Inchworm Science
1 Follower
Moore, South Carolina, United States
About the store
I began my teaching career in the early '90's in a middle-school self-contained classroom serving students with a wide range of abilities. After several years, I moved into the Science Department and found my true calling. Due to several years of teaching multiple grade levels, I have accrued over 10 years of experience teaching Life Sciences to 7th grade students, and 15 years of experience teaching Earth and Space Sciences to 8th grade students.
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The 4 Fundamental Forces of the Universe
When I ask my students to name a Force, I often get answers that include Inertia, Momentum, Density, Acceleration, and a list of many other terms that do not fit. As a student myself, I made this same mistake until I learned to identify the 4 Fundamental Forces of Nature, and this 2-3 day mini unit is a great enrichment activity to help students understand this basic classification. In this activity, students will use their developing research skills to define each of the four forces, locate d
5th - 8th
Basic Principles, General Science, Physical Science
Minerals/Natural Resources Impact Research Lab
As 6-8th grade students' data analysis skills continue to develop, they need relevant content and practice with generalizing those skills. This 7-10 day set of research-synthesize activities is designed to allow students to work alone, including distance learning, or in pairs. Mining and Natural Resources continue to be topics that shape our world, just as they have for thousands of years. Supply and demand of essential resources such as minerals and fossil fuels not only drives the economie
6th - 9th
Earth Sciences, Environment, Science
NGSS
MS-ESS3-1
, MS-ESS3-4
, MS-ESS3-3
Darwin's Finches: A Natural Selection Data Lab
The scope of Darwin’s observations can be overwhelming to students. This lab focuses on just one, the finches, with a hands-on demonstration of the success, or failure, of various beak designs. Students then take their observations to the next levels by graphing the data, ranking results, and generalizing their experience into predictions. Great introduction to Natural Selection.
5th - 8th
Biology, Environment, Graphing
NGSS
MS-LS4-4
, MS-LS4-6
A Brief History of Astronomy: Interactive Offline Reading
In order to understand Earth’s Place in the Universe, it is helpful to first explore how the principles of astronomy have developed over thousands of years. In this 3-part activity, students will: - Read about the observations of several Classical civilizations and sort their major achievements - Compare the 5W’s of the Heliocentric and Geocentric Models - Examine a timeline and identify the astronomers related to some of the biggest events in Modern Astronomy The activity was written for 6-8th
5th - 8th
Astronomy, Earth Sciences, General Science
NGSS
MS-ESS1-1
Human Population Growth: Data Collection, Graphing and Analysis
The science of Demographics relies on various factors and complex data to study population trends of the past in order to project future growth. Many historical factors have combined to produce the rapid growth of the human population in the 20th century, bringing new challenges to human survival. Prior to the 19th Century, the world-wide death rate was high due to multiple factors which kept the numbers of humans from increasing rapidly. Then science changed everything. In this set of activiti
6th - 9th
Environment, General Science, Social Studies
NGSS
MS-LS2-1
, MS-ESS3-4
Predictable Patterns in Lunar Eclipses - Data Graphing
Predictable patterns are found throughout the universe due to the laws of physics. Moon phases, eclipses, tides, meteor showers, transits, comets…the majority of them all follow specific, and predictable, patterns of motion. Observations of the heavens has produced records of these patterns for centuries, even millenia, and with simple data analysis and visual graphs of this data, we are able to extend the patterns and predict future motions. Add the power of technology, and we now have acces
6th - 9th
Astronomy, Basic Principles, Earth Sciences
NGSS
MS-ESS1-1
Solar Activity - A Predictable Patterns Lab
The surface of the Sun is a very busy place with twisting magnetic fields and explosions of enormous amounts of energy. These motions create many visible effects, called solar activity, that astronomers have been tracking for centuries. In this activity, students will explore the concepts around Solar Activity and Cycles through interactive reading, data graphing, and data/graph analysis. Multi-modal connections come together in this self-contained, offline lesson to lead students into recognizi
5th - 8th
Astronomy, General Science, Graphing
NGSS
MS-ESS1-1
Essential Connections - Biodiversity
Understanding Geologic Biodiversity begins with understanding the connections between key concepts: Mutations, Adaptation, Natural Selection, and Evolution. Students will use a guided presentation to both define these terms and place them into context of the Big Ideas - Biodiversity and Change Over Time. The activity, and variations of the included materials, allows students to see how these concepts interconnect, leading to a deeper understanding of how organisms develop over time.
