Free Alternative Energy Resources and a Ready-to-Use Lesson Plan

Teaching climate change in middle school can be both exciting and challenging. On the one hand, students care about the environment and want to understand real-world issues like rising temperatures, energy sources, and human impact. On the other hand, the sheer depth and complexity of climate science can feel overwhelming to teachers and students alike.

That’s why I want to help you kickstart your unit with free, classroom-tested resources and a daily lesson plan that keeps students engaged while meeting standards. Whether you’re prepping for your first climate day of the year, trying to build conceptual understanding, or just looking for meaningful ways to bring the topic to life, you’re in the right place.

👉 If you haven’t already, check out this post with two free climate change resources you can use right away — an alternative energy Google Slides presentation and editable cloze notes — as the core content for your lesson plan.

🌍 Why Start Your Unit With Alternative Energy?

Before diving deep into causes, impacts, and solutions, students benefit from a foundation in energy systems. Alternative energy — such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass — connects directly to climate concepts because students can see how choices about energy influence greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

These free resources give you a clean, structured starting point that:

  • Introduces key vocabulary without overwhelming students (terms like renewable, nonrenewable, solar, wind, biomass).
  • Provides visuals and discussion prompts that support varied learning styles.
  • Includes editable notes you can personalize for your class.

And the best part? These materials are ready-to-use today — no prep stress.

📅 Daily Climate Change Lesson Plan: Day 1

Here’s a full daily lesson (about 45–55 minutes) you can use with these freebies on the very first day of your climate change unit. It’s standards-aligned, student-centered, and built to launch inquiry and discussion.

🎯 Lesson Objective

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

  • Explain the difference between renewable and nonrenewable energy sources
  • Identify at least three types of alternative energy and describe how each works
  • Connect energy choices to climate impacts (e.g., fossil fuels vs. renewables)

This builds toward broader unit goals like understanding climate change drivers and solutions.

🧠 Lesson Flow

1. Warm-Up: Energy Brainstorm (5–7 minutes)

Prompt: “What kinds of energy do we use every day? Where does that energy come from?”

Have students quickly list sources of energy they use (think: lights, devices, cars, food, heating).
Collect responses on the board under two columns: renewable and nonrenewable.

This activates prior knowledge and primes students for the upcoming content.

2. “Hook” Mini Media Clip (5 minutes)

Show a short video or animation that illustrates the difference between renewable and nonrenewable energy — or simply start with an attention-grabbing image (like solar panels vs. a coal plant).

Tip: Choose something under 3 minutes that centers on real impacts rather than abstract definitions.

3. Interactive Presentation (15–18 minutes)

Now use the free Alternative Energy Google Slides as your main teaching tool. Walk through each energy type:

  • Solar
  • Wind
  • Hydroelectric
  • Geothermal
  • Biomass

Stop after each section to check for understanding with quick questions like:

  • “Which energy source is most common in our community?”
  • “Why might a city choose wind energy over coal?”
  • “What are some challenges with geothermal energy?”

This helps students make connections between the slides and their world.

👉 You can grab the slides here if you haven’t yet: https://justaddh2oschool.com/2025/05/17/kickstart-your-climate-change-unit-with-these-freebies/

4. Guided Practice: Cloze Notes (10–12 minutes)

After the whole-group walk-through, give students the free cloze notes printable. As you continue the discussion, students fill in key vocabulary and concepts.

Cloze notes reinforce listening and help students focus on the most important information without copying slides verbatim. It’s also an easy assessment you can collect at the end.

5. Quick Exit Ticket (5 minutes)

Before students leave class, ask them to write one of these:

  • “Name one type of alternative energy and how it works.”
  • “Explain why using renewable energy matters for climate change.”
  • “List one question you still have about energy sources.”

These short reflections help you check understanding and guide your next steps.

🌱 Quick Tips for Making Climate Change Matter

Here are a few strategies that make this unit (beyond just Day 1) more meaningful:

Tap into Data & Real Evidence

When you explore climate science throughout the unit, give students access to real data trends — like global temperature change or carbon dioxide graphs. Even simple data interpretation skills help students see scientific evidence versus opinion.

Some classroom lesson sequences suggest activities where students build cause-and-effect diagrams and interpret data on greenhouse gas increases and impacts like sea level rise. Morningside Center

Connect to Current Events

Climate change isn’t just textbook stuff; it’s happening now. Integrate age-appropriate articles, recent weather events, or local environmental initiatives to make content relevant.

Include Reflection and Action

End your unit with a question: What can we do about climate change as individuals and communities?

