Balancing Chemical Equations Activities for Middle School Science

Make lesson planning effortless with the Kesler Science Balancing Chemical Equations 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Complete 5E Lesson. Designed for minimum prep and maximum student engagement, this resource empowers middle school students to take the lead in learning about balancing chemical equations, while providing all the materials needed for a multi-day lesson.

The lesson follows the 5E Model, guiding students through Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration, and Evaluation. From differentiated station labs that allow students to explore balancing chemical equations in various ways to editable PowerPoints, interactive notebooks, and Spanish translations, this lesson is adaptable to meet diverse learning styles and needs.

Flexible for both in-person and virtual classrooms, the lesson includes input stations like "Explore It!", "Research It!", "Read It!", and "Watch It!" to introduce key concepts, while output stations like "Organize It!", "Illustrate It!", and "Assess It!" offer ways for students to demonstrate their understanding. Bonus activities for early finishers and comprehensive assessments make this lesson a comprehensive tool for fostering student success.

The Kesler Science Balancing Chemical Equations Station Lab is a modular, student-led activity designed to engage middle school students in learning how to balance chemical equations and understand the law of conservation. With comprehensive materials, this resource saves preparation time while empowering students to lead their own learning.

The station lab features eight differentiated activities, with a ninth challenge station for early finishers. The modular setup includes nine stations, allowing students to work independently or in small groups. Input stations such as "Explore It!", "Research It!", "Read It!", and "Watch It!" introduce new concepts through multimodal methods. Output stations like "Organize It!", "Illustrate It!", "Write It!", and "Assess It!" provide varied ways for students to demonstrate their understanding.

This lab is adaptable for both in-person and virtual learning, with digital versions available for each station. The student-centered design encourages engagement and personalized learning, while a challenge station offers advanced students extra opportunities to deepen their knowledge.

The Kesler Science Balancing Chemical Equations Student Choice Projects offer middle school students the flexibility to choose from six project options or design their own. This allows students to showcase their understanding of chemical equations in creative, personalized ways. A grading rubric is provided for teacher, peer, or self-assessment, and can be modified to fit different grading needs. 

The resource includes a choice board with nine project options, plus a "design your own" project. It also provides teacher directions for support, editable rubrics for assessing vocabulary, concepts, presentation, clarity, and accuracy, and two versions of the project page. The modified version offers additional support for students needing remediation, while more advanced students can be challenged with multiple project options.

These projects require minimal classroom supplies like paper, markers, and scissors, and many can be completed digitally. Some projects may also involve crafting materials for hands-on models. The flexible design makes it easy for teachers to adjust the activity based on student needs and available resources.

The Kesler Science Chemistry Interactive Notebook Bundle provides an engaging way for students to explore chemistry concepts through interactive activities. Designed for both traditional classrooms and digital learning environments, this bundle includes print and digital versions, making it versatile for in-person, 1:1, or distance learning settings.

Topics covered include acids and bases, atoms, balancing chemical equations, chemical bonds, physical and chemical changes, the periodic table, properties of water, and more. The digital version features a unique PowerPoint interactive notebook that can be uploaded to platforms like Google Slides, MS Teams, or Schoology. It includes reflection pages, note-taking space, a teacher answer key, and a modified version for students needing accommodations.

The paper version offers blank templates for student interaction, pre-filled options for modified learners or absentees, and visual examples for guidance. This resource is ideal for fostering hands-on and digital engagement in middle school chemistry.

The Kesler Science Balancing Chemical Equations Sub Plans provide a complete lesson plan for teaching middle school students how to balance chemical equations. The lesson includes a warm-up puzzle, a reading passage, and an activity where students determine if equations are balanced or unbalanced. There are extension activities for early finishers, as well as comprehensive instructions for substitute teachers and a Google Form answer sheet for distance learning.

Designed for maximum flexibility, these sub plans include engaging activities, a detailed letter for substitutes, behavior checkpoints, answer keys, and summative assessments. The lesson can be used in various settings, such as with substitutes, for extra credit, or in small group activities. Digital learning options, including PDFs and annotation tools, make it perfect for remote learning and at-home assignments.

The product includes editable versions of all materials, a class set of handouts for teachers, and a student PDF for distance learning or use in LMS platforms like Google Classroom. It’s a complete, student-centered solution that ensures students stay engaged and learning, even in your absence.

The Kesler Science Counting Atoms Escape Room offers an engaging and immersive experience where students demonstrate their knowledge of counting atoms and balancing chemical equations. The escape room includes eight unique puzzles that are independent, giving teachers full control over which puzzles to use and in what order, making it adaptable for various class periods.

Teachers can choose between two methods for running the escape room: using manila envelopes for a simple setup or opting for a more authentic experience with locks and a storage box. Additionally, there are digital and printable options for online use, including a digital version for Google Slides and a printable version for students at home.

Included in the product are detailed teacher directions, an answer key, editable teacher versions, and a digital answer sheet for Google Classroom. The escape room also comes with a video challenge, over 50 prize ideas, reward templates, and customizable signs for a fun and memorable experience.