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St. Patrick’s Day Middle School Science Activities

St. Patrick’s Day Middle School Science Activities

A holiday is a great excuse to mix things up in your classroom. It’s a great way to take an…
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I’m Changing How I Use Interactive Notebooks in Science
5 Ways To Use Science Warm-Ups in Your Classroom
What To Do When Students Fail A Test

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This one really blows their minds 🤯 I keep so

This one really blows their minds 🤯

I keep some paper that I’m going to recycle anyway for this activity and I really feel like it hammers home just how small atoms really are!

Doing an engagement activity like this before starting a lesson really helps my middle school science students get interested in the material and curious to learn more.

If you’re looking for a lesson, guided notes and assessment on atoms, atomic structure and atomic theory, comment “atoms” to get a link to this editable resource that includes all 3! ⚛️

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#middleschoolscience #scienceteachersofinstagram #scienceresources #atoms #atomicstructure #atomictheory #scienceactivities #scienceresources #scienceinb #secondaryscienceteachers #physicalscience #middleschoolteachers

Normally I would recommend that you avoid saying “balls” in your middle school science classroom at all costs…

But we are making an exception for this lab.

(You can also say “spherical objects” 🤪)

The ball bounce lab is an easy, quick lab that can be done in 30 minutes or less with your class.

Students collect data on the rebound of different types of “spherical objects” such as a golf ball, tennis ball and bouncy ball.

This lab helps student practice a few scientific method skills such as

🎾 forming a hypothesis
🎾 collecting data
🎾 analyzing data
🎾 writing a conclusion
🎾 repeating trials in an experiment
🎾 following a procedure

Easy, low prep and minimal mess. Lab goals, right? 😍

Comment “bounce” to get the 🔗 to this lab sent straight to your inbox!

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#middleschoolscience #scienceteachersofinstagram #scienceresources #scientificmethod #scientificinvestigations #easylab #scienceinb #secondaryscienceteachers #earthspace #lifescience #physicalscience #middleschoolteachers

My #1 favorite strategy for spiral review during t

My #1 favorite strategy for spiral review during the year are warm ups. ☀️

I swear by them. I really do.

Taking 5 minutes a day to review a warm up question about a topic that was already taught this school year or a previous school year has transformed my teaching.

It allows me to understand
🧪 where gaps are in learning
🧪 what misconceptions students have
🧪 what needs to be reviewed or retaught completely
🧪 what concepts students have mastered

I learn all that in 5 minutes a class period. It makes all the difference for me.

This is especially true for my 8th grade classes who have a standardized science test at the end of the year in which they are tested on SO MANY earth space science, life science and physical science standards from 6-8th grade.

It’s insane 🤯

Using these warm ups has helped me get those mini review sessions in with students throughout the year vs cramming before that big test.

I created 45 weeks worth of warm up questions that cover earth/space, life and physical science. My students get a new topic every day and I cover at least one from each of those subjects each week.

You can have these exact warm ups too and have them done for the ENTIRE year.

Comment “spiral” to get the 🔗 to these middle school science spiral review warm ups sent directly to your inbox! 🌀

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#middleschoolscience #scienceteachersofinstagram #scienceresources #sciencewarmups #sciencebellringers #integratedscience #ngss #teks #scienceinb #scienceresources #secondaryscienceteachers #earthspace #lifescience #physicalscience #classroomorganization #teachertips #spiralreview

This was my random idea for today that I’m actua

This was my random idea for today that I’m actually pretty proud of but also mad that I didn’t think to do this sooner?! 😅

I have always created my own version of an interactive science notebook that I added pages to throughout the year as students did with theirs.

This way, students can see what their notebook was supposed to look like. 📓 ✨

Well, my new classroom had these hideous beat up chalk boards that I covered up and I made one into this “bulletin board.” I laminated some chart paper so that I can easily erase and change the table of contents with each unit.

The students appreciate the visual and I don’t have to repeat myself 100 times on notebook grading days about what assignments I expect to be glued in.

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#middleschoolscience #scienceteachersofinstagram #interactivesciencenotebook #scienceinb #scienceresources #secondaryscienceteachers #earthspace #lifescience #physicalscience #classroomorganization #teachertips

As a parent, when I think about all the informatio

As a parent, when I think about all the information I’m going to get at open house from 6-8 different teachers, my brain turns to mashed potatoes. 🥔 🔨

As a teacher, I want parents to remember what I have to say, especially the really important stuff.

So yeah, I’m going to post my presentation on my schools LMS and remind parents they can reference the info there but I know I would appreciate a good old fashioned hand out as a parent.

For me, it’s easier to have a printed document so I’m going to have that as an option tomorrow when I have my own open house for my middle school science classes.

I add all my important class info and even a QR code to my Amazon wishlist for parents who want to donate items for labs, etc.

Bonus tips: print on a half sheet to save paper. 2 to a page. ✨

Comment “open house” to get the 🔗 to this secondary science open house / meet the teacher template that comes with a presentation and hand out for parents/guardians. Includes templates for earth space, science, life science, physical science, biology and marine science!

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#openhouse #meettheteacher #teachertips #middleschoolscience #scienceteachersofinstagram #scienceresources #secondaryscienceteachers #earthspace #lifescience #physicalscience #marinescience

When I tell you I have 4 of these, I’m not lying

When I tell you I have 4 of these, I’m not lying.

I store all of my task cards for earth space, life science, physical science and marine science in these photo storage containers.

I even store exit tickets in them too for when I need them on those days where my lessons end a little earlier than expected. 😅
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#sciencetaskcards #taskcardstorage #classroomorganization #classroomstorage #teachertips #middleschoolscience #scienceteachersofinstagram #scienceresources #secondaryscienceteachers #earthspace #lifescience #physicalscience

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