This class strikes the perfect balance between keeping learning fun and curiousity alive, while also working toward getting middle school learners "high school science ready"! This is a hands-on, and rigourous ongoing middle school science course which will meet once per week. This course covers the topics found in the 2nd 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 separate, ongoing 1st-semester-topics course that can be taken before or after this one. Both courses are based on national science standards and include many hands-on, fun activities and labs! I enjoy teaching with humor and as much engagement as possible. 

*Please note that I also have this class available as a flex (pre-recorded) option. Contact me for details. 

Course Structure:

1.	There will be 1 live meeting per week. There will be periodic breaks for holidays, etc. Learners can join and leave at any point in the course and will only be charged for the weeks enrolled.
2.     Class interaction will occur during live classes (discussion and games) and also within the Outschool Classroom between classes. I want to get to know the learners, and I want them to get to know each other!
3.	Optional homework or projects will be assigned in the Outschool Classroom and can be turned in within the classroom, or they can be sent to me in a private message. Some projects/labs we will do together as a class while others will be done independently. All work turned in will be given feedback and a grade.
4.	Activities will consist of: Nearpod interactive activity slides, projects such as foldables (kept in a science notebook), labs, and other hands-on activities. 


Course Syllabus (subject to change)


QUARTER 3:

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


QUARTER 4:


Week 9 Rock Cycle (Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic Rocks)

Nearpod slides and activities
Rock Cycle Lab 
Rock Cycle Diagram
Weekly quiz


Week 10 Fossils, Relative Dating of Earth's Materials

Nearpod slides and activities
Landscape Drawing and Labeling Activity
Gather Fossils
Weekly Quiz


Week 11 Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Tsunamis

Nearpod slides and activities
Plate Tectonics Lab
Earth Science Storytime: Well-known Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and Volcanoes
Weekly quiz


Week 12 Volcanoes

Nearpod slides and activities
Volcano and Elephant Toothpaste Lab
Weekly quiz


Week 13 Water, Ice, Erosion 

Nearpod slides and activities
Edible Erosion Lab (weathering, erosion, glaciers, icebergs, landslides, mudslides)
Glacier Calving Videos
Weekly quiz



Week 14 Weather, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Lightning 

Nearpod slides and activities
Lightning Lab
Earth Science Storytime: Well-known Tornadoes/Hurricanes/Lightning Strikes
Bingo
Weekly Quiz


Week 15 Climate Zones

Nearpod slides and activities
Climate Zones Breakout/Escape Room 
Find and describe your climate zone
Weekly Quiz


Week 16 Earth's Energy and Resources

Nearpod slides and activities
Bingo
Research your local power company (how do they get energy?)
Weekly quiz



Where do I go from here (after Semester 2)? See below for info about my Semester 1 class (if you haven't already taken it). I also have a space science unit available. 


Info about my Semester 1 Class: Mastering Middle School Science With Hands-On Activities, Labs, and Games! (Sem.1)

Your learner is welcome to take these ongoing classes out of order or both at the same time (or choose your learner's favorite topics and just enroll in one semester!). You can also enroll in only the weeks that interest your learner. See topics below.

Semester 1 Topics:
Scientific Method, Living Things, Light and Matter, Plant/Animal Cells, Organization of Living Things, Photosynthesis, Cell Cycle, Mendel/Genetics, Punnet Squares, DNA, DNA Mutations, Hybrid Organisms, Classification, Intro to Plants, Photosynthesis.

I also have my entire 7th grade curriculum available in a FLEX class option (pre-recorded). These are listed as Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 classes. Each quarter is offered year-round.