Science Education Idea Exchange

This resource is amazing!  SWSmith Books , a new store, has worked hard to create differentiated science readings.  This  is one of many stories they have available. They are a 6th and 7th-grade teacher who wanted to have readings that don't make students feel inadequate when it comes to reading. They include a glossary, leveled readings, and vocabulary words that  stand  out for ease of implementation. This specific resource on Darwin is 58 pages with small chapters on the history of Darwin's trip to the Galapagos Islands. There are "words to know" at the beginning of each chapter and review questions at the end. The answer key is included. If you like the resource, you can purchase the bundle for the tiered levels. Photo by  Hulki Okan Tabak  on  Unsplash They also have their  website,  if you're interested in looking at their books and novels.

DewWool is a newer store with many free online resources! I found the " Root Structure " diagram and thought it was too good not to share.  This is for you if you need resources for students to label structures. (It also includes math and elementary education resources.) The resources appear to be simple and easy to use. One downfall, because it's free, is there are advertisements. I know this was a concern with the last school I worked at students: viewing unapproved materials via popup ads. Photo by  おにぎり  on  Unsplash

I have been busy updating my products and combing through for improvements. I did manage to create this one!  Physical and Chemical Changes Background Digital and Print Stations The physical and chemical changes background stations provide a kinesthetic way for students to gain a brief background on the physical changes, chemical changes, chemical reactions, evidence of changes (density, solubility, flammability, melting point, boiling point, states of matter, and odor). 10 stations can be printed for the classroom or shared digitally with students. Each station includes a check for understanding questions to lead to the next station. A student worksheet has a spot to record the station answers. The teacher's guide has the answer key and the order of the stations.

This freebie is in time for St. Patrick's Day ! It's a free element coloring sheet by  Madd for Science . The elements spell out the word "lucky" with festive decorations. They suggest using it as a warm-up or an activity for students that finish early. (I personally would use it for early finishers and  display completed sheets around the classroom.) Download your free print-and-go copy here ! Photo by  Eyestetix Studio  on  Unsplash

MS-ESS3-2: Natural Disaster Forecasting Activity Students make predictions about natural disasters. They will research the one they choose, gather data points, and forecast the next likely location. If possible, they will connect with a professional of their chosen natural disaster as they engineer solutions and map predictions. I have been taking some time to make my products more user friendly and add resources to make them helpful, so a little slower on the new products. :)

I love using stations to provide background knowledge and breaking large readings into smaller ones. If done well, it is a powerful tool. Here's what I have found to help my stations be successful: Don't allow more than three students at a station. It increases the likelihood of off-task behavior and visibility issues for the students. Set a timer: on the board, have a timer running. Students will move to their next station when they hear it go off. Have an extra station. By this, I mean that you should have questions or an activity a student can work on no matter where they are. Some stations will go quickly, and some will take the whole time. Consider using something that would summarize the learning from all the stations or allow for creative thinking about an issue related to the learning materials. I have been creating some stations in my Teachers Pay Teachers store that involve a brief reading and a check-for-understanding question at the end. The answer to the question ...

Here's another great resource for the emergency absence.  Kristin Consorti  created a lesson plan on creating a  Natural Disaster Survival Kit . They are an ELA teacher, so it encourages writing and lists the standards covered by the lesson.  The lesson plans are easy to follow and are print-and-go. Not to mention, the topic is engaging for students. Included is a way to score the project and clear guidelines for students.  Download your copy today! Photo by  Raychel Sanner  on  Unsplash

I have had fun making note sheets and decided to build stations to provide the background information necessary to complete the note sheets. Atoms Background Stations & Note Sheet Bundle The  atoms background stations  provide a kinesthetic way for students to gain a brief background on the structure of atoms (protons, neutrons, electrons, valence electrons, nucleus, and orbits), types of bonds (ionic and covalent), atomic mass, atomic numbers, the periodic table of elements, types of molecules (compounds and elements). 12 stations can be printed for the classroom or shared digitally with students. Each station includes a check for understanding questions to lead to the next station. A student worksheet has a spot to record the station answers. The teacher's guide has the answer key and the order of the stations. (Stations, teacher’s guide, and student worksheet are secured PDFs.) This  note sheet  is a single secured PDF that includes a black-and-white and a col...

In time for Valentine's Day, I found these STEM-themed cards on Teachers Pay Teachers from a new store called  Curious Shenanigans .  The free template has six different versions in color and black and white. Download your free copy  here  in time to celebrate! Image by  Alexa  from  Pixabay

ESS2-6 Coriolis Effect Activity In this Coriolis Effect activity, students go through three stations to simulate the impact of uneven heating and the Earth's rotation. They create a map to synthesize their learning. At the end, students complete a claim-evidence-reasoning over ocean currents. ( Included in the  ESS2 Bundle ) Ecology and Biome Note Sheet The cell parts note sheet has key terms for a unit on ecology. Topics include levels of organization in an ecosystem, abiotic versus biotic factors, representations of energy flow (trophic pyramid, food web, and food chain), and biomes. Pair this with your favorite reading, presentation, or video for students to summarize the key terms and concepts. (Background information is not included.) Who Am I? Ecology and Biome Vocabulary Review Game The classic "Who Am I?" game has 28 cards that cover common terms in ecology and biomes (see list below). Simply print the secured PDF with cards and instructions and play! (Definitions...

