Interdisciplinary Curriculum Developer and Educator with a background in Astrophysics and a flair for great no-nonsense resources based on classroom experience.
Interdisciplinary Curriculum Developer and Educator with a background in Astrophysics and a flair for great no-nonsense resources based on classroom experience.
This is an IB MYP - Building Blocks of Life related unit - which is ideal for relating biology and the concepts of what makes up organisms and what are cells. This unit relates the difference between animals and plants in a broad conceptual understanding. It contains several resources suggested for this unit and makes clear a set of points that students should know, understand and be able to do by the end of the unit. It also has some clear and interactive formative assessments.
It an overview for a unit that should run for approximately 8 weeks (assuming 2 lessons a week).
If instead you are looking for an MYP unit planner which is for young students in MYP and would be an ideal first unit for their science, then consider: Nature of Science - introductory unit plan. For around the same age group - for MYP 2 / 3 an alternative IB MPY unit planner would be: the Food and Energy unit planner of the Growth unit planner.
If rather for younger students you want to integrate both mathematics and STEM, then you might consider: MYP Artifical limb unit.
For older MYP students, then I would suggest The NGSS related - Zero impact (sustainable housing or for an Interdisciplinary unit - the Electricity / lightning MYP STEM IDU.
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
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This is an IB MYP Unit plan - Characteristics of life and body systems - which is ideal for students relating Science, mathematics and biology concepts. This unit engages students with the characteristics of life, body systems, organs, diseases, microbiology and a great deal more in a broad conceptual understanding. It contains many, many resource links suggested for this unit and makes clear a set of points that students should know, understand and be able to do by the end of the unit. It also has some clear and interactive formative assessments and summative assessments.
This unit is heavily detailed and ideal for something that is truly prepared to use in the classroom. It is an overview for a unit that should run for approximately 8 weeks (assuming 3 lessons a week).
If instead you are looking for an MYP unit planner that is for science and is for astronomy / astrophysics, then the plant unknown unit plan would be suitable. If instead, you are seeking a mathematics unit plan and is based on measurement and related concepts, then consider the mathematical vision unit plan or for geometry and artworks, try the Art of Mathematics unit plan or finally for fractions, decimals and percentages and lots of other mathematics, try the Problem with Money unit plan. For science and young students in MYP and which would be an ideal first unit, then consider: Nature of Science - introductory unit plan. For around the same age group - for MYP 2 / 3 an alternative IB MPY unit planner would be: the Food and Energy unit planner or the Growth unit planner.
If rather for younger students you want to integrate both mathematics and STEM, then you might consider: MYP Artifical limb unit.
For older MYP students, then I would suggest The NGSS related - Zero impact (sustainable housing) or for an Interdisciplinary unit - the Electricity / lightning MYP STEM IDU.
This set of science articles provides the perfect grab and go, print and provide resource that can supplement lessons. It is a set of articles with questions to check comprehension and inspire scientific thinking. I am very proud of this series of science articles and they are rich with information and wonder at the majesty of science. Each science article includes a fun fact(s) to add to the knowledge gained from this article. Formatted in an easy to read and digest manner, each paragraph is numbered to help with referencing and each question answer has a paragraph reference number to point to the specific information (where applicable).
WHY / WHEN TO USE:
Useful for substitute (sub) teaching
To extend students
To increase scientific literacy in your class
A weekly reading task
Great as a lesson filler when class goes too fast
To inspire students on a particular topic
Give a selection of these articles for students to choose from
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
10 sets of 3 page Word doc teacher version with answers
10 sets of 2 page Word doc student version with room to fill in answers (text boxes)
10 sets of 3 page PDF teacher version with answers
10 sets of 2 page PDF student version without answers (but space left to do so)
More will be coming to cover other subjects and other topics, so please do keep an eye out for more science articles from The Teaching Astrophysicist!
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
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All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist
Understanding and studying insects is crucial for middle and high school students in science because insects play vital roles in ecosystems, such as pollination, decomposition, and serving as a food source for other animals. They are also important in understanding biodiversity, the balance of ecosystems, and the impact of human activities on the environment. Studying insects helps students develop critical thinking and observation skills, as well as an appreciation for the interconnectedness of life on Earth. Additionally, learning about insects can spark interest in broader biological and environmental sciences, fostering future scientific curiosity and careers. With all this in mind, let’s engage with this teaching resource.