Students can analyze carbon footprints, brainstorm solutions, or even propose projects — like energy audits for your school or a campaign to reduce single-use plastics.

Activities like a carbon footprint calculator or community action brainstorm can deepen understanding and personal agency.

🌏 What Comes Next in Your Unit?

Once you’ve grounded students in energy basics with your free slide deck and notes, you can naturally progress through a full climate change unit that includes:

  • The science of the greenhouse effect
  • Human vs. natural contributions to climate change
  • Impacts on ecosystems, weather, and communities
  • Local and global mitigation strategies

Develop lesson sequences around inquiry tasks, data analysis, project-based learning, and real-world connections to harness student curiosity.

For example, one unit sequence designed for middle school explores questions like:

  • How is the climate changing?
  • How do glaciers change over time?
  • What role does human activity play?
  • What actions can young people and societies take?

🎉 Final Thoughts

Climate change is one of those topics that students want to understand — they feel it in their communities, their news feeds, and their future hopes — but teachers need resources that make the content accessible and engaging.

By starting with free alternative energy materials and a structured lesson plan, you set the stage for deep inquiry and meaningful discussion. You won’t just deliver facts — you’ll help students build understanding, ask questions, and think scientifically about solutions.

Have you used these freebies yet? Drop a comment or tag me on social media — I’d love to hear how your class responded!

How to Play Quizlet Live in Middle School Classrooms

How to Play Quizlet Live in Your Middle School Science Classroom

If you’re looking for a fast, low-prep way to boost engagement in your middle school science class, Quizlet Live is one of my favorite go-to tools. It takes the vocabulary sets you already have and turns them into a collaborative, high-energy game—perfect for review days, early-finishers, or that last ten minutes of class when you need something meaningful and fun.

What Is Quizlet Live?
Quizlet Live is a team-based game mode inside Quizlet that challenges students to match terms and definitions. The catch? Each team only sees part of the answer choices. Students must communicate to figure out who has the correct answer—no single player can win it alone. It’s science content, teamwork, and controlled chaos all in one neat package.

How to Set It Up
Start by choosing or creating a Quizlet set. I like to build mine around vocabulary for the unit we’re reviewing—everything from the rock cycle to natural selection. Once your set is ready, click “Live” at the top of the screen. Quizlet will generate a join code for students to enter on their devices.

You can choose to play in teams or individuals. I recommend teams for middle schoolers because the collaboration piece helps even your reluctant learners shine. Quizlet automatically sorts students into groups, which is a dream if you’re trying to avoid the “Can I be with my friends?” debate. You can also shuffle teams if you want a little more control.

Playing the Game
Once everyone is in, start the round. Students will see a term or definition on their screen, but only one teammate has the matching answer. They have to talk it out, decide who has the correct choice, and click carefully. One wrong click resets their team’s progress, so communication really matters.

Rounds are short—usually just a couple of minutes—which makes it easy to play multiple times. After each round, Quizlet shows the class (and the teacher) which questions were missed the most. This is my favorite feature because it instantly tells me what to reteach or reinforce.

Quizlet Live

Tips for Success

  • Keep rounds quick and replay often.
  • Encourage students to use scientific vocabulary when discussing answers.
  • Let students switch devices or seats occasionally to keep the teams fresh.
  • Use the missed-questions report as your warm-up for the next day.

Quizlet Live isn’t just a game—it’s a sneaky way to reinforce content while building collaboration skills. Once your students get the hang of it, they’ll ask to play again and again. And honestly? You’ll probably say yes.

Those last few days before Thanksgiving

You know that last day or two before Thanksgiving? Kids are wired, some kids are already on vacation, and you have to entertain them for 2 days. Covering content is an uphill battle and I learned many years ago to just give in. I don’t cover content on those days, but I don’t play games or give free periods either – that’s not part of my school culture. Instead, I created science content-adjacent activities that are engaging and keep students occupied and entertained for a whole class period while still allowing administrators who walk by to be impressed by the SCIENCE going on in my classroom. Here are 3 activities I do:

#1 – Thanksgiving Science Jigsaw activityscience of Thanksgiving

Standards: This activity addresses the following NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
  1. Asking Questions and Defining Problems
  2. Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Objective: Students will be able to read informational text and ask questions about the text and communicate the problems described in the text with their teammates. Activities:
  1. Divide students into groups.
  2. Provide each group with informational text about the science of Thanksgiving including topics such as: Why is some turkey meat white and some dark?  Why do leaves change color in the fall? Does turkey make you sleepy? Are sweet potatoes and yams the same thing? Why are cranberries so good for you?
  3. In groups, students read and discuss the text. Provide each group of students with guided questions to help them analyze the text if necessary.
  4. Jigsaw the groups so that each student has the opportunity to share what he or she learned with a new group of students who read a different text.
Evaluation: Have students complete an exit slip in which they provide a 2-3 sentence description of what new and interesting information they will share with their families during Thanksgiving dinner.

