There is a printable version, editable PowerPoint version and a Digital Google Slides version that will help you save on time and paper!

The 9 Thanksgiving stations included are:

1. Heat it Up! – Students will identify methods used in cooking Thanksgiving meals.

2. Football Forces – Students will identify examples of Newton’s Laws of Motion in Football.

3. Pumpkin Spice Solubility – Students will perform a mini experiment in which they test the solubility rate of pumpkin spice based on temperature.

4. Pumpkin Decomposition – Students will discuss how decomposition and nutrient cycling occurs in pumpkins.

5. Cranberry Symbiosis – Students will identify and explain the symbiotic relationship between bees and cranberry bogs.

6. Vegetable Cells – Students will observe vegetable cells under a microscope and identify how key structures, like cell walls, help support vegetable growth.

7. Turkey Adaptations – Students will explore and explain various survival turkey adaptations.

8. The Season of Fall – Students will explain why temperatures and daylight hours changes during Fall due to Earth’s tilt.

9. Thanksgiving Carbon Cycle – Students will read an article about how Thanksgiving affects the carbon cycle.

*Each station should take students between 8-10 minutes to complete.*

The RESOURCE includes:

• Digital Google Slides link to perform stations online.
• Printable version of stations in color and black/white
• Editable PowerPoint version of stations.

Content covered:

Heat Transfer (Conduction, convection and radiation)

Newton’s Laws of Motion

Solubility and Temperature

Relationships in Ecosystems, Symbiosis, Mutualism

Plant Cells (cell walls)

Animal adaptations

Earth’s Seasons, Earth’s tilt

The Carbon Cycle

Human Impact on Earth

The post Thanksgiving Science Stations Lab – Editable & Digital – Middle School Science appeared first on Secondary Sparks.

In this interactive science lab, students take on the role of birds competing for food using different “beak” tools (tweezers, spoons, forks, straws, and clothespins). As they collect and analyze data, students quickly discover how variations in traits impact survival and reproduction in specific environments, making this the perfect natural selection simulation for your classroom.

WHY THIS EVOLUTION LAB WORKS

This is a highly engaging, inquiry-based science lab where students actively explore:

• Natural selection and survival of the fittest
• Adaptations and environmental interactions
• Genetic variation within populations
• Mutation and its impact on survival
• Extinction due to environmental change

Students rotate through different “beaks” and compete to collect various food types (M&M’s, beans, rice, cereal, marshmallows), allowing them to visually and physically connect to the concept of Darwin’s finches and how organisms adapt over time.

WHAT STUDENTS WILL DO

In this hands-on middle school science lab, students will:

• Participate in a natural selection simulation using bird beak tools
• Collect and record quantitative data across multiple rounds
• Analyze which traits are most successful in different environments
• Identify patterns between beak structure and food type
• Explore a mutation scenario using a new “beak” tool
• Investigate an environmental change scenario and discuss extinction
• Complete analysis questions using evidence from their data
• Write a Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) explanation to demonstrate understanding

This adaptations activity for middle school science is ideal for:

• Evolution units
• Natural selection lessons
• Adaptations and survival of organisms
• NGSS-aligned instruction
• Science stations or rotations
• Review or reinforcement

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Reading about Charles Darwin and Finch Beaks

Printable lab (color + black & white versions)

Student data tables and recording sheets

Higher-level analysis questions

Mutation simulation extension

Extinction scenario activity

CER (Claim-Evidence-Reasoning) writing page

Answer key included

Fully text-editable files (clip art is not editable and cannot be removed)

Digital Google Slides version for paperless classrooms

STANDARDS ALIGNMENT

This NGSS-aligned evolution lab supports:

• MS-LS4-6: Use mathematical representations to support explanations of how natural selection leads to changes in traits over time
• MS-LS4-4: Construct explanations based on evidence about how genetic variations affect survival and reproduction
• Florida Standard SC.7.L.15.2: Explore the scientific theory of evolution by recognizing how genetic variation and environmental factors contribute to natural selection and the diversity of organisms

WHY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS LOVE THIS ACTIVITY

Low prep, high engagement

Uses simple, inexpensive materials (utensils + food)

Encourages student-centered, inquiry-based learning

Builds strong connections to real-world science concepts

Promotes critical thinking, data analysis, and scientific reasoning

Works great for all learners with built-in differentiation

Check out other Evolution and Natural Selection resources:

Bird Beak Sort Activity

Evolution and Natural Selection Lesson Guided Notes and Assessment

Evolution and Natural Selection Google Slides and Print Activities

The post Bird Beak Lab – Evolution Natural Selection Adaptation – Editable & Digital appeared first on Secondary Sparks.

