Integrating Technology in Middle School

Creative educator lesson plans can help you provide your middle-school students with an engaging and creative approach to content learning..

Depending on your student's abilities, you may also want to explore sixth-grade lesson plans.

Design a Book Cover

Design a Book Cover

Students create a new cover design for a book they are reading to demonstrate comprehension and explore character, plot, setting, symbolism, and conflict.

image of judge's gavel on pile of books

Do Judge a Book by Its Cover

In this lesson, students build visual literacy and engage in close reading as they investigate the text and imagery on book covers to evaluate whether they are worth reading.

image of books in a series

Take Reading SERIESly

In this lesson, students investigate the potential of a book's characters, plot and themes and develop a proposal for turning it into a series.

Hero's Journey

Hero's Journey

Students will create an eBook identifying and explaining the events in a hero's journey in a text they are reading.

Character Scrapbook

Character Scrapbook

Students will create a digital scrapbook that showcases the viewpoint of the main character.

image of an interview microphone

Interview a Book Character

In this lesson, students craft an interview with a character from a book they are reading to demonstrate comprehension.

Create a Card Game

Create a Card Game

Students create a card game based on the storyline of a book they are reading.

Jail terms

Students will create a mock social network page from the viewpoint of the protagonist or antagonist in a novel they are reading.

Create a Visual Poem

Create a Visual Poem

Students will create a visual, or video, poem as they analyze the imagery in a text.

Lead Type

Publish a Digital Magazine

Students take the lead and design and create their own digital magazine.

image of ABCs

The ABC’s of …

In this lesson, students create an alphabet book to share knowledge and information they have learned, organizing their writing using the ABC’s.

image of front of vocubulary trading card for the word verdant

Vocabulary Trading Cards

In this lesson, students create vocabulary trading cards that use images to help other students master the meaning of new words.

Book trailers

Book Trailers

Students will develop a movie-style trailer for a book they have read.

Persuade with Emotional Appeals

Persuade with Emotional Appeals

Students will build persuasive skills and media literacy as they explore techniques of propaganda and develop commercials that persuade viewers.

Here�s to Your Health

Here's to Your Health

Students will research a health issue, write an essay, and transform their argument into a public service announcement.

Don�t Let the Earth Down

Don’t Let the Earth Down

Students will write persuasively on a conservation issue and create a public service announcement to promote their cause.

picture of city plaza

Pop-up Plaza Proposal

In this lesson, students craft a proposal for a pop-up plaza or parklet where community members can relax, reflect and connect.

Persuasive and Presidential Writing

Persuasive and Presidential Writing

Students learn persuasive writing and presentation skills.

artwork of book burning by Fiza Kamran

Save from the Flames

In this lesson, students share why they would save a specific book from the "firemen" in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451.

Infographics

Infographics

Students will create an infographic poster to share knowledge and data about an issue they are studying.

picture of napkin on table

Plan an Event

Students will plan for an event and create a proposal demonstrating how the event might look and how much it would cost.

Tessellation Sensation

Tessellation Sensation

Students will create their own tessellations study the mathematical concepts of patterns, planes, symmetry, and translation.

image close up of a Hieronymous Bosch painting

Surreal Symmetry

In this lesson, students use symmetry to create bizarre creatures around a self-portrait and then write a poem about the image.

Fastballs, Free Throws and Physics

Fastballs, Free Throws and Physics

Students will create an animated video that showcases how physics concepts apply to their favorite sport.

picture of person holding breaded chicken sandwich

Healthier School Lunches

Students will learn about nutrition and create a sample menu for a week of healthy school lunches.

Map with pins and a magnifying glass.

Virtual Museum

In this lesson, students create an online museum for their community.

image of candles and lights

Commemorative Ceremonies

Students develop a ceremony to honor a person or commemorate an event in history.

The White House Cabinet room

The President's Team

In this lesson, students nominate literary characters for each seat in the President's cabinet.

Artifact Interviews

Artifact Interviews

Students will research a historical person or event and retell the story as an animated interview with an artifact from that time or place.

image of travel postcards with come visit text

Tourism Trade Show

In this lesson, students develop materials to promote a specific region they are studying and make their pitch for a visit to this location at a tourism trade show.

Video Biographies

Video Biographies

Students complete research on a historical figure and create a video biography of that person.

image of historical postcard from the Library of Congress

Postcards from the Past

In this lesson, students will create a collection of postcards that demonstrate how different people in the past may have viewed a single event or culture and analyze the range of perspectives in all class postcards to gain a deeper understanding of history.

Image of SMART goal words

Set SMART goals

In this lesson, students set SMART goals for the coming school year, identifying action items they can complete to achieve them.

Image of clouds and sunspot

Create a Vision Board

In this lesson, students create a vision board to turn their goals into words and images that represent what life will look and feel like when they reach them.

cartoon of elephant and donkey fishing

Political Cartoons Then and Now

Students will analyze and share the history of a political cartoon and then create their own cartoon about a current event.

Not Your Average Portfolio

Not Your Average Portfolio

Students will learn about the life of a famous person and create non-fiction porfolio about the individual.

Historical Journal

Historical Journal

Students will create a historical journal from a fictional character's point of view.

Book trailers

Ancient Cultures News Broadcast

Students create a news broadcast while studying ancient civilizations.

A Day in the Life

A Day in the Life

Students will create a daily newspaper edition to learn about the politics and culture of ancient Rome.

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Digital Citizenship | Google Apps | Coding and Programming | Technology Curriculum | Microsoft Office | Middle School | Lesson Plans | Digital Literacy

Middle School Technology Lesson Plans: Where to Find Them

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September 20th, 2022 | 8 min. read

Middle School Technology Lesson Plans: Where to Find Them

Brad Hummel

Coming from a family of educators, Brad knows both the joys and challenges of teaching well. Through his own teaching background, he’s experienced both firsthand. As a writer for iCEV, Brad’s goal is to help teachers empower their students by listening to educators’ concerns and creating content that answers their most pressing questions about career and technical education.

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If you’re a new middle school computer applications teacher, you’re facing many choices for technology lesson plans for your students. Making the right choices for your classroom can seem overwhelming since learning basic computer and technology skills will set them up for later success.

Thankfully, finding the right resources isn’t as difficult as you might think. Four of the most popular topics taught in middle school technology classes are:

  • Website Creation and Beginner Coding Lessons
  • Digital Citizenship Lessons
  • Google Suite Lessons
  • Microsoft Office Lessons

In this article, you’ll find an example resource for each topic and where to find additional lesson plans so you can choose the most appropriate materials for your program.

1. Website Creation and Beginner Coding Lessons

Example: TechnoKids Intermediate Resources

An excellent resource for middle school technology lesson plans in coding and website creation comes from TechnoKids. TechnoKids publishes K-12 curriculum to help students understand key technology and computer science concepts.

While TechnoKids offers several different lesson options, middle school teachers will find their Intermediate resources the most appropriate for their students. Designed for learners in grades 6-9, the resources assist students in learning some of the most popular topics within a middle school technology class.

These materials are available individually or as an intermediate-level collection. The TechnoKids Intermediate lesson plan options include:

  • Website Creation
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Personal Finance

One strength of the TechnoKids lessons is that it makes complex computer coding simple and accessible for students, so it’s great for middle schoolers who are just starting to learn these skills.

How Much Do These Technology Lesson Plans Cost, and Who Are They For?

If you only want a single TechnoKids project to use in your classroom, you’ll pay $40. You can also buy the entire Intermediate Curriculum Collection for $295, which includes access to more than a dozen projects.

TechnoKids is an excellent fit for instructors who want to emphasize computer coding and website creation since the resources make learning these skills accessible to younger learners.

Teachers who don’t think they’ll use all the materials in the collection may want to focus on one or two projects or look for a set of lesson plans that’s a better fit.

Related Resources to Teach Coding

  • 5 Top Middle School Technology Curriculum Options
  • Top 5 Free Middle School Computer Science Resources to Teach Coding

2. Digital Citizenship Lessons

common-sense-education

Example: Common Sense Education

Technology teachers often look for lesson plans to teach digital citizenship and literacy skills. Addressing these topics in a middle school classroom is critical to ensuring students can safely, responsibly, and respectfully use technology going forward.

Common Sense Education is a nonprofit organization that helps students and families understand and responsibly use media. Their Digital Citizenship resources provide ready-to-teach lessons for K-12 teachers that were developed in partnership with Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

The Common Sense digital citizenship lessons are divided into six categories:

  • Media Balance and Well-Being
  • Privacy and Security
  • Digital Footprint and Identity
  • Relationships and Communication
  • Cyberbullying , Digital Drama, and Hate Speech
  • News and Media Literacy

You’ll find a lesson for grades 6, 7, and 8 for 18 middle school digital citizenship lessons for each of these topics. You’ll also find take-home resources to share with families.

As a nonprofit organization, Common Sense Education provides its lesson plans for free.

You could easily supplement your existing materials with these resources if you cover one or more of the lesson categories in your technology classes.

However, consider additional materials to build a complete technology curriculum if you're covering these areas in more depth.

Related Resources to Teach Digital Citizenship

  • What Is Internet Safety and Why Is It Important to Teach?
  • 4 Best Digital Citizenship Lesson Plans for Middle School
  • Top 4 Digital Citizenship Activities for Middle School
  • The 5 Best Cyberbullying Resources for Middle School  

3. Google Suite Lessons

Google Apps Middle School Technology Lesson Plans

Example: Google Drive Bundle from Gavin Middleton

Because they’re easy to use and allow for quick, web-based collaboration, more and more teachers include the Google suite of applications in their middle school technology lesson plans. One example of a quality Google lesson plans provider is Gavin Middleton.

Gavin Middleton is a notable computer applications resource provider on Teachers Pay Teachers, the marketplace where instructors can buy, sell, and share classroom resources.

His Google Drive Bundle is a set of resources designed to help teach the Google Suite of applications for students in grades 6 and up.

These lesson plans cover all of the fundamentals of using Google applications, including:

  • Files, Folders, and Sharing within Google Drive
  • Google Docs
  • Google Slides
  • Google Sheets
  • Google Drawings
  • Google Forms
  • Updates and Add-ons in Drive

When you use each lesson plan, you’ll be able to give your students a working knowledge of applications they’ll use for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and file sharing.

Gavin Middleton’s lesson plan bundle costs $19.95, a 40 percent savings over purchasing each of the resources individually.

If you cover the Google Suite in your technology lessons, there’s a high chance you’ll benefit from these materials. Considering the bundle contains over 500 pages of content, you’ll be able to teach many classes using just these resources.

