The Productive Teacher

I use the latest in brain science research to create lessons that are engaging for students and easy for teachers.

There are tons of activities, presentations, and reading passages to help teach (and learn) a variety of topics! Click the topics to learn more!

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The Grassland Biome for Middle School Science

Grasslands are vast open areas dominated by grasses and few trees. They exist on every continent except Antarctica and go by different...

5 min read

The Temperate Forest Biome for Middle School Science

The temperate forest biome is one of the most important ecosystems on Earth. It is known for its mild temperatures, seasonal changes, and...

5 min read

The Freshwater Biome for Middle School Science

Freshwater biomes are ecosystems that contain very low amounts of salt, usually less than 1%. These biomes include lakes, rivers, ponds,...

3 min read

The Saltwater Biome for Middle School Science

Saltwater biomes, also known as marine biomes, are ecosystems found in oceans, seas, and coastal regions. They cover about 71% of Earth’s...

4 min read

The Taiga Biome for Middle School Science

The taiga biome, also known as the boreal forest, is the world’s largest land biome, stretching across North America, Europe, and Asia....

7 min read

The Tundra Biome for Middle School Science

The tundra is one of the coldest and harshest biomes on Earth. It is found in two main forms: Arctic tundra and Alpine tundra. Arctic...

4 min read

The Desert Biome for Middle School Science

Deserts are some of the most extreme environments on Earth. They are defined by low rainfall—usually less than 10 inches (25 cm) per...

4 min read

The Rainforest Biome for Middle School Science

Rainforests are lush, vibrant ecosystems teeming with life, known for their incredible biodiversity and vital role in regulating the...

7 min read

The Basic Needs of Plants and Animals for Middle School Science

Cellular metabolism is the incredible process that fuels every living cell and powers all of life's activities. From the smallest...

4 min read

Cellular Metabolism for Middle School Science

Cellular metabolism is the incredible process that fuels every living cell and powers all of life's activities. From the smallest...

3 min read

Cellular Transport for Middle School Science

Cellular transport is how things get in and out of a cell. The two main types of cellular transport are active transport and passive...

2 min read

The Biosphere for Middle School Science

The biosphere is the part of Earth where all living things exist. It includes land, water, and even the air, where organisms can survive....

4 min read

Knowing the Difference Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells for Middle School Science

One of the first steps in understanding cells is differentiating between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The presentation below shows a...

3 min read

Why Does Warm Air Rise?

Warm air rising is one of the driving factors of our weather, but why does warm air rise? This post will explain the physics behind why...

2 min read

The Greenhouse Effect for Middle School Science

The Greenhouse Effect describes how heat from the Sun is trapped by the atmosphere of a planet. It is not unique to Earth, but it is...

2 min read

The Coriolis Effect for Middle School Science

The Coriolis Effect is a small topic in atmospheric science that can be seen in big ways. It explains why hurricanes spin and why massive...

2 min read

Radiation from the Sun for Middle School Science

Radiation from the sun is a fancy term for sunlight. Sunlight is made up of different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. Humans...

2 min read

El Niño for Middle School Science

Have you ever heard people blaming unusual weather on El Niño or La Niña? These weather patterns are caused by the trade winds and the...

2 min read

All About Air Pollution for Middle School Science

Learning about Earth's atmosphere means learning about air pollution. Some air pollution is natural, like the dust and gases released...

2 min read

All About Rainbows for Middle School Science

Rainbows are one of the most fun science topics! Plus, they are a great way to connect light, the electromagnetic spectrum, and the...

2 min read