Mastering Middle School Earth Science: Hands-On Activities/Labs/Games! (Q4)
In this activity-based Earth Science class, we will learn rocks, fossils, natural disasters. Let's build a volcano! This is Q4 of my middle school science series, based on 7th grade standards - 5th, 6th, & 8th graders welcome. #academic
Stephanie Newton, BSc
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(110)
Star Educator
What's included
8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1-2 hours per week. Learners will be assigned homework each week. Homework will involve the following activities: creating foldables, or independent projects. Homework should take no more than 1 hour most weeks. Keep in mind that you are the "administrator" of your learner's homeschool education, so if there are too many assignments given you may modify the amount of homework you require your learner to turn in.Assessment
Learners will be assessed through foldables, independent and class projects, labs, and quizzes. If you wish for me to issue the learner a grade, please let me know when you register for the course.Grading
Feedback will be sent about Nearpod activity slides. Grades will be based on lesson quizzes and any labs/projects that are turned in.Class Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
This is a fun, hands-on, and rigourous 8-week earth science course (featuring the "Volcano Building and Erupting Lab" in week 4!) which is made up of pre-recorded lessons, nearpod interactive slides, interaction in the Outschool classroom, and hands-on assignments. This course is Q4 of 4 quarters. All 4 quarters are equal to a full year of 7th grade science standards (but 5th, 6th, and 8th graders are welcome to join, too!). This class can be taken as a stand-alone course (the learners are not required to take all 4 quarters of this curriculum). *Please note that I also have this class available as an ongoing, live class in a separate listing. Course Structure: 1. 1-2 pre-recorded video lessons each week. Lessons and assignments will be uploaded to the classroom each Monday morning at 10am (eastern time). 2. Homework or projects will be assigned in the Outschool Classroom and can be turned in within the classroom, or be sent to me in a private message. 3. Most assignments consist of foldables, labs, educational tech-games, or other fun activities! During the pre-recorded video lessons, I will teach the material using nearpod interactive slides, and any necessary props or websites. After each lesson an assignment will be given and can be uploaded in the classroom or sent to me in a private message. There will be opportunities for class interaction in the Outschool classroom and learners are free to message me at any time. The workload each week in this class will be the equivalent to a full week in a regular science classroom. However, you are your learner's homeschool "administrator" and are welcome to downsize the workload as you see fit (please communicate to me your plans to do this). There will be an informal, fun quiz each week. Course Syllabus (each week subject to change): Week 1: Rock Cycle (Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic Rocks) Nearpod slides and activities Rock Cycle Lab Rock Cycle Diagram Weekly quiz Week 2: Fossils, Relative Dating of Earth's Materials Nearpod slides and activities Landscape Drawing and Labeling Activity Gather Fossils Weekly Quiz Week 3: Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Tsunamis Nearpod slides and activities Plate Tectonics Lab Earth Science Storytime: Well-known Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and Volcanoes Weekly quiz Week 4: Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Tsunamis Nearpod slides and activities Build and Erupt a Volcano (Elephant Toothpaste, anyone?) Weekly quiz Week 5: Water, Ice, Erosion Nearpod slides and activities Edible Erosion Lab (weathering, erosion, glaciers, icebergs, landslides, mudslides) Glacier Calving Video Weekly quiz Week 6: Weather, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Lightning Nearpod slides and activities Lightning Lab Earth Science Storytime: Well-known Tornadoes/Hurricanes/Lightning Strikes Bingo Weekly Quiz Week 7: Climate Zones Nearpod slides and activities Climate Zones Breakout/Escape Room Find and describe your climate zone Weekly Quiz Week 8: Earth's Energy and Resources Nearpod slides and activities Bingo Research your local power company (how do they get energy?) I also have Q1, Q2, and Q3 of this class available (in FLEX format). As an alternative, I have the entire 7th grade curriculum in an ongoing, live class format (levels 1 and 2). These are the topics covered in each of my 7th grade curriculum quarter classes: Q1: Scientific Method, Living Things, Light and Matter, Plant/Animal Cells, Organization of Living Things, Photosynthesis, Cell Cycle. Q2: Mendel/Genetics, Punnet Squares, DNA, DNA Mutations, Hybrid Organisms, Classification, Intro to Plants, Photosynthesis. Q3: What is an Animal?, In/Vertebrates, Skeletal System, Circulatory System, Respiratory System, Nervous System, Digestive System. Q4: Rock Cycle, Fossils/Fossil Layer, Plate Tectonics, Meteorology, Clouds, Weather, and Natural Disasters.
