Choice Boards Archives - Secondary Sparks

Tired of One-Size-Fits-All Projects? Try Science Choice Board Projects

Michelle Rudolph — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:58:55 +0000

Picture this: you’ve just handed out a project. Half the room is already working. A few students are staring at the ceiling. One is asking you for the third time what they’re supposed to do. And somewhere in the back, the student who breezes through everything finished the outline before you even finished explaining it.

That’s not a classroom management problem. That’s a one-size-fits-all problem.

Middle school science classrooms are filled with students who have wildly different abilities, interests, and attention spans. Traditional projects often can’t hold them all at once. The ones who struggle get frustrated. The ones who are already there get bored. And you’re left trying to differentiate on the fly, which is exhausting.

Science choice board projects change that dynamic. They give students structure and flexibility at the same time. A clear set of expectations with room to show mastery in a way that actually works for them. They’ve become one of my go-to tools in middle school science, and in this blog, I’m breaking down exactly why.

What is a Science Choice Board?

A choice board is a one-page project menu. Typically with nine options arranged in a grid where every choice assesses the same standards. Students pick how they want to demonstrate their understanding, whether that’s creating a visual model, writing an explanation, designing a scenario, recording a short video, or something else entirely.

The key thing to understand about science choice boards is what they’re not.

They’re not free choice. They’re not busy work.

Every single option is standards-based and purposeful. Students aren’t choosing whether to demonstrate mastery or not, they’re choosing how. That distinction matters and it’s worth explaining to your students when you introduce them to choice boards.

Think of it as building a menu where every item is nutritious, but your students get to order what appeals to them. The outcome is the same. The path there looks different.

Benefits of Science Choice Board Projects

Science Choice Board Projects Increase Student Engagement

Engagement is always the goal, but in middle school science, it can be especially hard to crack. Some concepts are abstract and difficult to visualize. Not every topic has a natural hands-on lab attached to it. And no matter how much you love the content, twelve-year olds are not always going to match your enthusiasm on day one of a new unit.

Choice changes that. When students have a say in how they demonstrate their learning, something shifts. Ownership kicks in.

Instead of asking “do I have to?” they start asking “can I?”

Students naturally lean into their strengths when given the option. Your artistic students gravitate toward drawing and modeling. Your tech-savvy students want to create something digital. Your verbal processors want to write or explain.

When the assignment format plays to what a student is already good at, they’re more willing to push through the parts that are hard.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michelle | Middle School Science Teacher (@secondarysparks)

In your classroom, this will look like:

Fewer “can I do something else?” questions because they’re already doing something that works for them
Higher quality work because students invest more in projects they choose
Relationship building opportunities as you start seeing students’ strengths and talents that won’t show up on a multiple choice test

That last one is worth pausing on. Science choice board projects have a way of revealing things about students that traditional assessments never would. The quiet student who turns in a stunning illustrated model. The one who makes a video that’s genuinely funny and scientifically accurate. These moments build the kind of connection that makes the rest of the year easier.

Easily Build in Differentiation Without Extra Work

If you’ve ever tried to differentiate a single assignment for an entire class, you know how quickly it spirals. Suddenly you’re creating three versions of the same project, color coding papers, and hoping no one notices who got which packet.

Science choice board projects handle differentiation differently. Instead of creating multiple assignments, you create one board with multiple entry points. The differentiation is baked in.

Here’s how it can play out for different types of learners:

Struggling learners can choose options that allow them to demonstrate understanding through drawing, labeling, or guided formats without the barriers of a long written response
Advanced learners can gravitate towards options that push application and analysis, like designing a scenario or making real-world connections
English language learners and special education students benefit from visual and creative options that reduce language demands while still assessing the same content

One assignment. Many ways to succeed. That’s the version of differentiation that’s actually sustainable for a teacher with 120 students and a full plate.

Students Can Truly Show What They Know

Here’s something worth sitting with: not all students demonstrate understanding the same way. A student who struggles to put together a coherent paragraph might be able to draw a model that shows complete mastery of a concept. A student who fails a vocabulary quiz might nail a scenario based task that requires them to apply that same vocabulary in context.

Traditional projects often reward one mode of expression. Science choice board projects open up the range.

Depending on the options you include, students might demonstrate understanding through:

Visual explanations and labeled diagrams
Written reasoning and compare/contrast responses
Creative application like designing an experiment or writing a story from a cell’s perspective
Real-world connections that show they can transfer knowledge beyond the classroom

This matters especially in science, where the goal isn’t memorization, it’s explaining, modeling, and applying. A choice board naturally reflects that. And from an assessment standpoint, it’s flexible enough to work as either a formative or summative tool, depending on where you are in the unit.

