About the store
Hi, I’m Kristi, here to support you in making middle school teaching less stressful through engaging activities that help students take ownership of their learning, so you can enjoy more time doing what you love. Follow me at Adventures in ISTEM where inquiry, science, technology, engineering, and math come to life. This Adventure reflects my 25 years as a middle school science teacher. I call it an adventure because every day brings something new. Middle school is a crucial part of a student's life where they become more independent and figure out who they are. As middle school science teachers, we are tasked with the challenge of helping our students become more independent on their learning journey so that the heavy lifting of learning is placed on them, not us. I’m here to help reduce the overwhelm of that challenge with resources that do just that.
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CER template Claim Evidence and Reasoning CER rubric CER practice sentence stems
Are your students struggling with writing their claim, evidence, and reasoning scientific explanations? This editable cer template will help students write scientific explanation summaries and support their claims with evidence and reasoning (CER). Comes with language support, in the form of cer templates, cer graphic organizers and sentence frames. Plus a generic cer rubric to help you grade students' CERs. This is great for integrating the Common Core into your science class. Included in t
4th - 12th
English Language Arts, Science, Social Studies
Save Fred Teamwork Back to school 4 Team building Activities middle school
Looking for some fun and engaging teamwork activities during the first week of school? Set the tone of your class and help students learn how to work collaboratively and as a team with these four different team building activities that improve teamwork. Activities include Save Fred, stacking cups with a rubber band, using problem-solving skills to solve a puzzle, and working together to put pieces into a square shape and then giving them a new shape that has to be added to their square.Unders
6th - 8th
For All Subjects, Science
Back to School Science Activities Scientific Method worksheets lab Candy Science
Looking for back to school science activities that teach the scientific method with candy? These three hands-on candy science labs use gummies, candy canes, and hard candies, fully differentiated across three levels. The perfect first-week science activity for middle school, with answer keys and a lab report template.Each of the three candy labs has three different instructions and lab write-ups to meet the individual needs of your students.What teachers like you are saying about these candy lab
4th - 10th
Basic Principles, General Science, Science
TEKS
SCIENCE.6.1.B
, SCIENCE.6.1.F
, SCIENCE.6.2.B
+9
CER Practice Claim Evidence and Reasoning Activity Crime Scene Forensic Science
Are you looking for an engaging activity to easily introduce your students to claim evidence reasoning (CER), and scientific explanations? Students will love this forensic science crime scene investigation where they write up their findings using the claim evidence reasoning CER format. What will students be doing during this forensic science claim evidence reasoning CER practice activity? They will observe a crime sceneAnalyze the police report and forensic reports Record their observations
7th - 10th
English Language Arts, Forensics, Science
Genetics and Heredity Punnett Squares Worksheet Alien Introduction to Genetics
If you are looking for a fun and engaging genetics and heredity Punnett squares activity to do during your genetics unit then stop your searching and look no further. In this genetics project students will become intergalactic scientists and practice what they learned about Mendel genetics to help keep an alien species from going extinct. The first part focuses on homozygous and heterozygous traits, genotypes, and phenotypes. The second part focuses on punnet squares and the probability of hav
6th - 8th
Biology, General Science, Science
NGSS
MS-LS3-2
8th science cast test prep test taking strategies middle school study skills
Are you looking for a quick and easy, no prep way to help your students prepare for the middle school state science test? This NGSS CAST science state test prep review will provide students with some simple test taking strategies to help them answer questions that include diagrams, data tables, and graphs, even if they have forgotten or never learned the topic. ✎Print and digital versionsWhat will Students be doing with these test taking strategies practice problems?✅ Identifying the question ✅
6th - 8th
General Science, Physical Science, Science
NGSS
MS-LS2-2
, MS-LS4-3
, MS-LS4-1
+5
speed velocity & acceleration science reading comprehension passages & questions
Looking for a way to increase science reading comprehension while learning about speed and acceleration in your classroom? Looking for a science sub plan for middle school? Help your students learn all about speed, velocity, acceleration, and motion graphs with these motion science reading comprehension passages with note-taking templates that guide the students, comprehension worksheets that have leveled questions, and Task cards to extend the learning. Perfect for Common Core Literacy Sc
6th - 8th
Close Reading, Informational Text, Science
Acids, Bases, and pH scale Science Reading Comprehension Passages and Questions
Looking for a way to increase chemistry science reading comprehension while learning about acids and bases your middle school science classroom? Need a quick and easy chemistry sub plan? Help your students learn all about the chemistry of acids, bases, and pH scale with this chemistry science reading comprehension passages and questions worksheet with note-taking templates that guide the students, comprehension worksheets that have leveled questions, and Task cards to extend the learning.
