Middle School Physical Science Lessons for Long-Term Subs and Leave Cover
This grades 6–8 physical science curriculum helps a long-term sub teach motion, forces and energy during a colleague's leave. Its 20+ ready-to-teach resources cover speed, velocity, acceleration, motion graphs, Newton's laws at a conceptual level, and energy transformations and heat transfer, with inquiry built around hypotheses, simple investigations, graphs and models. It is focused, so plan on extending it.
See the physical science units →Physics Complete – Middle School is a digital grades 6–8 physical science curriculum with 20+ resources, from $149.90. A long-term sub can teach distance, speed, velocity and acceleration, motion graphs, balanced and unbalanced forces, Newton's laws conceptually, friction and gravity, and kinetic and potential energy, transformations and heat transfer. Students form testable hypotheses and work with graphs and models. No equipment is included.
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 specific challenge of a physical science leave
Motion and forces are where many middle schoolers decide whether they like science. The ideas look simple, since everyone knows what fast means, but students carry stubborn misconceptions: that a moving object needs a constant push, that heavier things always fall faster, that speed and velocity are the same. A sub has to address those directly, or students memorize Newton's laws without believing them. Graphs are the other hurdle. Reading a distance-time graph and explaining what a flat line or a steep slope means is a core skill in this unit, and it is easy to teach badly if you are not comfortable with it yourself. Many subs covering science are not physics people. Then there is equipment. Ramps, carts, spring scales and thermometers may be locked up or simply missing, and some schools restrict what a sub can do with them. Energy topics such as conduction, convection and radiation are hard to make concrete without demonstrations. You need lessons that make these ideas visible through graphs, models and simple investigations that can be run or interpreted with little equipment.
Why it fits
Where it helps on a physical science leave
The curriculum's focus on inquiry with graphs and models fits a sub with limited lab access and limited time to prepare.
- Motion graph lessons teach students to read slope and flat lines, a skill they need all unit.
- Speed, velocity and acceleration are separated clearly, which helps correct a common mix-up.
- Balanced and unbalanced forces and friction lessons target the idea that motion needs a constant push.
- Newton's laws are taught at a conceptual level that suits grades 6–8 without heavy math.
- Conduction, convection and radiation lessons use models when you cannot run a demonstration.
- Testable hypothesis tasks let students design simple investigations with everyday materials.
Getting started
How to open the leave in physical science
A suggested start for the first two weeks. With 20+ resources, pacing matters, so this sketch leaves room for your own extensions.
- Surface misconceptions firstAsk students to predict what happens to a rolling ball if nothing pushes it, and why. Their answers tell you which force ideas to tackle and give you a reference point to revisit later.
- Teach motion graphs earlyUse the motion graph lesson in the first week. Once students read distance-time graphs confidently, the rest of the motion unit becomes much easier to teach and grade.
- Run one low-equipment investigationHave students write a testable hypothesis about friction or falling objects and test it with whatever is at hand. Collect the data and graph it as a class.
- Connect forces to Newton's lawsMove from balanced and unbalanced forces to Newton's laws conceptually. Return to the day-one predictions so students see how their ideas have changed. Most will notice their own progress.
- Stretch with practice and reviewBecause the resource set is compact, extend key lessons with student-made graphs, short explanations and review activities rather than racing through all the material in a few weeks.
Which version
Choosing a version for a physical science leave
The $149.90 version holds all 20+ resources. Because that is a focused set, a long leave usually needs more material, and the most honest advice is to plan for that. If the job includes chemistry topics, Chemistry Complete – Middle School is a natural second curriculum, and TEACHMORE15 gives 15% off when you buy both. The store also lists the Physics Foundations Bundle Grades 5–9 and the Physics Complete Curriculum Bundle with 15 units. The $189.90 version adds the Teach-Life-Balance course for your own planning, not more physics.
Honest limits
What it will not do for you
With 20+ resources, this curriculum will not fill a semester-long leave on its own; you will need to extend lessons or add material. No ramps, carts, scales, thermometers or video come with it, so investigations depend on what the school allows and has. The inquiry practices are described as NGSS-style, which is not a claim of alignment, so check your state standards. Message Teach Lessons before sharing it with your team. If it does not fit, swap it for store credit of equal value within 7 days.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is this NGSS-aligned?
We do not claim NGSS alignment or endorsement. The curriculum describes its inquiry work as NGSS-style practices, and it is written for U.S. middle school physical science. Check the content against your state's science standards, which may organize motion, forces and energy differently from the curriculum.
Is 20+ resources enough for a long leave?
Probably not by itself for a semester. It is a focused set on motion, forces and energy. Many subs pair it with a second curriculum such as Chemistry Complete – Middle School, extend lessons with graphing and investigations, or add one of the physics bundles listed in the store.
Do students need a lot of math?
No. Newton's laws, work and power are treated at a conceptual level suitable for grades 6–8. Students do read and interpret graphs, and speed and velocity lessons involve some calculation, but the focus is on understanding rather than heavy computation. Students who are comfortable with numbers can go further on calculating speed from motion graph data.
What if I cannot use lab equipment?
Use the graph and model lessons, which work without equipment, and choose investigations that rely on everyday materials. Students can also interpret data from investigations rather than running them. Ask the department early what is allowed so you can plan accordingly. Ramps made from books and a rolling marble cover a surprising amount of the motion unit.
Does it cover heat and thermal energy?
Yes. The energy portion includes kinetic and potential energy, energy transformations, work and power conceptually, thermal energy, and conduction, convection and radiation. Models and diagrams carry those lessons when you cannot run a demonstration. Everyday examples, such as a metal spoon in hot soup or warm air rising near a heater, help students connect each type of heat transfer to something they have felt.
How do I access the materials?
Immediately after purchase. The download link comes by email, and the files are kept in your account under Orders. Print or project them the same day. Since nothing ships, you can be ready for a new class even if the leave starts with little notice. Begin with the motion graph lesson, since much of the unit builds on it.
Teach motion and energy with confidence
The product page lists everything included in the grades 6–8 physical science curriculum.
See the physical science units →