Science Choice Board Projects Support Standards-Based Learning

One concern teachers sometimes have about choice boards is rigor. If students are picking the “easy” option, are they really meeting the standard? It’s a fair question, and the answer lies in how you build the board.

When every option is intentionally tied to the same NGSS performance expectations and science and engineering practices, choice doesn’t lower the bar. It offers different ways to clear it.

A student who draws and labels a model and a student who writes an explanatory paragraph are both demonstrating the same understanding, just through different modes.

This makes science choice board projects surprisingly useful beyond just the classroom:

Admin observations: easy to point to exactly which standard each option addresses
Student conferences: students can talk through their choice and what they learned, which builds metacognitive awareness
Portfolio evidence: choice boards produce a variety of artifacts that show growth across different skills

Choice does not equal lower rigor. When the board is built well, it raises the ceiling for every student in the room.

Ready to Try Science Choice Boards in Your Classroom?

The one-size-fits-all project had a good run. But if you’ve been looking for a way to increase engagement, reduce the differentiation burden, and give students a more genuine opportunity to show what they know, science choice board projects are worth trying.

The structure keeps everyone accountable. The flexibility keeps everyone engaged. And somewhere along the way, you might just find out something about your students that a multiple choice test never could have told you.

The post Tired of One-Size-Fits-All Projects? Try Science Choice Board Projects appeared first on Secondary Sparks.

Ways to Adapt Science Lessons to Diverse Learners in the Classroom

Michelle Rudolph — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 17:49:00 +0000

There are lots of things that vary from classroom to classroom across the country, but one thing is guaranteed: our classrooms are filled with individuals. Each individual student learns differently, has different preferences, and demonstrates knowledge differently. So, it’s critical as teachers that we work to meet the diverse student needs in our classrooms. Below are some of my favorite ways to support diverse learners in the classroom.

#1 Digital notes

For some students, handwriting notes is a huge barrier, and typing is much easier. Not to mention, typing can be easier to organize – which is great for visual students.

I like to help students organize by using guided notes. You can check out my Earth and Space Guided Notes and Physical Science Guided Notes.

#2 Choice Boards

Creating opportunities for student choice is a great way to meet the needs of diverse students in your classroom. Choice boards make it possible for students to present their knowledge in a creative way. I’ve had students create posters, podcasts, Canva presentations, 3D models, and more!

Want to try choice boards in your classroom? Check out the no-prep Physical Science Choice Board.

#3 Activities that Get Students Moving

Support your kinesthetic learners by turning task cards into a gallery walk or setting the classroom up into stations so students have to move from table to table.

#4 Assessment Strategies

Mixing up assessment types is a great way to adapt to the diverse learners in the classroom. Some students may excel at written tests, while others may prefer a project, presentation, or even a verbal assessment. A bonus to mixing up the assessment strategies is that some alternative assessments are way easier to grade.

#5 Hands-On Activities

Any time I can incorporate a hands-on activity, I do. Labs are probably the most on-the-nose way for a science teacher to get hands-on. Personally, food labs are my favorite because they are fun, and you have a delicious snack at the end. Win-win!

#6 PhET Simulations

Labs don’t always have to be in person. You can support diverse learners in your classroom with digital simulations, too. These PhET simulations are free and great for labs that are costly (or generally unrealistic in the classroom).

#7 Stations

Just like choice boards and alternative assessments, giving students different ways to show and practice their skills is always beneficial. Stations are a tried-and-true way to support diverse students in the classroom. You can alternate between written, hands-on, and digital activities to meet every student’s needs.

Check out some of my low-prep science stations to get started.

#8 Review Games

Some students absolutely thrive when you toss in the element of competition. Review games add some extra fun and engagement, too! Try using Kahoot!, Jeopardy, relay races, and more to infuse competition into your classroom.

#9 Project-Based Learning

PBLs are unique in that there is something for every learner within the project. PBLs present real-world problems or scenarios for students to analyze and solve using their scientific knowledge. They usually include cross-curricular concepts and even include some creativity.

#10 Virtual Field Trips

While real field trips are amazing and provide fantastic learning opportunities for diverse learners in your classroom, not every school allows field trips (or has the budget). Virtual field trips are a great option in lieu of physical field trips, and you’d be amazed by how many you can find online!

No matter where you teach, it’s all but guaranteed that you’ll have diverse learners in your classroom who all learn and apply knowledge in different ways. I hope these suggestions help you adapt your science lessons and make it easier to support every learner in your classroom.

