Mastering Middle School Life Science: Hands-On Activities/Labs/Games! (Q3)
In this activity-based life science class, we will learn animal classification & human body. Featuring The Human Body Webquest! This is Q3 of my MS science series, based on 7th grade standards. 5th, 6th, & 8th graders are welcome. #academic
Stephanie Newton, BSc
Average rating:
4.8
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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
All work turned in will be given feedback or a grade. Please contact me if you would like a cumulative grade issued.Class Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
This is a fun, hands-on, and rigourous 8-week life science course (featuring The Human Body Webquest!) which is made up of pre-recorded lessons, Nearpod interactive slides, interaction in the Outschool classroom, and hands-on assignments. This course is Q3 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 other 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: Animal Behavior Nearpod slides and activities Pet Behavior Show and Tell Animal Behavior Storyboard (Comic Strip) Weekly quiz Week 2: Invertebrates Nearpod slides and activities Invertebrate Crossword and Matching Weekly quiz Week 3: Vertebrates Nearpod slides and activities Vertebrate Foldable Human Body Systems Webquest, Parts 1 & 2 Weekly quiz Week 4: Human Body Intro & Nervous System Nearpod slides and activities Nervous System Pictionary Human Body Systems Webquest, Part 3 Weekly quiz Week 5: Cardiovascular System Nearpod slides Heart Rate Lab Blood Lab Human Body Systems Webquest, Part 4 Weekly quiz Week 6: Respiratory & Digestive Systems Nearpod slides and activities Lung Lab Oxygen's Journey Storyboard (comic strip) Digestive System Crossword Human Body Systems Webquest, Parts 5 & 6 Weekly quiz Week 7: Skeletal & Muscular Systems Nearpod slides and activities Label the Skeleton Virtual Activity Label the Muscles Bingo Human Body Systems Webquest, Parts 7 & 8 Weekly quiz Week 8: Endocrine, Integumentary, Excretory, Lymphatic/Immune, & Reproductive Systems; Systems Review Nearpod slides and activities Human Body Dice Game Virtual Brain Games Body Systems Pictionary Weekly quiz I also have Q1, Q2, and Q4 of this class available (in FLEX format). As an alternative, I have the 7th grade curriculum available as an ongoing, live course, as well. 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, Clouds, Meteorology, Weather, and Natural Disasters.
Learning Goals
Students will learn various aspects of life science. Please see the syllabus in the course description for a detailed list of all concepts taught. Learners will be able to create their own animal using the various characteristics of different animals, differentiate the structure and function of invertebrates/vertebrates, identify the structure and function of the various systems of the human body (and create a life-size model). After this course learners will be fully prepared to continue on to my 4th quarter 7th grade curriculum if you so choose.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created CurriculumStandards
Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
Animal Behavior
Nearpod slides and activities
Pet Behavior Show and Tell
Animal Behavior Storyboard (Comic Strip)
Weekly quiz Lesson 2:
Invertebrates
Nearpod slides and activities
Invertebrate Crossword and Matching
Weekly quiz Lesson 3:
Vertebrates
Nearpod slides and activities
Vertebrate Foldable
Human Body Systems Webquest, Parts 1 & 2
Weekly quiz Lesson 4:
Human Body Intro & Nervous System
Nearpod slides and activities
Nervous System Pictionary
Human Body Systems Webquest, Part 3
Weekly quiz Other Details
Learning Needs
Lecture/Slides/Discussion is broken up by Nearpod Interactive Slides for improved learner engagement and fun! Flexible deadlines. Homework is optional.
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). If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact me.
Please monitor your learner's use of scissors.
Supply List
*Q3 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: Pet Behavior Show and Tell: paper, pencil, camera, your pet (if you have one) Animal Behavior Storyboard: printer paper to print pdf, or use a graphic design program of your choice to create your storyboard Week 2: Invertebrates Worksheet: printer paper to print pdf, colored pencils for matching Week 3: Vertebrate Foldable: copy/construction/cardstock paper, colored pencils Human Body Webquest Project: This is an ongoing project that will be due at the end of week 7. Supplies: printer paper to print 10-page pdf (or upload the pdf to a graphic design program of your choice), colored pencils Week 4: Pictionary: drawing paper, colored pencils Continue Human Body Webquest Week 5: Blood Lab: Plasma: corn syrup (enough to fill up half of a standard water bottle) Red blood cells: red cinnamon candies Platelets: round nonpareils/sprinkles White blood cells: mini marshmallows (about 10) Plastic water bottle Red food coloring, if no red candies available If you are not able to locate some of these specific candies, be creative and find something else to use as a substitute. If you can't find any red candies, I would suggest a few drops of red food coloring. *hint: keep your corn syrup bottle for week 6! Continue Human Body Webquest Week 6: *parental help will be necessary for safety reasons in this week’s lab Lung Lab: sturdy disposable bottle (examples: 20 oz gatorade bottle, corn syrup bottle from week 5, sturdy water bottle), 2 medium-size balloons (other sizes may be ok, too), scissors/box cutter, tape (electrical tape, duct tape, packing tape, or even standard clear tape in a pinch), a parent to help with cutting the bottle Oxygen’s Journey Storyboard: printer paper to print pdf, colored pencils, or a graphic design program to create your storyboard Continue Human Body Webquest Week 7: Label the Muscles: printer paper to print pdf Science Bingo: printer paper to print pdf Finish Human Body Webquest Week 8: Human Body Dice Game: printer paper to print pdf’s, glue or tape, scissors
Joined June, 2020
4.8
110reviews
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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
$15
weekly or $120 for all content8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
Completed by 25 learners
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Ages: 10-14
