7th Grade Basic Principles Resources

Paper Helicopter STEM Lab: Blade Length vs Descent Time | Whirlybird

Created by
TWFScience

Turn a single sheet of paper into a powerful investigation of forces and motion. In this hands-on lab, students build and test paper “whirlybirds” with different blade lengths to determine how blade size affects descent time. The activity emphasizes testing, data quality, graphing, and claim–evidenc

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis | CER + 50 Question Auto-Graded Quiz

Created by
TWFScience

Help students write stronger scientific explanations—without piling on grading. This 10-day CER pack builds understanding of photosynthesis and cellular respiration with scaffolded (Cold) and transfer (Hot) versions of each prompt, a Teacher Answer Key, and a 50-question Google Forms question bank

6th - 9th Basic Principles, Biology, Earth Sciences

NGSS MS-LS1-1, MS-LS1-2, MS-LS1-3+12

Yeast Balloon STEM Lab: Sugar % vs CO2 Production | Scientific Method

Created by
TWFScience

Turn a cup, balloon, and pantry ingredients into a full scientific-method investigation. Students explore how sugar concentration changes yeast fermentation by measuring balloon circumference as a proxy for CO₂ volume. The lab emphasizes variables, fair testing, repeated trials, graphing, and CER wr

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

S.7.12 - Organisms & Environments - Ecosystems Bundle | TEKS 7th Grade | STAAR

Created by
TWFScience

This RESOURCE BUNDLE is for Texas grade 7 science teachers who are teaching S.7.12 - Organisms and Environments - Ecosystems are Dependent upon the Cycling of Matter and the Flow of Energy according to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Standards set down by the Texas Education Agency a

7th Grade Basic Principles, Biology, Earth Sciences

Halloween Ghost Balloon STEM Investigation: The Science of Lift and Reaction

Created by
TWFScience

Tonight is the Hallowbrook Harvest, and the town’s glowing Pumpkin Beacon—the lantern that keeps mischievous spirits from pranking the candy supply—has dimmed. The only way to recharge it is to airlift a ghost balloon up to the Witching Line so it can soak up protective moonlight.Your team has been

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: Halloween Science Activities & Investigations | Labs, Stations, STEM, Readings

Balloon Lift Design STEM Investigation: The Science of Lift and Reaction

Created by
TWFScience

Turn a bottle, balloon, and household ingredients into a full engineering-design challenge! Students test how different amounts of baking soda affect CO₂ gas production and balloon lift.The lab emphasizes variables, fair testing, repeated trials, data collection, graphing, and CER writing—perfect fo

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Haunted Swamp STEM Lab Investigation: Halloween Water Filtration Challenge

Created by
TWFScience

A mysterious toxic spill has cursed the Haunted Swamp! Your class of scientists has been summoned by the local town council to design and build a filtration system that can rescue the swamp’s ghostly residents before Halloween night. Each team must engineer, test, and optimize a filter that clears “

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: Halloween Science Activities & Investigations | Labs, Stations, STEM, Readings

Survival of the Creepiest – Halloween Creature Adaptation STEM Challenge

Created by
TWFScience

On Halloween night, the Earth's climate fractures into eerie realms warped by monstrous weather. Only creatures born of imagination (and backed by science adaptation) can survive. Your mission: design a horrifying yet biologically believable organism that has adapted to, thrives in, one of these cur

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2-2, MS-LS2-4+5

Also included in: Halloween Science Activities & Investigations | Labs, Stations, STEM, Readings

S.7.13 - Body Systems & Inherited Traits - Ecosystems Bundle | TEKS 7th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

This RESOURCE BUNDLE is for Texas grade 7 science teachers who are teaching S.7.13 - Body Systems & Inherited Traits according to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Standards set down by the Texas Education Agency and want to prepare their students for STAAR. ✅ Complete S.7.13 - 7t...

7th Grade Basic Principles, Biology

S.7.14 - Taxonomic System & the Relationships Between Organisms | TEKS 7th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

This RESOURCE BUNDLE is for Texas grade 7 science teachers who are teaching S.7.14- Using the Taxonomic System to Describe Relationships Between Organisms according to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Standards set down by the Texas Education Agency and want to prepare their students

7th Grade Basic Principles, Biology, Earth Sciences

Halloween Creatures Dichotomous Key – A Spooky Classification Challenge

Created by
TWFScience

The classroom lights flicker. A chill skims across the lab tables as ten mysterious creatures shuffle, flap, and ooze into view. Your students have one tool to survive the night: a dichotomous key. With each YES/NO choice, they narrow the suspects—bat or crow, wisp or witch’s familiar—until every mo

