South Dakota Middle School Physical Science: Six Physics Units, Grades 6–9
South Dakota Middle School Physical Science: Six Physics Units, Grades 6–9
For the physics half of a South Dakota middle school physical science course, the Middle School Physical Science Units Bundle gives you six complete units for $89.99: motion and graphs, forces and Newton's laws, work and energy, pressure and buoyancy, electric circuits, and light and lenses. It has no chemistry and no South Dakota-specific content, so check it against the state's current science standards before you plan.
See the physical science unitsThe Middle School Physical Science Units Bundle ($89.99) covers the physics side of Grades 6–9 physical science with six units: Describing Motion & Interpreting Graphs, Forces & Interactions, Work, Energy & Power, Pressure, Buoyancy & Fluids, Electric Circuits, and Light, Refraction & Lenses. It suits South Dakota classrooms and homeschools that need ready physics units. It is not aligned to South Dakota's science standards, contains no chemistry, and includes no lab equipment.
The resources
Middle School Physical Science Units Bundle, Grades 6–9
6 resources in one download: $89.99 instead of $149.94 bought separately.
Start with the first resource; the others are optional add-ons. Open any cover for the full contents and price.
Middle School Physical Science Units Bundle | Motion, Forces, Energy, Pressure, Circuits & Light | 6 Units | Grades 6–9
Physics Complete Curriculum Bundle | 15 Ready-to-Teach Units | Grades 5–12
Physics Foundations Bundle | Measurement, Motion & Forces | 3 Complete Units | Grades 5–9
Physics Complete – Ready-to-Use Curriculum for Middle School Physics
The real problem
What makes physical science hard to plan in South Dakota
South Dakota's content standards are set by the South Dakota Board of Education Standards, and the state reviews them every five to seven years. That cycle matters for a science teacher: the version your district uses now may not be the one your current materials were written for. We could not confirm the exact title and revision year of the current science standards, so start by looking them up on the Department of Education site or asking your district, then check which grade your physical science content falls in. Physical science itself is two courses folded into one. Students need motion and forces, energy, electricity and light on the physics side, and matter and reactions on the chemistry side, and the physics half alone is a lot to prepare. Each topic needs readings that make abstract ideas concrete, practice with graphs, and investigations you can run with simple equipment. Homeschool families face the same content with fewer resources at hand. South Dakota no longer requires standardized testing for homeschool students, and a parent teaching at home needs no teaching certificate, so a family can choose freely. The challenge for them is less about rules and more about finding physics lessons a parent can teach confidently without a science background.
Why it fits
How the six units cover the physics side
Each unit stands alone, so you can follow your own sequence or your district's map.
- Describing Motion & Interpreting Graphs builds graph reading that later science and math courses rely on.
- Forces & Interactions covers Newton's laws, a standard part of most middle school physical science.
- Work, Energy & Power gives a full energy unit you can link to farm machinery or everyday tools.
- Pressure, Buoyancy & Fluids explains floating and sinking, pressure and fluids in one complete unit.
- Electric Circuits works for classes and homeschools; you supply any batteries, wires or bulbs yourself.
- Light, Refraction & Lenses closes the year with refraction, lenses and how we see.
Getting started
A sample sequence for the physics half
This is a suggested order; your district map, lab schedule or homeschool pace may call for another.
- Check the current standardsFind the South Dakota science standards your district uses and mark which grade covers motion, energy, electricity and light. Then decide which of the six units fit that grade.
- Start with motion and graphsTeach Describing Motion & Interpreting Graphs first. Students who can read a distance-time graph handle the forces and energy units much more easily. Spend extra time on graph practice if needed.
- Follow with forces, then energyMove from Forces & Interactions to Work, Energy & Power. Together they make the core of the physics half and fit well in the first semester.
- Add fluids and circuitsTeach Pressure, Buoyancy & Fluids and Electric Circuits in the second semester. Gather the materials you plan to use early, since none are included in the download.
- Finish with light and lensesEnd with Light, Refraction & Lenses. Leave time afterward for your chemistry content, which comes from another source if your course covers it. Use the answer keys for the final review.
What to buy
Six units or a bigger physics set
Choose the Middle School Physical Science Units Bundle for the physics half of a Grades 6–9 course: $89.99 instead of $149.94 for the six units bought separately. If you teach physics across more grades, the Physics Complete Curriculum Bundle has 15 units for Grades 5–12 at $129.99. For younger or less confident students, the Physics Foundations Bundle ($59.99, Grades 5–9) focuses on measurement, motion and forces. Teachers who want a sequenced middle school physics program with inquiry tasks, motion and forces, and energy can look at Physics Complete – Middle School at $149.90, or $189.90 with the Teach-Life-Balance course.
Honest limits
What this bundle does not include
These units are not written for South Dakota. They have no state standards codes and no South Dakota content, and they have not been reviewed or approved by the Department of Education or any district. There is no chemistry, so a full physical science course needs other material. Check the units against the current South Dakota science standards before you plan. No lab equipment or supplies are included. Homeschool families should check current law with the state or a homeschool legal resource. 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 this aligned to South Dakota's science standards?
No. The bundle was not written for South Dakota and is not aligned to, endorsed by or approved by the Department of Education or any district. The state reviews its standards every five to seven years, so look up the version your district currently uses and compare it with the six units before planning. The topics are common middle school physical science, but the check is yours.
Does it cover chemistry too?
No. All six units are physics: motion, forces, energy, fluids, circuits and light. If your physical science course includes matter, atoms and reactions, you will need separate chemistry material. The store's Chemistry Complete – Middle School curriculum is one option for that half. Buying both halves gives you a fuller physical science year, with chemistry and physics taught from separate sets.
Do I need a lab or special equipment?
No equipment comes with the download. The units include worksheets, activities, slides and answer keys. For circuits or lenses you supply any batteries, wires, bulbs or lenses you want to use. Lab safety rules and any equipment orders stay with you and your school. Plan the circuits unit early so materials arrive in time.
Can a South Dakota homeschool family use this?
Yes. South Dakota families homeschool under alternative instruction (SDCL 13-27-3), notify the Department of Education within 30 days, and choose their own materials. The answer keys help a parent without a science background check work. Confirm current law with the state or a homeschool legal resource; this is not legal advice.
Can our science team share one copy?
The licence covers your own teaching. If other teachers in your school want the files, send Teach Lessons a short message before buying. Public posting and sharing outside your school are not allowed. Tell Teach Lessons how many teachers or sections will use the units. Homeschool co-ops with several families should ask too.
What if the units are not right for my class?
Compare the six unit titles with your course map before buying. If you buy and the bundle does not fit, you can exchange it within 7 days for store credit of equal value. It is store credit, not a cash refund. You could apply the credit to the Physics Foundations Bundle instead.
Physics units ready for your physical science year
Open the product page, match the six units to your South Dakota course, and download them right after checkout.
See the physical science units