Middle School Resources

Grades 6-8, is a time of tremendous physical, emotional, and cognitive changes for students. It is also a pivotal time for understanding and gaining enthusiasm for science.

Featured Resources

Social-Emotional Learning in the Science Classroom

From the Editor's Desk...

Journal Article

Fieldwork Fridays: Connecting Scientific Learning to Nature

Building routines around place-based learning allows students to apply their scientific learning to nature and form a connection with their local environment and the species in it over the course of a school year. Each Friday, in what are referred to...

Journal Article

Unlocking the Power of Emotional Connections: Strategies for Teaching Climate Change in Middle School

In the face of the escalating climate crisis, effective climate education is imperative, not only for imparting knowledge, but also for inspiring action. This paper explores innovative strategies for teaching climate change in middle school, recogniz...

Journal Article

Dyeing to Last: Using Natural Dyes to Create an Ideal Fabric

In this project-based lesson, students explore how chemistry concepts relate to creative expression by investigating a variety of dyeing conditions. Through sequenced discussions and investigations, students arrive at a dyed cotton product that optim...

Journal Article

Journal and Lesson Plans

Middle School Journal

Lesson Plans

NSTA Competitions

Shell Science Lab Challenge

For teachers

eCYBERMISSION

For teachers and students, grades 6-9

Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision

For students, grades K-12

Bestselling Middle School Books

NSTA Press Book

Discovery Engineering in Biology: Case Studies for Grades 6–12

Show your students how amazing it can be to just “see what will happen” when they blend biology, engineering, and serendipity. Focusing on innovations sparked by accidental or unexpected observations, the case studies in this resource are a livel...

NSTA Press Book

Supporting Emergent Multilingual Learners in Science, Grades 7–12

Many middle and high school teachers are educated to teach science content—they don’t anticipate that one day they may be teaching it to students who need to learn both content and English. If the day has come when you’re facing that two-pronge...

NSTA Press Book

Discovery Engineering in Physical Science: Case Studies for Grades 6–12

Who knew that gecko feet inspired scientists to develop a stickier adhesive or that cockleburs in dog fur led to the invention of Velcro? Discovery Engineering in Physical Science uses these and other surprising cases of innovations sparked by accide...

NSTA Press Book

Uncovering Student Ideas in Science, Volume 1, Second Edition: 25 Formative Assessment Probes

This is the new updated edition of the first book in the bestselling Uncovering Student Ideas in Science series. Like the first edition of volume 1, this book helps pinpoint what your students know (or think they know) so you can monitor their learni...

Latest Resources

Reports Article

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers, July 8, 2025

Web Seminar

Unlocking Success: A Step-by-Step Guide to NSTA Proposal Submissions, August 19, 2025

Ready to share your best ideas with the science education community? Join us on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET, for a dynamic web seminar where we will guide you through the process of submitting a successful proposal for the NS...

Blog Post

Dealing With Chemical Waste in the Science Instructional Space

NSTA Press Book

The Explore-Before-Explain Guidebook for Science Education: Creating High Quality Lessons for the Classroom and Professional Learning

PREORDER NOW! TO SHIP 7/1/2025 This guidebook uses an Explore-before-Explain instructional sequence to help you facilitate the design of active meaning-making lessons in science....

Reports Article

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers, July 1, 2025

Virtual Workshop

OpenSciEd Middle School Unit 8.5 Unit Launch and Facilitator Workshop Series

NSTA is providing an OpenSciEd Unit Launch Workshop series for educators who plan to implement the Middle School Unit 8.5 Genetics in their classrooms. Five live sessions are scheduled on November 17, 20, 24, and December 1, and 4, 2025, from 6:00 PM...

Virtual Workshop

OpenSciEd Middle School Unit 8.5 Unit Launch Workshop Series

Reports Article

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers: June 24, 2025

Reports Article

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers: June 17, 2025

Web Seminar Series

Enhancing Instruction with the NSTA Sensemaking Tool

Join us for a dynamic four-part webinar series, scheduled on March 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM ET, where educators will explore how to use the NSTA Sensemaking Tool to give actionable feedback on lessons, and support instructiona...

Member Web Seminar

OpenSciEd Teacher Training: Best Practices for Success: Making Participation Inclusive During Discussions, February 26, 2026

Class discussions are at the heart of OpenSciEd’s instructional model, but ensuring that all students feel empowered to participate can be a challenge....

Member Web Seminar

OpenSciEd Teacher Training: Best Practices for Success: The Putting the Pieces Together Routine, January 28, 2026

Join us on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM ET, to strengthen your use of this powerful routine—and support your students in putting the pieces together to build lasting understanding....

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