Related Resources to Teach Google Apps

  • How to Teach Google Docs in Middle School  
  • Top 3 Google Docs Lessons for Middle School
  • 3 Best Lesson Plans for Teaching Google Sheets in Your Middle School Classroom  
  • 3 Places to Find Google Sheets Activities for Middle School Students
  • Top 3 Google Slides Lesson Plans & How to Use Them

4. Microsoft Office Lessons

Microsoft Office Middle School Technology Lesson Plans

Example: Microsoft Office Mega Bundle from TechCheck Lessons

Microsoft Office lessons remain popular in many middle school technology classrooms because they introduce students to a suite of productivity tools they can use throughout their careers. A solid place to start is with TechCheck Lessons, another reputable seller offering lesson plans through Teachers Pay Teachers.

Designed for grades 7-11, TechCheck’s Microsoft Office Mega Bundle includes an incredible 856 pages of resources.

The bundle includes an extensive amount of Microsoft Office lesson plans and activities:

  • 33 Word lessons
  • 35 PowerPoint lessons
  • 20 Excel lessons
  • 9 Outlook activities

In the bundle, you’ll also receive other lesson plans to teach your students essential computer skills like keyboarding and digital citizenship.

The TechCheck Microsoft Office Mega Bundle is available for $45. With 856 pages of content, you should be able to teach an entire course on these computer applications. On the other hand, if you need just a few lessons on a specific Microsoft Office topic, you can purchase individual units from within the TechCheck Bundle.

These lesson plans are of great value for a teacher focusing on the Microsoft Office application suite and provide a wealth of content you can incorporate into your middle school technology classes.

Related Resources to Teach Microsoft Office

  • 3 Top Places to Find Excel Lesson Plans for Middle School
  • How to Teach Microsoft Word for Middle School
  • The 4 Best PowerPoint Lesson Plans for Middle School
  • 4 Best Microsoft Office Curriculum Resources for Middle and High School

Meet Your Technology Lesson Plan Needs with a Comprehensive Curriculum

Covering technology topics in a middle school classroom can often feel overwhelming. Whether you’re covering digital literacy or computer coding, you must give your students appropriate resources to help them learn and grow.

Depending on the subjects you need to cover, any of these technology lesson plans could be an excellent choice for your middle schoolers.

However, we’ve often heard from educators that students learn best when they have continuity in the learning process.

If this is true in your classroom, consider a comprehensive curriculum system, such as Business&ITCenter21 from AES. When you teach with a curriculum system, you’ll be able to cover a range of technology subject areas while providing consistency and continuity for your students.

Explore the Business&ITCenter21 Catalog

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29 Fun Technology Activities For Middle School

December 12, 2023 //  by  Jill Webb

Technology isn’t just fun with computers, it also includes screen-free technology activities! The list below contains a variety of low and high-tech activities for your middle schoolers to try out! Whether they are interested in science, math, art, or even English, there are ways to implement technology into their lessons. So scroll down to find 29 of the most creative ideas for bringing more technological learning into your classroom!

1. Create a GIF

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If middle schoolers had their own language- they’d be talking in GIFs! They’ll be totally stoked to have a lesson on how to make GIFs in Photoshop using animation. This is not only an engaging activity, but it’s a great skill for them to learn how to create digital art using Adobe.

Learn More: The Art of Education

2. Circuit Activity

Now here’s a simple, yet important lesson to teach your students about circuits! The video teaches them how to make an easy circuit, but you can also have them make more complex ones once they’ve gotten to grips with the basics.

Learn More: YouTube

3. Digital Storytelling Activity

technology education lesson plans middle school

Using technology to tell stories is a great skill for your kiddos to learn; especially as things become more technology-centered. Even your reluctant writers will be excited to try out this program! Book Creator will help them understand how to tell captivating, digital stories that can be read time and time again. 

Learn More: Book Creator

4. Technology Scavenger Hunt

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Take your kids on a trip around the world from the seats of your classroom! Google Earth is an amazing resource for your kids to get a sense of travel by zooming into different locations in the world. For this scavenger hunt, you’ll combine geography with technology as they use Google Earth to explore different locations, using coordinates to navigate.

Learn More: Erintegration

5. StoriumEDU

technology education lesson plans middle school

StoriumEDU helps your kids write stories through the lens of video game play! It’s set up so that they can choose different characters and event cards that will prompt them to fill in the blanks and write a whole story. They’ll learn character development and story organization through the exciting gameplay!

Learn more:  Storium EDU

6. Flippity

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Flippity is another cool digital resource that your kiddos will love! It’ll show them how to turn a Google Spreadsheet into a collection of games and flashcards. They’ll be able to make their own review games or study materials, all while learning some basic computer literacy skills.

Learn More: Flippity

We love this collaborative digital platform that can easily be implemented in your classroom. Your kiddos can use Sutori to create timelines, informative graphics, and much more. It’s an engaging way for them to express what they have learned through technology and you’ll love the feature where you can give feedback! 

8. Digital Whiteboard

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How cool is this? It’s a student-friendly digital whiteboard that is great for storytelling or classroom presentations. Explain Everything is super easy to use and allows your kids to map out their learning by adding photos, images, video, audio, and drawing tools. It’s also a super resource for you to use in your teaching, or to use collaboratively as a class!

Learn More: Explain Everything

9. Virtual Field Trip

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We love that technology has given kids all over the world access to a variety of virtual field trips! Discovery Education offers virtual field trips that come with lessons and activities for each virtual discovery. In this one, they’ll learn more about genomics- a branch of science that studies DNA!

Learn More: Discovery Education

10. Digital Breakout 

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Get your learners excited to outsmart technology with digital breakouts! This digital content activity is similar to an escape room and your class will use different problem-solving and computer skills to “break out” of the room and win!

Learn More: Sandy Cangelosi

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Here’s a game your kiddos will be begging to play every day! Unruly Splats is a coding game that gets them moving and coding at the same time. It uses simple codes to teach them these new skills through play.

Learn More: Unruly Splats

12. Type Racing

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Typing is an obvious fundamental skill that your kiddies should be proficient in so we’ve added a great typing game for you to incorporate into your classroom routine! To play Type Racer they’ll compete in a car race as they try to accurately type as many words as they can to move the car along the track! The fastest fingers will win!

Learn More: Type Racer

13. Build A Calculator

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Let’s introduce our students to the world of programming by making a simple calculator! This is a cool coding activity where they’ll learn how to make a functioning calculator using coding. Who knows, after teaching them the basics, you might even inspire them to explore coding as a future career choice! 

Learn More: Sphero Edu

14. Mosa Mack

technology education lesson plans middle school

Turns your kids into science detectives with this exciting resource and accompanying lesson plans! The fun videos will help you teach major science concepts and the interactive quizzes and digital worksheets help you to test knowledge. There’s also the opportunity for your kiddies to get hands-on, using real-life examples to demonstrate the concepts being taught.

Learn More: Common Sense Education

15. AI Machine Learning

AI is appearing rapidly and becoming the center of a lot of digital discussion and debate. This machine is a fun way for your middle schoolers to see first-hand how this innovative tech works! They’ll create and photograph a library of hand-drawn faces and use this as learning data to teach an AI how to determine moods based on facial expressions! Cool, right!?

Learn More: Science Buddies

16. Paper Circuit Card

Get crafty with this next tech activity. This video will help you teach your kiddies how to make a circuit card using a few simple materials including some wire, a battery, and a small light! Encourage them to get creative and make cute light-up images using their circuits!

17. Procreate for Kids

Calling all graphic designers! If your kids are interested in learning about digital drawing tools, then this is the activity for them! Bardot Brush has a variety of digital drawing lessons made specifically for kids! We suggest following her on YouTube so that you can access her additional lesson plans to go alongside the videos!

18. Book Trailer Project

Rather than ask your learners to fill out a traditional book report, why not utilize some tech and task them with making a digital book trailer? This site gives you a comprehensive lesson plan complete with a student checklist, a marking rubric, links to the national standards, as well as links to some examples to show to your kiddos!

Learn More: Read Write Think

19. Ancient Egypt Strategy Simulator Game

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We’re sure you have some kids in your class who love video games, right? If they’re learning about ancient Egypt, this video game is perfect to add some tech time to their history lesson. The game is based on real facts from Egyptian times and challenges your learners to make strategic decisions to lead their citizens!

Learn More: Clarus Victoria

20. Lego Maze Coding

technology education lesson plans middle school

Lego mazes are a great way to introduce basic coding skills to students of all ages! All they need to do is build a maze using templates provided and legos. Then, it is their job to make a list of commands for their “character” to help them escape the maze. This knowledge can then be transferred to real computer coding in the future! 

Learn More: Research Parent

21. DIY Smart Phone Projector

technology education lesson plans middle school

In this simple yet super fun technology activity, your kids will cut a hole in a cardboard box and attach a magnifying glass to the inside. Then, they can build a resting spot for their smartphone inside the box- and voila! They have a mini projector to play their favorite YouTube videos.

Learn More: The Stem Laboratory

22. Podcasting Projects

Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular as they’re an easily accessible form of entertainment or information on the go. This fantastic site will tell you all you need to know to get your kids podcasting like professionals! They’ll love this fun activity where they’ll get to grow their digital skills as they learn how to record and edit audio about some of their favorite topics.

Learn More: neaToday

23. DIY Projector Shadows

technology education lesson plans middle school

Cardboard projectors are a simple yet engaging project that can be done over and over again! You’ll need basic supplies including toilet paper rolls, plastic wrap, and a flashlight to get started, and have your middle schoolers draw pictures or write words on the clear end of the roll. Turn off the lights, have ‘em power up those flashlights! The results are a spectacular shadow show!

Learn More: Chalk Academy

 24. Pipe Cleaner LED Christmas Decorations

technology education lesson plans middle school

It’s time to make some Christmas decorations! Head to your craft drawer for some pipe cleaners, a small battery pack, and LED bulbs. Your kiddos will have a merry time shaping pipe cleaners into Christmas trees and Rudolph shapes! Explain how the metal in the pipe cleaner will act as a wire and once they connect it to the battery and light, they’ll have their own light-up decoration! 

Learn More: Instructables

25. Harry Potter Wands

technology education lesson plans middle school

A magical take on technology, join in some wand-making action with this Harry Potter-inspired tutorial! For this fun activity, your tech wizards need to stick copper tape along a few popsicle sticks and fasten a small LED light above. Once the battery is in place, their wand is ready to cast the “Lumos” spell!

Learn More: Steam Powered Family

26. Simple Homemade Robot Car

technology education lesson plans middle school

For under eight dollars, this homemade robot car is definitely worth a try, and your kids will be amazed at their robot-making skills! Skewers, foam, straws, and bottle caps will be the foundational materials for a new robotic friend while a small motor with batteries will bring him to life!

27. DIY Morse Code Machines

technology education lesson plans middle school

DIY Morse Code Machines are a great way to inspire your kids to stop texting and try a different way of communicating even if just for a couple of hours! Help them to follow the step-by-step directions to make a wooden box with wiring and battery connectors inside. They’ll have a great time using the buzzer to communicate in Morse code with each other!

