Allison Smith
8 Followers
OTTUMWA, Iowa, United States
About the store
I taught 8th grade science for five years, where I loved sparking curiosity and helping students connect learning to the real world. I also served on my districts curriculum development team for two years, creating engaging lessons and resources for K-12 classrooms. After transitioning to homeschooling, I gained a new perspective on how to make learning flexible, fun, and meaningful. With experience in both traditional and home education, I create ready to use resources that practical and creative. My goal is to save teachers time while inspiring students to explore, question, and grow in their learning.
Read moreAll resources
Filters
Grade
Resource type
Standard
Theme
Audience
Programs & methods
Tacoma Narrows Bridge Lab: Resonance & Waves (MS-PS4) Data, Graph + CER
Your students will never forget this question: How can a “normal” wind destroy a massive steel bridge? 🌉💨 This phenomenon-based NGSS lab uses the famous Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse (“Galloping Gertie”) to launch a powerful investigation into waves, frequency, amplitude, natural frequency, resonance, and damping. Students watch the footage, generate authentic questions, then prove the science with a hands-on model investigation and real data analysis. This is the kind of lesson that fee
4th - 9th
Earth Sciences, Physical Science
NGSS
MS-PS4-1
, MS-PS4-2
, MS-ETS1-3
Also included in: Phenomenon-Based Science Lab Bundle (6 NGSS Units) CER + Teacher Keys
Cells Station Lab (8 Stations) Microscopes, Organelles, Osmosis + CER + Key
Need a complete, hands-on cells day that keeps every group engaged and actually builds understanding (not just labeling worksheets)? This Cells Station Lab is a structured 8-station rotation that combines real microscope observations, organelle function practice, prokaryote vs. eukaryote sorting, plant vs. animal comparisons, an osmosis model, and a CER conclusion—all with a teacher guide and answer key for easy setup and grading. ✅ What’s Included 8 station cards (clear directions + “Thi
5th - 9th
Biology
NGSS
MS-LS1-2
, MS-LS1-1
Also included in: Middle School Station Lab Bundle (5 Units) CER + Keys NGSS MS Science
Natural Selection Station Lab (8 Stations) MS-LS4-2, LS4-4, LS4-6 + CER
Teach natural selection in a way students actually understand (and remember). This 8-Station Natural Selection Lab hits the full story from multiple angles—hands-on simulations, fossil evidence, real data graphing, case studies, and misconception-busting—then ties it all together with a rigorous CER argument. Students don’t just define evolution… they use evidence to prove it. ✅ What’s Included 8 station cards/activities (simulations + analysis + matching + graphing) Student recording s
5th - 9th
Biology, General Science
NGSS
HS-LS4-2
, HS-LS4-6
, MS-LS4-2
+3
Also included in: Middle School Station Lab Bundle (5 Units) CER + Keys NGSS MS Science
Science Careers Quiz (20 Questions) Career Profiles + Reflection Grades 5-9
Get students excited about science careers with a lesson that feels like a personality quiz—but builds real science identity and vocabulary. What Kind of Scientist Are You? is a 20-question science career quiz that helps students discover a “scientist type,” then read a matching career profile with real scientists, education pathways, cool facts, and reflection questions. Perfect for the beginning of the year, career day, STEM week, advisory, sub plans, or an engaging end-of-unit activity.
5th - 9th
General Science
Zombie Ants Reading Comprehension (MS-LS2, MS-LS4) Questions + Answer Key
Your students won’t believe this is real… but it is. 🐜🧠 This high-interest nonfiction reading explores the “zombie ant” fungus that controls carpenter ant behavior in rainforests—then checks understanding with 10 rigorous comprehension questions plus a complete answer key. It’s perfect for zero-prep sub plans, early finishers, or a phenomenon-based hook for ecosystems, symbiosis, and natural selection. ✅ What’s Included 7-page resource with: Informational text: The Zombie Ants of th
4th - 12th
Biology, General Science
NGSS
MS-LS2-2
, MS-LS2-3
, MS-LS4-4
Singing Sand Dunes Reading Comprehension (MS-PS4) Questions, Answer Key, Subplan
Hook your students with one of the coolest natural phenomena on Earth: sand dunes that “sing.” This high-interest nonfiction reading explains how dunes produce real booming/whistling sounds and connects the phenomenon to mechanical waves and wave properties (frequency, amplitude, wavelength). It includes 10 rigorous comprehension questions AND a complete answer key, making it perfect for zero-prep sub plans, early finishers, or a phenomenon-based lesson opener. ✅ What’s Included 7-pag
4th - 12th
General Science, Physical Science, Physics
Magnetic North Pole Reading Comprehension (NGSS MS-PS2-3, MS-ESS2-2) Zero Prep
Hook your students with a real-world mystery: Earth’s Magnetic North Pole is moving fast—so fast that scientists had to issue an emergency update to navigation models used by GPS and smartphones. This high-interest informational text explains why the pole moves, how Earth’s magnetic field is generated, and what the impacts are—then checks understanding with 10 rigorous comprehension questions that push beyond “right there” answers into real scientific reasoning. ✅ What’s Included 5-page
4th - 12th
Earth Sciences, Physical Science, Physics
NGSS
MS-ESS2-2
, MS-PS2-3
Paper Helicopters: Rotor Length vs Fall Time — Data Tables + Scatter Plot | 3–12
🚁 Forces & Motion meets Data Literacy. Learners design three rotor lengths (L1–L3), collect 3 trials each from a fixed drop height, compute averages, and graph Rotor Length vs Time on a scatter plot. Middle/high school extensions add best-fit analysis and force/drag reasoning. What’s Included Student Pack p.1: Background, IV/DV/controls, criteria, sketch box with dimension callouts Student Pack p.2: Three data tables (L1–L3), large scatter-plot grid, best-fit guidance, CER prompts Teache
5th - 12th
Engineering, Physical Science, Physics
Showing 1-8 of 8 results
About the store
Experience
I taught 8th grade science for five years, where I loved sparking curiosity and helping students connect learning to the real world. I also served on my districts curriculum development team for two years, creating engaging lessons and resources for K-12 classrooms. After transitioning to homeschooling, I gained a new perspective on how to make learning flexible, fun, and meaningful. With experience in both traditional and home education, I create ready to use resources that practical and creative. My goal is to save teachers time while inspiring students to explore, question, and grow in their learning.
Teaching style
My teaching style combines quick, focused worksheets with hands-on activites that keep students engaged. I believe in balancing skill practice with interactive exploration to make learning meaningful. I am also creating bundled units that demonstrate educational standards specifically.
Awards & shining teacher moments
I was honored with the Principal's Coin for my leadership with the Science Club. I also helped develop district curriculum and was selected to pilot a phenomenon-based learning program.
My own education history
I hold a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry, as well as a Master's degree in Secondary Science Instruction and Curriculum Development. This combination has given me a strong foundation in both science content and effective teaching practices.
Additional biographical information
I am a lifelonger learning that loves inspiring my students (now children) to look with wonder and exploration at the beautiful world God created.
TPT is the largest marketplace for PreK-12 resources, powered by a community of educators.
IXL family of brands