Middle Grades (6th-8th)

My forensics class just completed our first unit (investigative processes). To assess my students’ knowledge of crime scene investigation, I hosted our first mock crime scene. Of the school year.

This week, students will take part in a school-wide criminal investigation to determine WHO KILLED IMA MINOR?

Today, they processed the crime scene. Tomorrow will be all about analyzing the evidence, and the rest of the week will be spent questioning witnesses and building a case.

This is one of my favorite activities of the year! 🤩

Want to host a mock crime scene in your own classroom? Head over to my blog to learn how:
www.thetrendyscienceteacher.com/mockcrimescene

#forensics #forensicscience #scienceteacher #forensicsteacher

An activity that my students won’t soon forget!

This cell organelles riddle scavenger hunt had my bio classes scurrying around the school today solving riddles and showcasing their knowledge of cell organelles. 🏃 🏃🏼‍♀️

It was so much fun!

If you want to grab it for your own students, head to www.thetrendyscienceteacher.com/riddles

Oh…. By the way…. It’s 1/2 off for the next 24 hours! 😊

It was WATERS & WEBQUESTS for my forensics kiddos today! 💦

#makingworksheetsfunagain

Another lab day in the books 📚

Today, we started discussing properties of the cell membrane. The best way to introduce this topic is with the CELL MEMBRANE BUBBLE LAB 🫧

I have a blog post that explains how I make the solution for this lab, how I set it up, and where you can download a free lab sheet.

Head over to www.thetrendyscienceteacher.com/bubbles for all the deets! 📝

The doctor is in! 🏥

Today, I assessed my bio students on their knowledge of cell function with this activity called CELL CLINIC.

I set up “exam rooms” of patients with various symptoms and ailments. 🩹

Students had to study the symptoms and lab work to determine which cell organelles were malfunctioning. They had to read, collaborate, and discuss to provide a diagnosis for each patient. 📝

Our local hospital donated these gowns and masks 😷 (which provided us with some fun role play).

Check out this activity at
www.thetrendyscienceteacher.com/clinic

Cell organelle speed dating- one of my bio favs!

💗 Love was in the air today as our organelles mixed and mingled to learn about one other’s function within the cell. 💕

✔️ We had punch.
✔️ We had lots of laughs.
✔️ We had fun!

Learn all about how I set up and executed this event over on my blog:

www.thetrendyscienceteacher.com/date

Let’s stock my new classroom fridge with #allthesnacks

I use a progress monitoring system in my high school biology classroom. 📊 Collecting useful data and using it to drive instruction has revolutionized my classes and offered a path of success for my students.

In this system, the focus is on 💫 PROGRESS- not perfection. It takes a while to train students to focus on personal growth, but once they buy in to this system, the results are AMAZING 🤩.

This “data wall” showcases the data collected through 6 benchmark exams. The data from each benchmark is analyzed to decide how I can best serve my students. 📈

It’s a visual reminder for both me and my students that progress is being made… and at the end of the year, it serves as evidence of the learning that has taken place.

This week, I begin progress monitoring with a new group of bio students. I can’t wait to take this journey and watch each student grow this year. 🌟

If you are a biology teacher that’s interested in learning how this system works, I am offering a series of webinars in the next few weeks. Register for this FREE webinar at the link below:
www.thetrendyscienceteacher.com/data

Turn your traditional microscope lab into a classroom INVESTIGATION! 🕵️‍♂️

The Case of the Missing Quiz assesses your students’ microscope skills 🔬 by having them solve a crime! This CSI-style lab is a fun twist on the traditional microscope lab and is sure to have your science students begging for more!

Grab this fun activity at www.thetrendyscienceteacher.com/microscope

A few days ago, I shared an engaging “first day of school” activity where students participate in a scavenger hunt-style activity.

I had several teachers share that they prefer an independent assignment for the first day. Since the first day is incredibly chaotic, it makes sense to have something that they students can work on while we teachers focus on the administrative tasks.

If you are a teacher that prefers a student focused, independent task for the first day, I’ve got you covered!

Head over to my blog to download this free ABOUT ME packet.

www.thetrendyscienceteacher.com/firstdays

A prayer for my students…

I cannot get motivated! I’m PHYSICALLY in my classroom, but MENTALLY, I’m still on summer break. ☀️

Send help! 🤪

My students call me the QUEEN OF ORGANIZATION! 👸

These are a few ways that I keep my high school science classroom organized.

I have many of these items saved in my Amazon storefront. Just click the link in my bio and select “Amazon Favs” then “Classroom Organization.”

#highschoolteacher #classroomorganization #scienceteacher #classroommanagement #teachersofinstagram

On the first day of school, my students will be participating in a “discover the classroom” activity to learn about the classroom and how it works.

I have students visit different spaces in the classroom and answer questions about each space.

It gets the kids up and moving, while making them feel more comfortable with the classroom. It’s easy to set up and is the perfect FIRST DAY activity.

To grab an editable version to use in your classroom, head to www.thetrendyscienceteacher.com/discover

Those that know me know that I am an advocate for having a procedure for EVERYTHING that students are expected to do in the classroom.

In fact, I spend the first 2 weeks of school outlining rules, procedures, and expectations. We practice the procedures for entering the classroom, transitioning from desks to the lab area, turning in assignments, etc.

Does this take time from valuable science content?

Yep! But….

A well-managed classroom will ensure that “content time” is maximized after this first weeks of drilling procedures and routines!

To help my students remember the rules and procedures, I created a procedures board to refer to throughout the year. My students know the expectations of the classroom and by the third week of school, it’s running like a well-oiled machine.

You can grab all of the details about this board and download a free copy of these procedure signs over on my blog:
www.thetrendyscienceteacher.com/posters

Color coding my chromebook cart is one of the BEST decisions that I’ve ever made for my classroom! 💻

I purchased a roll of multi-colored washi tape from Amazon and it was the perfect way to organize the cart so that my students were held accountable for putting their chromebooks away appropriately.

Each chromebook is numbered and each numbered chromebook has a color coded spot and cord in the cart. This number corresponds with the students’ desk number so students are easily identified if they don’t return their chromebook appropriately.

#classroomorganization #classroommanagement #classroompinspirations #classroomsetup #scienceteacher

I’m living my best “teacher on break” life! 🍎 ☀️ 🏝️

After my hardest school year yet, I was in desperate need of a reset. I’m 5 weeks in to summer break and I’m finally starting to feel like myself again.

I hope that you are getting some much needed rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation on your summer break! 💜