#2 – Thanksgiving Science Escape Room science of Thanksgiving

Standards: This activity addresses the following NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
  1. Asking Questions and Defining Problems
  2. Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Objective: Students will be able to read informational text and ask questions about the text and communicate the problems described in the text with their teammates. Activities:
  1. Divide students into groups.
  2. Create clues that lead to puzzles that help students understand  the science of Thanksgiving. For more information on creating a digital escape room, please read this blog from last year.
Evaluation: Have students complete an exit slip in which they provide a 2-3 sentence description of what new and interesting information they will share with their families during Thanksgiving dinner.

#3 – Thanksgiving Science Lab Stations science of Thanksgiving

Standards: This activity addresses the following NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
  1. Asking Questions and Defining Problems
  2. Developing and Using Models
  3. Planning and Carrying out Investigations
  4. Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Objective: Students will be able to conduct controlled experiments and use models to collect data and draw conclusions about the science of Thanksgiving. Activities:
  1. Students rotate through hands on stations to learn about the science of Thanksgiving. Stations include:1. Add vinegar to bones to remove calcium. 2. How do cranberries float? 3. How do you make butter? 4. How does inertia work? 5. How can you make music with glasses and water? 6. Cranberry juice as a pH indicator. 7. How do biscuits rise? (Generating carbon dioxide)
Evaluation: Have students complete an exit slip in which they provide a 2-3 sentence description of what new and interesting information they will share with their families during Thanksgiving dinner. Remembers the reason you became a teacher? I became a teacher because I love kids. So I don’t sit in front of my computer catching up on grading and planning while the kids do these activities. I’m in there with them, laughing and telling stories and having the best day! Let me know how you get through those last 2 days!
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13 Last Minute Halloween Costumes for Science Teachers

As science teachers, we already have the best props for Halloween—lab coats, goggles, and a love for all things weird and wonderful! But if you’re looking for fresh costume ideas that are easy to pull together, school-appropriate, and guaranteed to make your students smile, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some clever, punny, and science-inspired last minute Halloween costume ideas perfect for science teachers.

Elements

SIMPLE and easily adaptable for group costumes, dress as an element.

Make it even better with a headband holding pipecleaners and pompoms with your valence electrons.

Famous Scientists

Einstein is easy – don a crazy white wig, a lab coat, and a mustache. But try someone more obscure and see if your students can guess.

Marie Curie – wear a Victorian prairie dress and carry a radiation sign.

Isaac Newton – wear a tailcoat frock and a long curly wig. Carry an apple.

Charles Darwin – wear a pirate shirt, a derby hat, and carry a stuffed tortoise.

Vocabulary costumes

Miner – Wear a flannel shirt, work boots, and a toy construction hat.

Volcano – Wear brown sweats and a red beanie hat with red and orange streamers coming out of the top.

Meteorologist – Carry a weather map.

DNA – Use ribbon to twirl a double helix around your body.

Chloroplast – Wear green sweats and a yellow hat to represent the sun.

Whether you go all out as a glowing atom or keep it simple with a clever pun, dressing up for Halloween is a great way to bring a little extra joy and curiosity into your classroom. Science teachers have the perfect mix of creativity and curiosity to make learning fun—even on the spookiest day of the year! So grab your lab coat, dust off your goggles, and get ready to make your students gravitate toward your costume this Halloween. I’d love to see what you come up with! Share photos below!

Starting an Astronomy Club in your Middle School

Picture this: your middle school students gathered outside under a clear night sky, pointing and gasping as they spot craters on the Moon, trace the Orion constellation, or track the path of a satellite. An astronomy club turns ordinary evenings into moments of wonder and discovery, giving students a chance to explore the universe first-hand—while practicing observation, teamwork, and critical thinking along the way.

The best part? You don’t need a high-end telescope or a planetarium to get started. With a few simple tools, a bit of planning, and a sprinkle of curiosity, you can launch a club that sparks lifelong excitement for science. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to start a middle school astronomy club—from gathering students to planning activities—so you can help your learners reach for the stars.

Why you should start an astronomy club in your middle school

An astronomy club is more than just a fun after-school activity—it’s a way to spark curiosity, build STEM skills, and create a sense of community among your students.

Hands-on STEM learning. Observing the night sky gives students practical experience with science skills like data collection, measuring angles, and identifying patterns. They also practice critical thinking when they make predictions, test ideas, and troubleshoot experiments.

