Teaching Middle School Science

This resource guide from the Middle School Portal 2: Math and Science Pathways project provides insight into how teachers can help middle school science students develop science vocabulary.

Almost 50 grant opportunities for educators

"A learning cycle approach is an effective strategy for bringing explorations of the natural world and scientific questioning into the classroom. A summary of research supports the conclusion that a learning cycle approach can result in greater achievement in science and improved attitudes toward science and science learning." This page describes each stage.

Two activities have students create graphs of concentrations of greenhouse gases and observe the thermal expansion of water.

"On both the blog and the YouTube channel you will find more than 100 videos demonstrating various science experiments, demonstrations, and middle school science lessons."

Thanks Kimberly. Looks like a great resource.

An active volcano in Antarctica? No way!

In this podcast, Eric Muller, science educator for the Exploratorium Teacher Institute in San Francisco, California provides a hands-on, "feet-on" way of teaching about volcanoes and the layers of the Earth. Students draw a scale model of the Earth on a ground with a piece of chalk.

"This week, we're looking back at the school year and collecting the lessons we published by subject area. On Tuesday, we published our social studies, history, geography and civics collection; Thursday, look for English language arts, fine arts and journalism. Below, you'll find everything we did that falls into the categories of science, math, health and technology. And if you want even more lessons in these subject areas, you might take a look at our 2010 and 2011 collections as well."

Most of our oceans still remain a mystery. Dr. Chris Massell Symons shares how scientists are exploring the depths to uncover their secrets. Also: find out about a fun song to "lure" your students into learning about our One Big Ocean.

Help integrating science and literacy - here is a nonfiction text for students available in a variety of formats including electronic.

This nonfiction article is written for use with upper-elementary students (grades 4-5) but can also be used with middle school students. Students learn about two of Saturn's moons, albedo, the relationship between heat absorption and temperature, and how decreasing sea ice in the Arctic actually contributes to further melting. Modified versions are available for students in grades K-1 and grades 2-3, or any student needing a simplified version. At each grade level, the article is available in text, printable pdf files allowing you to print the story in either text or a foldable book format, and an electronic version. Reading strategy templates and related activities provide tips for integrating this story with your science and literacy instruction.

Keep up to date on the latest science news from around the world. Kim

Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Science360 is an up-to-date view of breaking science news from around the world.

This wiki page provides links to all the Math and Science Explore in Depth wiki pages. Explore in Depth pages provide context to exemplary online math and science resources.

Standing on the Greenland Ice Sheet, a team of scientists get a first-hand look at the rapidly changing face of polar icebergs and glaciers. Through recordings from the Exploratorium's Ice Stories project, you'll learn about their adventures and what these changes in ice can teach us about density.

This article from NSTA's middle level science journal looks at the new Framework for K-12 Science Education and provides an explanation of the scientific practice of explanation and argumentation.

Lots of fun chemistry-based activities.

Lots of fun chemistry-based holiday activities.

Lists of great iPhone/iTouch apps for teachers

"Textmasters was created to bring the collaborative learning environment of literature circles to content area reading with a science or social studies textbook. "

Great strategy for helping students read the textbook.

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.

"Every day, you see how cyberbullying hurts students, disrupts classrooms, and impacts your school's culture. So how should you handle it? What are the right things to do and say? What can you do today that will help your students avoid this pitfall of our digital world? We created this free toolkit to help you take on those questions and take an effective stand against cyberbullying. So start here. Use it now. Rely on it to start your year off right. "

"How much pressure does the atmosphere exert on a sheet of newspaper? As with the previous experiments, the force exerted by air pressure can be surprisingly powerful."

works for middle school too