Middle School Physical Science Curriculum for a First-Year Science Teacher
Physics Complete – Middle School is a compact set of 20+ resources on motion, forces and energy for grades 6–8, written for a first-year science teacher who needs physical science lessons that hold together. It covers speed, velocity and acceleration, motion graphs, Newton's laws at a conceptual level, and energy transformations, with inquiry tasks built around graphs and models.
See the physics curriculum →Physics Complete – Middle School (Grades 6–8) by Teach Lessons is a ready-to-teach physical science curriculum with 20+ resources for $149.90, or $189.90 with the Teach-Life-Balance course. It covers distance, speed, velocity, acceleration and motion graphs; balanced and unbalanced forces, friction, gravity, air resistance and Newton's laws conceptually; and kinetic and potential energy, transformations, work, power and heat transfer, with NGSS-style inquiry practices.
The curriculum
Physics 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.
Physics Complete – Ready-to-Use Curriculum for Middle School Physics
Physics Foundations Bundle | Measurement, Motion & Forces | 3 Complete Units | Grades 5–9
Physics Complete Curriculum Bundle | 15 Ready-to-Teach Units | Grades 5–12
Chemistry Complete – Ready-to-Use Curriculum for Middle School Chemistry
Teach-Life-Balance: The Complete Time-Saving Course for Teachers (incl. Planner, Guides & Templates)
The real problem
The hard parts of physical science in year one
Middle school physics runs into student misconceptions almost immediately. Many students believe a moving object needs a constant push to keep moving, or that heavier objects always fall faster. A first-year teacher who goes straight to definitions will find those ideas still there at the end of the unit. Teaching Newton's laws at a conceptual level means designing situations that make students confront what they think and change it. Then there is math. Speed and acceleration involve calculation and graphing, and middle schoolers vary widely in their comfort with both. A motion graph that one student reads easily can stop another completely. Energy has similar trouble spots: students mix up energy and force, and thermal energy transfer by conduction, convection and radiation is easy to memorize and hard to explain. Building inquiry tasks for all of this, with sensible data and graphs, takes more time than a new teacher with a full schedule usually has.
Why it fits
How it fits a first-year physical science class
The resources focus on motion and forces first and energy second, with graphs and models used throughout.
- Distance, speed, velocity and acceleration are taught in sequence, so the math builds step by step.
- Motion graph tasks give students repeated practice reading and making graphs, the skill many find hardest.
- Balanced and unbalanced forces, friction and air resistance prepare students for Newton's laws conceptually.
- Kinetic and potential energy and energy transformations are separated from forces to reduce confusion.
- Conduction, convection and radiation lessons give the thermal energy topic a clear structure.
- Testable hypothesis and simple investigation tasks build inquiry habits without special equipment.
Getting started
One way to run your first two weeks
A suggested start for a physical science course; adjust for your district's order of topics.
- Check what students believeBefore teaching forces, ask students to predict what happens to a rolling ball. Their answers show which misconceptions you need to address. Write the predictions down and return to them later.
- Begin with distance and speedUse the motion resources on distance and speed first. The calculations are simple, which lets you see each student's math comfort early. Note who needs math support before graphs arrive.
- Teach motion graphs slowlySpend extra time on the motion graph tasks. Students who can read these graphs will handle velocity and acceleration far better. Have students describe a graph in words before calculating anything.
- Add a testable hypothesisUse an inquiry task where students write a testable hypothesis about motion. A simple ramp and objects you have on hand are enough. Students record results in a simple table.
- Move to balanced forcesClose week two with balanced and unbalanced forces. It connects what students saw in motion to why it happens. Return to the rolling ball predictions from day one and let students revise them with what they now know.
Which version
Which version to choose, and what to pair it with
This is a compact product with 20+ resources, so be realistic: it gives you a strong core for motion, forces and energy, not a full year of every physical science topic. The $149.90 version has the curriculum; the $189.90 version adds Teach-Life-Balance, a planner and time-management course with no physics content. If your course also covers matter and the periodic table, buying Physics Complete with Chemistry Complete and using TEACHMORE15 gives 15% off both. The Physics Foundations Bundle Grades 5–9 ($59.99) and the Physics Complete Curriculum Bundle ($129.99) are separate products for more physics material.
Honest limits
What it does not include
With 20+ resources, it will not fill every day of a full-year physical science course alone; most teachers will add chemistry or other material. It includes no lab equipment, sensors or videos. Newton's laws, work and power are treated conceptually, not with advanced math. The practices are described as NGSS-style, not formally aligned, so check against your state science standards. Pacing is yours. Team use needs a short message to Teach Lessons first. If it is not a fit, exchange it within 7 days for store credit of equal value, not cash.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is it aligned to NGSS or state standards?
Teach Lessons does not claim it is approved, endorsed or certified against NGSS or any state standards. The inquiry content is described as NGSS-style practices, such as testable hypotheses, investigations, graphs and models. Check the motion, forces and energy content against your state standards and your district's physical science scope.
Is 20+ resources enough for a full year?
Probably not for a full year on its own. It covers motion, forces and energy in depth. If your course also includes matter, chemical changes or waves, you would add other material, such as Chemistry Complete – Middle School. Check your district scope to see how much time it expects for each topic.
How much math does it require?
Speed, velocity, acceleration and motion graphs involve calculation and graphing. Newton's laws, work and power are handled at a conceptual level. Differentiated worksheets help when students' math skills vary. Students who struggle with calculation can still work through the conceptual parts of forces and energy.
Do I need lab equipment?
No equipment is included or required. Inquiry tasks focus on hypotheses, simple investigations, graphs and models. You can add demonstrations with everyday objects if you have them. A ramp, a ball and a stopwatch are enough to show speed in action, but none of the tasks depend on them.
Does it cover heat transfer?
Yes. Thermal energy and its transfer by conduction, convection and radiation are part of the energy content, along with kinetic and potential energy and energy transformations. These topics give students a way to connect physics to everyday experiences like cooking, weather and keeping warm in winter.
Can I use it for review or substitute days?
The description lists review and substitute teaching as intended uses. Graph and calculation worksheets with answer keys work well for both. A graph task is especially useful before a unit test, since reading motion graphs is a skill students need to practice several times. Keep a few ready.
Get motion and energy right in your first year
See what is included on the product page and decide what you will pair it with for the rest of the year.
See the physics curriculum →