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Mastering Middle School Science With Hands-On Activities, Labs, & Games! (Sem.1)
In this fun, hands-on, ongoing course, life science topics include: scientific method, cell biology, DNA/genetics, plants, classification. Based on 7th grade standards. Appropriate for 5th, 6th, & 8th grade, too. Join any time!
Class Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
Beginner Level
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
This class strikes the perfect balance between keeping learning fun and curiosity alive, while also working toward getting middle school learners "high school science ready"! This is an interactive, hands-on, and rigorous ongoing middle school science course which will meet once per week. This course covers the topics found in the 1st semester of a 7th grade science curriculum (however 5th-8th graders are welcome to join and students can "drop in" at any point in the course). I also have a...
16 lessons//16 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1Making Observations/Scientific Method/Lab ReportsNearpod slides and activities Observation Activity Design your own Mini-Experiment/Lab Report Weekly quizWeek 2Lesson 2Characteristics of Living ThingsNearpod slides and activities Eye Dilation (homeostasis) Activity Living Things Lab Weekly quizWeek 3Lesson 3Light and MatterNearpod slides and activities Electromagnetic Spectrum Foldable Show and Tell: 3 objects from your house (opaque, translucent, transparent) Weekly quizWeek 4Lesson 4Animal Cells - Part 1Nearpod slides and activities Organelle Pictionary Edible Animal Cell Project Weekly quizWeek 5Lesson 5Plant CellsNearpod slides and activities Plant/Animal Cell Foldable Cell Bingo Weekly quizWeek 6Lesson 6PhotosynthesisNearpod slides and activities Photosynthesis Storyboard (Comic Strip) Weekly quizWeek 7Lesson 7Cell Cycle (Mitosis)Nearpod slides and activities Mitosis Storyboard (Comic Strip) Virtual Onion Root Cell Lab/Lab Report Weekly quizWeek 8Lesson 8Cell Cycle (Meiosis)Nearpod slides and activities Meiosis Drawing Weekly quizWeek 9Lesson 9Mendelian Genetics & Punnett SquaresNearpod slides and activities Genetic foldable Inspect your family's traits Punnett Square Practice Weekly quizWeek 10Lesson 10Non-Mendelian Genetics & Punnett SquaresNearpod activities and slides Alien DNA Project Weekly quizWeek 11Lesson 11DNA - ATCGNearpod activities and slides Strawberry DNA Lab Weekly quizWeek 12Lesson 12Transcription & Translation DNA/mRNANearpod slides and activities DNA Escape Room Make a DNA Model Weekly quizWeek 13Lesson 13DNA Mutations & CloningNearpod slides and Activities DNA Bingo Weekly quizWeek 14Lesson 14Classification of Living Things: Bacteria/ArchaeaNearpod slides and activities 3 Domains Cut and Paste Activity Weekly quizWeek 15Lesson 15Classification of Living Things: Protists and FungiNearpod slides and activities Write a Protist Story Pictures of items in your home made from protists/fungi Weekly quizWeek 16Lesson 16Classification of Living Things: Plant KingdomNearpod slides and activities Venn Diagrams Weekly quiz
- List and describe the steps of the scientific method.
- Identify and create a model of both animal and plant cells, understand and describe photosynthesis, and be able to identify the steps of the cell cycle.
- Understand the development of the study of genetics, create an "alien" using a punnet square, label and identify the parts of DNA, and understand how mutations occur.
- Understand how organisms are classified.
- Be fully prepared to continue on to my 2nd semester.
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 ESL and science teacher for 3.5 years. I'm also a "hybrid-homeschool" momma to teenagers :)
0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Homework
Frequency: includedFeedback: includedDetails: Learners will be assigned optional 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
Frequency: includedDetails: Learners will be assessed through foldables, independent and class projects, labs, and quizzes. All work turned in will be given feedback and a grade.Grading
Frequency: includedDetails: All assignments turned in are graded and given feedback. Contact me if you would like for me to calculate a cumulative grade.
Lecture/Slides/Discussion is interspersed between Nearpod Interactive Slides to help with learner engagement and content retention. Flexible deadlines. Homework is optional.