Students will examine bird beak structures and determine how each beak is adapted for survival in a specific environment. This activity encourages students to use critical thinking, observation skills, and research to connect physical traits to food availability and habitat.

This resource works perfectly as:

• an interactive science notebook activity
• a science station
• a partner or small group activity
• a review for evolution and natural selection
• a pre-lab activity before a bird beak lab
• a drag-and-drop Google Slides activity for digital classrooms

WHAT STUDENTS WILL DO

Students will be able to:

• Cut out and sort bird cards into the correct categories
• Match birds to their likely environment and food source
• Analyze how different beak shapes are adaptations for survival
• Explore how food availability impacts survival and success
• Make connections to Darwin’s finches and natural selection
• Use observations or research skills to determine correct matches

This adaptations activity helps students understand that organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

BIRDS INCLUDED

Students will work with the following bird species:

• Avocet
• Flamingo
• Eagle
• Hummingbird
• Ibis
• Oystercatcher
• Pelican
• Sparrow
• Woodpecker
• Toucan

These birds provide excellent examples of how different beak structures are specialized for different food sources and environments.

WHY TEACHERS LOVE THIS ACTIVITY

Hands-on and highly engaging

Great introduction to natural selection and adaptations

Perfect companion to a bird beak lab

Encourages student discussion and critical thinking

Easy to use for stations, centers, or partner work

Supports both print and digital learning

Low prep and classroom-friendly

Laminate the pieces for repeated use during:

• science stations
• review games
• partner activities
• intervention groups
• early finisher work

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Printable bird beak sorting activity

Cut-and-sort pieces

Interactive notebook option

Digital drag-and-drop Google Slides version

Answer key included

***Please note: This resource is NOT editable.***

STANDARDS ALIGNMENT

This resource aligns to:

NGSS Standards

• MS-LS4-6: Use mathematical representations to support explanations of how natural selection may lead to increases and decreases of specific traits in populations over time

• MS-LS4-4: Construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals’ probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment

Florida Standard

• SC.7.L.15.2: Explore the scientific theory of evolution by recognizing and explaining ways in which genetic variation and environmental factors contribute to evolution by natural selection and diversity of organisms

Check out other Evolution and Natural Selection resources:

Evolution and Natural Selection Lesson Guided Notes and Assessment

Evolution and Natural Selection Google Slides and Print Activities

The post Bird Beak Sort Activity – Evolution and Adaptations – Print & Digital appeared first on Secondary Sparks.

Each question is in short or long response format so students explain the topic and show their understanding.

There are 3 ways to use these editable warm ups/exit tickets:

1. Use them with slides as students fill out the answers on their own personal answer sheet.

2. Use the answer sheets with the questions on them without the slides. I personally have my students hole punch them each week to add into a pronged folder or binder to use as a study tool. You can even print them at 90% so students can glue them into their interactive science notebooks!

3. Use them for online learning or digitally with the Google Slides version. This is also perfect for digital interactive student notebooks.

A PowerPoint version is included for editing and a PDF version is included for easy printing.

*The questions are editable but the fonts and clip art are not due to copyright.*

Included in this Heredity warm ups resource:
2 weeks of warm ups/exit tickets (10 total).
3 editable templates to fit the needs of you and your students
PowerPoint Slides with the questions to project for your students
Answer key

Content covered:
Heredity

Traits

Genetics

Genes

Alleles

Phenotype

Genotype

Dominant traits

Recessive traits

Homozygous and heterozygous

Environmental Factors on traits

Punnett Squares

Pedigrees

Incomplete Dominance/Codominance

Find on TPT

Learn about using warm ups in middle school science

The post Inheritance & Heredity Warm Ups or Exit Tickets – Editable – Punnett Squares appeared first on Secondary Sparks.

