Middle School Chemistry Curriculum for Private and Independent Schools
For private and independent schools that want chemistry taught properly in grades 6–8, Chemistry Complete – Middle School offers 20+ focused resources on matter and its properties and on atoms, elements and the periodic table. Students study states of matter, density, solubility, physical and chemical changes, atomic structure at a conceptual level and periodic table patterns. It downloads instantly from $149.90 and needs no district framework behind it.
See the chemistry curriculum →Chemistry Complete – Middle School, from $149.90, is a compact chemistry curriculum for grades 6–8 with 20+ resources. It covers states of matter, mass, volume, density, solubility, physical versus chemical changes, atomic structure at a conceptual level, elements, compounds, symbols, periodic table patterns, and metals and nonmetals, with inquiry practices throughout. Private schools set their own science requirements and should check them against the curriculum; no endorsement is claimed.
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
Middle school chemistry without a chemistry lab
Small private schools rarely have a dedicated chemistry room for middle schoolers. There may be one science classroom with a sink, a few beakers and a strict safety policy. That pushes many schools to skip chemistry until high school, or to reduce it to a baking soda volcano. The result is students who arrive in ninth grade without understanding density, the difference between a physical and a chemical change, or what the periodic table's layout actually tells them. Independent school families with children heading to rigorous high schools notice those gaps. The teacher faces another problem: chemistry concepts at this level are abstract. Atoms cannot be seen, and a student who memorizes element symbols without grasping patterns is learning trivia. With small class sizes you can see quickly who is lost. You need a chemistry sequence that starts with properties students can observe, like mass, volume and solubility, then builds toward atoms and periodic patterns through models and simple, safe investigations. It should be short enough to fit next to life and physical science in a crowded schedule.
Why it fits
What it offers a private school
The curriculum treats chemistry as a short, solid unit that a small school can fit in.
- Starts with observable properties like mass, volume and density before moving to atoms.
- Physical versus chemical change lessons go beyond the volcano demo to real reasoning.
- Periodic table patterns teach students to read the table, not just memorize symbols.
- Atomic structure at a conceptual level suits middle schoolers without overreaching.
- Inquiry practices fit simple, safe investigations in a general science classroom.
- A compact set of 20+ resources fits alongside life and physical science in one year.
Getting started
Your first two weeks with it
One way to introduce chemistry at a small independent school:
- Review your safety rules firstCheck your school's science safety policy and supplies before planning investigations. Decide which density and solubility activities you can run and which stay on paper.
- Open with states of matterStudents already know ice, water and steam. Use that lesson to introduce particle thinking before they meet atoms. Ask students where they have seen each state.
- Run a density investigationHave students compare objects of the same volume and different mass. It is safe, cheap and makes density concrete. Record results in a shared class table.
- Sort changes as evidenceUse the physical versus chemical change lesson to have students argue from evidence. Burning, melting and dissolving make good test cases. Students explain their reasoning aloud.
- Make the periodic table a mapPost a large periodic table and return to it often. Students mark metals, nonmetals and patterns as they learn them. Refer to it in every lesson.
Which version
Choosing a version, and pairing it
The $149.90 version with 20+ resources covers middle school chemistry. The $189.90 version adds Teach-Life-Balance, a digital course with a planner, guides and templates to help manage teacher time. Choose it if you are the only science teacher and planning is the bottleneck; otherwise the standard version is enough. Because 20+ resources fill part of a year, many schools combine chemistry with Physics Complete or Biology Complete. Buying two curricula with TEACHMORE15 takes 15% off.
Honest limits
What it does not do
It is compact, so it will likely be one part of a science year rather than the whole year. No chemicals, glassware or safety equipment are included, and all hands-on work must follow your school's own safety rules. Your school decides its science requirements and any accreditation expectations, so compare them with the units yourself. Sharing the files within your science department starts with a short note to Teach Lessons. Within 7 days of buying, an unsuitable purchase can be swapped for store credit of equal value, not cash.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Does it meet NGSS or accreditation requirements?
Teach Lessons does not claim alignment with NGSS, any state standards or any accreditation requirement, and no outside body has endorsed it. It is written for U.S. middle school classrooms. If your school must show standards coverage, compare the units with those requirements and confirm with your administration.
Can we teach it without a lab?
Yes. Many lessons use models, diagrams and reasoning about evidence. Simple density and solubility investigations need only basic materials. Any hands-on work should follow your school's safety policy. Starting with observable properties and moving to atoms later keeps the abstract ideas grounded for middle schoolers.
How long will it take to teach?
With 20+ resources, it fits a portion of the year rather than a full course. One way to use it is as a chemistry block within a general science year that also includes life and physical science. Decide in advance which tasks you will demonstrate.
Is the atomic content too advanced for sixth graders?
Atomic structure is taught at a conceptual level. Differentiated worksheets help younger or struggling students, while older students can work on more demanding tasks about periodic table patterns. Starting with states of matter and finishing with the periodic table keeps the order clear for students.
Are there related science products?
Physics Complete – Middle School and Biology Complete – Middle School share the same structure. The STEM Complete Curriculum Bundle for grades 6–10 at $149.00 may appear on the product page as an optional extra. Use them to set different challenges for each group in a small class.
How does school purchasing work?
The curriculum is purchased online and downloaded immediately. If your school has questions about purchasing or about sharing within the science department, send them to Teach Lessons before buying. Tell Teach Lessons how many teachers will use it so they can explain the licence. The files arrive by email right after purchase.
Give your students a real start in chemistry
See exactly what is included on the product page and choose the version that fits your science year.
See the chemistry curriculum →