Teamwork and leadership. Running a club gives students opportunities to take on leadership roles, collaborate on projects, and share responsibilities—from planning stargazing nights to leading presentations on planets or constellations.

Inspiring wonder. There’s something magical about looking up at the sky and realizing just how vast the universe is. Astronomy taps into that natural sense of wonder, encouraging students to ask questions, explore answers, and keep learning beyond the classroom.

Even better, these benefits don’t require expensive equipment or a huge time commitment—you can start small and grow your club as interest builds.

First Steps

Starting an astronomy club may sound intimidating, but with a little planning, it’s completely doable—and a lot of fun. Here’s how to get the ball rolling.

Decide on meeting frequency and location. Will your club meet weekly, biweekly, or monthly? Indoor meetings can take place in a classroom or library, while outdoor stargazing sessions can happen on the school field, playground, or another safe nearby location.

Get approval and ensure safety. Make sure your principal and school administration are on board, especially if you plan to meet outdoors in the evening. Consider safety protocols, including lighting, supervision, and student check-in procedures.

Recruit members. Spread the word with colorful posters, morning announcements, and interest surveys. Encourage students from different grades or science levels to join—you’ll be surprised how many budding astronomers are eager to participate.

Keep it manageable. Start small with a handful of committed students, and don’t worry about fancy equipment at first. Focus on building interest and excitement—everything else can grow from there.

With these basic steps, you’ll have a solid foundation for your astronomy club and be ready to start planning engaging activities that get students looking up… and thinking big.

Click here to download a free Astronomy Club starter checklist!

Equipment

One of the best parts about starting an astronomy club is that you don’t need fancy equipment to spark curiosity—though a few tools can make the experience even more engaging.

Low-cost starter gear. Binoculars, star charts like Stellarium, and free smartphone apps like NightSky can help students identify planets, constellations, and satellites. Even a simple red flashlight keeps your night vision intact while exploring the sky.

Optional upgrades. If your budget allows—or if you can borrow or fundraise—consider a small telescope. A telescope can make lunar craters, Jupiter’s moons, or Saturn’s rings come alive for students. Planetarium software or interactive apps on a classroom computer can also create “virtual skies” for indoor activities.

Educational resources. Tap into the wealth of free materials available: NASA’s education portal, local astronomy clubs, and online stargazing guides offer lesson plans, observation logs, and activity ideas that are perfect for middle schoolers.

Safety first. Remember that observing the Sun requires proper solar filters or special glasses—never let students look at the Sun without the correct protection.

With a few inexpensive tools and accessible resources, your club can offer rich, hands-on experiences that bring the universe into your students’ hands… and eyes.

Astronomy Club Activities

The heart of any astronomy club is the activities that get students excited about exploring the universe. A great resource for planning your astronomy club’s observation nights is the YouTube channel “Night Sky Observations”. This channel offers clear, accessible guides for spotting planets, stars, and constellations, as well as tips for timing your observations around meteor showers and other celestial events. Whether you’re teaching students how to identify Orion or want step-by-step instructions for a full Moon observation, these videos can help you plan engaging, hands-on stargazing experiences that your students will remember.

You can mix indoor learning with outdoor stargazing to keep things engaging all year long.

Indoor activities:

  • Constellation mapping: Students can create their own star charts or use apps to learn the night sky.
  • Planet models: Make scale models of the solar system or 3D models of planets with craft supplies.
  • Space-themed experiments: Demonstrate craters with flour and marbles, simulate phases of the Moon with lamps and balls, or explore orbital motion with simple physics activities.
  • Games and quizzes: Turn facts about space into fun competitions or scavenger hunts.

Outdoor stargazing nights:

  • Track the Moon’s phases or identify planets and constellations.
  • Observe meteor showers, satellites, or the International Space Station when visible.
  • Encourage students to keep observation logs, sketching or noting what they see.

Projects and challenges:

  • Track lunar cycles or the position of a visible planet over several weeks.
  • Design a “Mars colony” project, incorporating science, math, and creativity.

By mixing hands-on indoor activities with real observations outdoors, your students will get a well-rounded astronomy experience that builds skills, curiosity, and a sense of wonder about the universe.

Funding your Astronomy Club

Starting an astronomy club doesn’t have to break the bank. There are plenty of ways to fund activities and equipment without stressing your budget.

Low-cost solutions:

  • Use binoculars instead of telescopes for early stargazing.
  • Leverage free smartphone apps and online star charts.
  • Repurpose classroom materials for models and experiments (balls, lamps, cardboard, markers).

