Middle School: Science

Project-Based Inquiry Science

Project-Based Inquiry Science (PBIS) is a new kind of curriculum that is different from the traditional approaches to teaching middle school science. Students investigate scientific concepts and answer questions about the world around them. The developers of Project-Based Inquiry Science have created a comprehensive curriculum that anchors inquiry learning within a meaningful context. PBIS enables students to learn science content deeply while also developing the skills and understanding needed to solve problems. Each unit challenges students to design a solution to a problem, or to answer a Big Question. In this way, science education becomes a student-driven endeavor. The inquiry process is placed in the context of meaningful projects...
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Middle School Inquiry Investigating
Earth Systems

is a hands-on, inquiry-based program that teaches students how to hypothesize, experiment, reflect and analyze. Investigating Earth Systems presents Earth Science in terms that are relevant to the students’ lives. This increases students’ attention and learning retention. Developed in association with the American Geological Institute, the curriculum was designed for leading middle school students through a complete and thought-provoking exploration of the Earth’s systems and how they are all connected.
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Investigating Earth Systems

Investigating Earth Systems

In this standards-based program your students use the same set of inquiry processes as scientists. This ensures you and your students that the research they conduct is valid and reliable. Expert scientific content is only part of the total solution for achieving student literacy.

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Middle School Inquiry Project-Based Life Science

Project-Based Life Science. Like scientists, students are presented with Big Challenges or Big Questions. Students are given a strong foundation in scientific literacy, how to ask scientific questions, how to use data as evidence, and how to make them meaningful. This will enable them to do the activities that will help them understand and develop answers to the questions or complete their challenge. You will find your students asking better questions and using evidence in more effective ways. » Learn more about Middle School Inquiry
Project-Based Life Science

InterActions in Physical Science

InterActions can be used for seventh or eighth grade, or as an introductory science course for ninth grade. It uses a scaffolded, inquiry-based approach that covers both physics and chemistry. The content is broken down into hands-on, minds-on Chapters of Learning. Each chapter begins with a purpose followed by a Key Question. Students come up with ideas, which are investigated with inquiry-based activities. Students record their results and, like scientists, they discuss their results with each other and as a class. Students also compare their ideas with real scientists.
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