Learn More: Surviving A Teacher’s Salary

28. Storyboard Creator

technology education lesson plans middle school

Storyboards are a great way for your students to practice summarizing stories they’ve read! Encourage them to focus on the main events and key story elements to create their own online comic! Storyboard Creator allows them to choose setting backgrounds, characters, and more to virtually bring their summaries to life!

Learn More: Storyboard That

29. Evaluating Websites

technology education lesson plans middle school

Learning to tell good quality online sources from bad ones is a vital skill nowadays. Checking for six criteria, this activity will give your learners practice evaluating websites and the information they present. This is both a helpful skill for school and the real world; it’ll help them decide which websites are quality sources and which ones can’t be trusted!

Learn More: Education World

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Kid Spark Education Blog

Stem for middle schoolers: a guide for teaching stem at middle school, how to inspire confident stem learners, engage middle school students in hands-on learning activities, and other resources for middle school stem teachers..

STEM for Middle Schoolers Blog Post

The middle school years mark the transition from elementary school to high school. In these few formative years, students transition from a single teacher to multiple teachers, from general studies to more focused subjects, and from a class of peers to multiple classes with numerous peers.

These transitions form the background of their STEM education and depending on how well a student adjusts, can influence the rest of their educational career.

STEM in middle school gives students opportunities to dive deeper into STEM subjects and explore more challenging concepts. Students at the middle school level can be introduced to complex engineering, robotics, prototyping, intermediate mathematics, computer science, and more.

Creating a middle school STEM program where students can thrive is essential to inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders.

In this article, we’ll cover:

  • Why building STEM identity in middle school is so important (and how to do it)
  • Middle school STEM activities that are engaging, hands-on, and designed to be challenging yet fun
  • How to find the right STEM curriculum for your middle school

Ready to lead confident STEM students? Let’s jump in.

Building STEM Identity in Middle School

Once students reach middle school, they typically have a solid foundation and familiarity across most school subjects and now have the opportunity to explore those subjects in-depth. New concepts, courses, and interests quickly evolve alongside budding social lives that can also potentially affect students’ academic success.

Professionals in school counseling and psychotherapy have noted the “ drops in confidence, performance, and academic self-identity ” that middle schoolers face during these years of early adolescence, which is why strong STEM mentors are more necessary than ever in middle schools.

What is STEM Identity?

STEM identity describes how an individual sees themselves within the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

Some middle school students may have had early and sustained exposure to STEM subjects at the elementary level and come into their middle school STEM classes with confidence, curiosity, and ambitions to pursue a career in STEM. Others may feel like they’ve already struggled with science or mathematics earlier in their academic careers and that they’re “just not a math person.”

Many students exist somewhere within the spectrum when reaching middle school and can shift quickly and dramatically through social pressure, class difficulty, teacher influence, or any combination of the many changes happening at this time.

The great news is that STEM identity is not fixed! Students of all ages can build their STEM identities through mentorship, engaging and fun STEM activities, and positive learning experiences that build their confidence and curiosity in STEM subjects.

STEM for Middle Schoolers Blog Post -4

How to Build STEM Identity in Middle Schoolers

In middle school, students need engaging activities that activate their curiosity and challenge them in new ways. They also look for activities that are relevant to their lives, as in— How does this apply to the REAL world?

Here are a few ways to build and encourage STEM identity in middle school students:

  • STEM Mentors

For students without a strong connection to STEM subjects, a mentor can make all the difference. Positively reinforcing students’ efforts, encouraging them to approach new challenges, and celebrating their successes can build better STEM identities and inspire students with the confidence they need to continue their own pursuit of STEM subjects.

STEM mentors also play a powerful role in introducing diversity within STEM. Our schoolbooks, media influences, and communities might portray a limited view of who traditionally plays a role in science, technology, engineering, or math. Introducing students to a diverse array of STEM mentors from underrepresented groups helps students of all backgrounds, genders, and abilities see themselves as future leaders in the world of STEM. 

  • Diverse Challenges

Building STEM identity includes keeping students engaged with new STEM activities while keeping them at their learning edge . 

What is the learning edge? When we are faced with new concepts that are too challenging, we often experience feelings of frustration, anxiety, or confusion. The learning edge is a place within our comfort zone of learning that provides just enough of a challenge to be exciting and fun without posing too large a challenge to be discouraging.

Middle school students who are approached with too many challenges beyond their learning edge might handle these feelings by withdrawing, giving up, or acting out in other ways that prevent them from learning. To continue to build their STEM identity, students need diverse challenges that keep them on their learning edge.

  • Engaging STEM Activities

All students, but especially middle school students, are interested to know how a classroom lesson applies to the real world. Are they really going to use math outside of school? When will they ever need these scientific facts after graduation?

A great way to preemptively answer these types of questions is by introducing engaging hands-on STEM activities that immediately immerse these subjects into the real world. Rather than reading and recitation, students get to see the real-world applications of STEM concepts and stay engaged while having fun in the classroom.

STEM for Middle Schoolers Blog Post -2

Middle School STEM Activities

With these helpful tips on supporting middle schoolers on their STEM journey, let’s explore some considerations and ideas for STEM activities in the middle school classroom.

Science doesn’t have to be all worksheets and balancing electrons. Have fun with hands-on STEM activities for your middle school students. Science builds critical thinking, problem solving, analytical thinking, and experimentation in students. Keep it fun by relating each subject to the real world and letting students do some experimenting of their own.

  • Scientific Challenges

To encourage middle schoolers to explore concepts and experiment on their own, allow ample time for scientific challenges in the classroom. This might include letting students design their own science experiments using the scientific method, solving a mystery or hypothesis in groups or as a class, or exercising students divergent thinking by encouraging them to find as many creative solutions to solve a problem.

Scientific challenges are often built into curriculum activities ( like Kid Spark’s STEM comprehensive programs ) where students can apply a convergent learning skill they’ve just learned and can apply it to a new problem, finding numerous creative solutions. 

Challenges can also be constructed by teachers themselves, adding a game element or creative element to a scientific concept to move beyond memorization and into hands-on learning.

  • Tie in the latest science news

There’s no better way to highlight a science lesson’s relevance than to directly tie into what’s happening in the world of science today. 

NASA provides helpful professional courses for educators K-12, online STEM toolkits, and STEM lesson plans on their STEM engagement website . Here, you can find several different resources for both teachers and students to explore STEM subjects related to what’s currently happening in science news. 

Middle school students are especially interested in technologies that are relevant. With the fast pace of technological advancements, this can be a challenge for many teachers to find new ways to engage students in technology-focused STEM activities. Here are a couple of ideas for the classroom in 2023:

  • Leverage what they already know: computers

Middle schoolers are already well-versed in computers, and might already be familiar with computer science (CS) and coding on their own. Regardless of their familiarity, the application of computer science is something that is likely already aligned with their interests.

Google for Education offers resources for K-12 educators and CS activities for students in the classroom. The middle school level is a great time to introduce these concepts and provide creative activities for students to explore computer science.

STEM for Middle Schoolers Blog Post -3

  • Connect technology to the real world

In one unit of Kid Spark’s middle school STEM program , students build an airplane model, then design and 3D print their own propeller. Over the course of multiple lessons, students learn to navigate a CAD system, design a three-dimensional prototype, and eventually print their custom airplane propeller. 

This process connects modern technology to a hands-on learning activity with both convergent and divergent activities included. Complete with comprehensive lesson plans, student workbooks, video tutorials, and unit assessments, teachers have all the tools they need for an engaging integrated STEM activity that keeps middle school students participating.

Engineering

It’s going to take more than legos to get middle schoolers engaged in engineering. Luckily, there are several ways to introduce more complex engineering schools that keep students challenged and at their learning edge.

  • Think “movement”

Flying rockets, speeding soapbox cars, and engineering a soft landing to keep an egg intact are all examples of hands-on engineering activities for middle school. Exploring the concepts of inertia, velocity, and acceleration opens up a fascinating world of learning activities that combines both convergent and divergent learning.

When approaching engineering concepts like these in text, try to find a physical example to illustrate the concept in the classroom. If you or your students are limited in supplies or resources, consider participating in one hands-on activity as a class, dividing students into groups, or using recycled materials to illustrate these engineering concepts.

  • How things work

Our natural curiosity enjoys learning about how things work. Introducing the inner workings of engineering can make students see the world in an entirely new way. So how do we explore these concepts? 

Structured engineering lesson plans with hands-on learning activities are a great way to introduce simple and complex mechanisms and machines. Because of the sequential nature of engineering concepts, we recommend a more structured and progressive approach to introduce new concepts, then let them build upon each other until students have a comprehensive understanding of how things work and can apply a variety of engineering principles to a single problem on their own.

This is best seen in our middle school STEM program where students work with reusable engineering components to build simple machines like levers, wheels, screws, and pulleys then move into compound machines with motors, motions, and gears.

For a sneak peek at what these lesson plans look like, click here .

Mathematics

Middle schoolers don’t typically enjoy the two-dimensional world of math on paper. To make mathematics fun and relevant, try to incorporate hands-on learning activities where students can apply their math knowledge to real-world problems, like:

  • Geometry with their own engineered models

In a simple machines lesson of Kid Spark’s 6th-8th Grade Stem Program , students assemble a screw and learn how to calculate its mechanical advantage by measuring the different attributes of a circle. Through this hands-on activity, students have three-dimensional models to understand radius, diameter, and circumference, how to measure each, and how each makes a difference in the mechanical advantage of a screw.

By combining a real-world application and hands-on activity, this mathematical lesson comes to life and gives students an engaging STEM experience that is more memorable and impactful than measuring shapes in a textbook.

  • Baking with fractions and ratios

Following a baking recipe provides a fun (and delicious) way to explore fractions, ratios, and conversions. Different variations of mathematical baking lessons might include following a no-bake recipe together as a class, having each student bring a recipe to convert and scale to then bake and share with the class, or forming groups of students to work together on a single recipe.

A real-world application of these mathematical concepts helps further cement the lessons of measurement, scale, ratios, and conversions while providing students with a fun and engaging activity.

STEM for Middle Schoolers Blog Post -1

Bring Kid Spark Education’s STEM Program to Your Middle School

Are you looking for an all-in-one solution for your middle school STEM program? Kid Spark Education can help plan your program today. 

At Kid Spark, we believe that accessibility and consistency to STEM education closes the divide in STEM inequities. With our comprehensive and progressive STEM programs from Pre-K through Grade 8, we provide all the tools you need as an educator including curriculum tools, engineering components, professional development, and complete lesson plans that meet NGSS standards. 

Explore our programs or connect with us today to learn more about Kid Spark’s STEM kits for your middle school.

Topics: STEM mentors , STEM Activities , STEM Education , middle school stem , Kid Spark Education , middle school , math , stem , 6th grade , 5th grade , science

Written By Jordani Sarreal

Would you like to receive more information about starting a kid spark stem program for your students , go beyond the buzzword with kid spark..