None
*Q1 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: For lesson #1, we will be doing a quick activity in the beginning of class in which we will feel/observe random objects in a bucket/bowl. A parent or sibling should gather 4 random objects from around the house and place them in the bucket, and cover the bucket with a towel so the learner cannot see what is inside. During class we will feel/smell the objects without looking at them and make observations. Don’t peek! After lesson #2 students will be asked to design and perform a “mini experiment” at home. This does not have to be elaborate and should not require any outside supplies. Often learners like to perform experiments on their pets (for example, using the steps in the scientific method to find out which toy or food their pets prefer). Details will be discussed during class. Week 2: Some things below can be modified. For example, if you don't have a handheld mirror or flashlight, you can go to your bathroom mirror during this activity and use a cell phone flashlight. If you don't have all 4 colors of food coloring, one or two will suffice. If you can't find chicken liver, you can just do the potato portion of the lab. Day 1: Reaction activity: mirror, flashlight Living Things Lab: chicken liver, potato, hydrogen peroxide, knife, 2 empty water bottles, 2 balloons Day 2: Milk Fat Lab: red/yellow/blue/green food coloring (not gel), few tablespoons of whole milk (low fat milk will do), 6 q-tips, dish soap, small plate Week 3: Day 1: two sheets of construction paper, card stock, or copy paper (should be two different colors, one can be white), scissors, markers/crayons/colored pencils, pencil. Day 2: Bring 3 items to class from your home - one should be transparent (can see through), one should be translucent (can see light through it but can’t see through it), and one should be opaque (can’t see any light through it). Week 4: drawing paper, colored pencils Week 5: Edible Animal Cell: various foods/candies to create an animal cell model. Some learners choose to bake a cake and use different size candies to represent the different animal cell parts/organelles. Other learners choose to do something simple such as putting various candies or foods on a plate and labeling them to represent the different animal cell parts/organelles. Foldable: printer paper (to print pdf), scissors, glue, colored pencils/crayons Bingo card: printer paper (to print pdf) Week 6: Photosynthesis Storyboard: printer paper (to print pdf), colored pencils; storyboards can also be done digitally on a graphic design program of your choice. Week 7: Cell Division Storyboard: printer paper (to print pdf), colored pencils; storyboards can also be done digitally on a graphic design program of your choice. Week 8: Meiosis Drawing: printer paper (to print pdf), colored pencils; this pdf can also be uploaded to a graphic design program and done digitally. *Q2 SUPPLIES* Week 1: Foldable: printer paper to print pdf paper, scissors, glue Week 2: Alien Genetics Project: printer paper to print pdf, a coin, colored pencils, drawing paper (printer paper is fine) Week 3: Strawberry DNA Lab: 3 Strawberries, cutting board, knife, rubbing alcohol, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/3 cup of water, 1 tablespoon dishwashing liquid (for hand-washing dishes), small bowl and small glass, cheesecloth or coffee filter, funnel, resealable plastic sandwich bag, toothpick Week 4: DNA Model Project: We will be creating a 3-D model of DNA. Some learners like to use candy, others like to use origami or other non-edible items (like craft supplies). You will need a longer candy/item to create the “ribbon” part of the DNA, and 4 different colored candies to create the “ladder” part of the DNA. More info will be provided in the week 4 post and you will have 2 weeks to finish the project on your own time. You can start researching ideas online now if you would like. Week 5: Science Bingo: printer paper to print pdf, coins or other small items to use as “markers” on your bingo card as you play Week 6: 3-Domains Cut and Paste activity: printer paper to print pdf, glue, scissors Week 7: Paper, pencil, camera to take pics of items around your home that are related to the lesson Week 8: none
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
There will be a lesson in this unit which touches upon sexual/asexual reproduction and will only be taught to the point that learners understand the difference. For example, "As a plant's reproductive part, a flower contains a stamen (male flower part) or pistil (female flower part), or both, plus accessory parts such as sepals, petals, and nectar glands." Another example includes "Female animals and humans produce egg cells and male animals and humans produce sperm cells. These come together in fertilization to combine DNA and form a zygote, which will later develop into an embryo/fetus/infant". If sensitive questions arise on this topic, learners will be directed to talk to their parents. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact me. Please monitor your learner's use of scissors.
Ck12 textbook (available free online), Nearpod, Youtube, Wikipedia
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Science from The Florida State University
Hello, welcome to my "classroom" :). My classes are listed below, but first...a little about me! I am a certified middle school science teacher and taught for 5 years in the public school classroom. My educational background is in...
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Group Class
$23
weekly or $368 for 16 classes1x per week, 16 weeks
75 min
Completed by 180 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-14
2-10 learners per class