Middle School Basic Principles Resources

Blow Cup Challenge STEM Lab: Bernoulli, Airflow, and Optimal Gap Distance

Created by
TWFScience

Engage your students with a fast-paced, low-prep engineering and physics lab that turns two cups and a table tennis ball into a rich investigation of airflow and pressure. Students use the full scientific method to test how the gap between two cups affects the success rate of transferring a ball by

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

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

S.8.6 Matter Classification Bundle | TEKS Science 8th Grade | Matter and Energy

Created by
TWFScience

This RESOURCE BUNDLE is for Texas grade 8 science teachers who are teaching S.8.6 - The student understands that matter can be classified according to its properties and matter is conserved in chemical changes that occur within closed systems. according to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (T

8th Grade Basic Principles, Chemistry, Physical Science

S.8.7 Relationship Between Force & Motion Within Systems | TEKS 8th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

This RESOURCE BUNDLE is for Texas grade 8 science teachers who are teaching S.8.7 - Force, motion, and energy. The student understands the relationship between force and motion within systems. according to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Standards set down by the Texas Education Agen

8th Grade Basic Principles, Chemistry, Physical Science

S.8.8 - How Energy is Transferred Through Waves | TEKS 8th Grade | STAAR

Created by
TWFScience

This RESOURCE BUNDLE is for Texas grade 8 science teachers who are teaching S.8.8 - Force, motion, and energy. The student knows how energy is transferred through waves. according to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Standards set down by the Texas Education Agency and want to prepare

8th Grade Basic Principles, Chemistry, Physical Science

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

S.8.9 - The Characteristics of the Universe and its Components | TEKS 8th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

This RESOURCE BUNDLE is for Texas grade 8 science teachers who are teaching S.8.9 - Earth and Space - The Characteristics of the Universe and its Components according to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Standards set down by the Texas Education Agency and want to prepare their studen

8th Grade Astronomy, Basic Principles, Physical Science

S.8.10 Earth, Ocean, & Weather Interactions That Shape Climate | TEKS 8th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

This RESOURCE BUNDLE is for Texas grade 8 science teachers who are teaching S.8.10 - Earth, Ocean, and Weather Interactions that Impact Climate 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.

8th Grade Basic Principles, Earth Sciences, Physical Science

S.8.11 - Natural Events, Human Activity, and Global Climate | TEKS 8th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

This RESOURCE BUNDLE is for Texas grade 8 science teachers who are teaching S.8.11 - Natural Events, Human Activity, and their Impacts on Global Climate according to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Standards set down by the Texas Education Agency and want to prepare their students fo

8th Grade Basic Principles, Earth Sciences, Physical Science

S.8.12 - Stability and Changes in Populations and Ecosystems | TEKS 8th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

This RESOURCE BUNDLE is for Texas grade 8 science teachers who are teaching S.8.12 - Stability and Changes in Populations and Ecosystems 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. ✅ This

8th Grade Basic Principles, Earth Sciences, Physical Science

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