Review vocabulary and key concepts related to inheritance and heredity. The link for Google Forms is available in the resource. An answer key is included in the resource and in Google Forms.

Task cards can be printed 1 per page or 4 per page. The answer sheet can be printed 1 per page or 2 per page to save paper. I typically print 2 per page so they’re perfect for gluing into interactive notebooks.

*Please note that the text is editable in each task card but the titles and clip art are not editable.

Content covered in the Heredity task cards:
Heredity

Traits

Genetics

Genes

Alleles

Phenotype

Genotype

Dominant traits

Recessive traits

Homozygous and heterozygous

Environmental Factors on traits

Punnett Squares

Pedigree

Find on TPT

Learn about using task card gallery walks

The post Inheritance and Heredity Task Cards – Editable & Google Forms appeared first on Secondary Sparks.

There is a printable version, editable PowerPoint version and a Digital Google Slides version that will help you save on time and paper!

The 9 Winter and Christmas Science Stations included are:

1. Ice Insulation – Students will explore how quickly ice melts using various insulators.

2. Candy Cane Reactions – Students will explore the dissolving rate of candy canes with different temperatures of water.

3. Holiday Light Interactions – Students will explore refraction and reflection using holiday lights, mirrors and water.

4. Christmas Tree Life Cycle – Students will discuss how spruce trees contribute to ecology throughout their life cycle.

5. Reindeer Adaptations – Students will explain adaptations that reindeers have.

6. Tundra Food Web – Students will organize a tundra food web and identify producers and consumers.

7. Winter Weather – Students will observe a weather map and answer questions about winter weather.

8. Holiday Treat Layers of Earth – Students will identify types of holiday foods that could be used to represent different layers of Earth.

9. Snow in the Water Cycle – Students will answer questions about snow within the water cycle.

*Each station should take students between 8-10 minutes to complete.*

The RESOURCE includes:

• Digital Google Slides link to perform stations online.
• Printable version of stations in color and black/white
• Editable PowerPoint version of stations.

Content covered:

Heat transfer and insulation

Interactions of matter and heat induced changes

Light waves (reflection and refraction)

Life cycles, ecology

Weather and Earth’s systems

Food webs, producers, consumers

Weather and Earth’s Systems

Earth’s layers

The water cycle

Find on TPT

Learn more about why should try stations in middle school science!

The post Winter and Christmas Science Stations Lab – Editable & Digital – Middle School Science appeared first on Secondary Sparks.

Content covered in this asexual vs sexual Reproduction unit:
Sexual Reproduction (Meiosis, feralization, zygote)

Genetic variation

Asexual Reproduction

Budding

Binary fission

Spores

Vegetative reproduction

Advantages of sexual reproduction

Disadvantages of sexual reproduction

Advantages of asexual reproduction

Included in the Bundle:

1. PowerPoint Lesson, Guided Notes & Assessment

Do you need a resource to introduce reproduction of organisms to your life science or biology class? This resource contains a PowerPoint lesson with Cornell notes style guided notes and an assessment that all tie together. This resource is excellent for traditional and digital interactive science notebooks. The PowerPoint and guided notes are also included in Google Slides which make this a perfect digital resource for online learning! There is also a self-grading Google Forms assessment. This is a no prep resource!

The PowerPoint Lesson and guided notes are broken up into 4 different parts:
Engage: This is a question that is used to get students thinking and engaged before the lesson begins. They answer the question in their guided notes.
Checkpoints: These are questions throughout the lesson that assess what students are learning as they go through. The student’s answer these questions in their guided notes. Answer key is included in the PowerPoint.
↵ Bringing it Back: This final question wraps up the lesson by tying student’s new knowledge with the engagement piece.

✐Summarize! Students can summarize their learning by writing, drawing or both.

All links for the Google Slides and Google Forms are included in the resource.

The PowerPoint is editable. The titles, images and clip art are not editable.

Guided Notes:
The Cornell style guided notes follow along with the lesson. This allows the students to go through the lesson with the class as the teacher goes through the slides or they can fill it out independently if they are using the PowerPoint digitally. All the text aside from the title and cover page are editable.

