follow me for the latest news on products and sales. If you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you! -Mike email [email protected] Pinterest: Mike in the Middle School Blog: Mike in the Middle School.com

This Slingshot Rocket STEM Activity will have your students measuring angles and using a protractor.

Learn how to use Direct Instruction in Science while keeping your middle school science students engaged and learning throughout your lesson.

Students will be performing rigid transformations: reflections, rotations, and translations. There are 3 activities: (1) Students will determine the type of transformation that was performed and color the hearts according to the color key code, (2) capture the lovebugs by performing transformations, and (3) a harder version of capturing the lovebugs by performing transformations.

Top 5 ways to teach about animal adaptations. Animal adaptation activities for upper elementary and middle school science.

Virtual dissections can be a huge help in teaching science, biology, physiology and anatomy. Here are some of the best resources for your lessons and labs.

Looking for easy scientific method activities for your 2020 classroom? These activities are low prep and work great for distance learning!

Back to school tips for middle school science teachers. Classroom set up, procedures, sketch notes, labs and more!

This is a list of the most fun and simple middle school science fair project ideas your kids will love. Easy Science experiments for kids!

Do you teach simple machines? They can be so much fun to discuss and explore. They are awesome to create simple...

Warm-ups are the perfect way to get students focused and engaged. Here are 5 reasons you should use warm-ups in your science classroom.

The key to engaging science instruction is engaging our students in the science process. A few labs into the school year I always find myself planning a lesson about the science process and scientific variables. I find myself asking “How did they mess up that graph after I explained it 3 times?” “Why didn’t they […]

These are my favorite fun activities for teaching my middle school students about the amazing Periodic Table!

Explicitly teaching science lab safety is too important to skip. Here are some super easy ways to teach and reinforce safety rules.

This picks up on day 11. If you are interested...

Rock Around the Clock is an excellent probability lesson for middle school students. Great to incorporate into your probability unit.

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.

Teacher resources for using Inquiry, STEM, and technology in the science classroom

Choice boards are the perfect addition to the middle school science classroom. Here's 5 reasons to use choice boards in your classroom.

Are you looking for fun engineering activities for middle school students? Engineering activities are a great example of STEM activities for middle school students.

Bundle includes: Workbook explaining metric measurement practice measuring worksheets - metric volume, metric length 2 hands on labs using metric measurement slide show about converting metric units, US/Customary units, and both 3 tiered conversion practice worksheets Answer keys self-grading digital flash (BOOM) cards Bundle offered at 20% off.

Learn how to integrate the Blow Cup Challenge in the classroom with this engaging STEM project and lesson plan that incorporates math and science standards.

The way you plan your science classroom layout can have a large impact on how well your class runs. Find tips for organizing your space!

Post ID#6277 is not a valid giveaway.

Unlock the wonders of scientific inquiry and critical thinking in your classroom with this "Exploring the Scientific Method" lab bundle! Designed specifically for middle and high school students, these three captivating labs will ignite curiosity, foster hands-on learning, and empower your students to become budding scientists. ✎ WHAT'S INCLUDED? Scientific Method: M&M Lab Using the Scientific Method to Help Save Sam Lab Problem Solving, Scientific Method & Density Lab & Answer Key ✧ REQUIRED MATERIALS: Scientific Method: M&M Lab: M&Ms, paper or plastic bags, colored pencils Using the Scientific Method to Help Save Sam Lab: gummy worms, gummy rings, plastic cups, paper clips Problem Solving, Scientific Method & Density Lab & Answer Key: ice cubes, beaker, ruler, forceps or tongs, graduated cylinder, rubbing alcohol, balance, water You Might Also Like... Scientific Method Unit Scientific Method Presentation & Notes Scientific Method Green Cleaner Lab ⭐ Looking for quality resources and time-saving tips for your secondary science classroom? ☑ Follow Spectacular Science on TPT ☑ Subscribe to My Newsletter ☑ Check Out My Blog ☑ Follow Me on Instagram

middle school science stations are the perfect differentiation activity. Learn why and 5 other reasons to use them in your class.

At some point in their education nearly every student will make a cell model, it might as well be fun! Check out these 10 awesome ways to make a cell model!

Use this ratios and proportions activity to help middle school math students see the application of ratio and proportion concepts.

Teach students and kids about careers with these 19 free worksheets and lesson plans. Career exploration for students to do.

Looking for middle school teletherapy resources for speech therapy? Check out this list of resources to help you plan during distance learning.

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.

Do you need your students to hear different accents and speakers in Spanish? Are parents asking you for activities their child can complete at home to hear more Spanish? Then this is the ideal product for you! This bundle includes listening practice in Spanish for 13 thematic units with about 70 combined activities. Students listen to native speakers and complete short activities to show their understanding. Use these activities for bellringers, assessments, stations, or homework to provide students with additional Spanish listening practice outside of class! Documents are editable and easily shared through Google Classroom or a similar platform if necessary. Many activities also include comprehension questions in English for interpretive listening practice, and Google Forms to provide instant feedback! How to use this product: 1. Print the paper version and play the recording for the whole class to complete. 2. Share the links and document for students to work at their own pace. 3. Assign the Google Form as homework for immediate feedback. Great for stations, homework, assessments, enrichment or sub plans. Items in the bundle are sold separately as well! *******YOU SAVE 25% by purchasing this bundle!********* You may also like: Spanish listening practice bundle for beginners #2 Spanish listening practice bundle: Intermediate/Advanced Spanish listening practice MEGA BUNDLE For a complete list of over 30 listening comprehension products, click HERE!

Before beginning any writing unit with my middle school students, I always begin with vocabulary but not with boring old dictionary work!

Top 5 ways to teach about animal adaptations. Animal adaptation activities for upper elementary and middle school science.