I want to share some of my favorite science experiments and labs that I have done the last couple of years with my 7th and 8th graders. These have been so helpful in reinforcing the concepts I was teaching my students. So let’s check it out and then let me know your favorite science experiments…
When you are planning your science unit, are you wondering where the free resources for teachers are online? You’re in the right place! If your district or school supplies you with a curriculum, then you’re off to a good start. But, what about supplemental resources? Or what if you don’t have an adopted curriculum? What…
It’s time to think about the different science activities to do during testing week or month! The kids are so focused on doing well on their tests and most are staring at a computer screen for hours each day. They will be craving social time. I believe our Science class is in the best position…
Do you strive to plan engaging science lesson plans, but feel like there’s little time to do this? Are you overwhelmed with all the things you have to do? I know exactly how that feels. So how do we find time to accomplish this? That’s what we will talk about today! All about planning your…
One way to get class started on the right foot is by giving your students science warm up activities. Not only does it free you to answer questions, collect papers, or take attendance, but more importantly, it gives students the review or curiosity their brains need. So let’s talk more about science warm up…
Are you looking for ways to have convection currents explained to your students? You can show convection currents in several different ways. Let’s talk about a lab that demonstrates how convection currents work! In this post We are going to go over convection currents and when we teach them in Science class. I will also…
Here is a salinity and density experiment that demonstrates how differences in salinity are related to density without having to go to the poles to show students how salinity and density create deep ocean currents. . This lab also gets students guessing which water has the greatest salinity. In this post We will go over salinity…
One way to offer students choice is by using choice boards in the classroom. Choice boards can be used with any Science unit, and for any group of students. When you offer activities based on student interest and the different intelligences, your students will be more motivated and may learn the material better than if…
As educators, we know how important it is for our students to learn and use vocabulary about Science. When students learn and practice new vocabulary words, it helps them in all areas in school, and in their lives. In This Post We will go over a few vocabulary teaching strategies to use during your Science…
Teaching middle school science is a lot of fun, and kids get excited when most of them finally get the answer to their question, “What is a science lab?” As teachers we need to make sure we are managing it so students are safe, engaged, and learning. Oh, and so we are not stressed too. In…
During 5E Evaluate, it is time to test in science. What have students learned? This is a very important part of instruction and learning. You need to know what your students are understanding and learning. This guides your instruction and leads them to the knowledge you expect them to learn. You must ask the right…
What are some science activities you can assign that are meaningful, engaging, and grow students’ brains? This is what Elaborate is all about! It’s time to have students practice and expand on what you taught them in Explain. In This Post We will discuss what Elaborate is in a 5E unit. I will share different…
We’ve engaged and explored, now it’s time to Explain 5E Model. This is your time to shine and project your best teaching practices with direct instruction. So, what are the components to successfully implement the Explain step? In This Post Explain is the guided instruction piece of the 5E Model. We will look at what…
What are the Earth Day activities you can do for middle schoolers? In middle school, we follow our curriculum, so how do we incorporate Earth Day into what we are already teaching? And how can you incorporate these Earth Day activities any time of year? Before you start planning, download your free guide Plan Your…
Now that you’ve done your hook in the Engage step in your 5E Model lesson, the next step is super fun because this is where you get to plan science experiments for middle schoolers! This is the Explore step. Kids will do some engaging activities to explore the content you will be teaching. In This…
What do you think about lesson plan hook ideas? Let’s try this activity. Look at this image of two separate classrooms. What do you observe? One classroom is full of students who are bored, not engaged. The other classroom has students participating and asking questions. Why is this? Quite possibly, the teacher in the…
Why is lesson planning of science such an important thing to do? Think back to your college days. Some of you may have just graduated and others, like me, feel like college was in another lifetime. But I bet you can remember writing those detailed lesson plans for your education classes. Some school districts…
