Liz Smith Science

Hi, I’m Liz! I’ve been teaching since 2007 and have developed curriculum and taught Physics, Chemistry, and Physical Science at all levels—including Honors and AP. I specialize in creating high-quality, classroom-tested science resources that save teachers time and engage students in meaningful learning.

I’ve experimented with many teaching styles, but Gradual Release has consistently felt the most natural for me and my students. I start each lesson with a focused PowerPoint lecture paired with guided notes that help students highlight key points. From there, we move into labs, differentiated worksheets, and guided practice, allowing me to model problem-solving and provide side notes and support. We wrap up with independent practice and checkpoint quizzes so students can demonstrate their understanding. Each lesson includes hands-on labs, station activities, web quests, and extended thinking tasks. I’ve also implemented Project-Based Learning (PBL) and gained valuable insights from this powerful approach. PBL encourages students to think critically, solve real-world problems, and collaborate effectively. It makes learning more relevant, builds communication skills, and leads to deeper content mastery.

I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve built. In my sixth year of teaching, I was tasked with creating a physics program from the ground up—with just a textbook and ten students. Now, I teach full sections of Physics Honors and run a thriving AP Physics course. I’ve helped write our district’s final exams in physics, chemistry, and physical science, and I’ve led professional development sessions on 5E lesson planning, gradual release strategies, labs, and student-centered instruction. I've also prepared other teachers to take their physics certification exam. Currently, I’m developing the chemistry and physics programs at one of our county’s newest STEM magnet schools and serve as department lead for both middle and high school science.

B.S. Biomedical Science with a minor in Physics

Raised in a lively New York Italian family, Liz grew up in a small town outside Tampa, Florida—surrounded by support, good food, and the kind of joy that shaped her love of learning. Though she originally planned to pursue dentistry after earning a degree in Biomedical Science with a Physics minor, Liz followed her heart into the classroom in 2007 and never looked back. She’s spent years teaching chemistry and physics at the honors and AP level, writing curriculum, leading district trainings, and building entire programs from scratch. In 2017, Liz launched her TpT store to give upper-level science teachers the high-quality, engaging resources she wished she had—no fluff, just effective tools that help students succeed. Through ES Education, Liz is here to help you teach with confidence, save time, and enjoy the process again.