10 Best back to school science activities for middle school
Coming back to school after a nice break can be exciting as well as daunting. It can be hard to switch your brain from holiday mode to work mode. Add the pressure of trying to make the first few lessons particularly enjoyable for your students and suddenly back-to-school seems all too much.
Let me help you out with these 10 best back to school science activities for middle school.
Disclaimer: This blog post, ’10 best back to school science activities for middle school’, may contain links to resources that I have created. Read full disclaimer here.
10 fun back to school science activitie
Best back to school science activities
1. All about me in science bunting FREE
Why not start with a goodie and a freebie?!
I absolutely HATE doing ice-breaking activities. As an adult a cringe at them. As a student my stomach would sink and my anxiety would skyrocket.
While I think it is important to push students out of their comfort zones, I don’t believe the first week of school is the time or place to do this.
So how do I ‘break the ice’ at the start of year?
With my All About Me In Science Bunting.
This a super easy, non-confronting activity to start the year with.
I find this activity to be a great way to gently introduce students to each other and give you an idea of how they view themselves in science.
It also doubles as a classroom decoration!
2. Following Instructions Experiment
Originally I designed this activity to do with my grade 7 students, but honestly, even my high school students can do with a reminder of how important it is to follow instructions carefully and measure accurately.
This is a perfect back to school science activity to engage students and remind them of key concepts.
It can be daunting for students to follow a scientific method and get their head around all the things that are expected of them during an experiment. The Following Instructions Experiment is designed to help students get familiar with following a scientific method step-by-step, working in a group, and taking accurate measurements using a measuring cylinder.
It assists students to develop their scientific skills including:
- Working as part of a group
- Following instructions
- Measuring accurately
- Recording qualitative and quantitative results in a table
Even for students in older year groups, sometimes they just need a little reminder of these skills when returning back to school.
10 fun back to school science activities
,3. Lab contract and lab safety rules
Creating a safe classroom environment is important for your students, yourself and your equipment.
For middle and high schoolers I find it helpful to have something to hold them accountable.
A lab safety contract is a great way to have students agree to the terms of your laboratory and redirect them to it should they behave in a way contrary to what they had agreed.
It is also a helpful tool to have to refer parents to if you have any classroom management issues and have to decline students from participating in practical work.
4. Lab equipment scavenger hunt
If you’ve been following my blog for a while then you will know that I LOVE to get my students up and moving around the classroom as much as possible.
This lab equipment scavenger hunt is a fantastic way to quickly get students familiar with the laboratory set up while also learning about key pieces of laboratory equipment.
This activity develops student skills in reading a dichotomous key, drawing scientific diagrams, identifying scientific equipment, and determining the appropriate use of scientific equipment.
5. Scientific equipment digital Escape Room
If your students are already familiar with your lab and you want a fun back to school science starter to test their memory, then this digital escape room is a no brainer.
Digital escape rooms are a fun, engaging way for students to review key terms and content while also building student skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration.
And the winning part? It’s no prep for you! Just share students a link and away they go!
10 fun back to school science activities
6. Bunsen burner licence and checklist
It never gets old how excited students get to have their own printed ‘Bunsen burner licence’.
This one is great because as well as the certificate, there is also a checklist attached that you can use to assess students when they demonstrate their ability to light their Bunsen safely. This then also becomes a helpful reminder they can keep in their books for the rest of the year.
7. Scientific Variables Scenarios
I love using these types of scenarios because it tests whether students can transfer their understanding of variables to a variety of situations, not just those typical to a laboratory setting.
8. Scientific Method Crossword
Crosswords are some kind of magic. Students are immediately drawn to them and engaged. I love this about them! Plus they are low prep – just print and go!
No matter what topic you are up to in your science curriculum, it is always relevant to review scientific method. This engaging Scientific method crossword comes in two themes and is suitable for both middle and high school students.
10 fun back to school science activities
My favorite back to school Amazon buys
9. Scientific method digital Escape Room
There’s a reason teachers keep coming back for my digital escape rooms. They are fun, engaging, and ZERO PREP! All you have to do is share a link with students and away they go.
Understanding the scientific method is so crucial for students continuing to study science in later years. This escape room provides an interactive way to revise their understanding of the scientific method.
I love a good Einstein puzzle to help students develop their critical thinking.
What is an Einstein puzzle?
An Einstein puzzle, is a logic puzzle that involves a scenario with several clues, constraints, and a series of deductions to be made to arrive at a unique solution. The puzzle is named after Albert Einstein, although there is no evidence to suggest that he actually created it.
My take on this puzzle presents a scenario involving a group of scientists and requires the solver to determine each person’s specialty, university, lab color, computer and favorite drink based on the given clues.
The goal is to use deductive reasoning to find the correct arrangement that satisfies all the provided conditions.
10 fun back to school science activities
Conclusion
It sucks having to use your hard earned holiday time to prepare for back to school science activities. Do yourself a favor and grab some of these resources to help reduce your preparation time and enjoy more of your holiday!
10 fun back to school science activities
About the Author
Katrina Harte is a multi-award winning educator from Sydney, Australia who specialises in creating resources that support teachers and engage students.
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