6th - 9th
Earth Sciences, Environment, Science
NGSS
MS-LS3-1
, MS-LS4-4
Heat Transfer Build-It Project - End of the Year Motivation and Engagement
It’s the last few weeks of school and if your middle school classroom is anything like mine, there are more than the usual number of challenges in your days. This unit addresses some of the biggest ones I navigate at this time of year: - students know that one project will not make a difference (good or bad) to their yearly grade and are not motivated by the grade - students are tired and have seen most of my best labs and materials all year long (but they haven’t seen this one) - it’s time to
6th - 8th
Basic Principles, General Science, Physical Science
NGSS
MS-PS3-4
, MS-PS3-3
What A Drag - Collecting, Graphing and Analyzing Frictional Force Data
Working with large amounts of data in Physical Science can be challenging unless students are provided with guided practice. In this lab, small groups work with TWO Independent Variables, Mass and Surface Friction, as they collect data and then interpret it from each perspective. The lab requires students to create two graphs which also allows for reinforcement of manual graphing skills or the introduction of digital graphing, depending on your students’ readiness. The activity was written for
5th - 8th
Basic Principles, Graphing, Physical Science
NGSS
MS-PS2-2
, MS-PS2-1
How To Use A Spring Scale - Equipment Review Mini-Lab
As a beginning middle school science teacher, I made the mistake of assuming that students had already been exposed to the use of basic equipment before arriving in my classroom. This assumption resulted in disconnected spring scales, stripped triple-beam balances, broken glassware, cracked thermometers that were used as drumsticks, and the list goes on. I now use quick, one-day, equipment review mini-labs before conducting activities that require the use of that equipment. With the confiden
5th - 8th
Basic Principles, General Science, Physical Science
NGSS
MS-PS2-2
Solar/Lunar Eclipse Basics and Comparison Video Lab
Predictable patterns are found throughout the universe due to the laws of physics. Moon phases, eclipses, tides, meteor showers, transits, comets…the majority of them all follow specific, and predictable, patterns of motion. In this activity, students will collect information about Solar and Lunar Eclipses in a format designed to help them understand the connections between them. While some characteristics are exact opposites, others are exactly the same, leading them to a deeper understandin
6th - 9th
Astronomy, Basic Principles, Earth Sciences
NGSS
MS-ESS1-1
Showing 1-12 of 12 results
About the store
Experience
I began my teaching career in the early '90's in a middle-school self-contained classroom serving students with a wide range of abilities. After several years, I moved into the Science Department and found my true calling. Due to several years of teaching multiple grade levels, I have accrued over 10 years of experience teaching Life Sciences to 7th grade students, and 15 years of experience teaching Earth and Space Sciences to 8th grade students.
Teaching style
The best teaching advice I ever received...my principal offered me a position in the Science Dept. and I was unsure. She asked me what I remembered about my own middle school science experience and I told her they were mind-numbingly boring. Her advice was to "teach the way I would have liked to have learned". I took that advice to heart and have never regretted it. I constantly look for new activities and resources that I find exciting and interesting. I'm not afraid to try new ideas and my kids and I will work through them together. I strive to expose my kids to ideas through multiple modalities and experiences, including hands-on and digital resources. I always keep in the back of my mind, "How would I would have wanted to learn this when I was a kid."
Awards & shining teacher moments
Science Dept Chair - 8 years at one school, 6 years at second school
Nominated for TOY 4 times
My own education history
BS - 1998 - Erskine College, SC
- Major: Special Ed - Certifications: EMD, TMD, EH, OH, LD
- Minor: Elem Ed
MS - 2005 - University of Phoenix
- Program: Curriculum/Technology Integration
Of course, as any educator knows, these decades included multiple workshops, conferences, training seminars, webinars, and all of the usual opportunities experienced teachers are exposed to.
Additional biographical information
I simply love to teach middle school kids, and I can easily put myself in their places and see where they are struggling. Therefore, I strive to write my materials in a way that addresses these questions before they even become a problem for them.
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