You've made it to the end of the year teaching middle school science. Take a moment to congratulate yourself! You have accomplished a challenge many people will never understand – teaching complex scientific concepts to tweens. You have developed interesting ways to provide them with meaningful learning experiences. You have demonstrated the amazing phenomena of the world around them. And all the while, you kept them (mostly) engaged, focused and participating.
Now, you are at the end of the year. Everyone is feeling ready for the summer. But wait – you are supposed to keep them engaged and learning even though you have finished all your content? Here are 10 fun end-of-the-year ideas to use in your middle school science classroom!
How do digital escape rooms work for end-of-year review?
Digital escape rooms are usually no-prep. Students need only a device to open the Google Slides document. Download the file, set the share setting to 'Anyone with the Link,' and share it. Post the link as a QR code, demonstrate briefly, and memorize the password so you can guide students who get stuck.
If you've never tried a digital escape room, you are missing out. All your students need is a device to access the Google Slides document. Simply download the file, set the share setting to “Anyone with the Link,” and share the link with your students.
I love making digital escape rooms for several reasons. They are usually no-prep. Students love searching for clues, answering questions, and finding the password. I love that all I need to do is share the link and help them if they get stuck.
I've written a whole post about how to set up and run science digital escape rooms if you want the full walkthrough.
Here are a few helpful tips for using them.
- First, post the link as a QR code so students can get started right away.
- Demonstrate how it works (but not too much). They like to figure it out themselves.
- Memorize the password answer. If students have a letter not in the password, you can tell them that answer was wrong and help them navigate back to it.
My TeachersPayTeachers store includes digital escape rooms covering nearly every topic in middle school science. For the end-of-the-year, I recommend my summer/beach escape room, rainforest escape room, and Mars escape room. (Quick note: the Mars escape room requires a few extra materials for the STEM building challenge).
What is the Paper Chain STEM challenge?
Students use one piece of paper and one foot of tape to build a paper chain that holds the most weight. Set engineering requirements: those materials only, and at least five feet long. Attach a cup with a binder clip to the middle, add weights until it breaks, and the strongest chain wins.
Students love STEM challenges. Help build their problem-solving and collaboration skills at one time. They are even better when you don’t need to gather any special materials! This is a fun one requiring only paper and tape.
In this challenge, students will use one piece of paper and one foot of tape to make a paper chain capable of holding the most weight. Discuss the meaning of engineering requirements by telling them it can only use these materials and must be at least 5 feet long.
For testing, use a plastic cup and a large binder clip to attach to the middle of their paper chain. Then, begin adding weights (pennies, rocks, etc.) until the chain breaks. The chain that holds the most weight wins!
This Paper and Tape STEM challenge can be purchased in my TeachersPayTeachers store. It includes nine more fun and engaging challenges such as paper columns, paper instruments, and a paper portal!
How do you run a Paper Airplane challenge?
Let students do something they already love – building paper airplanes. Offer different papers (printer, construction, card stock) and the option to add weight like paper clips to the nose. Show design examples first. Then line everyone up, throw at once, measure the distance, and the longest flight wins.
This idea is similar to the Paper Chain Challenge but will engage students by letting them do something they love to do anyway – building paper airplanes! You could show students a video of how to build a paper airplane or even the world record longest flight of a paper airplane.
You could encourage students to think about their choices by showing them different examples of paper airplane designs. You could include different types of paper like regular printer paper, construction paper, or card stock. You can also give them the choice of adding weight (such as paper clips) to the front of the paper airplane.
After they finish designing them, have students line up and throw their paper airplanes at once. Then, let them measure the distance to their airplane. The longest distance wins!
What is the Pasta Car challenge?
Students choose from different dry pastas – lasagna, wagon wheel, spaghetti, ziti – to build a car that rolls down a ramp and travels as far as possible. All you need is pasta and non-toxic glue. It spans multiple class periods while the glue dries, and it can get messy, but students love it.
This is one of my favorite projects each year. Students choose from different types of pasta to build a car that will roll down a ramp and travel as far as possible. The only materials you need for this project are dry pasta (lasagna, wagon wheel, spaghetti, and ziti are the best ones) and regular, non-toxic glue.