Includes two cover pages for interactive notebook booklets. One in color and one in black and white.

The Google Slides version of the notes includes text boxes for students to add in their own text. A Google Slides “toolbox” is included for students to reference to for changing fonts, adding images, drawings, etc. There are even drag and drop highlighter marks for students to make their notes more interactive.

*There is an included answer key for the guided notes to be easily printed and added to a teacher’s copy of an interactive science notebook.

Assessment:
The assessment contains 20 questions with a mix of vocabulary matching, short answer and multiple choice questions. An answer key is included. Everything is editable except for the title and any included clip art lip art.

A Google Slides version is included as well as a self-grading Google Forms version. The links are included in the resource.

2. Google Slides & Print Activities

This is a print and digital interactive science notebook resource that uses Google Slides. There are 8 interactive reproduction in organisms activities. These activities are perfect for a Life Science or middle school biology class with no prep! Perfect for online learning or in-person instruction.

Use these activities for:

• Sub Plans
• Test Prep (Florida SSA, Texas STAAR, NGSS)
• Online Learning
• Homework
• Independent review
• Stations
• Interactive Notebook Activity
• Early Finishers

Students will practice vocabulary skills, make real-world connections, research independently, understand visual representations and review concepts.

The activities include either drag and drop or short answer text. See the preview to get a better idea of how each slide works.

The slides and print version are not editable. An answer key is included in the PDF as well as the Google Slides link.

3. Choice Board Project

4. Interactive Stations

Do you need differentiated Sexual and Asexual reproduction stations activities for your reproduction unit? Perfect for a middle school Life science class. This resource will help you reach and assess your students in a multitude of ways. This resource includes 7 stations with minimal prep involved. There is a printable version, editable PowerPoint version and a Digital Google Slides version that will help you save on time and paper!

The 7 types of Cell Characteristics and Cell Theory stations include:

1. Discover – Students will research real-world application of asexual reproduction.

2. Observe – Students will observe a plant that can propagate.

3. Experiment – Students will genetic variation through a coin flip activity.

4. Write – Students will explain their answers to questions in 2-3 sentences.

5. Create – Students will create a Venn diagram that compares asexual and sexual reproduction.

6. Sort – Students will terms, processes and organism examples related to both forms of reproduction.

7. Quiz – Students will answer a mix of 8 true/false, multiple choice and short answer questions.

*Each station should take students between 8-10 minutes to complete.*

This resource includes:

• Digital Google Slides link to perform stations online.
• Printable version of stations in color and black/white
• Editable PowerPoint version of stations.

5. Task Cards

These 24 asexual and sexual reproduction task cards can be used in a classroom or digitally for distance learning through Google Forms with no prep. They are editable and even self-grading! Perfect for a Life Science or Biology class. They can be easily printed, cut and laminated for use in the classroom with a ready-to-print student answer sheet.

Review vocabulary and key concepts related to asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction. The link for Google Forms is available in the resource. An answer key is included in the resource and in Google Forms.

Task cards can be printed 1 per page or 4 per page. The answer sheet can be printed 1 per page or 2 per page to save paper. I typically print 2 per page so they’re perfect for gluing into interactive notebooks.

*Please note that the text is editable in each task card but the titles and clip art are not editable.

6. Warm Ups/Exit Tickets

2 weeks of editable reproduction warm ups about asexual and sexual reproduction. These could also be used as exit tickets! Digital or print versions are perfect for a reproduction unit in your Life Science or Biology class with no prep! Use these as bellrinrs to get your students ready for the day or end the class with a ticket out the door. Google Slides versions are also included for online learning!

Each question is in short or long response format so students explain the topic and show their understanding.

There are 3 ways to use these editable warm ups/exit tickets:

1. Use them with slides as students fill out the answers on their own personal answer sheet.

2. Use the answer sheets with the questions on them without the slides. I personally have my students hole punch them each week to add into a pronged folder or binder to use as a study tool. You can even print them at 90% so students can glue them into their interactive science notebooks!

3. Use them for online learning or digitally with the Google Slides version. This is also perfect for digital interactive student notebooks.

A PowerPoint version is included for editing and a PDF version is included for easy printing.

