Middle School Resources

Grades 6-8, is a time of tremendous physical, emotional, and cognitive changes for students. It is also a pivotal time for understanding and gaining enthusiasm for science.

Featured Resources

Sandy and Dusty Worlds

Journal Article

Iguanas from Above

Journal Article

Playing With Garbage

Journal Article

The Birds and the Bees, the Flowers and the Trees

Journal Article

Journal and Lesson Plans

Middle School Journal

Lesson Plans

NSTA Competitions

Shell Science Lab Challenge

For teachers

eCYBERMISSION

For teachers and students, grades 6-9

Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision

For students, grades K-12

Bestselling Middle School Books

NSTA Press Book

The NSTA Atlas of the Three Dimensions

New in 2020! Download and read a sample chapter from this book to learn more.A key aspect of learning in K–12 education is the idea that what studen...

NSTA Press Book

Big Data, Small Devices: Investigating the Natural World Using Real-Time Data

Now your students can transform their mobile phones and tablets into tools for learning about everything from weather to water quality. Big Data, Smal...

NSTA Press Book

Disciplinary Core Ideas: Reshaping Teaching and Learning

Like all enthusiastic teachers, you want your students to see the connections between important science concepts so they can grasp how the world works...

NSTA Press Book

Problem-Based Learning in the Life Science Classroom, K–12

Problem-Based Learning in the Life Science Classroom, K–12 offers a great new way to ignite your creativity. Authors Tom McConnell, Joyce Parker, a...

Latest Resources

Reports Article

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers, July 16, 2024

Collection

Clear Creek ISD_Making Sense of 3D Teaching and Learning

Making Sense of Three-Dimensional Teaching and Learning - Designing High-Quality Instructional Materials. Workshop for Clear Creak ISD - 7.11.24...

Journal Article

Capturing Photons

Smart Telescope technology and its suggested use for the Science classroom....

Journal Article

Finding Instructional Resources for Teaching about Scientific Misinformation

Commentary...

Journal Article

Conducting authentic moth research with students to encourage scientific inquiry.

Studying moths is an excellent way to include students in science practices by introducing them to a ubiquitous but under-appreciated animal group tha...

Journal Article

Explanation and Argumentation: How Middle School Students Make Sense of the Phenomenon of Niagara Falls

The Framework and NGSS emphasize using lines of evidence to construct explanations and develop arguments that demonstrate understanding about scientif...

Journal Article

Loud and Clear Project: An Introduction to Geospatial Tools for Project-Based Learning

Project-based and student-driven learning continue to be at the forefront of school reform efforts. Technology is a significant bridge and tool used e...

Journal Article

Sparking students’ curiosity: Embedding strategies to promote curiosity alongside teaching static electricity

In this article, we use the strategies listed above to engage students in a 5E lesson on static electricity (partially addressing MS-PS2-3). We start ...

Journal Article

Summer Science with the Secchi Dip-In Project

Secchi Dip-In citizen science project for Science Scope...

Journal Article

Ecology in Urban Spaces: Contributions of Urban Green Spaces to Ecological and Community Health

Our program seeks to introduce middle school students to a range of STEM topics and careers. We planned and enacted a five-lesson unit themed around t...

Journal Article

Communicating With Data Around Phenomena (Data Literacy 101)

Helping our students make sense of data while they are working with phenomenon can be an excellent way for students to build critical 21st-century dat...

Collection

OpenSciEd - Tips and Tricks for MA Educators

Created by the OpenSciEd Equitable Instruction Initiative (OEI) for Massachusetts middle school educators Labels indicate OpenSciEd-designated unit...

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