Grants and donations:

  • DonorsChoose.org: Create a project request for specific equipment or resources, and let individual donors fund your club.
  • Local science foundations: Many communities offer small grants for STEM initiatives.
  • PTA or school support: Ask your PTA or principal for funds to cover telescopes, solar glasses, or club materials.
  • Astronomy clubs and planetariums: Local organizations may lend telescopes, provide guest speakers, or donate supplies.

Fundraising ideas:

  • Host a “star party” with families for a small donation.
  • Organize astronomy-themed bake sales or craft sales.
  • Sell star maps, posters, or DIY planet kits made by students.

With a little creativity and resourcefulness, you can provide engaging, hands-on experiences for your students without spending a fortune—and even inspire them to take part in fundraising and resource management themselves.

Reach for the Stars!

Starting a middle school astronomy club may feel like a big undertaking, but it doesn’t have to be complicated—or expensive. Even a few curious students, a simple star chart, and a clear night sky can spark excitement and wonder that lasts a lifetime.

Start small, focus on fun, and build momentum as your club grows. Mix indoor activities with outdoor stargazing, encourage student leadership, and tie club projects to your science curriculum to make learning meaningful. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s inspiring curiosity, fostering teamwork, and helping students see the universe in a whole new way.

So grab a flashlight, pick a clear night, and take your students outside. With each constellation traced and planet spotted, they’ll be reaching for the stars—both in the sky and in their learning.

Grow a Classroom Garden!

Classroom Gardens Grow Curiosity

Last year, I bought an inexpensive hydroponic table top garden. Within a few weeks, I had cherry tomatoes (transplanted into flower pots with grow lights on them) and lettuce and we shared a small salad! Kids were HOOKED! This year, I’ve got sunflowers in the table top garden, and they’re just about ready to be transplanted into flower pots.

Imagine your middle schoolers huddled around a planter box, squealing as they spot the very first sprout poking through the soil. A classroom garden isn’t just about growing plants—it’s about growing curiosity, responsibility, and a whole lot of hands-on science. From plant life cycles to ecosystems, from data collection to food webs, a garden brings your curriculum to life in a way no worksheet ever could.

The best part? You don’t need a green thumb or acres of land to make it happen. With just a few simple steps, you can transform even a windowsill into a mini science lab that gets kids excited to learn. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to plan, plant, and maintain a classroom garden—plus share some teacher-tested tips to keep it stress-free and fun.

Beyond the wow factor of watching seeds sprout, a classroom garden opens the door to endless science connections. You can tie it directly into NGSS standards on ecosystems, energy flow, and the cycling of matter—or simply use it as a living lab for observation, data collection, and problem solving. Even better, it builds student ownership: kids love taking responsibility for watering, measuring growth, or troubleshooting when things don’t go as planned. The result? A classroom full of engaged learners who see science not just as something in a textbook, but as something alive and growing right in front of them.

Classroom Garden Formats to Choose From:

One of the best parts of starting a classroom garden is that there isn’t just one right way to do it. Your garden can be as big or as small as your space (and your energy level) allows. Here are a few formats to consider:

In-ground beds, raised beds, and containers – If your school has an outdoor area available, an in-ground bed is the most “traditional” choice. You’ll have plenty of room for roots to spread out, but you’ll also need to check soil quality, deal with weeds, and plan for summer maintenance. The obvious problems with outdoor gardens is that your students won’t see them every day. Another problem is that much of the world can’t grow flowers or vegetables outdoors during the school year!

Hydroponics – If you’re more tech-curious, a small hydroponic system can be a show-stopper. No soil needed—just water and nutrients. This is fantastic for teaching about plant needs and sustainability, but can be pricier up front. The great thing is that kids will see their garden every day – more curiosity, more observations, more learning.

Small space? No problem. Even a windowsill can become a thriving mini-lab. Herbs like basil or mint, fast growers like radishes, or classroom-friendly plants like beans in clear cups (to watch roots develop) all make fantastic starter projects.

The key is to start with a format that feels manageable for you and your students. You can always grow (literally!) from there.

Planning: What to Grow in your Classroom Garden

Once you’ve picked a format for your garden, it’s time to decide what you want to grow—and when. Choosing the right plants can make the difference between a thriving garden and one that leaves students (and you!) frustrated.

Start with easy, student-friendly plants. Fast-growing veggies like radishes, lettuce, and green beans are perfect for middle schoolers because they give quick results and lots of opportunities to observe growth. Herbs such as basil, parsley, or mint are low-maintenance, smell amazing, and can even inspire cooking or science experiments. Flowers like sunflowers or marigolds are great for visual appeal and pollinator studies.