This science article provides the perfect grab and go, print and provide resource that can supplement lessons. It is an article with questions to check comprehension and inspire scientific thinking. I am very proud of this series of science articles and they are rich with information and wonder at the majesty of science. Each science article includes a fun fact(s) to add to the knowledge gained from this article. Formatted in an easy to read and digest manner, each paragraph is numbered to help with referencing and each question answer has a paragraph reference number to point to the specific information (where applicable).
WHY / WHEN TO USE:
Useful for substitute (sub) teaching
To extend students
To increase scientific literacy in your class
A weekly reading task
Great as a lesson filler when class goes too fast
To inspire students on a particular topic
Give a selection of these articles for students to choose from
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
3 page Word doc teacher version with answers
2 page Word doc student version with room to fill in answers (text boxes)
3 page PDF teacher version with answers
2 page PDF student version without answers (but space left to do so)
More will be coming to cover other subjects and other topics, so please do keep an eye out for more science articles from The Teaching Astrophysicist!
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
Be sure to follow my:
★ Blog
★ Instagram
★ Linkedin
★ Pinterest
All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist
This science article provides the perfect grab and go, print and provide resource that can supplement lessons. It is an article with questions to check comprehension and inspire scientific thinking. I am very proud of this series of science articles and they are rich with information and wonder at the majesty of science. Each science article includes a fun fact(s) to add to the knowledge gained from this article. Formatted in an easy to read and digest manner, each paragraph is numbered to help with referencing and each question answer has a paragraph reference number to point to the specific information (where applicable).
WHY / WHEN TO USE:
Useful for substitute (sub) teaching
To extend students
To increase scientific literacy in your class
A weekly reading task
Great as a lesson filler when class goes too fast
To inspire students on a particular topic
Give a selection of these articles for students to choose from
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
3 page Word doc teacher version with answers
2 page Word doc student version with room to fill in answers (text boxes)
3 page PDF teacher version with answers
2 page PDF student version without answers (but space left to do so)
More will be coming to cover other subjects and other topics, so please do keep an eye out for more science articles from The Teaching Astrophysicist!
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
Be sure to follow my:
★ Blog
★ Instagram
★ Linkedin
★ Pinterest
All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist
Animals have incredible adaptations to their environment from blubber (fat for winter), to webbed feet for swimming or even behavioural adaptations can be quite an enlightening discovery. So with that in mind, this teaching resource will help and has got you covered.
This research project template provides the perfect grab and go, print and provide resource that can supplement lessons. It is an project template with questions to check comprehension and inspire scientific thinking. It gives a rich and supportive framework that can be tweaked as needed for students to support differentiation.
Each research project template includes space for a one paragraph summary (that may or may not link to the 2 page science article also available on this topic). Students should produce a mathematical connection, an engineering / technology connection, 2 interesting facts / stats. Further there are 5 glossary terms they should fill in with their own words and 3 thought provoking questions (ie: critical thinking questions) they must answer. Finally, each template has 3 alternative thought provoking questions for younger students and 3 other alternative harder questions to extend high flying or older students. Giving you a total of 9 possible thought provoking questions that could be used with students to enhance their research and critical thinking.
This template is some of my best work and I am proud to share it with you.
WHY / WHEN TO USE:
Useful for substitute (sub) teaching
To extend students
To increase scientific literacy and research skills in your class
Great as a lesson filler when class goes too fast and you need a long running task
To inspire students on a particular topic
As a scaffold to support students who need support on research skills and can use a framework
To enhance critical thinking when doing research and making a relevant and interesting output
Give a selection of these research project templates for students to choose from
To enhance students ability to express ideas and synthesis knowledge
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
5 page Word doc teacher version with supporting appendix items
3 page Word doc student version with room to fill in answers (text boxes)
5 page PDF teacher version with supporting appendix items
3 page PDF student version with space to fill in answers
More will be coming to cover other subjects and other topics, so please do keep an eye out for more science articles from The Teaching Astrophysicist!
