Middle School Science (Q3): Fun With Nearpod, Labs, & Projects (Animals/Humans)
In this fun, interactive class, we will go through Q3 of Middle School Comp Science! This quarter covers life science topics: taxonomy, animals, and human anatomy & physiology (body systems) - featuring the "Blood Lab"!
Stephanie Newton, BSc
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(110)
Star Educator
What's included
8 live meetings
10 in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Homework assignments/projects are optional. See each week in the syllabus for more details.Assessment
During class, learners will be continually assessed for understanding using Nearpod activity slides. Learners have the option of doing projects/assignments after class. I will grade any work that is turned in.Grading
I will send a grade/feedback for all assignments turned in. Contact me if you would like for me to calculate a cumulative grade. Because homework is optional, grades will be calculated based on work turned in.Class Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
Beginner Level
*THIS CLASS MEETS LIVE BUT IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS A SELF-PACED/PRE-RECORDED CLASS* (message me if you can't find the link) **This is a new class but is the exact same format/content as my ONGOING middle school science class. You can still see the reviews from that class on my profile.** This is a fun, interactive, and rigorous 8-week course which meets once each week! This class can be taken as a stand-alone course (the learners are not required to take all 4 quarters of this curriculum). This course is based on national science standards and includes many hands-on activities. Course Structure: *1 live meeting per week (1 hour, 15 min); part lecture/part interactive slides and labs *Optional 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. We will try to do/start these assignments during class as often as possible. COURSE SYLLABUS: 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. 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
Understand various aspects of life science.Learners will create their own animal using the various characteristics of different animals.
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 75 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Invertebrates
Nearpod slides and activities
Invertebrate Crossword and Matching
Weekly quiz 75 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Vertebrates
Nearpod slides and activities
Vertebrate Foldable
Human Body Systems Webquest, Parts 1 & 2
Weekly quiz 75 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Human Body Intro & Nervous System
Nearpod slides and activities
Nervous System Pictionary
Human Body Systems Webquest, Part 3
Weekly quiz 75 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Learning Needs
Lecture/discussion/teaching slides are broken up with Nearpod Interactive Slides to keep learners engaged and having fun. Homework is optional. Flexible deadlines.
Parental Guidance
Please monitor your learners use of scissors or other tools used during labs/projects. "Sexual reproduction" will be referred to for some content, such as when certain animal species or the reproductive systems are discussed.
CK12.org: accounts will not be required, reading is optional.
Youtube videos: links will be embedded in Nearpod or the Outschool classroom.
Nearpod: learners do not need to make an account. We will use Nearpod during each class for interactive features.
Google Doc: used to access supply list
Google Form: used for quizzes
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! 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
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. After working as a pharmaceutical sales representative, 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 since been an online teacher since 2018. I'm also a "hybrid-homeschool" momma :)Reviews
Live Group Course
$25
weekly or $200 for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
75 min
Completed by 5 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-14
2-8 learners per class