Students will break the pasta and connect them using glue to make a car capable of rolling down a ramp. The glue does take some time to dry but I find this works well over multiple class periods. They can set up their work to dry between class periods each day. I prefer not to use hot glue for safety reasons.
Another great tip is to give each student a paper or plastic tray. They can keep their car pieces on the tray each day for easy organization. Also, keep the glue in small plastic cups (such as those for salsa or ketchup for restaurants with tops). Have students put the top on each day to keep the glue from drying out. I’ve gone to a local restaurant before and asked them to donate them to my class and they were happy to do so.
The only downside of this project is that it can be messy. Even though they don’t mean to, pasta pieces will get on the floor. Consider having a student sweep after each class period each day to keep the floor mess to a minimum.
Despite the mess, my students love this project. It’s a great way to end the school year. I love how they come into my room, pick up their tray, and start working before I begin class!
This entire project can be purchased in my TeachersPayTeachers store!
How can you teach famous scientists and STEM careers?
The last weeks of the year are a great time to introduce historical figures and science careers you never have room for during standards. I made two digital escape rooms for this: one on famous scientists like Ada Lovelace and George Washington Carver, and one on the different fields and careers in science.
I always wish I had more time to discuss some of the interesting figures in science history like Marie Curie or Mae Jemison. Teaching our standards takes up nearly all of my class time. The last weeks of school are a great time to introduce students to historical figures or careers in science.
To accomplish this, I’ve made two digital escape rooms. They are engaging for students and easy for the teacher! Simply share the link to the Google Slides with students, print out the student sheet, and watch them learn!
The Famous Scientists Digital Escape Room introduces students to historical figures like Ada Lovelace and George Washington Carver. They read short summaries of their work and answer questions to find the password.
The Types of Scientists Digital Escape Room is similar but it introduces students to different fields of science. They read about these interesting careers and use the information to answer questions. Ultimately, they will find the password.
How do vocabulary term posters work for review?
Each student gets a different vocabulary word and makes a poster on regular paper: the word at the top, a picture in the middle, and a definition at the bottom. Collect them to hang up next year as you reach each unit, or hole-punch them into a reference book for future students.
In this activity, students make a poster on regular-sized computer paper showing 1) the vocabulary word at the top, 2) a picture of the vocabulary word in the middle, and 3) a definition at the bottom. Each student gets a different vocabulary word.
Once they are finished, you could collect the posters and hang them up next year as you progress through your units. You could also hole-punch them and turn them into a book for students to reference next year. My students like this activity because it lets them be artistic and they know their work will help younger students in my class next year.
How do you run a Tin Foil Boat density challenge?
Give students tin foil (or plastic wrap, tape, paper) to build a boat. Fill a container with enough water that the boat could sink, then set each boat on top and add weights like pennies or washers until it goes under. The boat that holds the most weight wins. Kids love it whether or not density is in your standards.
Whether or not density is a topic in your standards this year, your students will really love this activity. Simply give students some material (such as tin foil) to use to build a boat. While tin foil is the easiest, you could also let them choose from other materials such as plastic wrap, tape, paper, etc.
Then, fill a small container with enough water to allow the boats to sink (meaning the depth of the water is more than the height of the boat). Lastly, have students test out their design. Sit it on top of the water and then begin to add weights (such as pennies, rocks, or metal washers). The boat that holds the most weight wins!
This project with the digital escape room is available in my TeachersPayTeachers store.
How can students build a model of DNA?
Tap into students' natural curiosity about DNA by having them build its structure with toothpicks and marshmallows or gumdrops, using licorice as the backbone for support. See if they can construct the double helix, then have them research the parts and answer their own questions.
I’m always amazed by the interest students show in the structure of DNA.
“Why does it curve that way?”
“What is it made out of?”
“How does it work?”
Engage your students’ interest in DNA by having them build a model of its structure. You can do this with toothpicks and marshmallows or gumdrops. See if they can construct a model of the double-helix shape. You could also use licorice as the backbone of the structure to provide more support.
Afterward, have students research the parts of the DNA double helix and answer their own questions.
Try out these ideas to bring your year to a close. This time of year can feel stressful. Remember, take it one day at a time and keep students engaged as best as possible. Try out some of these end of the year science activities And, take some time to look forward to the summer – it’s just around the corner!