Match plants to your season and conditions. Think about sunlight, temperature, and your school’s growing season. If you’re growing an outdoor garden, spring and fall are ideal for cool-weather crops like peas and lettuce, while tomatoes, peppers, and beans need summer sun. If you’re using containers indoors, make sure the plants you pick thrive in the light you have. For a small investment, you can add grow lights to extend your growing season.

Plan for succession planting and variety. To keep students engaged, stagger plantings so there’s always something to check on. Rotate crops or include companion plants to teach about plant relationships and soil health. Avoid invasive species and stick with plants that are safe for students to handle. Impressive plants like pumpkins or sunflowers have that WOW factor too!

Finally, make a simple planting calendar. Even a small chart with planting dates, expected harvest times, and student responsibilities helps keep the garden organized and ensures nothing gets forgotten. A little planning upfront means more growing (and learning!) throughout the school year.

Integrating Student Activities into your Classroom Garden

The best part of a classroom garden? It’s not just about plants—it’s about learning, experimenting, and giving students hands-on ownership of science. There are endless ways to weave your garden into everyday lessons.

Student roles and rotations. Assign students responsibilities like watering, measuring plant growth, weeding, or monitoring for pests. Rotating roles ensures everyone gets a chance to experience different aspects of garden care and keeps things fair.

Embed experiments and observations. Turn your garden into a living lab: test how different fertilizers affect growth, compare plants in sun versus shade, or track germination rates. Encourage students to make predictions, record data, and analyze results—practical applications of the scientific method right outside your classroom.

Cross-curricular connections. A garden can inspire more than science:

  • Math: graph plant growth, calculate areas for planting, measure water usage.
  • Writing: keep observation journals, write reflections, or create plant guides.
  • Art: sketch plants, create labels or garden signage, or design posters.
  • History & Social Studies: explore the history of agriculture or cultural uses of plants.

Reflection and discussion. Encourage students to share what they notice, what surprises them, and what strategies work best. These conversations reinforce scientific reasoning and build communication skills.

By giving students real responsibility and connecting the garden to your curriculum, you turn it into a hub of curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking—plus a lot of fun along the way.

Your Classroom Garden Budget

What do you need to start a classroom garden?

If you choose the hydroponic route, start small with a table top garden like this one. For under $100, it has a built in grow light and enough space for 12 pods (each pod can grow a different plant).

A larger system like this 3 layer hydroponic system can run about $150 but can hold more than 100 plants.

If you’re more interested in DIY, here’s a quick video with instructions to make your own hydroponics tower. There’s even a pretty extensive Reddit thread on making your own hydroponics system.

🌱 National & Regional Grants

  1. Whole Kids Foundation Garden Grant Program
    Offers $3,500 grants to support new or existing edible educational gardens at K–12 schools in the U.S. and Canada. Whole Kids Foundation
  2. KidsGardening.org Grants
    Provides various grants, such as the Youth Garden Grant, Budding Botanist Grant, and GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant, to schools creating or expanding youth garden programs. KidsGardening
  3. Annie’s Grants for School Gardens
    Offers $500 or $1,500 grants to K–12 school gardens that connect children directly to real food, covering expenses like gardening tools and seeds. Home
  4. National Agriculture in the Classroom – Educator Grants
    Provides $500 grants to Pre-K–12 teachers for classroom projects using agricultural concepts to teach various subjects, including science.

🛠️ Teacher-Focused Funding Platforms

  1. DonorsChoose.org
    Allows teachers to post classroom project requests, which are funded by individual donors. It’s a popular platform for teachers seeking supplies for classroom gardens. Wikipedia
  2. ClassWish.org
    Enables teachers to create wish lists for classroom supplies, which are then fulfilled by donors. It’s a useful tool for gathering materials for garden projects. Wikipedia
  3. AdoptAClassroom.org
    Provides funding for classroom supplies through donations from individuals and corporate partners. Teachers can request funds for specific needs, including garden supplies. Wikipedia

🌍 Local & Community-Based Grants

  1. Your PTO or community foundations Mini-Grants
    Local community foundations often offer mini-grants to teachers for innovative classroom projects. Many PTOs will also support programs such as a classroom garden.

How to Play a Zap Game: A High-Energy Review Game Your Students Will Love

If you’re looking for a way to make test review more exciting—or you just want to inject a little energy into your classroom—Zap games are a total game-changer.

I use Zap games regularly in my middle school science classroom, and they never disappoint. My students are engaged, cheering each other on, and best of all—they’re reviewing essential content without even realizing how much they’re learning.