6th - 8th
Close Reading, Informational Text, Science
egg drop challenge engineering design process force and motion project problem
Looking for a fun way for students to use their knowledge of force, Newton's laws, and practice their engineering skills? This egg drop STEM engineering design process challenge will get your students designing, testing, investigating, thinking like a disciplinarian, and acting as engineers as they improve their egg structures to mimic the Mars rover landing. ✎Print and digital versions This engineering design STEM project includes:✅ Teacher guide for doing the activity ✅ Student handouts
6th - 8th
Physical Science, Physics, Science
back to school science activities team building teamwork activities cer practice
Start the year with 10 back to school science activities that build teamwork AND get students thinking like scientists. This 3-week bundle pairs team building activities for middle school students with hands-on science and a CER crime-scene investigation, so your class bonds while practicing the skills they’ll use all year. Low-prep, print-and-go or fully digital.These low-prep back to school science activities include hands-on investigations and collaborative tasks that encourage communication,
6th - 8th
General Science, Science
Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis Reading Cycles of Matter and Energy
Looking for a way to increase science reading comprehension while learning about photosynthesis and cellular respiration, and the cycling of matter in your middle school science classroom? Need a science sub plan for middle school? Help your students learn about the cycling of matter and energy in an ecosystem through photosynthesis and cellular respiration with these science reading comprehension passages with note-taking templates that guide the students, comprehension worksheets with level
6th - 8th
Close Reading, Informational Text, Science
NGSS
MS-LS1-7
, MS-LS1-6
scientific method worksheet Independent and dependent variables reading passages
Looking for a way to increase science reading comprehension while learning about the scientific method in your middle school science classroom? Need a science sub plan for middle school? Help your students learn all about the scientific method including controls and independent and dependent variables along with accuracy and reproducibility with these science reading comprehension passages that come with note-taking templates that guide the students, comprehension worksheets that have levele
6th - 9th
Close Reading, Informational Text, Science
Back to school activities middle school Growth Mindset Activity Famous Failures
Looking for an engaging activity to help your students with their growth mindset? This Famous Failures growth mindset activity highlighting 16 people with diverse backgrounds and ethnicities helps students understand that failure is expected and necessary in order to succeed. Through this activity, students learn that famous people had to overcome obstacles and persevere in order to find success. My students are always amazed when they hear about Michael Jordan and Walt Disney. This lesson
6th - 8th
For All Subjects
Inner and Outer Planets Solar System Reading Comprehension Worksheet Activity
Looking for a way to increase science reading comprehension while learning about the inner and outer planets of the solar system in your middle school science classroom? Need a science sub plan for middle school? Help your students learn all about gravity's role in the formation of the solar system, inner and outer planets of the solar system, other objects like comets, meteors, asteroids, and dwarf planets with these science reading comprehension passages that come with note-taking template
6th - 8th
Close Reading, Informational Text, Science
NGSS, TEKS
MS-ESS1-2
, MS-ESS1-3
, SCIENCE.7.9.A
Mass Volume Density Worksheet Measuring Matter Science Sub Plans Reading
Looking for a way to increase science reading comprehension while learning about measuring matter and mass volume and density in your middle school science classroom? Need a science sub plan for middle school? Help your students learn all about measuring matter including mass volume and density with these science reading comprehension passages that come with note-taking templates that guide the students, comprehension worksheets that have leveled questions, and Task cards to extend the lear
4th - 10th
Close Reading, Informational Text, Science
Types of Forces with gravity & friction worksheets Science Reading Comprehension
Looking for a way to increase science reading comprehension while learning about types of forces in your classroom? Need a science sub plan for middle school? Help your students learn all about the different types of forces including gravity, friction, air resistance, elastic, and buoyant force with these science reading comprehension passages that come with note-taking templates that guide the students, comprehension worksheets that have leveled questions, and Task cards to extend the lear
6th - 8th
Close Reading, Informational Text, Science
NGSS
MS-PS2-4
