Teaching Middle School Science

Even though it says K-5 many middle school teachers use these resources.

Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears is an online magazine integrating science, literacy, and the polar regions. In each month's issue, you can: Explore the Arctic and Antarctica; Learn science concepts and literacy strategies; Read about misconceptions, equity, and technology; Discover standards-based lessons and resources; and Integrate polar science into your curriculum.

This website uses video of exemplary classroom teaching to showcase K-12 instrction on watersheds and nonpoint source pollution. Nine lessons (five at the middle level) cover topics such as testing for water quality and watersheds. The site also provides an electronic field trip to a watershed.

At this website produced by NASA and NOAA, students in grades 4-8 learn about weather through interactive games, illustrated text, and fun facts. Includes How and Why sections as well as weather folk lore. Weather jokes are dispensed by a Joke Machine. Teacher materials are available.

Follow the journey that Darwin took on the Beagle. A ship makes the journey on a map as the user scrolls through a series of text boxes that are rich with images.

The images and videos you see at the site have been created at the Microscope Imaging Station at the Exploratorium and include everything from cancer cells to dividing sea urchin eggs. Resources for educators are included.

Lots of fun chemistry-based activities.

Lots of fun chemistry-based holiday activities.

This blog post provides ideas on how to turn a science news article into an inquiry-based lesson.

Blog post about how turkeys are raised and how to mitigate the waste using natural, sustainable materials. Ways to turn the science story into an inquiry-based lesson are included.