The post Ways to Adapt Science Lessons to Diverse Learners in the Classroom appeared first on Secondary Sparks.

3 Lessons I Learned From Using Science Choice Boards

Michelle Rudolph — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:51:42 +0000

We all know giving students a choice in how they demonstrate their knowledge is key, but how exactly do you do that? With choice boards! Choice boards are a great way to increase engagement, encourage independence, and allow autonomy in your classroom. I’ve been using science choice boards with my students for several years now, and I’ve learned a few things that have improved the experience for me and my students.

Here are some reasons why I am a total fan of choice boards in my science classroom:

#1 Choice Boards Help To Build And Maintain Relationships With Students

Because choice boards allow students to pick how they demonstrate their knowledge, you can learn a lot about the kids in your room! As students are working, I’m able to listen in on conversations with their peers and observe skills they might be struggling with. It’s also fun when you find out that you’ve had a secret artist in your class or that someone is highly skilled in an area they’ve never mentioned before.

I can then use this new information about students to engage with them and show them that I am interested in who they are outside of the classroom.

#2 Science Choice Boards Made Me Evaluate My Grading And Assessment Strategy

Traditional assessments can be limiting for a lot of students. Not every student is able to show what they know through multiple-choice or written response assignments. Also, many students suffer from test anxiety, which can impact their scores.

On the other hand, science choice boards are more relaxed and creative, and they allow for more open-ended assessments. When I’m grading, I make sure to look at the whole picture, not just the final product. This can actually give you a better idea of what your students know (or don’t) compared to a multiple-choice exam.

#3 Choice Boards Allow Me To Learn About My Students’ Strengths And Weaknesses

Because science choice boards allow autonomy and independence, I’m able to gain insight into what skills students lean into and which skills they may be avoiding or struggling with. Choice boards can give you a great idea of students’ gaps because you can see their whole process, not just simply their final answer.

Using information about students’ gaps, I can make a plan to address those gaps and support my students where they need it. This can be done in a mini-lesson, small group, or while the choice boards are happening with some 1:1 intervention.

Ready-to-Go Science Choice Boards

Looking for some print-and-go science choice boards? Check out these low-prep choice boards that you can use during a unit or as a review during independent work and stations.

Thermal Energy and Heat Choice Board – This editable choice board helps students apply their knowledge of conduction, convection, radiation, and thermal energy in various creative ways.

Changes in States of Matter Choice Board – This science choice board is also editable and supports differentiation and creativity while students communicate their understanding of the changes in states of matter.

Interactions of Light Waves Choice Board – Allow your middle school students to demonstrate their knowledge of interactions of light with this editable science choice board.

Want to give choice boards a try? Grab this Science Choice Board Freebie! It can be used for any topic in your science classroom, so customize it to your current or upcoming unit.

The post 3 Lessons I Learned From Using Science Choice Boards appeared first on Secondary Sparks.

Using Choice Boards for End of the Year Review

Michelle Rudolph — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 18:30:53 +0000

Reviewing is a necessity this time of year, but let’s face it – it can be a little boring. If you’re tired of using the same old assignments you’ve used in the past, choice boards are a great alternative. Choice boards help keep end of the year review engaging, exciting, and allow some freedom for students, too.

Why You Should Use Choice Boards

The most obvious reason to use choice boards is student choice. Student choice encourages engagement and accountability. We all want a say in what we’re learning and doing, and choice boards give that to our students.

Choice boards also allow you to review several topics or concepts at a time. You can focus on topics students are typically tested over without wearing students out from worksheets and practice tests.

Additionally, you can use choice boards to assess students’ knowledge. You can create a rubric for choice boards or allow them to be more open-ended. Either way, you can take what students have demonstrated during the activities and determine what skills you need to include in your end of the year review and what skills students are solid on.

Choice boards also keep things interesting. Oftentimes, end of the year review can be boring for both teachers and students. With choice boards, we can give a few options but also allow students to offer their own ideas. I have had students present some ideas that I would never have thought of, and they turn out really great!

Lastly, choice boards let students flex their skills a little bit. Because they get to choose how they demonstrate their skill, you might see some of your students’ best work all year. And they get to brag a little – which middle schoolers always love!

Choice Boards for End of the Year Science Review

If you’re ready to use choice boards for end of the year review, check out my done-for-you science choice boards! Each of the choice boards below come with nine activities already created for students. They are also low-prep. All you’ll need to do is print them and then walk students through the activities. Then, watch as they show what they know!

Changes in States of Matter: Allow students to explore their mastery of matter with 9 different options or edit the board to include some original ideas!

