A student doing an experiment as part of her middle school science curriculum

Science Curriculum for Middle School

Middle school science courses are intended to be a springboard into more specific and complex high school science concepts. These courses will also develop students’ understanding of core scientific principles and how they have shaped the world around us.

Learning science can boost your child’s curiosity in the natural world and can encourage lifelong learning. It’s essential to find a middle school science curriculum that prepares students for future learning while also piquing their interest now,  further developing their understanding of the natural world.

Choosing the Best Middle School Science Curriculum

A strong middle school science program will offer a number of methods to make science lessons more memorable and effective. The goal of Miacademy’s middle school science courses is to ignite a lifetime of curiosity about the natural world while also preparing students for high school and beyond. 

We offer comprehensive and effective lessons with the  vocabulary, experiments, and assessments that students need to explore various topics. Our middle school science curriculum covers:

  • Earth Science (water and rock cycles, the atmosphere, plate tectonics, and more)
  • Astronomy (our moon, our solar system, space technology, and more)
  • Life Science (cells, body systems, animal classification, and more)
  • Core scientific principles (the scientific method, states of matter, and more)

Earth Science

5th-8th Grade

In our Earth Science homeschool curriculum, students will learn about the relationships between the Earth’s composition, structure, processes, atmosphere, oceans, and geological history. Students will also learn and practice interpreting various maps, charts, and tables to organize and analyze data. Key topics include: 

  • The scientific method
  • The states of matter
  • Layers of the Earth
  • Movement of the Earth
  • The rock cycle
  • Identifying rocks, crystals and gems
  • Continental drift and plate tectonics
  • Earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes
  • Weathering, erosion, and deposition
  • The water cycle
  • Weather and climate
  • Renewable and nonrenewable resources

Astronomy

5th-8th Grade

Students will learn about the universe, including the conditions, properties, and motion of bodies in space. They will also study the relationship our planet has with the sun, moon, and other bodies in our solar system. Key topics include: 

  • The scientific method
  • The movements of Earth and its moon
  • The laws of planetary motion and their connection to gravity
  • The sun and the planets of its solar system
  • Structures beyond our solar system, like nebulas, black holes, and more
  • The Space Race, current space exploration, and new discoveries

Life Science

6th-8th Grade

In this course, students will learn about the various systems and building blocks of living things. Students will learn to identify and understand the different parts of cells, body systems, DNA, and more to prepare them for high school science courses, such as Integrated Physics and Chemistry on MiaPrep. Key topics include: 

  • What biology is and how to think like a biologist
  • Cell theory, parts of a cell,and types of cells
  • Cellular processes, such as transport, metabolism, and the cell cycle
  • Structure of DNA, protein synthesis, gene expression, and meiosis
  • Natural selection and taxonomies of different types of living things
  • The structure and function of our body systems
  • Ecology, including biotic and abiotic factors, ecological interactions, and sustainability

Miacademy’s Accredited Middle School Science Curriculum

Whether you’re looking for a homeschool science curriculum for your family or simply after-school enrichment, Miacademy has you covered. Our middle school science curriculum is thorough and engaging, and we’re adding new content all the time! Our lessons have engaging videos, fun activities, games, labs, simulations, and helpful PDFs. We also encourage you to include your own experiences and observations with our science courses, repeat lessons when your child needs extra support, or incorporate trips to a museum or park into your instruction. 

Our entire curriculum, including our middle school courses, is accredited by the ACS-WASC as a Supplementary Education Program. This means that they meet the high standards for educational quality in a homeschool or distance-learning program. Our resources and lesson quality can also help your student achieve state and federal learning standards and push them ahead in their education. 

Middle School Science Curriculum – Homeschool Resources

Miacademy’s middle school science program can provide you with all of the resources you need for your middle school student. Take a look at a few samples of our curriculum below!

Anatomic cartoon of lungs

Why Do I Breathe? The Respiratory System!

These guided notes provide graphics to label, as well as language in context, to help students recall important terms and concepts.

Periodic Table

This exercise asks students to organize the periodic table into categories, allowing them practice with element symbols, atomic numbers, and real-world applications.

External Resources

Additionally, you may find more activities and engaging experiments on these websites below, which you can add to our science curriculum or your own!

Virtual Labs

This website from New Mexico State University gives students a virtual microscope to operate, through which students can view bacteria, mold, and various other materials. 

Science Buddies

This website lists dozens of simple experiments that are appropriate for your middle school science curriculum, such as building balloon cars or bridges made from paper.

If you’re curious if Miacademy or MiaPrep is the best homeschool science curriculum for you, feel free to chat with one of our helpful customer service representatives! They’ll be happy to help you with any questions you may have.

Updated 1/11/2024