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect! - All under the handle - The Teaching Astrophysicist
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These 125 Biology Lesson Starter Questions cover every topic and sub-topic in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Middle School Life Sciences. These questions can serve as inspiration for full lessons, can be used to supplement existing materials you may have and give a different method of engaging with the content that students must cover in NGSS Middle School Life Sciences.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
125 Biology Lesson Starter Questions in Google Slides format (separated by standards)
125 Biology Lesson Starter Questions in Google Docs format (separated by standards)
POSSIBLE USES:
Use these to start lessons with a specific goal in mind
Great for those students who finish early and could use more time and room for exploration on a given topic
These starter can inspire new lessons or different ways of teaching the content
Students could use these questions for an inquiry project of their own
COVERED STANDARDS:
MS.Structure, Function, and Information Processing
MS.Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems
MS.Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
MS.Growth, Development, and Reproduction of Organisms
MS.Natural Selection and Adaptations
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
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All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist
This Joke of the Day resource contains 492 curated jokes for all ages and students will love! There are SO many benefits to telling jokes in the classroom. Joke telling can strengthen vocabulary, help review figurative language, teach multiple word meanings, build social skills, and make the classroom a more fun and enjoyable place in general!
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
492 Unique Curated Jokes
11 sets with Powerpoint format
11 sets of Printable mix n match Word Doc format
11 sets of PDF format for slides and for printable
POSSIBLE USES:
Incorporate into morning meeting routine
Use as brain breaks
Print out the slides and post or display on the whiteboard daily
Use in your daily announcements
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
Be sure to follow my:
★ Blog
★ Instagram
★ Linkedin
★ Pinterest
All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist
Plants unit for grade 6/7/8 - full presentation for entire unit. This presentation gives the backbone for a full unit around plants that can run for approximately 2 - 3 weeks and was given as the introduction unit for the start of school. It has accompanying presenters notes embedded in the presentation to explain where appropriate handouts and other similar materials can and should be used to supplement the presentation alone.
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
Be sure to follow my:
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All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist
IB MYP Unit planner set (7 units) STEM education.
This is a set of all the IB MYP unit planners that are on TES from the Teaching Astrophysicist.
This contains the following units which can also be purchased individually:
IB MYP Artificial limb unit - MYP Mathematics STEM unit planner
IB MYP Unit Planner - Growth - MYP 2 & 3
IB MYP Unit Planner - Food and Energy - MYP 2 & 3
IB MYP - Nature of Science - introductory unit plan
IB MYP NGSS Unit plan - Zero impact (sustainable housing)
IDU - Electricity / lightning - IB MYP STEM unit plan
IB MYP STEM unit planner - Nanotechnology
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
Be sure to follow my:
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All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist
This is an IB MYP - Growth related unit - which is ideal for relating biology and the concepts of growth within plants. This unit relates plants as singular organisms, crops and plants in a broader conceptual understanding. It contains many resources suggested for this unit and makes clear a set of points that students should know, understand and be able to do by the end of the unit.
It an overview for a unit that should run for approximately 10 lessons (assuming 2 lessons a week).
For around the same age group - for MYP 2 / 3 an alternative IB MPY unit planner would be: the Food and Energy unit planner.
If rather for younger students you want to integrate both mathematics and STEM, then you might consider: MYP Artifical limb unit.
For older MYP students, then I would suggest The NGSS related - Zero impact (sustainable housing) or for an Interdisciplinary unit - the Electricity / lightning MYP STEM IDU.
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
Be sure to follow my:
★ Blog
★ Instagram
★ Linkedin
★ Pinterest
All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist
This is an IB MYP - Food and energy related unit - which is ideal for relating biology and chemistry in a holistic way by considering the concepts of food and energy. This unit relates food as energy, endo- and exothermic reactions, kinetic energy, growth, a balanced diet and dietary deficiencies.
It an overview for a unit that should run for approximately 18 lessons (assuming 2 lessons a week).
If instead you are looking for an MYP unit planner which is for young students in MYP and would be an ideal first unit for their science, then consider: Nature of Science - introductory unit plan.
If rather for younger students you want to integrate both mathematics and STEM, then you might consider: MYP Artifical limb unit.
For older MYP students, then I would suggest The NGSS related - Zero impact (sustainable housing) or for an Interdisciplinary unit - the Electricity / lightning MYP STEM IDU.
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
Be sure to follow my:
★ Blog
★ Instagram
★ Linkedin
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All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist
Key Stage 3 aligned Biology syllabus - 238 questions.
This resource contains a syllabus document to explain what questions, which topics and the number of questions per topic. This includes three-introduction questions per sub-topic. The questions are a mixture of multiple-choice, short-answer, multi-choice multi-answer and long-answer questions.