Thermal Energy and Heat Transfer: On this choice board, students will have the option to engage in some hands-on activities, like creating a comic strip, a graphic organizer, or even a video to show off their skills.

Interactions of Light Waves: Students will showcase their knowledge of color, refraction, and more in various ways, including presenting a light show, creating social media posts, or getting artistic and creating a poster.

Forces of Motion: To review forces of motion, students will have 9 options, including creating a skit, making a brochure, or recording a podcast episode.

Atoms and the Atomic Theory: Complete an end of the year review of atoms, atomic structure, and more with choice board activities like creating a podcast, creating a timeline, and making a collage.

You can check out all of my middle school science choice boards here!

You can also grab the FREE Science Choice Board Freebie to help with your own end of the year review.

The post Using Choice Boards for End of the Year Review appeared first on Secondary Sparks.

3 Ways to Review Forces and Motion in Middle School Science

Michelle Rudolph — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 18:35:11 +0000

Teaching forces and motion in middle school is a big unit to cover, with everything from Newton’s Laws, action reaction to the equation for average speed to contact and noncontact forces. It can easily feel jam-packed. My students tend to struggle with this vocabulary-heavy unit, which is why reviewing is a must.

After years of teaching forces and motion, I’ve found a few review activities that I come back to every year because they are really effective.

#1 Google Slides Review

Google Slides may not sound like the most entertaining force and motion review, but it’s a great way to cover a lot of material at once. You can use these Google Slides as a whole class use them with groups, pairs, or as an independent activity!

The slides include interactive activities like drag and drop, matching, and short answer. This means students are practicing in a variety of ways. Plus, students can use these slides later as a reference material. Win-win!

One of my favorite Google Slides for forces and motion covers Newton’s Laws, like action and reaction. The Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion Google Slides cover calculating net force, balanced and unbalanced forces, and Newton’s Laws of Motion. Plus, it includes a digital version (because sometimes the internet is just not having it that day).

#2 Choice Boards

You may not think of assessments when you imagine choice boards, but that might change after you try this activity! I love using choice boards as a way to evaluate if students have really mastered the material.

Sure, a multiple-choice test can measure students’ skills. But when students have to apply their knowledge of Newton’s Laws, like action and reaction, or use the equation for average speed in different situations – you get a better understanding of what students really know.

This Force and Motion Editable Choice Board includes nine different activities, like filming a video about each of Newton’s Laws, like action and reaction, or recording a podcast to explain a concept.

If you want to learn more about grading and assessing students’ choice boards, check out this blog!

#3 Running Lab

If you asked my students, this would likely be their favorite way to review forces and motion. And it totally makes sense! They love anything interactive and hands-on.

I like to put together a simple Running Lab for students to review forces and motion. It’s simple: set up a little area in a field or open area for students to race. Use some sort of cone to mark the start and stop points. Then, let students race!

As they race, someone else will record their time. Then, they will use the equation for average speech to calculate and graph their average speed during the race. My students get really competitive during this activity, and it’s a lot of fun. Plus, it’s a great way to review calculating and using the equation for average speed.

To make things easy, I created a Running Lab to help students easily record their findings, graph their average speed, and discuss what they observed.

I hope these forces and motion activities help you easily review content with students! I know how stuffed this unit can feel, but with plenty of practice – your students will master the concepts and vocabulary.

The post 3 Ways to Review Forces and Motion in Middle School Science appeared first on Secondary Sparks.

How to Assess Student Knowledge with Choice Boards

Michelle Rudolph — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 19:34:15 +0000

You’ve probably heard time and time again that a big key to student engagement and buy-in is choice. And it’s no wonder! When students have a say in the activity they do or how they show off their knowledge, they can pick what sounds most interesting or appealing to them. This is exactly why I love choice boards for students.

Choice boards are an amazing tool for any middle school science classroom for reviewing key concepts. They give students ownership over their work, can be easily differentiated, and allow for student choice. What’s not to love?

The best part about choice boards? Students can showcase their various talents and interests, all while hitting the standards and mastering objectives. Which is why I love to use choice boards to assess students’ knowledge. Because students are more likely to give the activities on a choice board their all, and you can really see what students know and are struggling with.

How to Assess a Choice Board

When there is a choice involved with activities, being able to assess them can get a little complicated. Luckily, there are some simple ways you can assess students’ knowledge and allow them the freedom to choose.

#1 Use a Rubric

Rubrics not only help you determine how you will assess students, but they give students a clear idea of how they will be graded and what you are looking for. When giving students their choices, but clear on exactly what you will be grading.