At Kid Spark Education, STEM isn't a buzzword: it's a powerful way to nurture students' natural curiosity; build confidence and skills in science, technology, engineering, and math; and foster abilities in collaboration, problem-solving, and communication. You, their teachers, are our most important partner in achieving our mission of preparing all children for a lifetime of learning about science and technology. The Kid Spark Blog is written by educators, for educators to be a resource in your toolbox so you can feel confident and capable in teaching STEM to your elementary students. 

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STEM Education Guide

20 STEM Projects That Are Great for Middle School

Krystal DeVille

February 15, 2024

technology education lesson plans middle school

Middle schoolers experience a great time of exploration and learning during these formative years. Explore these middle school STEM projects, designed to enhance STEM education by engaging students in hands-on learning. Pick which ones you want to try first.

Simply click the title of each lesson in the list to get the full lesson plan for these great STEM challenges that align with lessons for middle school science, technology, engineering, and math objectives. Alongside these projects, we also offer a variety of easy STEM challenges that can serve as introductory activities for beginners.

I’ve gone through all the educational subscription boxes for teenagers and put together the best ones in this resource, teenagers’ top STEM subscription boxes.

Table of Contents

STEM Activities for Middle School Students

1.  i breathe what.

technology education lesson plans middle school

Students enhance their problem-solving skills and understanding of the scientific method by exploring air quality through pollen, dust, and particulates using their homemade ‘pollution detectors.’ They will hypothesize what causes the differences and explain why engineers look at the particulate matter when they observe air quality.

2. Design a Bridge

This is a fun way of using simple machines and various materials, students design bridges that can hold 100 pennies for 30 seconds without collapsing, teaching them fundamental principles of physics. Review engineering concepts such as load and force with your classes before they get started. Consider using craft sticks as one of the materials, which are great for learning about weight distribution and structural integrity.

3. Spaghetti Soapbox Derby

technology education lesson plans middle school

In this science experiment, pairs of students design, build, and test model vehicles made from dry pasta and hot glue, with the goal of rolling along a ramp and coasting as far as possible. This STEM activity focuses on using somewhat challenging materials in the best ways possible.

For an added challenge, students can use rubber bands to enhance the propulsion of their pasta vehicles.

4. Trail Planning Using Topographic Quadrangle Maps

technology education lesson plans middle school

This earth science activity first calls for familiarity with US Geological Survey quadrangle maps. Working within set guideline requirements, students then use these maps to design a good route for a new recreational trail.

5. Bikini Bottom Genetics

Students apply an understanding of genetics in an analysis of sea creature genotypes that live in SpongeBob SquarePants’ neighborhood. They predict traits of offspring with the use of Punnett squares.

6. Design a Wristwatch for the Visually Impaired

Help your students review the engineering design process. They will then research, model, test and evaluate wristwatches for individuals with visual impairments as an exercise in applying engineering skills in the areas of bioengineering and biomedical engineering.

Take a look at our review of Groovy Lab in a Box . It’s hard to convey, but after reviewing about a dozen educational STEM subscription services, Groovy Lab Box has the most well-thought-out lesson plans!

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7. Use Your Shoe!

Teachers collect shoe size data from the class. As a group, they use the data to determine the mean, median, and mode. Students then use that information to make inferences about average shoe size and broader populations. This activity provides a review of how to calculate mean, median, and mode, along with methods to make inferences based on the sample.

While this article focuses on middle schoolers, we also recommend fun and educational STEM projects suitable for elementary students .

8. Mission to Mars

Following a storyline, task your students with completing various STEM challenges, including understanding chemical reactions through a Coke and Mentos experiment as part of a Mars emergency. Teamwork, engineering design, and the use of science topics in real life are all addressed.

9. Snack Time!

Using nutritional information labels from various packaged foods, students will organize and describe that info to show the data in a box-and-whisker plot, bar graph, and pie chart. This activity touches on both math and science standards.

10. No Valve in Vain

Teams of students employ the engineering design process to use tape and plastic tubing to create heart valve models. For this activity, the class reviews the engineering design process and the workings of a one-way valve.

For older kids, particularly high school students looking for more advanced challenges, please check out our article, The Best Science Sets for Teens .

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11. Marble Speed Traps with Lego Mindstorms

Students review the formula for velocity . Using drag and drop programming, they code the speed traps to measure the distance between the sensors and time it takes the marble to travel between them. They design the course, write the code, convert units, evaluate, and make changes as needed.

12. The Million Dollar Project

Students imagine inheriting and spending 1 million dollars with specific guidelines of how they may use that money. They research on the internet, record all purchases, learn to write checks, and track all their spending, which reinforces various mathematical concepts.

13. Explore the Law of Inertia using a Fidget Spinner

technology education lesson plans middle school

Review the equations for torque and inertia with students. By removing lights (weight) from spinners, they can explore how the amount of time the device will continue spinning is affected by the mass.

14. Backyard Weather Stations

Working in groups, students describe the current weather and predict future conditions by observing cloud formations. They design backyard weather stations that could gather data for actual forecasting. Technologies for forecasting would be explored, along with weather basics.

15. Leaning Tower of Pasta

technology education lesson plans middle school

Review compression and tension in structure stability with your class. Students use math and engineering concepts to design and build structures with long, dry spaghetti and marshmallows, to find which ones can withstand the largest amount of load.

16. Cleaning the Great Lakes

What better way to understand environmental science than by having students use limited materials to discover how to filter pollutants from dirty water? Teachers may use this challenge activity along with earth science units about water pollution or those concerning local lakes.

17. Soil Biosolarization: Sustainable Weed Killer

Serving as agricultural engineers, students explore the effectiveness of this sustainable weed control technique that uses organic waste instead of poisons. By using seed starter pots, they plant “weeds” and test the use of organic matter, like oatmeal, to see if it kills the weeds, assessing the impact of products and systems.

18. Renewable Energy: Power Your School

In pairs, students use real data to assess the possible use of solar or wind power generation at their school. Using science, math, and engineering concepts, they explore the differences between these two methods, use maps for an analysis of potential, and look at factors related to the feasibility of renewable energy at their location.

19. Generate Your Own Ocean Currents!

Encourage critical thinking and understanding of real-world applications as students design and construct ocean models to study wind-driven currents. Through this challenge project, they will explore circulation patterns, the Coriolis effect, and the transfer of heat from the global ocean convection cycle.

20. Scaling Up Candy Wrappers

Students bring in their favorite candy bar wrappers, choose a scale factor (larger than 5), and enlarge their wrappers to that scale in a drawing on grid paper. Scaling up candy wrappers is not just educational, but also a lot of fun, teaching kids about the math concept of scale factor. They can then color and display their finished projects!

21. Rube Goldberg Machines

What is a rube goldberg machine.

A Rube Goldberg machine is a deliberately complex contraption in which a series of devices perform simple tasks linked together to produce a domino effect, ultimately accomplishing a simple goal in a highly complex manner. Named after the American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, these machines are fantastic tools for teaching students about physics, engineering, and critical thinking.

Why Include Rube Goldberg Machines in Middle School STEM?

  • Encourages Creative Thinking : Building these machines requires students to think outside the box and use their imagination to solve problems.
  • Teaches Basic Physics Principles : Concepts like energy transfer, motion, and simple machines come to life in a Rube Goldberg project.
  • Enhances Teamwork and Collaboration : Students often work in teams, learning to communicate and collaborate to design and build their machines.
  • Develops Problem-Solving Skills : Students learn to troubleshoot and iterate, key skills in any STEM field.

Implementing Rube Goldberg Machine Projects

  • Introduce the Concept : Start with a brief history of Rube Goldberg and show examples of Rube Goldberg machines, either through videos or illustrations.
  • Define the Project Scope : Set clear goals and parameters. For example, each machine must have a minimum number of steps or complete a specific task.
  • Materials : Encourage creativity by allowing a wide range of materials, from household items to recycled materials.
  • Documentation : Have students document their design process, challenges, and solutions. This can be in the form of a journal, video, or presentation.
  • Presentation and Reflection : Allow students to present their machines to the class. Encourage them to discuss what they learned and how they overcame obstacles.

22. Egg Drop Challenge

What is the Egg Drop Challenge? An engaging physics experiment for middle schoolers, the Egg Drop Challenge involves designing a device to protect a raw egg from breaking when dropped from a height. It’s an excellent way for students to apply concepts of gravity, impact force, and material properties.

Why It’s Beneficial:

  • Encourages creative problem-solving.
  • Demonstrates physics principles like momentum and shock absorption.
  • Promotes teamwork and collaborative skills.

Implementing the Challenge:

  • Materials: Offer materials like straws, balloons, and craft sticks.
  • Design and Build: Students design and construct their egg-protecting devices.
  • The Drop: Test the devices by dropping eggs from a set height.
  • Analysis: Discuss the outcomes, focusing on physics concepts and design strategies.

Curriculum Alignment: This challenge complements the middle school physics curriculum, applying theoretical concepts practically.

23. The Index Card Tower Challenge

What is the Index Card Tower Challenge? The Index Card Tower Challenge is a straightforward yet engaging activity that introduces students to basic principles of physical science and engineering. Using only index cards, students are challenged to build the tallest possible tower. This activity is the best way to demonstrate concepts like balance, gravity, and kinetic energy, making it perfect for kids of all ages, including younger kids.

Why It’s Essential in STEM Curriculum:

  • Introduces Physical Science Concepts: Focuses on basic principles like stability and kinetic energy.
  • Encourages Creative Problem-Solving: Challenges students to think innovatively using simple materials.
  • Accessible to All Ages: Easily adaptable for different age groups, making it suitable for both younger kids and older students.
  • Prepares for Future Careers: Develops foundational skills useful in various STEM fields.
  • Materials: Provide students with a stack of index cards.
  • Build the Tower: Students experiment with different construction techniques to build their towers.
  • Discussion on Physical Science: After the activity, discuss how forces like gravity and kinetic energy influenced their designs.
  • Real-World Connection: Relate the activity to real-world structures and engineering challenges.

How It Fits Into STEM Courses: The Index Card Tower Challenge is a versatile activity that can be integrated into various STEM courses. It encourages students to apply scientific principles and think critically about engineering challenges, making it a valuable addition to any STEM curriculum.

How To Make The Most Of These Fun STEM Activities for Middle School Students

Whether in STEM labs, at home, or in the classroom, engaging students with discussion questions throughout these hands-on activities is vital.

To connect with students’ interests, some of these STEM activities offer different ways, including the design or analysis of simple video games, blending technology with creativity.

We rounded up these projects specifically because they align with learning objectives and lessons for 6th to 8th-grade students. Ask how this applies to what they’re currently learning in class? What did the project demonstrate?

Let us know in the comments what your favorite Middle School STEM projects! We’d love to hear them.

