Middle School Chemistry Curriculum for Homeschool Co-ops
Chemistry Complete – Middle School is a compact grades 6–8 chemistry core for a homeschool co-op or microschool group: states of matter, mass, volume and density, solubility, physical versus chemical change, then atoms, elements, compounds and periodic table patterns. Its 20+ no-prep resources give a parent tutor a clear order to teach in, and they download as soon as you buy.
See the chemistry curriculum →Chemistry Complete – Middle School is a ready-to-teach chemistry curriculum for grades 6–8 that a homeschool co-op or microschool can teach as a group class. It covers matter and its properties (states, density, solubility, physical and chemical changes) and atoms, elements and the periodic table (conceptual atomic structure, compounds, symbols, metals and nonmetals). It costs $149.90 for 20+ resources, or $189.90 with Teach-Life-Balance. Lab supplies are not included.
The curriculum
Chemistry Complete – Middle School, Grades 6–8
Start with the full curriculum. The other resources below are optional add-ons. Open any cover for the full contents and price.
Chemistry Complete – Ready-to-Use Curriculum for Middle School Chemistry
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STEM Complete Curriculum Bundle | Grades 6–10
Teach-Life-Balance: The Complete Time-Saving Course for Teachers (incl. Planner, Guides & Templates)
The real problem
The chemistry problem in a co-op
Chemistry is the science many homeschool parents put off longest, and it is often the reason a co-op class exists at all. Someone with a science background agrees to teach the group, or a parent bravely volunteers and spends the summer relearning density. The content itself sets the trap. Middle school chemistry has a clear order: first what matter is and how to measure it, then how it changes, then what it is made of. Skip ahead to the periodic table because it looks impressive and students memorize element symbols with no idea why the table is arranged that way. Spend the whole year on fizzing kitchen reactions and they never learn to tell a physical change from a chemical one. There is the practical side, too. A co-op usually meets in a church hall or a rented room, not a lab. Demonstrations have to be safe, cheap and easy to clean up, and the thinking around them has to carry the lesson. A tutor needs materials that explain mass, volume and density clearly, and that lead step by step toward atomic structure and the periodic table at a level eleven- to fourteen-year-olds can actually reason with.
Why it fits
How the curriculum handles chemistry for a group
It moves from observable properties to the atomic level, an order that works for a weekly group.
- States of matter, mass and volume come first, so density makes sense when you reach it.
- Physical versus chemical change gives your kitchen-table demonstrations a framework students can apply.
- Solubility tasks need only water, cups and common household substances for a group activity.
- Atomic structure stays conceptual, at a level a parent tutor can explain without a chemistry degree.
- Periodic table patterns and metals versus nonmetals show students why the table is arranged that way.
- Inquiry practices give each demonstration a hypothesis, an observation and a conclusion.
Getting started
A first stretch with your chemistry group
Here is one possible way to begin with a weekly class. It is a suggestion only, since the product does not include a set calendar.
- Sort matter by stateBegin with states of matter. Have students sort items and describe the particles in each state, then discuss what happens to ice left on the table during class.
- Measure mass and volumeUse a kitchen scale and a measuring cup to find the mass and volume of a few objects. These numbers set up density for the next session.
- Float, sink, explainTeach density with the worksheet, then test predictions by dropping objects into water. Students explain each result using density, not size or weight, and record any surprises.
- Change: physical or chemicalRun two or three safe demonstrations, such as dissolving salt and mixing baking soda with vinegar. Students decide which is a physical and which a chemical change, and cite the evidence.
- Look inside the atomMove to atomic structure at a conceptual level and introduce elements and symbols. Keep the periodic table on the wall from here on so you can refer to it each week.
Which version
Which chemistry version to buy
The $149.90 version includes all 20+ chemistry resources. The $189.90 version adds Teach-Life-Balance, a separate planner, guide and template course for you as the teacher, with nothing extra for students. With a compact resource set, many co-ops treat chemistry as one half of a physical science year. If you do that, Physics Complete – Middle School follows the same structure, and TEACHMORE15 gives 15% off when you buy two Complete Curriculum packages. The STEM Complete Curriculum Bundle for grades 6–10 ($149.00) is a separate, broader alternative if you want more science material overall.
Honest limits
Before you buy: the limits
No chemicals, glassware, safety equipment or lab kit is included, and safety in your space is your responsibility. Use household materials and supervise every demonstration. With 20+ resources, this is a focused core, so a full weekly year may need you to extend activities or pair the course with physics. It is written for U.S. classrooms but does not satisfy any state homeschool law or lab-science credit requirement by itself, so check with your state or umbrella school. The licence covers your own instruction, and team use needs a short message to Teach Lessons first. Within 7 days you can exchange it for store credit of equal value.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is it NGSS-aligned or valid as homeschool lab science?
It includes inquiry practices, but it is not certified, endorsed or guaranteed to align with NGSS or any state standard, and it does not count as a lab science credit by itself. Requirements differ by state and umbrella school, so check the content listed on the product page with them before relying on it for records.
Can we do it without a lab?
Yes. Most of the content, including states of matter, density, solubility and physical versus chemical change, can be demonstrated with kitchen items in an ordinary room. Atomic structure and the periodic table are taught conceptually and need no equipment. Keep paper towels and a bucket of water nearby, and do the demonstration once at home first.
How deep does it go on atoms?
Atomic structure is covered at a conceptual level, followed by elements, compounds, symbols, periodic table patterns, and metals and nonmetals. Students learn why elements in the same part of the table behave alike. It does not go into high school-level quantitative chemistry such as balancing equations with numbers, which suits a middle school co-op group.
Is 20+ resources enough for a year?
For a group that meets once a week, it is a solid core if you add your own demonstrations and allow time for discussion. If you want more ready-made material, the simplest route is pairing it with Physics Complete – Middle School as a combined physical science year, with chemistry in one semester and physics in the other.
Can a co-op science team share it?
The licence covers instructional use by the buyer. Use within your teaching team, for example a second parent who runs the demonstrations, is possible after a short message to Teach Lessons. Handing the files to every family in the co-op, or posting them online, is not allowed.
Is it suitable for a mixed-age group?
It is written for grades 6–8 and described as suitable for mixed-ability classrooms, with differentiated worksheets. Younger students may need more support with density calculations, so pair them with older students for measurement tasks. Conceptual topics like states of matter usually work for the whole group at once.
Chemistry in order, from matter to atoms
Go through the topic list on the product page and see how it fits your co-op's science plan.
See the chemistry curriculum →