EACH SUB-TOPIC has its own word document with answers, a word document without answers (student version) and a powerpoint with answers that helps with the use and functionality of this offering.
EACH QUESTION: Comes with clear amount of marks, a difficulty rating (easy, medium or hard), the stated question type including clear instructions and the solution along with explanation of marks assigned.
The syllabus and layout is as follows:
Topic 1: Structure and function of living organisms (60 questions)
Topic 1.1: Cells and organisation - 31 questions - 8 extension questions (39 total)
Topic 1.2: Plants - 19 questions - 2 extension questions (21 total)
Topic 2: Human structure and function (93 questions)
Topic 2.1: The skeletal and muscular systems - 15 questions
Topic 2.2: Nutrition and digestion - 29 questions
Topic 2.3: Gas exchange systems - 12 questions
Topic 2.4: Reproduction - 28 questions - 2 extension questions (30 total)
Topic 2.5: Health - 7 questions
Topic 3: Material cycles and energy (34 questions)
Topic 3.1: Photosynthesis - 13 questions - 2 extension questions (15 total)
Topic 3.2: Cellular respiration - 17 questions - 2 extension questions (19 total)
Topic 4: Interactions and interdependencies (15 total)
Topic 4.1: Relationships in an ecosystem - 13 questions - 2 extension questions (15 total)
Topic 5: Genetics and evolution (36 total)
Topic 5.1: Inheritance, chromosomes, DNA and genes - 19 questions - 2 extension questions (21 total)
Topic 5.2: Evolution and variation - 13 questions - 2 extension questions (15 total)
If you are interested in Chemistry questions instead - please find those here.
If you are interested in Physics questions instead - please find those here.
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
Be sure to follow my:
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All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist
This resource contains a syllabus document to explain what questions, which topics and the number of questions per topic. This includes three-introduction questions per sub-topic. The questions are a mixture of multiple-choice, short-answer, multi-choice multi-answer and long-answer questions.
EACH SUBJECT has its own set of sub-topics.
EACH SUB-TOPIC has its own word document with answers, a word document without answers (student version) and a powerpoint with answers that helps with the use and functionality of this offering.
EACH QUESTION: Comes with clear amount of marks, a difficulty rating (easy, medium or hard), the stated question type including clear instructions and the solution along with explanation of marks assigned.
The syllabus and layout is as follows:
BIOLOGY (238 questions)
Topic 1: Structure and function of living organisms (60 questions)
Topic 2: Human structure and function (93 questions)
Topic 3: Material cycles and energy (34 questions)
Topic 4: Interactions and interdependencies (15 total)
Topic 5: Genetics and evolution (36 total)
CHEMISTRY (202 questions)
Topic 1: Matter (55 questions)
Topic 2: Chemical reactions (61 questions)
Topic 3: Material and elemental properties (56 questions)
Topic 4: Earth and atmosphere (30 total)
PHYSICS (335 total questions)
Topic 1: Energy (59 questions)
Topic 2: Motion and Forces (77 questions)
Topic 3: Waves (55 questions)
Topic 4: Electricity and Electromagnetism (63 total)
Topic 5: Matter (36 total)
Topic 6: Space Physics (21 total)
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
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All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist
The Power of magnets unit plan - This is ideal for students relating science and magnetic concepts. This unit engages students with the concept of magnets, static electricity, lightning, the sustainability of magnets, how are magnets made, how do they work and a great deal more in a broad conceptual understanding.
The What matters is… unit plan is ideal for students relating science and atomic chemistry. This unit engages students with the concept of an atom, what is the periodic table, how else could the periodic table be represented? solutions, solutes and solvents and a great deal more in a broad conceptual understanding.
The Characteristics of life and body systems unit plan is ideal for students relating science and biological concepts. This unit engages students with the characteristics of life, body systems, organs, diseases, microbiology and a great deal more in a broad conceptual understanding.
The Planet Unknown unit plan is ideal for students relating science and astrophysical concepts. This unit engages students with planets and their structure, balance, gravity, space travel, the idea of scale and a great deal more in a broad conceptual understanding.
These four unit plans each contain many, many links and ideas that keep learning engaging and fun during the weeks that they are running. They are brain-child of months of work to make fully fleshed out science units that integrate other areas of study, but are also truly in keeping to focus on the science and help the students learn in an enjoyable way.
