Middle School Chemistry Scope and Sequence for the Whole Year
Chemistry Complete – Middle School is for grades 6–8 science teachers mapping a chemistry year or semester. It covers matter and its properties, from states of matter, mass, volume and density to solubility and physical vs chemical changes, then atoms, elements and periodic table patterns at a conceptual level. With 20+ resources it gives you the core, and you add labs around it.
View the chemistry curriculum →Chemistry Complete – Middle School is a no-prep curriculum for grades 6–8 with 20+ resources, starting at $149.90. It covers matter and its properties (states of matter, mass, volume, density, solubility, physical vs chemical changes) and atoms, elements and the periodic table (atomic structure conceptually, elements, compounds, symbols, periodic table patterns, metals and nonmetals), with inquiry practices. For a full year, plan to add labs or a second package.
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.
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The real problem
The jump from matter to atoms
Middle school chemistry has a sharp turn in the middle. The first half is about things students can see and measure: ice melting, sugar dissolving, a block sinking or floating. The second half asks them to believe in particles they will never see and to read a periodic table that looks like a code. A year map has to manage that jump. Starting with atoms because they feel fundamental usually backfires. Students memorize parts of an atom without any reason to care. Starting with measurable properties of matter, and letting the question of why density or solubility differs lead toward particles, gives atoms a purpose. Density is its own sticking point. It combines mass and volume in a ratio, and many students need several passes before it holds. Physical vs chemical changes also look simple until students meet cases like dissolving that seem to blur the line. And there is quantity: with 20+ resources the curriculum gives a clear core, but a chemistry year runs on investigations. You will need time and space in the plan for students to measure, mix and observe.
Why it fits
How the content fits a chemistry sequence
The two content areas move from observable matter to the particle level, which is the direction a middle school chemistry year should go.
- States of matter give an easy, observable start before more abstract properties.
- Mass, volume and density lessons let you slow down where students most often get stuck.
- Solubility and physical vs chemical changes connect lab observations to clear classification tasks.
- Atomic structure at a conceptual level keeps the particle model accessible for grades 6–8.
- Elements, compounds and symbols lead naturally into periodic table patterns and metals vs nonmetals.
- Inquiry tasks on hypotheses and data give structure to the investigations you add yourself.
Getting started
One way to spread it across about 36 weeks
Treat this as a suggestion, not a calendar the product includes. It assumes a full-year course where you add your own labs; a semester version would compress each block.
- Weeks 1–6: states of matterOpen with solids, liquids and gases and changes between them. Start with an investigation students can observe directly, and use it to practice writing a testable hypothesis.
- Weeks 7–14: mass, volume, densityMeasure mass and volume, then combine them into density. Plan several passes with different objects and liquids, because density is the concept most likely to need reteaching.
- Weeks 15–21: solubility and changesTeach solubility, then physical vs chemical changes. Have students sort real examples and defend tricky cases with evidence from what they observed in class, especially for dissolving and other borderline cases.
- Weeks 22–29: atoms and elementsIntroduce atomic structure conceptually as the explanation for the properties they have measured. Move into elements, compounds and chemical symbols with models and diagrams, keeping the focus on ideas students can picture.
- Weeks 30–36: the periodic tableFinish with periodic table patterns and metals vs nonmetals. A closing task connects properties students tested in fall to where those elements sit on the table.
Which version
Which version and what to pair it with
The standard Chemistry Complete – Middle School ($149.90) is the core content. The version with Teach-Life-Balance ($189.90) adds a separate course with a planner, guides and templates for your own planning, without more chemistry. Because the curriculum has 20+ resources, many teachers running a full physical science year pair it with Physics Complete – Middle School, which covers motion, forces and energy in the same structure. TEACHMORE15 gives 15% off when you buy two or more Complete Curriculum packages.
Honest limits
What it does not cover
The curriculum has 20+ resources, so a full year needs your own labs and practice. No chemicals, glassware, balances or safety equipment are included, and lab safety procedures follow your school's rules. There is no week-by-week calendar; the pacing above is an example. Compare the content with your state science standards. Shared use within your science department needs a short message to Teach Lessons first. If it does not suit you, it can be exchanged within 7 days for store credit of equal value.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is it aligned to NGSS or my state's science standards?
Its inquiry practices are described as NGSS-style, and the content is written for U.S. middle school classrooms. No official alignment to NGSS or any state standards is claimed, and it carries no endorsement or certification. Compare the matter and periodic table content with your state's physical science expectations and add what your course requires.
Is this enough for a full year of chemistry?
On its own, no. The 20+ resources cover the core concepts of matter and atoms, and a full year needs labs and extra practice around them. As a semester course, or as half of a physical science year paired with Physics Complete, it fits more naturally.
Does it include balancing equations or the mole?
No. The facts listed for this curriculum cover matter, its properties, atomic structure at a conceptual level, elements, compounds and periodic table patterns. Equations and quantitative chemistry are high school topics and are not part of it. If you need those topics, plan them as an add-on to the year.
Can I teach it without a lab room?
Many of the investigations behind this content, such as density, dissolving and physical changes, work with simple household materials. The curriculum's worksheets, diagrams and data tasks also support teaching without a full lab, but materials are yours to supply. Follow your school's safety rules for any hands-on work.
Should atoms come first or last?
The content areas go from matter and its properties to atoms and the periodic table, and most middle school students do better in that order. Measured properties give them a reason to need the particle model. The units can be taught individually if your district sets a different order.
What works for a substitute day?
Periodic table pattern tasks or physical vs chemical change sorting worksheets with answer keys need no lab setup, so they are easy to leave for a substitute. They review content from earlier in the year, so students can work fairly independently while you are away. Keep a couple ready in a folder so a sudden absence does not stall your sequence.
Move your class from matter to atoms in a clear order
The product page lists everything in Chemistry Complete – Middle School so you can plan your labs around it.
View the chemistry curriculum →