*The questions are editable but the fonts and clip art are not due to copyright.*

Included in this resource:
2 weeks of warm ups/exit tickets (10 total).
3 editable templates to fit the needs of you and your students
PowerPoint Slides with the questions to project for your students
Answer key

SHOP ON TPT

The post Asexual vs Sexual Reproduction Unit Bundle appeared first on Secondary Sparks.

Each question is in short or long response format so students explain the topic and show their understanding.

There are 3 ways to use these editable warm ups/exit tickets:

1. Use them with slides as students fill out the answers on their own personal answer sheet.

2. Use the answer sheets with the questions on them without the slides. I personally have my students hole punch them each week to add into a pronged folder or binder to use as a study tool. You can even print them at 90% so students can glue them into their interactive science notebooks!

3. Use them for online learning or digitally with the Google Slides version. This is also perfect for digital interactive student notebooks.

A PowerPoint version is included for editing and a PDF version is included for easy printing.

*The questions are editable but the fonts and clip art are not due to copyright.*

Included in this resource:
2 weeks of warm ups/exit tickets (10 total).
3 editable templates to fit the needs of you and your students
PowerPoint Slides with the questions to project for your students
Answer key

Content covered:
What are cells?

What are Eukaryotic Cells?

Structures all eukaryotic cells have (DNA, cell membrane, cytoplasm, organelles)

Plant and animal cell organelles (mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus)

Plant cell organelles (cell wall, large central vacuole, chloroplast)

Trying warm ups for the first time? Get some tips here!

Related Resources on TPT:

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Lesson, Guided Notes & Assessment

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Warm Ups

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Task Cards

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Stations

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Activities

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Choice Board

The post Asexual vs Sexual Reproduction Warm Ups / Exit Tickets appeared first on Secondary Sparks.

The 7 types of Asexual vs Sexual Reproduction Stations Activities include:

1. Discover – Students will research real-world application of asexual reproduction.

2. Observe – Students will observe a plant that can propagate.

3. Experiment – Students will genetic variation through a coin flip activity.

4. Write – Students will explain their answers to questions in 2-3 sentences.

5. Create – Students will create a Venn diagram that compares asexual and sexual reproduction.

6. Sort – Students will terms, processes and organism examples related to both forms of reproduction.

7. Quiz – Students will answer a mix of 8 true/false, multiple choice and short answer questions.

*Each station should take students between 8-10 minutes to complete.*

This resource includes:

• Digital Google Slides link to perform stations online.
• Printable version of stations in color and black/white
• Editable PowerPoint version of stations.

Content covered:
Sexual Reproduction (Meiosis, feralization, zygote)

Genetic variation

Asexual Reproduction

Budding

Binary fission

Spores

Vegetative reproduction

Advantages of sexual reproduction

Disadvantages of sexual reproduction

Advantages of asexual reproduction

Disadvantages of asexual reproduction

*Please note that the instructions for stations are editable but clip art, special fonts and formatting are not.*

Related Resources:

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Lesson, Guided Notes & Assessment

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Warm Ups

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Task Cards

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Stations

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Activities

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Choice Board

The post Asexual vs Sexual Reproduction Stations Activities appeared first on Secondary Sparks.

Review vocabulary and key concepts related to asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction. The link for Google Forms is available in the resource. An answer key is included in the resource and in Google Forms.

Task cards can be printed 1 per page or 4 per page. The answer sheet can be printed 1 per page or 2 per page to save paper. I typically print 2 per page so they’re perfect for gluing into interactive notebooks.

*Please note that the text is editable in each task card but the titles and clip art are not editable.

Content covered in the Asexual vs Sexual Reproduction Task Cards:
Sexual Reproduction (Meiosis, feralization, zygote)

Genetic variation

Asexual Reproduction

Binary fission

Spores

Vegetative reproduction

Advantages of sexual reproduction

Disadvantages of sexual reproduction

Advantages of asexual reproduction

Disadvantages of asexual reproduction

Related Resources:

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Lesson, Guided Notes & Assessment

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Warm Ups

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Task Cards

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Stations

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Activities

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Choice Board

The post Asexual vs Sexual Reproduction Task Cards appeared first on Secondary Sparks.