For example, what vocabulary they might need to include in their final product, what you want to see in a model, how students should present the information, the number of pages, sizes for a poster, etc. Basically, get super clear on what you expect!

#2 Create Check-Ins

If you want to offer plenty of student choice and leave things open-ended for students, go with the check-in route. Before students get started with their activity or project, I have them check in with me about their plan.

Then, throughout the activity, I walk around the room checking on student work. This way I can easily get students back on track or give them the green light if they are doing well. At the end of the project, I have students hold conferences with me to go over the material and assess their knowledge.

This route will require you to be more hands-on and active, but it can really help you lean into the student choice aspect!

Try Choice Boards

Give choice boards a try with this Science Choice Board Freebie. This choice board can be used for any topic in your middle school science classroom and make for easy stations or early-finisher activities.

It includes activities like making a video, recording a podcast, making a postering, researching a topic, and more! Allow your students to creatively display their knowledge of recent concepts – while also doing something they enjoy.

BUTTON: Grab the Science Choice Board Freebie

Want even more middle school science activity ideas? Try creating a gallery walk with task cards! This activity is easy to set up and will give you another use for your task cards.

The post How to Assess Student Knowledge with Choice Boards appeared first on Secondary Sparks.

Why You Should Use Choice Boards in the Middle School Science Classroom

Michelle Rudolph — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 13:24:27 +0000

What are Choice Boards?

Choice boards are typically laid out in a 3×3 grid much like a tic-tac-toe board. With a choice board, students can choose a set number of assignments to complete. Depending on your goals, allow your students to complete 1 assignment on the choice board or create a pattern like tic-tac-toe.

Choice Boards Give Students Autonomy

Students, especially middle school students like to “be in charge” and have their voices heard. By giving students choices you allow them to voice their opinion and make their preferences known. This is why I love choice boards. One of my favorite ways to use a choice board is by allowing students to “choose their own adventure.” With this method, students can choose any three options on the choice board without restriction. It is rare that students are given this much freedom in the classroom and this method reassures them that they get to decide something, even if it’s just the choices on an assignment.

Choice Board Embrace Students’ Strengths

Every student in your class has certain strengths and preferences. Your students’ strengths may not be readily apparent to you as a teacher. But, through choice boards, you are able to really get a sense of what your students enjoy. For your artists, allow them to make a poster. Do you have students who love to talk? Allow them to create a podcast. For those actors who love being in front of the camera, they can make a video. The possibilities are truly endless.

By assigning your students a choice board, they can embrace their strengths and “show off” through activities they truly enjoy. If you aren’t sure where to start, start with simple options: posters, dioramas, a written response, and a commercial. Each of these activities will appeal to different students. Then, as your students complete more choice boards and you get to know them, you can tailor your choice boards to the types of activities they enjoy.

Choice Boards Allow You To Learn More About Your Students

Building relationships with your students is one of the most important things you can do as a teacher. By giving students choices gives them the opportunity to express themselves, you are building trust and a relationship with them. For example, who knew the quiet student in your 4^th period class was an amazing rapper?! By giving him the choice to complete an assignment in a way that truly resonates with him, you are building a classroom where students respect and feel comfortable with each other. It allows them to express themselves through their talents and abilities while also completing an assignment for school. I call that a win-win.

Choice Boards Allow For Collaboration

If your class is anything like mine, when you allow students to form groups, they will always choose the same few partners. By using choice boards, you can give students the opportunity to partner up based on the activities they want to complete. For example, if you have several artists in your class, they may choose to pair up with someone else they know can draw well so they can create the type of project that interests them most. This gives students the opportunity to network with new people and build relationships with their classmates. When students decide to work with other classmates, they can create new friendships and help strengthen the class community.

Choice Boards Allow Students to Show Off!

Every middle school student wants the opportunity to show off, whether it’s publicly or privately. Even the shyest student wants to know that his/her efforts are seen and appreciated. In my classroom, I like to give students the ability to show their talents through a classroom gallery walk. Once students have completed their choice board assignment, they can display it around the room. Then students are allowed to go around and look at each other’s work. Each student is given three sticky notes. As they tour the classroom, I have them give several of their classmates positive comments and reviews on their assignments.

If you have never used a choice board in your classroom, now’s the chance. Give your students the chance to show off their talents and see the difference it makes in your classroom community. Grab this free choice board today!

Are you looking for resources you can use today in your middle school science classroom? Check out my resources on TeachersPayTeachers here.

The post Why You Should Use Choice Boards in the Middle School Science Classroom appeared first on Secondary Sparks.