So what is a Zap game, and how does it work? Let me break it down for you.

What Is a Zap Game?

Zap is a PowerPoint-based review game that works best when played in teams. The gameboard contains 64 clickable buttons, each linking to a slide that contains either a review question or a special action. The objective? Answer questions correctly and collect the most popsicle sticks by the end of the game!

Zap is fast-paced, unpredictable, and totally classroom-friendly. You don’t need fancy materials—just a projector and something to use as a scoring token (I use popsicle sticks, but paperclips or tally marks on the board work too!).

how to play a zap game

How to play a Zap game:

  1. Divide your class into teams — as many as you’d like, though 3–6 tends to work best.
  2. Display the PowerPoint gameboard with 64 numbered buttons.
  3. Team 1 picks a number, and you click that number to reveal a question.
  4. The team answers the question. If they’re right, they earn a popsicle stick.
  5. If they’re wrong, the next team gets a chance to steal the point.
  6. After each turn, click “Return to Gameboard” to go back and choose another number. The number that was already played will be darkened so it’s not chosen again.

The Twist: Special Slides

Not every slide is a question! Some are “Zap” actions—and this is where things get interesting. These slides might say:

  • Zap – Return all your popsicle sticks to the teacher (ouch).
  • Steal One / Steal Two – Take 1 or 2 sticks from another team of your choice.
  • Give One / Give Two – Give away 1 or 2 of your sticks to another team.
  • Lose a Turn – Skip your next turn.
  • Pick a Player – Choose a player from another team to join yours!

These slides add an element of strategy and chance that keeps students on their toes and the game unpredictable.

When to Use Zap

Zap is perfect for:

  • Unit reviews
  • End-of-week content refreshers
  • Test prep
  • Early finisher challenges
  • Sub plans (with a little prep!)

You can find a few pre-made Zap games on topics like DNA, the rock cycle, ecosystems, and more here.

Turn Myth-Busting into Meaningful Science Learning with This Free CER Activity

What do the Loch Ness Monster, crop circles, and aliens have in common?
They’re all mysteries that capture the imagination—and they’re perfect for helping middle schoolers learn how to think like scientists.

If you’re looking for a way to bring engagement and rigor together in your classroom, my free Fact or Fiction activity might be just what you need.

What Is CER, and Why Does It Matter?

CER stands for Claim – Evidence – Reasoning, and it’s a framework students use to explain scientific phenomena clearly and logically. Instead of just giving an answer, students are taught to:

  • Make a Claim: A statement or conclusion that answers a question.
  • Support it with Evidence: Scientific data that backs up the claim.
  • Add Reasoning: A justification that connects the evidence to the claim using scientific principles.

In other words, CER helps students move beyond “just guessing” or “picking the answer they like” to thinking critically, evaluating sources, and defending their ideas using real science.

And let’s face it—middle school is the perfect time to build those habits. Students are naturally curious (and sometimes skeptical), which makes them ideal detectives for separating science from myth.

Introducing: Fact or Fiction – A CER Activity Disguised as a Mystery Investigation

In this free 3-part resource, students become scientific investigators as they explore a mystery of their choice—like the Nazca Lines, Atlantis, or even the Chupacabra. Their job? Research both sides of the mystery, evaluate the evidence, and make a claim about whether it’s fact or fiction.

This activity is flexible enough to be used as an individual project, partner activity, or whole-class discussion, and it integrates perfectly into units on the scientific method, media literacy, or research skills.

Here’s what’s included:

✅ Complete directions to guide students through the CER process
✅ A list of suggested mysteries for students to select from
✅ A suggested rubric to score student projects

Why Teachers Love It:

💬 “My students were so into this. I’ve never seen them so invested in citing evidence.”
💬 “The CER format made it feel like a science lesson, even though they were talking about Bigfoot!”
💬 “Great for early finishers, extension projects, or end-of-unit review!”

Want to Try It Out?

This 2 page activity is totally free and designed to make your life easier while helping students build real science skills.

Bring some critical thinking—and a little mystery—into your classroom!

Fact or Fiction CER Activity

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🧬 Bring Mutations to Life with This Creative Science Activity

If you teach middle school science, you know that mutations and natural selection can feel a little abstract at first. Students may understand what a mutation is, but connecting that idea to survival, reproduction, and real-world organisms? That takes a little more thinking—and a lot more creativity.

That’s why I created the “Design a Mutant” worksheet—a free, two-page activity that helps students visualize how beneficial, harmful, and neutral mutations work in real organisms.

And did I mention? They get to invent their own mutant. 🧬🎨

What Is the “Design a Mutant” Activity?