2 thoughts on “20 STEM Projects That Are Great for Middle School”

I taught bridge building to sixth grade students. The only thing I taught them was information and diagrams about trusses. They had to take notes for their own use during construction. Gave them the materials, formed groups and gave them them help without interfering with their own ideas. The amount of enthusiasm I have seldom seen in middle school. They were so excited they told their other teachers about the project. The bridges were beautiful and so strong. It was great to see the application of the trusses! I am all for STEM activities!

These are some great activities thanks for sharing and I’ll use them at my school.

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technology education lesson plans middle school

K-12 Internet Resource Center

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A totally free index of Internet resources for the K-12 Community.

Middle School Technology Lesson Plans: Where to Find Them

resource URL thumbnail

Thankfully, finding the right resources isn’t as difficult as you might think. Four of the most popular topics taught in middle school technology classes are:

  • Website Creation and Beginner Coding Lessons
  • Digital Citizenship Lessons
  • Google Suite Lessons
  • Microsoft Office Lessons

In this article, you’ll find an example resource for each topic and where to find additional lesson plans so you can choose the most appropriate materials for your program.

Brad Hummel September 20th, 2022

Attributes: 6-8 Lesson Plan

Resource Link:  https://www.icevonline.com/blog/middle-school-technology-lesson-plans

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technology education lesson plans middle school

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Organize your files by creating folders in Google Drive.

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Promote an event by creating to-do lists and assigning tasks to others.

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technology education lesson plans middle school

Create a Budget in Google Sheets

Learn to make good financial decisions by researching and comparing costs in a spreadsheet.

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technology education lesson plans middle school

Create a Resume in Google Docs

Design, write, and format a professional resume that stands out.

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Create a Study Schedule to Meet Your Goals

Organize and track your goals, and improve your study skills using a spreadsheet.

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Design an Infographic in Google Drawings

Summarize and communicate information visually by creating an infographic in Google Drawings.

  • Source evaluation

Start or Join a Video Conference with Google Meet

Schedule new meetings, work with audio and video settings, add captions, and record meetings.

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technology education lesson plans middle school

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technology education lesson plans middle school

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technology education lesson plans middle school

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technology education lesson plans middle school

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technology education lesson plans middle school

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technology education lesson plans middle school

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technology education lesson plans middle school

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Middle School Teacher

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For teachers who also teach computer science.

technology education lesson plans middle school

Google also offers CS First — a free of charge introductory computer science curriculum for elementary and middle school students that makes coding easy to teach and fun to learn. Students develop critical thinking and learn core computer science concepts as they create their own projects. Educators lead the way, utilizing lesson plans, tutorials, activities, and other resources.

Get started with CS First

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Seven Tech Integration Lesson Plans: Let the Voting Begin!

Last week I asked for readers to submit lessons that integrate technology for a chance to win a copy of Steven Johnson's new book, Digital Tools for Teaching . We had seven entries, and now it is up to you to choose the winning lesson.

Simply read over the lessons and vote for the one using the Google Form. Votes will be tallied this week and the winner will be announced in my next post on January 20th.

Lesson One: Beauty Through the Beasts

Age/Grade Range 3-8 Grade

Lesson Objective/Learning Goal: Standard 2: Students will read, write, listen, and speak for literary response and expression. Recognize the differences among the genres of stories, poems,and plays

Description of Lesson Students must create a fable, using one of the morals discussed or an original moral. The fable must include at least two characters with opposing character traits that are evident to the reader.

Materials 1. Students need access to various fables, either online or in print. 2. Wiki page for each student with login information 3. graphic organizers to compare the fable to the fantasy. 4. graphic organizer to compare characters in a fable

Assessment Use of google docs for test on general characteristics of a fable.Online and oral presentation rubric developed through teach-nology.

Reflections Since this is my second year doing this lesson, I would continue to develop character traits with the students, comparing and contrasting using the Vennn Diagram. Other than that, I really feel this is a lesson that enables students to go beyond that which is a typical third grade reading and writing lesson. Through the use of technology the students really get to understand the revision process, what an advantage.

The lesson can be seen after January 3rd on NYLearns.org under Carol Frego

How would this person benefit from a copy of Digital Tools for Learning? Danielle, would love a copy of Digital Tools for Learning. Last year I taught a lesson on report writing using Glogster.edu. Danielle's son was in my classroom and was so impressed with the technology integration piece and how easy it was to use with third grade students that she decided to use it with her French classes.

Last year I also used the Wiki to teach a lesson on Fable writing.

Lesson Two: Paul Pevere's Ride Project

Age/Grade Range 3rd-5th Grade

Lesson Objective/Learning Goal: The students learned about Paul Revere and practiced reading Longfellow's poem so they could create a VoiceThread and participate in a Skype call with our buddy class in Kansas. View the complete lesson plan and rubric

Description of Lesson My students participated in a collaborative project with our Skype buddy class in Kansas. The complete lesson plan can be viewed here http://www.slideshare.net/plnaugle/paul-revereridelessonandrubric.

Materials We used our Promethean board, online resources, VoiceThread, Skype, and Blogger to complete this project.

Assessment Yes, I used a rubric to assess my students. I used http://rubistar.4teachers.org to create the rubric. View the rubric here.

Reflections I learned that having a mircophone worked better when making the VoiceThread. As I have used Skype more often I continue to learn how to use it better. I would also have had designated jobs for my students during the Skype call.

How would this person benefit from a copy of Digital Tools for Learning?

Nancy is currently teaching 4th graders and is our building PDRT (Professional Development Resource Teacher). She would benefit from this book as a way to help other teachers on our staff learn how to use digital tools. Nancy and I work closely together to plan break out sessions for our PD days at our school. Our teachers are slowly learning how to integrate technology into their lessons. I believe this book would help Nancy help us reach our goals faster.

Lesson Three: Word Masters Analogies

Age/Grade Range 12-14 (Middle School)

Lesson Objective/Learning Goal: Students were to create a 30-second movie to depict a vocabulary word, its meaning, and synonyms using the laptops.

Description of Lesson A list of 25 words were provided to students for an upcoming vocabulary test on analogies. Each student was assigned one word to define and find pictures of synonyms on the laptop. The student then created a short, 30-second video to define the word, using words and pictures. Each video was then compiled into a class movie to review the vocabulary words before the test. The assignment was to be completed in two - 30 minute class sessions.

Materials Laptops and dictionaries

Assessment Students were assessed by the completion of their project, the length of the movie, the spelling and definition of the word, and pictures of correct synonyms in the movie. As the teacher, it was very easy for me to roam the classroom, provide assistance, and assess the project as the students were creating. The final assessment came with the pride and confidence the students showed upon completing the entire project.

Reflections Next time, I would provide previous examples and model the process of creating the movie before assigning it to the students. I would also have a few student "tech" helpers available to help other students, who are not as familiar with the software.

Mrs. Morris is a seasoned veteran teacher, who is well respected at our school. Although she is not comfortable with how quick technology is bursting at the seams of education, she is doing her best to embrace and utilize the tools that have been given to her in her classroom. This year, she is teaching pre-algebra to her students in the classroom, as well as live streaming and recording of the daily lessons. Mrs. Morris is an ideal candidate for this book and I am confident that she will share it with others, as well.

Lesson Four: Family Members

Age/Grade Range ESL Beginners

Lesson Objective/Learning Goal: - To get students familiar with the pronunciation of family members - To give students listening practice - To promote pronunciation of the nouns related to family members - To expose students to real life situations - To expose students to real language - To have fun while learning

Description of Lesson Students go to a Moodle Hub website where they have already signed and do the lesson. In class (F2F), students are exposed to a fictitious story of two families. The families are described separately so new vocabulary may be practiced and learned. The whole lesson is divided in seventeen pieces or exercises to give students a chance to learn, practice, review, and assess.

Materials A whole lesson designed with EdiLIM (Editor de Libros Interactivos Multimedia/Editor of Interactive Multimedia Books).

Assessment Assesment will be in the form of self-assessment, which is provided in the multimedia lesson.

Reflections Students said more listening practice is missing. Therefore, a second part will be designed to fit learners' expectations.

He would follow the advice in the book to provide students with better opportunities for learing to take place.

Lesson Five: Surreal Animation

Age/Grade Range 7th Grade

Lesson Objective/Learning Goal: Students will learn about perspective drawing, Surrealism (Freida Kahlo and Salvador Dali), stop-motion animation, Photoshop, movie-editing (how to add sound, titles, and credits), and collaborating with others in a group.

Description of Lesson This project involves combining a traditional drawing assignment with a digital stop-motion animation project. Students have created 1-point perspective drawings from observation of the hallway, then after learning about Surrealism and artists who have used this, students use their hallways as the backdrop to create animations in Photoshop. This lesson combines history, math, technology, and traditional art for students to create collaborative videos and share them with others.

Materials Students will use paper, pencil, digital cameras, Photoshop, Premeire Elements, and the Internet to create their animations.

Assessment Students are assessed on the following: Reasonable Best Effort, added Music/Title/Credits, At least three objects animated, animation is surreal.

Students show their short films at the end of class and they are then uploaded to our blog for students to view and comment on later.

Reflections Students enjoyed using their drawings as the backdrop as well as choosing their subjects. The surreal theme allows many variations with really no wrong way to go. To improve this lesson from the first time I taught it, I created a screen capture movie of the steps to allow students to go back and review materials as they worked. This allows for students to work at their own pace and revisit the tutorial for questions.

She is a first-year Visual Arts teacher who has done a fantastic job bringing art to life for her students. Mrs. Marshall would benefit from a copy of Digital Tools for Learning because she is always striving to find ways to deliver information to students and engage them in the process of learning. She is a great teacher who is focused on student learning and achievement.

Lesson Six: The Voki Project

Age/Grade Range 12-13 years

Lesson Objective/Learning Goal: To improve the speaking and writting skills in english language, using an avatar that is published in the classroom blog. There are specific lesson designed to use the avatar linked with the lessons of the grammar book we use.

Description of Lesson This is a project designed for all the course. The avatar is used to improve the writting and speaking skills of the students. There is a specific task for the avatar related to every grammar lesson of the program. Also the students can participate writting in the class blog and now I am implementing a tool for them to create a blog using the english language. There will be an "avatar journalist" every 15 days, that will be in charge to write news and lessons related to the english language in our country and city (Barcelona).

Materials The voki website and our class blog .

Assessment The student were assessed in the use of the blog and how they could benefit using it. Also they were assessed in the use of the avatar technology.

I am Magda, a secondary school teacher. I teach english integrating the new technologies, and the book can be an important tool for my lessons.

Bring Creative Technology to Seventh-Grade Classrooms!

Use these examples of projects created by students and tweets from classroom teachers to inspire technology integration in your seventh-grade classroom.

Whether you have Chromebooks, iPads, PCs, or Macs in your classroom, you can use technology to engage and inspire your students in the curriculum.

These multimedia projects were created by students using Wixie.

Character Scrapbook

To show what they know about a character in a novel they are reading, students create a digital scrapbook for this person.

