Middle School Science S2: Life, Earth & Space, Physical & Nature (Self Paced)
This is the 2nd semester of THREE middle school comprehensive science courses and is designed to encourage young scientists to discover the world around them. (Semester courses can be taken in any order.)
Mrs. Dawn Huffman, Certified Teacher M.S.Ed
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(453)
Popular
What's included
28 pre-recorded lessons
14 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentClass Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
This course will cover the 2nd semester of comprehensive middle school science and will provide an engaging approach to learning that covers the Nature of Science, Physical science, Life Science, and Earth Science. It will include labs and demonstrations of science concepts. This course will be filled with hands-on learning! My semester courses are a fantastic way to meet your student's science curriculum needs and prepare them for in high school sciences! We will spend the last few weeks preparing for Biology. Semesters 1-3 covers 6th, 7th & 8th-grade science and the courses can be taken in any order.
Many learners begin their middle school science journey apprehensive and little interest/knowledge in science. After the course has ended, they have grown to enjoy science and are much more confident in their scientific knowledge!
This course will include presentations, guided notes, videos, reading, writing, graphic organizers, foldables, experiments/labs, and demonstrations. I'm a firm believer in creating engaging learning experiences. I'm excited to begin a journey of discovering science with your learner!
Meeting 1: Introduce/Review how to use Schoology/Scientific Investigations &
Variables Review
Meeting 2: Identification of Variables in Experimentation/Penny Boat Challenge Lab
Meeting 3: Marble Run Lab/Graphing & Analyzing Data
Meeting 4: Scientific Theory & Scientific Law & Scientific Models Project
Meeting 5: Kinetic Theory of Matter & Heat Transfer (Heat Transfer Brochure)
Meeting 6: Part 1: Periodic Table of Elements
Meeting 7: Part 2 - Periodic Table of Elements
(Periodic Table of Elements Research Project)
Meeting 8: Pure Substances & Mixtures/Magic Ink Lab
Meeting 9: Protein Bite Mixtures Lab/Historical Models of the Solar System/Review Planets of the Solar System
Meeting 10: Types of Galaxies/Create Galaxies Foldable
Meeting 11: Small Bodies in the Solar System & Solar & Lunar Eclipse
Meeting 12: Biomes/Ecosystems & Ecosystem Project
Meeting 13: Energy & Matter in an Ecosystem/Water Cycle & Nitrogen Cycle
Meeting 14: Energy & Matter in an Ecosystem/Carbon Cycle
Meeting 15: Review Rock Cycle/Relative & Absolute Dating of Rock/Law of
Superposition
Meeting 16: Fossils & Gummy Bear Lab Reviewing Scientific Method
Meeting 17: Tectonic Plate Boundaries - 3 Types of Boundaries
Meeting 18: Earthquakes/Mountain Building/Volcanoes
Meeting 19: Types of Volcanoes
Meeting 20: Inside Volcanoes & Volcanoes (Virtual Field Trip)
Meeting 21: Heredity: DNA vs RNA/Review Punnett Squares
Meeting 22: Heredity: Pedigree Charts & Making DNA Model
Meeting 23: Part 1 - Mitosis & Meiosis/Introduce Final Project
Meeting 24: Part 2 - Mitosis & Meiosis (Cellular Reproduction Foldable)
Meeting 25: Mutations/Diseases & Biotechnology
Meeting 26: Sea Turtles & Their Adaptations/Human Impact on Sea Turtles
Meeting 27: Birds of Prey, Predation & Owl Pellet Dissection
Meeting 28: Share Final Projects
Students are encouraged to check in with the teacher weekly the Outschool classroom/private learner's messaging, which will allow for more engagement between the teacher and learner.
Participation is not required, but encouraged. It can include an introduction post, lab results discussion posts, assignments, and projects in the Outschool Classroom/Learner's Messaging. This allows students to process what they are learning by collaborating with the teacher. Participation in assignments allows students to practice and reinforce learning. This also provides opportunities for the teacher to gauge student learning and provide interventions if necessary. Private messages or classroom comments are usually responded to within 24 hours with the exception of weekends.
***Courses are not graded unless requested. If grades are needed, please instructions that will be provided in the course prior to the start to arrange submission of work for grading/feedback. A lab supply list will be provided once enrolled in the class. Thank you.****Learning Goals
Students will improve their understanding of middle school science and how the different fields of science are intertwined with each other.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created CurriculumStandards
Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)28 Lessons
over 14 WeeksLesson 1:
Meeting 1: Scientific Investigations & Variables
We delve into scientific investigations and variables, foundational concepts in scientific inquiry. We explore the nature of hypotheses, experimentation, and data analysis. Understanding independent, dependent, and controlled variables equips us to design rigorous experiments. Through interactive activities, we'll grasp how variables interact, affecting outcomes and conclusions. This session lays the groundwork for robust scientific thinking and experimentation. Lesson 2:
Meeting 2: Identification of Variables in Experimentation/Penny Boat Lab
During this lesson, we dive into the core principles of scientific investigation and the critical concept of variables. We explore how hypotheses drive experiments and the roles of independent, dependent, and controlled variables in designing rigorous studies. Through engaging activities like the Penny Boat Lab, we gain hands-on experience in identifying and manipulating variables, laying a solid foundation for conducting and interpreting scientific experiments. Lesson 3:
Meeting 3: Lab/Graphing & Analyzing Data
We will apply our understanding of variables and scientific inquiry as we construct a marble run to test hypotheses and collect data. Additionally, we learn how to graph and analyze the data, gaining insights into the relationships between variables. This session integrates hands-on experimentation with data visualization, enhancing our skills in designing experiments and drawing meaningful conclusions from data sets. Lesson 4:
Meeting 4: Scientific Theory, Scientific Law & Scientific Models
In Meeting 4, we explore scientific theory, scientific law, and scientific models. We learn how theories explain phenomena based on evidence and testing, laws describe patterns, and models simplify complex systems. Through discussions and examples, we enhance our ability to interpret and apply scientific knowledge. Other Details
Supply List
Lab Supply List https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ymQi5xKMWvXlsNUvxNLfjcFqVvqTqWMT5nQ_pTjfU7Y/edit?usp=sharing
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined November, 2017
4.9
453reviews
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
Florida Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
I've been teaching middle school comprehensive science since 2014 and I taught 5th-grade science prior to moving to middle school. I currently help design activities that support the 7th & 8th-grade curriculum for all of the science teachers. I will be incorporating reading and writing in this science course as well. I have a master's degree in reading and writing, and I am a firm believer of reading and writing in the content area. Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$22
weekly or $299 for all content28 pre-recorded lessons
14 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
Completed by 165 learners
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Ages: 11-14