In this printable worksheet, students choose a plant or animal they already know—like a rose bush, squirrel, or goldfish. Then they imagine three different mutations:

  • 🟢 A beneficial mutation that helps the organism survive and reproduce
  • 🔴 A harmful mutation that makes survival harder
  • ⚪ A neutral mutation that doesn’t change the organism’s survival chances

On the second page, students draw the organism with its three mutations and label each one. Finally, they think one step further: What if the environment changes? How would their mutations help or hurt the organism then?

In just two pages, they connect mutations, traits, survival, reproduction, and natural selection—all while thinking creatively and applying what they’ve learned.

Why Teachers Love It

“My students had SO much fun drawing their mutants. One made a cactus with wings. Another gave a turtle the ability to change colors like a chameleon!”
“It really helped solidify the difference between beneficial, harmful, and neutral mutations—and I could clearly see who understood the concepts.”

Teachers love this activity because it:

  • Makes mutations and natural selection visual and personal
  • Encourages creative thinking and problem solving
  • Is low prep—just print and go
  • Works well for review, sub plans, or end-of-unit assessments

Aligned & Ready to Use

The “Design a Mutant” worksheet aligns with NGSS MS-LS4-4 and MS-LS4-6, focusing on the roles of genetic variation and environmental change in natural selection. It’s ideal for grades 6–8, but could be used for enrichment or support in other grades too.

Want to Try It? It’s Free!

You can grab the full 2-page worksheet (plus teacher instructions) for free! Just click below, and I’ll send it straight to your inbox.

Design a Mutant

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Looking Ahead?

If your students enjoyed designing mutants, you might be heading into adaptations, fossils, or artificial selection next. I’ve got some fun, ready-to-go resources for those units too—stay tuned!

Meet Henrietta Swan Leavitt: The Unsung Astronomer Who Measured the Universe – Great Astronomers Series

As middle school science educators, we strive to inspire curiosity and show students how scientific breakthroughs often come from unexpected places. In this featured video from the Great Astronomers Series, we meet Henrietta Swan Leavitt, the pioneering astronomer whose discovery of the period-luminosity relationship in Cepheid variable stars helped astronomers gauge the size of our universe.

Leavitt’s work transformed how we understand distances in space—yet her story remains less recognized than those of her male counterparts. This video offers a fascinating glimpse into her contributions through clear narration and visuals perfect for the classroom.

Why you should watch—and share—this video:

  • It presents historical science through a relatable lens, engaging for middle schoolers.
  • It highlights the often-overlooked achievements of a female scientist, supporting diversity in STEM teaching.
  • It adds rich context to lessons on astronomy, light, and scientific history.

Classroom Ideas for Teaching Henrietta Swan Leavitt’s Story

1. Quick Pre-Video Engagement Prediction Prompt:
On the board, write: “What do you think it means to ‘measure the universe’?”
Have students jot down ideas before watching. Revisit after the video to see how their understanding changed.
2. Hidden Figures in Science:
Show a list of famous astronomers (Galileo, Hubble, Newton) and ask which ones they’ve heard of. Then introduce Henrietta Swan Leavitt as someone equally important but less known.
3. During-Video Note-Taking and Post Video Discussion Questions
Click here to download a copy of a worksheet your students can use while they’re watching the video.
4. Hands-On Science Tie-In
Star Distance Model:
Have students use a simple light bulb (as a star) and a lux meter or phone app to see how brightness changes with distance. Relate this to Leavitt’s work on Cepheid variable stars.
Light Curve Activity:
Provide sample light curve graphs for Cepheid variables and have students measure the period, then discuss how it relates to brightness.

Henrietta Swan Leavitt

Henrietta Swan Leavitt’s meticulous work measuring the brightness of Cepheid variable stars may not have made front-page headlines in her lifetime, but it laid the foundation for one of astronomy’s most important breakthroughs—understanding the true scale of the universe. Sharing her story not only enriches your astronomy lessons, it also reminds students that scientific discovery is built on the dedication and insight of many minds, not just the ones in our textbooks.

The next time you teach about stars, light, or the history of astronomy, consider introducing your students to Henrietta. Her story is an inspiring example of how careful observation, perseverance, and a passion for discovery can change our understanding of the cosmos.

Embed this video in your next astronomy lesson, use the classroom ideas above, and help your students discover the hidden heroes of science. If you try these activities, share your experience in the comments below—or pass this post along to another teacher who could use it in their classroom. Let’s keep shining a light on the scientists whose brilliance deserves to be remembered.

Related reading:

Women in Science Resources for Middle Schoolers
Black History Month: Celebrating Contributions of African-American Scientists