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,Continue reading “13 Last Minute Halloween Costumes for Science Teachers”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
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—whileContinue reading “Starting an Astronomy Club in your Middle School”
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 justContinue reading “Grow 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’reContinue reading “How to Play a Zap Game: A High-Energy Review Game Your Students Will Love”
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 justContinue reading “Turn Myth-Busting into Meaningful Science Learning with This Free CER Activity”
🧬 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”Continue reading “🧬 Bring Mutations to Life with This Creative Science Activity”
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 ourContinue reading “Meet Henrietta Swan Leavitt: The Unsung Astronomer Who Measured the Universe – Great Astronomers Series”
🏫 Two Free First Day of School Activities That Actually Work with Middle Schoolers
The first day of school doesn’t have to be awkward, boring, or full of endless icebreakers your students have done a dozen times before. If you’re like most middle school teachers, you want something quick, low-prep, and meaningful—something that sets the tone for your classroom without overwhelming you or your students. That’s why I’m sharingContinue reading “🏫 Two Free First Day of School Activities That Actually Work with Middle Schoolers”
How to Make Any Boring Science Standard Fun (Seriously!)
We’ve All Been There Some standards just don’t sparkle—until you make them! Students who are enjoying themselves are far more likely to learn and remember what you’re teaching. Here are some tips on how to make science lessons fun! I think different standards and interesting to different people. For some people, earth science (the rockContinue reading “How to Make Any Boring Science Standard Fun (Seriously!)”
Take the Grading Off Your Plate with Self-Checking Earth Science Worksheets
If you’re a middle school science teacher, you know the struggle: you want your students to practice key content and get immediate feedback… but you don’t have time to grade every single worksheet. Sound familiar? Teaching middle school Earth science can be incredibly rewarding—but let’s be honest, it can also mean piles of worksheets andContinue reading “Take the Grading Off Your Plate with Self-Checking Earth Science Worksheets”