 My store will be participating in the Teachers Pay Teachers sale on February 4th and 5th. Enter the code  FEBSALE25 to save an additional 5%! AND, I have another $10 gift card to giveaway to one of my followers of my store . I will be sending a note with instructions on how to enter the drawing on February 3rd.

The freebie for this round caught my attention because the flashcards are beautiful to look at!  Included are  detailed images and definitions to help students learn their vocabulary on the parts of the cell and cell types.  There are nine flashcards for download from  Biochemistry by Noor . It may not be a complete set, but it offers a good sample of their work. Download your freebie  here  today! Photo by  National Cancer Institute  on  Unsplash

I am a big fan of coloring worksheets. This week's freebie is one of such products. It is created by  Mr. Seiwert's Science Resources . They created a worksheet on the reactants and products of photosynthesis. Students color the different atoms and answer questions about the balanced equations. Download your copy here ! Photo by  Alexander Grey  on  Unsplash  

With the holidays, more time was spent with family, but the first MS-ESS2 activity is active, and the next is underway. Over two class periods, students learn about the movement of salt on Earth's surface. They start with a small demonstration of saltwater evaporation, complete research on the cycle, and create a model. The final assessment is a CER over how salt moves from one location to another.

DUCKY SCI  is the store behind the freebie  Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration worksheet  on Teachers Pay Teachers. They have many cute resources for a newer store and this one caught my eye. The worksheet reviews the processes and shows how they form a cycle. There is a black-and-white version to print and a color version  that can  be filled out digitally. What I like: easy-to-read font and layout background information to connect to actual scenarios answer key two different student versions This could be used as a summary worksheet or check for understanding for middle and high school students. Photo by  Sharon Pittaway  on  Unsplash

Note Sheets 1.  Atoms, Structures, and Bonds Vocabulary Note Sheet 2.  Parts of a Cell Vocabulary Note Sheet Reviewing Lab Safety: Who Am I? Game- Lab Tools The classic "Who Am I?" game has 18 cards that cover common laboratory tools to review at the beginning of the year or midyear (see list below). Simply print the secured PDF with cards and instructions and play! (Definitions are not included and the game assumes students have learned the terms already.) This has been bundled  with one of my older resources on lab safety in a "Choose Your Own Story" format. It can be found here . Earth's Atmosphere  1. Escape Puzzle Room This puzzle escape room would be great as a review or a day there is a sub in the classroom. Topics covered are ayers of the atmosphere, air masses, weather, types of fronts, the Goldilocks Principle, greenhouse gases, and convection currents. 2. Who Am I? Game 3. Bundle of Above Review Games Coming soon. . . more Earth Science resources!

This week's resource is on cellular respiration. The author  Ms.  J  Classroom  created a PDF with a claim-evidence-reasoning question about the relationship between exercise and cellular respiration. They follow the activity with a few review questions. What I like: A quick way to assess understanding of cellular respiration Answer key included Provides a practical application of what students are learning about in class Easy for a sub plan Download your copy today! Photo by  Clique Images  on  Unsplash

 I finished my products for the MS-PS2 series on Forces and Motion : MS-PS2 Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions Activity Bundle MS-PS2-4 Measuring Impacts (Relationship between Gravity and Mass) :  Students test out how impact craters change with objects of different masses. This can be as a class demonstration or a lab. At the end, students reflect on the relationship between gravity, mass, and the force of the different objects in a CER and conclusion questions. MS-PS2-5 Magnetic Field Activity :  Students look at magnet interactions when the poles are the same and different. Afterward, they apply their understanding in a CER over Maglev trains or toys. Newer materials for Forces and Motion are my vocabulary game,   note sheet , and a review game bundle . And, finally, I added more resources on one of my favorite topics: genetics. Genetics Review Game Bundle Who Am I? Game- Genetics

  Looking for something festive?  This resource  contains links to three different  holiday decorations: ornaments, a tree topper, and a garland of DNA! They are  absolutely cute   and  most  of the  items  are created  by  Evolution of a Science Teacher .   This  is another new store. Download your free copy  here ! Photo by  Josh Harrison  on  Unsplash

Here are the latest and greatest wrapping up the cells activities for MS-LS1 and the new activities for MS-PS2 activities. Cells MS-LS1-7 Fermentation Class Demonstration Lab : The fermentation demonstration lab uses yeast to demonstrate how the organism releases energy from sugar and creating carbon dioxide, similar to cellular respiration. The lab will be completed in one class period. Background in cellular respiration is best for the completion of the lab. MS-LS1-8 Five Senses Project : Students will take the role of teacher as they research how one of the five senses works with the nervous system and what happens when there is a disease. They will create a lesson with a worksheet and activity for their classmates to complete. Forces MS-PS2-1 Egg Carton Redesign using Newton's Third Law :  This eggcellent activity uses eggs to demonstrate Newton's Third Law of Motion. Students design an egg carton to protect the egg from a collision with the floor. After testing their desig...