Creative Educator

Creating Comics

When developing their own comic books and graphic novels, students practice summarizing and creating non-linguistic representations.

Blog: Using Wixie for Comics and Graphic Novels

Infographics

To help students understanding information more deeply, ask them to create infographics to share knowledge and data about an issue or science topic.

Blog: Creating infographics with Wixie

Historical Newsletter

To help students better understand the perspectives of those in different times and cultures, have them develop newsletters that recall and retell historic events.

Public Service Announcements

Give students a real world task for argument writing by asking them to raise awareness or change behavior through a public service announcment regarding an issue they are passionate about.

Illustrated Poetry

Students create visual poetry by combining images that portray the meaning of text.

Trading Cards

Students research a person from history, or a character in a book they are reading, and summarize their findings in the form of a trading card.

Blog: Designing Trading Cards with Wixie

Point of View

Retelling a story with different points of view helps students better comprehend an author's use of voice.

Journey Journals

Students connect with the past as they write a first-person account of events in history.

Lab Safety Posters

Marley 7th grade students created Wixie Posters of Lab Safety Rules. #growing #AACPSAwesome pic.twitter.com/RrcWRbJpHb — Marley Middle School (@MarleyMSAACPS) September 17, 2020
@BaysideMSVBCPS 7th grade Algebra I Honors students are learning how to use #wixie ! #vbits pic.twitter.com/sawsdLGozO — Katie Knapp (@StlrFan) March 8, 2017

Narrative Writing

7th grade ELA students create Fractured Fairy Tales using Wixie #awesome @Sec_ELA_BCPS @DrPenK #bcpslh pic.twitter.com/di9FyJNPBM — Cockeysville Middle (@CockeysvilleMS) June 15, 2015

Students are using Wixie to bring their words, their voice, and their art to the curriculum.

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Computer Science For Middle School

Teach computer science with a free coding lesson from Ellipsis Education. In Hello World!, students will begin to explore the basics of how the internet works and how webpages are built.

Ellipsis Education Computer Science Curriculum

Build teacher confidence and capacity with computer science curriculum from Ellipsis Education. Our K-12 courses have everything you need to get students going: detailed lesson plans (beyond just coding), pacing guides, standards maps, and ongoing support. That way, you can focus on what you do best – teaching.

Free Computer Science Lesson

In Hello World! JavaScript, students will begin to explore the basics of how the internet works and how webpages are built. HTML and other established standards and best practices will be introduced and practiced. Students will create a simple webpage that displays a greeting message. This lesson is built for grades 6-8 and includes links to the appropriate materials and resources, a detailed procedure, activity tips, and a bonus challenge activity.

Middle School Computer Science

In a 21st century society, it is important to teach computer science in middle school. The earlier students discover computer science, the more skills they will be able to master in the future. The basic building blocks of coding, such as loops, functions, and conditionals, can be applied to more complex languages. As students progress to more advanced projects, such as developing websites, programs, and games, they are motivated to connect with their world and empowered to expand their skills. Students also practice the communication, collaboration, computational thinking, and creative skills they will need to be successful later in their educational careers. What other benefits does computer science education provide? In this blog , we explore computer science education research and how it benefits academic achievement in other subject areas. For example, in this computer science pdf , it was found that students who studied CS achieved greater gains in mathematics than students who did not study CS.

Computer science is not just about coding, so the best coding programs for middle school need to include other CS topics. Standards for middle school computer science include digital citizenship, STEM careers, and more. In a society where children are interacting with technology daily, it is important to foster responsible and creative learning around computer science. That’s why our computer science curriculum for middle school includes more than just coding. Our lessons include a variety of computer science activities for elementary students. For example, in this free lesson plan for computer teachers pdf , students learn about how to protect themselves online by leaving a good digital footprint. Additionally, we offer a student-friendly My STEM Career podcast, in which we interview STEM professionals. For example, check out this interview about the 3D printing industry shown below.

Middle School Computer Science Lesson Plans

We understand that teaching computer science is a big task and that takes a lot of preparation and planning. That’s why our lessons include materials, resources, instructions, and assessments. Whether you are looking for lesson plans teaching computer basics or for more advanced CS lessons, we believe any teacher can teach computer science. 

Take a glimpse at our free computer lessons for middle school students below. Each of the computer lesson plans for middle school pdf include links to the appropriate materials and resources, a detailed procedure, activity tips, and a bonus challenge activity.

  • Coding – Hello World! JavaScript : Students will begin to explore the basics of how the internet works and how webpages are built. HTML and other established standards and best practices will be introduced and practiced. Students will create a simple webpage that displays a greeting message.
  • Coding – Data Types : Students will be introduced to the data types used in the Java programming language. Students will spend time analyzing, discussing, and manipulating code to enhance their understanding of the syntax required when establishing variables in Java. Students will discuss the concepts of variables and data types and how they are related. Students will be exposed to creating and printing basic Java variables, and will then independently finish a program that prints strings of characters and existing variables to the screen. 
  • STEM Career – Digital Security Analyst : Students will learn about Digital Security Analysts and how to protect yourself online by leaving a good digital footprint. 
  • STEM Career – 3D Printing Industry : Students will be introduced to 3D printing technology and two roles in the realm of 3D printing. Students will discuss the responsibilities of a CAD designer and a 3D printing technician. Then, students will explore skills and traits that successful professionals in both positions possess. Finally, students will design and evaluate a product to be 3D printed with customer specifications in mind. 

View all of our free lesson offerings for grades K-12 on our Computer Science Lesson Plans page, and explore all of our free resources to help you teach CS in your classroom.

Computer Science Middle School Activities

There are many resources and coding games for middle school on the web to help you teach computer science in your classroom. In this section, explore an overview of a few websites we found for you to give you more computer science lesson ideas.

  • Scratch is a free, block-based coding language. Scratch coding uses an inventive puzzle-like interface to empower students to make stories, animations, games, and art. The idea is to introduce computer science skills to students that have little to no experience writing code. Our elementary curriculum for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade courses use Scratch, but you can find other activities for coding for middle schoolers free on Scratch’s website.
  • Blockly Games by Google provides educational games to help students who have no computer science experience. Through the games, students learn block-based coding and text-based coding (JavaScript).
  • Code.org offers free coding for middle school students and unplugged coding activities for middle school . The website includes courses, activities, and projects that students can access from any device. Learn more about how Ellipsis Education is the Perfect Complement to Code.org in our blog.
  • View NASA education resources on the NASA education website . Here you can find a variety of STEM activities for all grade levels, including a Mars rover game or STEM themed storybook read aloud activities.
  • On the Concord Consortium STEM resource finder , discover science activities for your classroom. You can search the Concord STEM site by science domain or by grade level to find the lesson you need.

Middle School Computer Science Curriculum

Ellipsis Education provides full-year K-12 computer science curriculum . The curriculum offers grade level differentiated learning pathways, aligns with all state and national computer science standards, and is continually updated to reflect changes in computer science. Ellipsis Education computer science education courses are customized to districts’ unique instructional strategy for computer science integration. This can mean incorporating computer science into an existing class period, adding to a Specials rotation, or introducing a stand alone class. Courses are delivered with instructional resources teachers need to feel confident teaching computer science. Explore our full course offerings on this computer curriculum guide pdf or on our courses page.

Our coding curriculum for middle school (grades 6-8) helps you motivate your students with courses that connect to their world. Coding lessons use line-based languages JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and Java to explore programming options. This free lesson involves students practicing JavaScript and HTML. Below, explore the courses in this grade band and find each course computer science for middle school pdf :

  • Intro to CS Applications 6th grade
  • CS Applications 7th grade
  • CS Applications Java 8th grade

Computer Science for Primary School pdf

Alongside our middle school curriculum, we offer courses for grades K-5 and high school. Our elementary computer science curriculum for K-2 empowers you to engage your students with courses that fuel their interest. Coding lessons use Scratch Jr., an introductory block coding language platform, perfect for emergent and early readers. Try one of our free computer lessons for primary school pdf , and explore each course in the grade band:

  • Computer Science Foundations K
  • Computer Science Foundations 1
  • Computer Science Foundations 2

In grades 3-5, inspire your students with courses that spark their creativity. Coding lessons use Scratch, a block based coding language platform, ideal for the transitional and fluent reader. Download a free 3-5 Scratch lesson , and explore each course in the grade band:

  • Computer Science Fundamentals 3
  • Computer Science Fundamentals 4
  • Computer Science Fundamentals 5

High School Computer Science Curriculum

Our computer science high school curriculum (grades 9-12) helps empower your students with courses that expand their skills. Coding curriculum for high school uses JavaScript, Java, Python, and Godot to develop websites, programs, and games. Download a free Python lesson to try with your high school students. Explore the courses in this grade band to see each high school coding curriculum pdf :

  • High School Computer Science JavaScript
  • High School Computer Science Python
  • High School Computer Science Java
  • High School Computer Science Game Development

Explore our full course offering on our courses page , and learn about the suggested K-12 pathway . To see how Ellipsis Education aligns with national sets of standards, including CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards (2017) and the K-12 Computer Science Framework, visit our K-12 Computer Science Standards page .

Related Articles

  • Ellipsis Education Demo
  • Ellipsis Education Free Trial
  • My STEM Career
  • Computer Science Professional Development
  • Ellipsis Education Courses
  • K-12 Computer Science Standards
  • Computer Science in Education
  • Computer Science in Schools
  • Computer Science Teacher Training
  • How to Be a Good Digital Citizen
  • STEM Resources
  • High School Computer Science
  • Computer Science Curriculum for Elementary School

Free Coding Lesson Plan

In this lesson plans teaching computer basics , Hello World! JavaScript, students will begin to explore the basics of how the internet works and how webpages are built. HTML and other established standards and best practices will be introduced and practiced. Students will create a simple webpage that displays a greeting message. This lesson is built for grades 6-8 and includes links to the appropriate materials and resources, a detailed procedure, activity tips, and a bonus challenge activity.

Removing barriers to teaching computer science.

Middle School Technology Lesson Plans BUNDLE: Set 1

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  • Internet Activities

Description

This bundle includes the first SIX technology lessons we have available in our store.

Middle school and high school students LOVE these lessons! We developed these lessons for a project-based working environment and works great with any Project Based Learning or STEM goals. We give you the option to have as much or as little instruction time while giving your students the maximum working environment.

Ready-to-post directions make these lessons a BREEZE assigning and preparing. Using Google Classroom, you may never need to PRINT again! If you are limited on technology or lacking a class website, we have provided printable directions so students can follow along as well!

Students will use professional websites to create music, logos, floor plans, animation, and will research Snapchat and the latest eco car! These are sure-fire ways to get your students engaged in technology without the hesitation. You don't have to be a tech guru to have these students learn the tools, in fact, many of the resources have additional tutorials or guides to help students along the way! We have given you a full bag of tools to be knowledgeable of the content you will share, but there will always be help along the way!