Ionic and covalent bonding science reading Comprehension Passages and Questions
Looking for a way to increase science reading comprehension while learning about chemical bonding with ionic and covalent compounds in your middle school science classroom? Need a science sub plan for middle school? Help your students learn all about Ionic and Covalent bonding and chemical compounds with these science reading comprehension passages that come with note-taking templates that guide the students, comprehension worksheets that have leveled questions, and Task cards to extend the
6th - 8th
Close Reading, Informational Text, Science
Potential and Kinetic energy worksheet Conservation of Mechanical Energy Reading
Looking for a way to increase science reading comprehension while learning about conservation of mechanical energy with potential and kinetic energy in your classroom? Need a science sub plan for middle school? Help your students learn all about conservation of mechanical energy with potential and kinetic energy with these science reading comprehension passages that come with note-taking templates that guide the students, comprehension worksheets that have leveled questions, and Task cards
6th - 8th
Close Reading, Informational Text, Science
NGSS
MS-PS3-2
, MS-PS3-5
, MS-PS3-1
Solid liquid gas worksheet changing phases of matter science reading passage
Looking for a way to increase science reading comprehension while learning about phase changes and the three states of matter in your middle school science classroom? Need a science sub plan for middle school? Help your students learn all about the three states of matter and phase changes with these science reading comprehension passages that come with note-taking templates that guide the students, comprehension worksheets that have leveled questions, and Task cards to extend the learning.
6th - 9th
Close Reading, Informational Text, Science
NGSS
MS-PS1-4
newtons laws of motion forces and motion balanced & unbalanced reading worksheet
Looking for a way to increase science reading comprehension while learning about Newton's laws of motion in your classroom? Need a science sub plan for middle school? Help your students learn all about Newton's laws of motion covering Newton's 1st law, 2nd law, and 3rd law of motion with these science reading comprehension passages that come with note-taking templates that guide the students, comprehension worksheets that have leveled questions, and Task cards to extend the learning. Perfe
6th - 8th
Close Reading, Informational Text, Science
NGSS, TEKS
MS-PS2-2
, MS-PS2-1
, SCIENCE.8.7.A
+1
Showing 1-20 of 232 results
About the store
Experience
Hi, I’m Kristi, here to support you in making middle school teaching less stressful through engaging activities that help students take ownership of their learning, so you can enjoy more time doing what you love. Follow me at Adventures in ISTEM where inquiry, science, technology, engineering, and math come to life. This Adventure reflects my 25 years as a middle school science teacher. I call it an adventure because every day brings something new. Middle school is a crucial part of a student's life where they become more independent and figure out who they are. As middle school science teachers, we are tasked with the challenge of helping our students become more independent on their learning journey so that the heavy lifting of learning is placed on them, not us. I’m here to help reduce the overwhelm of that challenge with resources that do just that.
Teaching style
My teaching philosophy has changed over my 25 year career and my teaching style reflects it. It's all about teaching skills in my class. I focus on the skills they will need in life while teaching science. Scholars are able to take academic risks and work at pushing themselves to the next level. I try and differentiate my lessons to meet all my students needs from my low resource students to my high gifted/talented students and everyone in between.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Presenter at the 2015 and 2022 OCC GATE conference for blended learning in the science classroom, how to flip your classroom, and how to empower students with student choice in the 5E model
My own education history
Bachelor of Science- Zoology/Physiology University of Wyoming, trained in Gifted/talented education, AVID, ELL, and Pre-AP (college board)
I have been trained in GATE strategies, EL strategies, AVID strategies, technology strategies, and my new adventure of bringing mindfulness, habits of success, and law of attraction principles into my classroom by becoming a certified trainer of the Jack Canfield Success Principles.
Additional biographical information
I am a mother of two. In addition to teaching middle school science I am also the science department chair and technology coordinator and I am also on our district technology team helping to train other teachers in the use of technology in their classroom. You can find some of my training and science videos on Youtube. Most recently I became a certified trainer of the Jack Canfield success principles.
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