All four of these units are focussed on MYP 2, but could apply to either MYP 1 or 3 easily and be used for that purpose.
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
Be sure to follow my:
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All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist
This is a set of all available MYP Unit Planners from the Teaching astrophysicist which are science, mathematics and STEM units.
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
Be sure to follow my:
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All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist
This is an IB MYP Unit plan - Characteristics of life and body systems - which is ideal for students relating Science, mathematics and biology concepts. This unit engages students with the characteristics of life, body systems, organs, diseases, microbiology and a great deal more in a broad conceptual understanding. It contains many, many resource links suggested for this unit and makes clear a set of points that students should know, understand and be able to do by the end of the unit. It also has some clear and interactive formative assessments and summative assessments.
This unit is heavily detailed and ideal for something that is truly prepared to use in the classroom. It is an overview for a unit that should run for approximately 8 weeks (assuming 3 lessons a week).
If instead you are looking for an MYP unit planner that is for science and is for astronomy / astrophysics, then the plant unknown unit plan would be suitable. If instead, you are seeking a mathematics unit plan and is based on measurement and related concepts, then consider the mathematical vision unit plan or for geometry and artworks, try the Art of Mathematics unit plan or finally for fractions, decimals and percentages and lots of other mathematics, try the Problem with Money unit plan. For science and young students in MYP and which would be an ideal first unit, then consider: Nature of Science - introductory unit plan. For around the same age group - for MYP 2 / 3 an alternative IB MPY unit planner would be: the Food and Energy unit planner or the Growth unit planner.
If rather for younger students you want to integrate both mathematics and STEM, then you might consider: MYP Artifical limb unit.
For older MYP students, then I would suggest The NGSS related - Zero impact (sustainable housing) or for an Interdisciplinary unit - the Electricity / lightning MYP STEM IDU.
This Joke of the Day resource contains 39 curated jokes for all ages and students will love! There are SO many benefits to telling jokes in the classroom. Joke telling can strengthen vocabulary, help review figurative language, teach multiple word meanings, build social skills, and make the classroom a more fun and enjoyable place in general!
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
39 Unique Curated Jokes
Powerpoint format
Printable mix n match Word Doc format
PDF format for slides and for printable
POSSIBLE USES:
Incorporate into morning meeting routine:
Use as brain breaks
Print out the slides and post or display on the whiteboard daily
Use in your daily announcements
Check out these other resources you may also love:
→ Mathematics joke a day - link HERE
→ Physics joke a day - link HERE
→ Astro joke a day - link HERE
→ Chemistry joke a day - link HERE
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
Be sure to follow my:
★ Blog
★ Instagram
★ Linkedin
★ Pinterest
All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist
This Joke of the Day resource contains 198 curated jokes for all ages and students will love! There are SO many benefits to telling jokes in the classroom. Joke telling can strengthen vocabulary, help review figurative language, teach multiple word meanings, build social skills, and make the classroom a more fun and enjoyable place in general!
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
198 Unique Curated Jokes
5 sets with Powerpoint format
5 sets of Printable mix n match Word Doc format
5 sets of PDF format for slides and for printable
POSSIBLE USES:
Incorporate into morning meeting routine
Use as brain breaks
Print out the slides and post or display on the whiteboard daily
Use in your daily announcements
Check out these other resources you may also love:
→ Mathematics joke a day - link HERE
→ Art joke a day - link HERE
→ History joke a day - link HERE
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
Be sure to follow my:
★ Blog
★ Instagram
★ Linkedin
★ Pinterest
All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist
This Joke of the Day resource contains 357 curated jokes for all ages and students will love! There are SO many benefits to telling jokes in the classroom. Joke telling can strengthen vocabulary, help review figurative language, teach multiple word meanings, build social skills, and make the classroom a more fun and enjoyable place in general!
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
357 Unique Curated Jokes
7 sets with Powerpoint format
7 sets of Printable mix n match Word Doc format
7 sets of PDF format for slides and for printable
POSSIBLE USES:
Incorporate into morning meeting routine
Use as brain breaks
Print out the slides and post or display on the whiteboard daily
Use in your daily announcements
If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist
Let’s Connect!
Be sure to follow my:
★ Blog
★ Instagram
★ Linkedin
★ Pinterest
All under the handle: The Teaching Astrophysicist