Be sure to check out our PREVIEW to see what to expect in this incredible package! No one has tech lessons like this! We have a passion to make learning fun and engaging no matter the skill level! We even had students using a free-styled version of Photoshop last year! Technology is all around us, sometimes we just need help discovering new ways to use it!

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NEW!!! Middle School Beginning of the Year Technology BUNDLE!

9 NEW Lesson Plans and TONS of resources to get you on the right track! This resource starts the year off strong so you can enjoy your time teaching and making connections with less time testing and planning. This is the kick-starter to our FULL-YEAR Middle School Technology Curriculum! Snag it now at its lowest price!

This BUNDLE includes:

*6 Engaging, student-centered lessons!

Tech Lesson - Design Your Own Home!

Tech Lesson - Elio Car: Compare & Contrast

Tech Lesson - Snapchat "Privacy" Policy

Tech Lesson - Logo Design: Welcome to Marketing

Tech Lesson - Animate This! Lesson Plan - Google Slides / PowerPoint Activity

Tech Lesson - Make Your Own Music {Song Creation}

Click on "PREVIEW" to see ALL that's included!

*Ten 50-Min Class Periods!

*500 Minutes/8.3hrs of Lessons!

*2017 ISTE and Common Core Standards alignment!

*Lesson Overview Reference Sheets!

*Step-by-Step student and teacher directions!

*Printable and up-loadable options to use through Google Classroom!

*Links and Resources on how to set up and get familiar with Google Classroom!

*Ready-to-Post Online Directions!

*Extension Activities!

*Worksheets and Answer Keys (When Applicable)

*All necessary JPEGS for student research and inspiration!

*Pre-Made song: "Mr. and Mrs. Rooster - Sample" to use with Make Your Own Music Lesson!

*How to take a screenshot directions!

*No Watermarks!

Happy Teaching!

Instagram Privacy Policy

***UPDATED 10-6-19

-Lesson Plan and commentary

-Privacy Policy Highlights

-Parents' Guide to Instagram

-Know How to Talk with Your Teen about Instagram

***UPDATED 11-16-19

-Added 3 Student Examples

What people are saying about these lessons:

"My 8th graders absolutely love this project!"

"Great! My classes loved doing this! I teach high school!"

"My 6th grade students really enjoyed this lesson. They were very excited about being able to mix their own music. The instructions were easy to follow and we didn't run into any difficulties."

"I was amazed at the creativity and detail level that my students put into this project. The instructions were well written and easy to follow and we discovered an excellent site to add to our reprotoire."

"Thank you!"

"Makes my life so much easier!"

"This worked well as part of 8th grade stations. Little adaptation was required and students enjoyed working with music. "

"Students really enjoyed this."

"Looks fantastic! have yet to use this but have used other from you and kids are always super engaged. Thanks."

"I am hoping to use this with my 5th graders, I am sure they will love it! Thank you."

"This adds onto a lesson I already have in concept thanks so much"

"Looking forward to trying this with my 8th graders."

"Great for a sub activity."

*Click FOLLOW to get notified of our next technology lesson!

**Your feedback helps guide us to which kind of lessons you would like to see in the future. Please take an opportunity to let us know what you think below. Thank you!**

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If you like Digital Breakouts , check out our Digital Breakouts available!

Digital Breakout Activity - Turkey Escape! | Thanksgiving Escape Room

Digital Breakout Activity - Santa's Toy Bag Rescue! | Christmas Escape Room

Digital Breakout Activity - New Year's Resolution! | New Year Escape Room

Digital Breakout Activity - Emoji Bandit! | Emoji Escape Room

Digital Breakout Activity - Cupid's Missing Arrow! | Valentine's Day Escape Room

What people are saying about our Digital Breakouts:

"Awesome resource!"

"My 8th graders loved this activity! I had students who never participate in class working on this. They loved how hard it was for them since they had never done any sort of escape or breakout project before."

"This resource is so much fun. It is detailed and thorough, and I think that the kids will really enjoy using it. It is definitely going to require some critical thinking!"

"Cannot wait to Escape with my kiddos next week. Thanks"

“A fun group activity!”

"I started this project a little late, but students were so engaged that they will finish it after the break."

"Great activity--easy for some, hard for others!"

***SPECIAL BUY***

Looking for more Thanksgiving? Check out our HOLIDAY PUZZLES BUNDLE!

HOLIDAY PUZZLES BUNDLE

Halloween Puzzles - Google Classroom Puzzles

Thanksgiving Puzzles - Google Classroom Puzzles

Christmas Puzzles - Google Classroom Puzzles

Valentine's Puzzles - Google Classroom Puzzles

St. Patrick's Day Puzzles - Google Classroom Puzzles

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COME AND VISIT OUR STORE!

If you enjoyed this product, please visit our store to see our other products! We have a wide range of resources including Technology Lessons , Science Resources , A Free Study Hall Bundle , and other creations to spice up your classroom and TpT resources!

We SPECIALIZE in Technology Lessons and Activities!

Below are our Technology lessons available individually or the bundle of your choice! (21%-23% OFF with BUNDLES!)

TECH LESSON BUNDLE: Set 1

TECH LESSON BUNDLE: Set 2

Tech Lesson - Keep Calm...and Make a Meme

Tech Lesson - Famous People Word Clouds

Tech Lesson - Instagram "Privacy" Policy

Tech Lesson - Google Maps - GPS Buddy

Tech Lesson - Hypertext - All About Me!

Tech Lesson - 3D Printing - Block Builder!

Buy ALL the ABOVE LESSONS with our

TECH LESSONS DOUBLE BUNDLE: 12 Lessons

Check out the QUALITY of our work in our

Google Maps FREEBIE Lesson Plan (Unit Preview) - Technology Lesson {Tech}

More Tech Lessons:

Google Maps Unit Lesson Plan Bundle

Keyboarding: Independent Writing Activity

New Technology Lessons:

Emoji Writing in Google Docs!

Emoji Mosaic in Google Docs!

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technology education lesson plans middle school

Tech ed from Teacher-authors

6 Stand-alone Lesson Plans for Subs

technology education lesson plans middle school

  • practice keyboarding for fifteen minutes
  • visit inquiry-themed websites

Key Placement

  • Divide class into pairs.
  • Give groups five minutes to memorize key placement, then ask them to turn over all the classroom keyboards.
  • Give groups 15-20 minutes to complete the sheet.
  • Those who identify a pre-determined percentage of keys correctly can have the next fifteen minutes to visit websites you’ve selected as supportive of class inquiry. All other students will retake the quiz.

Play simulations

  • Point students either to an assigned simulation that ties into class inquiry or to a list of themed simulations such as this one . Be sure the list includes either choices they have registered for in the past or those that require no registration.
  • Put required questions (if any) on Smartscreen for students to refer to during their play.
  • Let students work in pairs as they select the website and get started.

Khan Academy

The digital citizen.

  • Discuss the meaning of ‘digital’, ‘technology’, and similar concepts. Have students name digital devices they see in the classroom–iPads, phones, printer, computers, and more.
  • Break class into groups. Ask them to take ten-fifteen minutes  (or longer if you have time) to develop a list of digital devices they use on a daily basis.
  • While students are discussing, draw a student on the Smartscreen with lots of space around him/her for adding words and pictures.
  • As a class, discuss the devices student groups came up with and add them to your Smartscreen student.

What students use every day

Gameshow Competition

  • Jeopardy Labs
  • Mind n Mettle
  • You might create several so the sub can select the one s/he is most comfortable using. This preparation will be time well-spent on your part: You can use them for other assessments.
  • Break class into teams.
  • Explain how the game works  (each is slightly different).
  • Display questions on the Smartscreen. Points for the first team to answer.
  • Play will vary somewhat depending upon which game is selected.

technology education lesson plans middle school

  • Working independently, s earch Google Images (or the appropriate image website used in your school) for a picture that ties in with the selected class inquiry (such as these of Abraham Lincoln and robotics). Single images work best.
  • Open a word processing program and add the selected picture as a watermark.
  • Type over it with appropriate letters. Color some or leave them black against white.
  • Delete the watermark.

technology education lesson plans middle school

Problem Solving Challenge

  • Divide class into teams. Pass out copies of common problems your student group faces. Give ten minutes to study list. Collect papers before beginning.
  • Have students elect a group member who will answer for the group. While the group can confer on a problem’s solution, only this one person can provide the answer.
  • Give Team One one of the problems from the list. They get five seconds to solve it. If they can’t, move onto the next team. Repeat until a solution is revealed or all teams have had a chance.
  • Go to Team Two for the next question and repeat process from above.
  • Each right answer gets one point.
  • Continue until you run out of time.
  • Team with the most points will get a school-appropriate prize.

problem solving

Common Core Writing–Digital Quick Writes

Common Core Reading–What if Students Don’t Like Reading

Great (Free) Lesson Plan

technology education lesson plans middle school

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We are a group of dedicated technology teachers with tons of experience in teaching K-18 t ech, unraveling its problems, and making it exciting for kids (and adults). We blog here, teach online grad school classes, provide curricula (like K-12 Technology curriculum ,  K-8 keyboard curriculum,   K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum ). Jacqui Murray (the face of AATT) also authors tech thrillers,  To Hunt a Sub  and  Twenty-four Days . You can find our resources at  Structured Learning.

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Delhi Middle School teacher Emily Hohlefelder with canoe built as a class project

Off the page, into the water: UC alum and seventh-grade teacher teaches through canoe building

The delhi middle school teacher initiated a special learning program in her middle school classroom..

headshot of Rodney Wilson

Emily Hohlefelder knows the importance of digital platforms in today’s learning environments. A seventh-grade teacher at Delhi Middle School, Hohlefelder has experienced the impact of digital connectivity on education both in the classroom and during her own time as a student at the University of Cincinnati.

“There are so many platforms!” says Hohlefelder, pointing to the lasting impact COVID-19 and remote learning had on teaching and learning. “So many different ones, all asking students to present their information in different ways: recording themselves, recording just their voice or having to create some sort of digital image.”

Students in Emily Hohlefelder's seventh-grade class work on the frame of the skin-on frame canoe. Photo/provided

None of this is news to the 2023 graduate of the College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology, who was introduced to future-forward teaching tools during her first year as an undergraduate in the  Middle Childhood Education program . Specifically, it was an educational technology class with School of Education professor Sarah Schroeder that opened Hohlefelder’s eyes to the possibilities of instruction and learning in a hyper-connected, always-on world.

She also honed in on how platforms, especially interfaces for creative student work, can cause anxiety in some students, leading Hohlefelder to complete and submit a project on reducing student anxiety around technology use. Schroeder was impressed with Hohlefelder’s insights and invited the first-year student to present her research at the Ohio Undergraduate Technology conference in Columbus. 