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Biology

Also included in: Halloween Science Activities & Investigations | Labs, Stations, STEM, Readings

Marble Ramp: Height vs Average Speed STEM Investigation | Scientific Method

Created by
TWFScience

Give students a fast, hands-on motion investigation: set up a simple marble ramp, change only the ramp height, and measure how height affects average speed. With clear test rules and simple materials, students plan a fair test, collect multiple times for each height, calculate average speed, and cre

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Clean Water Filtration STEM Investigation | Scientific Method 6th, 7th, 8th

Created by
TWFScience

Give students a fast, hands-on engineering investigation: build a low-cost water filter, change only one design choice at a time (layer order, thickness, sealing, or adding charcoal), and measure which design makes the clearest water the fastest—all while staying under a classroom budget cap. With t

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Beetle Genetics STEM Investigation | Scientific Method | 6th, 7th, 8th

Created by
TWFScience

Give students a fast, hands-on genetics investigation: simulate beetle heredity, change only the parent genotypes, and use Punnett squares to predict and compare offspring outcomes. With print-and-cut genotype cards and clear scaffolds, students run multiple monohybrid crosses, extend to one dihybri

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Adaptations by Design - Extreme Environments | STEM Investigation 6th, 7th, 8th

Created by
TWFScience

Students will design a biologically plausible organism, choose one extreme environment, and justify how its adaptations solve real environmental pressures. With a trait bank, word bank, a structured CER, and a Survival Index that rolls into a class bar graph, students connect structure → function →

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Newton 1st Law of Motion STEM Investigation | Penny and Index Card Inertia Test

Created by
TWFScience

Students will investigate Newton’s First Law of Motion by testing how different masses behave when the support beneath them is removed rapidly. Using an index card, a coin, and a cup, students flick the card to observe whether objects of varying mass drop straight into the cup or move with the card.

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-1, MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1+2

Also included in: Newton's Three Laws of Motion STEM Investigations Bundle — Scientific Method

Newton's Second Law of Motion STEM Investigation | Balloon Rocket, 2nd Law

Created by
TWFScience

Students will investigate Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion by testing how changing the mass carried by a balloon rocket affects its acceleration. Using a taut string track, a straw, a balloon, and removable mass clips, students run repeated launches to measure travel time and calculate average speed. Thro

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-1, MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1+2

Also included in: Artemis Missions, Moon Bases, and Future Space Colonization Unit Bundle

Newton's Third Law of Motion STEM Investigation | Thrust vs Nozzle Size, 3rd Law

Created by
TWFScience

Students will investigate Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion by testing how changing the nozzle opening of a water-powered bottle jet affects the distance it travels. Using a plastic bottle, interchangeable bottle-cap nozzles with different hole diameters, and a simple launch cradle, students observe how th

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-1, MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1+2

Also included in: Newton's Three Laws of Motion STEM Investigations Bundle — Scientific Method

Mythical Creature Dichotomous Key Activity

Created by
TWFScience

The classroom hum fades into a hush. A warm breeze rustles imaginary leaves as ten fantastical creatures drift, stomp, slither, and shimmer into view. Your students have one tool to navigate this enchanted encounter: a dichotomous key. With each YES/NO choice, they rule out the possibilities—drake o

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Biology

Electromagnet - Coil Turns vs Magnetic Strength STEM Investigation

Created by
TWFScience

Students will investigate electromagnetism by building their own classroom-made electromagnets and testing how changing the number of wire coils affects magnetic strength. Using an iron nail, insulated wire, a battery, and paper clips, students observe how electric current creates a magnetic field a

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-3, MS-PS2-5, MS-ETS1-1+2

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Does Being Cold Make You Sick? Reading | Viruses, Winter | 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

This grade 6–8 reading introduces students to the science behind colds and the flu, explaining why viruses—not cold weather—are responsible for making people sick. Students learn how illnesses spread, why people tend to get sick more often in winter, and how environmental conditions like cold, dry a

6th - 8th Basic Principles, Biology, General Science

Also included in: Winter Weather & Snow Bundle - Lessons, Project, Activities | 6th 7th 8th Grade

Winter Solstice Reading | Why the Solstice Happens | 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

This grade 6–8 reading introduces students to the science of the winter solstice, explaining why it is the shortest day and longest night of the year and how Earth’s tilt causes seasonal changes. Students learn what happens during the winter solstice, when it occurs in each hemisphere, and why dayli

6th - 8th Basic Principles, Biology, General Science

Also included in: Winter Weather & Snow Bundle - Lessons, Project, Activities | 6th 7th 8th Grade