Learning Goals
Students will learn various aspects of earth science. Please see the syllabus in the course description for a detailed list of all concepts taught. Learners will be able to identify different types of rocks, understand how fossils have formed rock layers, describe how plates shift and cause some areas to be earthquake prone, identify weather tools, identify different types of clouds, and understand how various weather patterns and natural disasters occur. After this course learners will be fully prepared to move onto 8th grade science topics.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created CurriculumStandards
Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
Rock Cycle (Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic Rocks)
Nearpod slides and activities
Rock Cycle Lab
Rock Cycle Diagram
Weekly quiz Lesson 2:
Fossils, Relative Dating of Earth's Materials
Nearpod slides and activities
Landscape Drawing and Labeling Activity
Gather Fossils
Weekly Quiz Lesson 3:
Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Tsunamis
Nearpod slides and activities
Plate Tectonics Lab
Earth Science Storytime: Well-known Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and Volcanoes
Weekly quiz Lesson 4:
Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Tsunamis
Nearpod slides and activities
Build and Erupt a Volcano (Elephant Toothpaste, anyone?)
Weekly quiz Other Details
Learning Needs
Lesson videos are broken up between Nearpod activity slides to keep learners engaged.
Parental Guidance
Evolution and Creationism will not be taught in this course, however feel free to contact me if you would like for me to share with you the unit materials (slides/worksheets/foldables) on the topic of Evolution, as this is one of the national standards for 7th grade. I am also happy to set up a private tutoring section to walk your child through this unit. I do not have materials on Creationism (Outschool only permits secular topics).
Please monitor your learner's use of scissors.
Supply List
*Q4 SUPPLIES* Doing the hands-on portion of the labs is not required, however it will definitely make the class more fun for learners! There are usually follow-up activities that ARE required even if the hands-on portion is not done (a lab report, post-lab questions, a nearpod activity, etc.). Often you can make substitutions for some items (or only do a portion of the lab) if it is difficult to get some of these items. I usually strive to do labs that only require items commonly found around the home. Turning in your assignments: you can take a picture(s) of your labs/activities and either upload them to the classroom (under the appropriate week’s post), or send it to me privately through Outschool in a message. Week 1: Rock Cycle Lab: 3 crayons (all different colors, label peeled off), carrot peeler, 3 squares of aluminum foil (about 12 inches x 12 inches), a ceramic mug filled with water, access to a microwave (or hot water from the tap), assistance from an adult for the carrot peeler Rock Cycle Diagram: printer paper to print pdf Week 2: Paper, colored pencils/crayons Week 3: Plate Tectonics Activity: 2 square graham crackers, whipped cream/cool whip, a plate (other crackers and gel-like substances can be used, such as mayonnaise, but it won’t be tasty/edible at the end of the lab!) Week 4: *Volcano material (day 1): disposable tin tray (a sheet pan will do if you don’t have the tin tray), glue (any kind), plastic or glass bottle/jar, 6 cups of flour, 2 cups of salt, 2 cups of water, 2 TBSP of cooking oil, food coloring (optional; suggested colors - red, green, black, or orange), mixing bowl, measuring cup, measuring spoon (tablespoon), spatula or whisk for mixing *Lava (day 2): Option 1 (basic recipe): 2 cups of warm water, food coloring (preferably red), 1 tablespoon of dish soap, 2 tablespoons of baking soda, vinegar (1-2 cups) Option 2 (elephant toothpaste recipe): ½ cup hydrogen peroxide (6% is best, but 3% will do), 1 tablespoon (one packet) dry yeast, 3 tablespoons of warm water, 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap, food coloring (preferably red) Week 5: Weathering/Erosion Model: Several marshmallows (any size), about 10 crushed oreos (or other cookie), choc/strawberry/corn/maple syrup (pick one), jelly beans or other small candy, optional: blue jello (one small container), small baking pan or pie tin or plate. Week 6: Lightning activity: small plate, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, plastic spoon and/or a styrofoam item (cup, bowl, or plate, etc.) Science Bingo: printer paper to print pdf Week 7: none Week 8: Science Bingo: printer paper to print pdf
Joined June, 2020
4.8
110reviews
Star Educator
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Science from The Florida State University
I have a BS degree in Nutrition and Food Science (pre-med track) from Florida State University. I later became a certified middle school science teacher and taught middle school science in the Florida public school system for 5 years. I have been an online teacher for over 2 years. I'm also a "hybrid-homeschool" momma :)Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$17
weekly or $130 for all content8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Completed by 26 learners
Choose your start date
Ages: 10-14