“I was like, ‘Sure, I’ll go with you!’” laughs Hohlefelder, who went on to become dual-licensed in middle childhood and special education with a certificate in digital learning design. “I felt pretty underqualified – I was 19 and in my first year, but she took a chance on me.” Schroeder subsequently helped Hohlefelder publish her work as well, co-authoring a paper titled  “Reducing Student Anxiety About Creative Digital Work”  for publication in  Edutopia , an online outlet for educational news and insight.

“I ended up doing a grant-funded project on reducing student anxiety with technology while I was an undergrad. It fueled a lot of great new information, especially coming out of COVID, on how technology can cause a lot of anxiety when it comes to different methods of learning for students.”     

Building Life Skills (and a Canoe)

Proven expertise with technology and insight into digital platforms might make Hohlefelder an unlikely champion for hands-on, nature-focused learning. But for a person with a lifelong ambition to help all learners reach their potential, she works to stay alert to opportunities that expand her ability to reach pupils – which is how she ended up bringing a canoe-building project into her classroom.

“The director of the program is one of my good friends,” says Hohlefleder. “I had watched him go into schools for the past three years, so why wouldn’t I want to bring this into my own school?” The Urban Wilderness Program , she goes on to explain, is a Cincinnati-based non-profit that delivers wilderness experiences to schools with kids who, demographically, don’t enjoy easy access to outdoor enrichment.

“A lot of my students had not been in a canoe before. They had not been on a body of water.”

Emily Hohlefelder, Seventh-grade teacher at Delhi Middle School

Seventh-grade Delhi Middle School students shape parts for the classroom canoe build. Photo/provided

The STEM-based project saw students construct a skin-on frame canoe as part of their daily classwork, which Hohlefelder was able to tie into traditional areas of study such as math and science, as well as social studies and language arts. “At the same time, they were able to learn teamwork, critical thinking skills and how to work together to pursue a common goal,” she says. “And it always helps students, especially in middle school, when that goal is tangible. So fostering that kind of community was truly the goal we were looking for here at Delhi with the canoe build.”

Another significant benefit of the classroom canoe project? The collaborative build provided a holistic means to reach students who sometimes struggled to engage with learning material. “It was fun to see kids who were usually reserved or not interested in the academic setting of the classroom really come out of their shell when it came to getting to use their hands for something,” explains Hohlefelder. “The build takes about two weeks, so it becomes routine for them. A lot of them really enjoyed it.”

A Risk Worth the Reward

The canoe-build project was, admittedly, a big swing – especially for a teacher so early in their career (this is, in fact, Hohlefelder’s first year teaching at Delhi Middle School). But that same spirit she found during her first year, when she said yes to the conference opportunity in Columbus despite feeling underqualified, spurred her to take the chance.

 “As teachers, we already have a million things going on,” she says. “And trying something for the first time? I’m like, this could fail – this could go very badly. But it’s worth taking the risk if it’s going to benefit the students.”

A student connects planking to one of the ribs on the canoe frame. Photo/provided

The canoe is currently on display (alongside a pair of oars carved as part of the program) in the school, but Hohlefelder envisions this canoe build as an annual seventh-grade project that, in time, populates a nearby pond with a fleet for public use.  And though the students didn’t know it when they initially built the canoe, there is a part two to this project they recently learned about – a May field trip in which they themselves will take the canoe out for some freshwater fun.

“We have to teach them, at the end of the day, that it’s not about the tests,” says Hohlefelder. “It’s not about the data. It’s really about what kind of people we are teaching here. How are we teaching them to serve the community when they’re older?

“Projects like these are the ones that I know they’ll remember past middle school.”

Featured image at top: Emily Hohlefelder stands next to completed skin-on frame canoe built as a seventh-grade classroom project. Photo/provided. 

  • Next Lives Here

CECH’s School of Education is highly regarded for preparing the next generation of educators. The program is led by a team of experienced and qualified faculty who are dedicated to teaching students to meet the demands of modern classrooms and address the educational needs of diverse student populations. The program offers a variety of courses and experiences that will help students develop their understanding of child development, instructional methods, and classroom management.

For more information about the School of Education,  please visit the school’s website.

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  4. Technology Lesson Plan Lesson Plan for 4th

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  5. 35+ Middle School Technology Projects for intermediate to advanced

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  6. Middle School Technology Lesson Plans BUNDLE: Set 1

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  1. Technology Lesson Plans for Middle School

    A Day in the Life. Students will create a daily newspaper edition to learn about the politics and culture of ancient Rome. Creative Educator lesson plans for using technology to engage middle school students in the curriculum while building creativity, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

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    Designed for learners in grades 6-9, the resources assist students in learning some of the most popular topics within a middle school technology class. These materials are available individually or as an intermediate-level collection. The TechnoKids Intermediate lesson plan options include: Website Creation.

  3. 29 Fun Technology Activities For Middle School

    21. DIY Smart Phone Projector. In this simple yet super fun technology activity, your kids will cut a hole in a cardboard box and attach a magnifying glass to the inside. Then, they can build a resting spot for their smartphone inside the box- and voila! They have a mini projector to play their favorite YouTube videos.

  4. STEM for Middle Schoolers: A Guide for Teaching STEM at Middle School

    In one unit of Kid Spark's middle school STEM program, students build an airplane model, then design and 3D print their own propeller. Over the course of multiple lessons, students learn to navigate a CAD system, design a three-dimensional prototype, and eventually print their custom airplane propeller. This process connects modern technology ...

  5. Technology Lesson Plans

    Technology Lesson Plans. Whether you are looking for technology lessons for your classroom or computer lab, The Teacher's Corner has organized some great lessons and resources around the following: management, integration, keyboarding, and more. Make sure your students are developing their 21st Century skills.

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    4. 5. TED-Ed lessons on the subject Technology. TED-Ed celebrates the ideas of teachers and students around the world. Discover hundreds of animated lessons, create customized lessons, and share your big ideas.

  7. 20 STEM Projects That Are Great for Middle School

    Explore these middle school STEM projects, designed to enhance STEM education by engaging students in hands-on learning. Pick which ones you want to try first. Simply click the title of each lesson in the list to get the full lesson plan for these great STEM challenges that align with lessons for middle school science, technology, engineering ...

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    Using your school's LMS, class blog, or even a shared Google Doc, students can submit work, do research, collaborate with others, and give peer feedback. Teaching with technology means a real opportunity for authentic learning at home as well as at school. 2. Communicate with families consistently.

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    These top edtech lesson plans can help you implement popular apps & platforms (Image credit: iStock/skynesher) These free edtech lesson plans from Dr. Stephanie Smith Budhai are designed to provide a template for implementing specific popular digital tools into your instruction and classroom.

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    Website Creation and Beginner Coding Lessons; Digital Citizenship Lessons; Google Suite Lessons; Microsoft Office Lessons; In this article, you'll find an example resource for each topic and where to find additional lesson plans so you can choose the most appropriate materials for your program. Brad Hummel September 20th, 2022

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    This eight-part lesson will guide you through building and programming Arduino-controlled autonomous cars with your students. Each part contains a detailed step-by-step video and a supplemental lesson plan PDF with learning objectives, assessment opportunities, and appendices with circuit diagrams and example code.

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    Check out this lesson plan for grades 3-5! Students assume the persona of a real or imagined classroom pet and write a blog describing daily activities in the classroom. Scriptwriting with a Wiki This middle- and high-school lesson plan uses a wiki -- a Web site that allows users to add and edit content collectively -- to write a one-act play.

  15. Seven Tech Integration Lesson Plans: Let the Voting Begin!

    Age/Grade Range 12-14 (Middle School) Lesson Objective/Learning Goal:Students were to create a 30-second movie to depict a vocabulary word, its meaning, and synonyms using the laptops. Description of LessonA list of 25 words were provided to students for an upcoming vocabulary test on analogies. Each student was assigned one word to define and ...

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    Lesson Plan Grade: 4th-6th. In this math-based lesson, students explore different types of circuits and make calculations to gain practical skills in building, visualizing, and understanding circuits. Learning Objectives Students will: Create circuits and draw circuit diagrams. Explore how voltage works in parallel and series circuits.

  17. Technology Ideas for Seventh-Grade Classrooms

    Technology project ideas, lessons, and sample student work for integrating technology into seventh-grade classrooms. ... Lesson Plan Blog: Creating infographics with Wixie Wixie Bright Idea Infographic Template ... — Marley Middle School (@MarleyMSAACPS) September 17, 2020. Algebra @BaysideMSVBCPS 7th grade Algebra I Honors students are ...

  18. Free instructional technology unit plans

    Google Maps FREEBIE Lesson Plan | Unit Preview | Technology Lesson | Tech Lesson. Created by . ... Higher Education, Adult Education, Staff. Types: Unit Plans, Lesson. Also included in: Middle and High School STEM and Technology Curriculum. FREE. Rated 4.72 out of 5, based on 140 reviews. 4.7 (140) Zip. Internet Activities. Music Tech Project 1 ...

  19. Computer Science For Middle School

    Middle School Computer Science. In a 21st century society, it is important to teach computer science in middle school. The earlier students discover computer science, the more skills they will be able to master in the future. The basic building blocks of coding, such as loops, functions, and conditionals, can be applied to more complex languages.

  20. Middle School Technology Lesson Plans & Worksheets

    Find middle school technology lesson plans and teaching resources. Quickly find that inspire student learning. Search Search educational resources Search Menu Sign ... Nebraska Department of Education. Curriculum For Careers For Teachers 6th - 9th Standards. Learners explore potential learning, earning, and living goals that align with their ...

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    4.8. (16) $4.99. Video. Webquests. This video is a 10 week (plus bonus weeks) instructional guide and unit plan, with a no prep PDF document of instructions for students to guide them through a whole course for MIddle School technology or computer science. This can be for students, teachers, classes, or self-guided study or home school teachers ...

  22. Middle School Technology Lesson Plans BUNDLE: Set 1

    This bundle includes the first SIX technology lessons we have available in our store. Middle school and high school students LOVE these lessons! We developed these lessons for a project-based working environment and works great with any Project Based Learning or STEM goals. We give you the option to have as much or as little instruction time ...

  23. 6 Stand-alone Lesson Plans for Subs

    This collection of six stand-alone lesson plans are designed to complete important techie learning tasks, assess existing knowledge, or integrate technology rigor into class inquiry. They require little domain-specific knowledge on the part of the sub, asking primarily that s/he supervise activities and encourage critical thinking, problem ...

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    Created and maintained by the American Federation of Teachers, Share My Lesson is a community of teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel, specialized instructional support personnel, higher education faculty, and parents and caregivers who contribute content, collaborate, and stay up to date on the issues that matter to students and educators everywhere.

  25. Off the page, into the water: UC alum and seventh-grade teacher teaches

    None of this is news to the 2023 graduate of the College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology, who was introduced to future-forward teaching tools during her first year as an undergraduate in the Middle Childhood Education program.Specifically, it was an educational technology class with School of Education professor Sarah Schroeder that opened Hohlefelder ...