Compare Elements & Compounds Complete Science Lesson - New TEKS 7.6A

Help your students understand the building blocks of matter with this engaging, ready-to-teach unit on comparing elements and compounds.
This fully editable, multiday lesson includes presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, and assessments—everything you need for a complete, differentiated chemistry unit with minimal prep time.

With student-led, multimodal learning, this resource keeps your middle school students actively engaged while giving you more time to focus on their success.

Essential Questions

• How can we compare and contrast elements and compounds?

• How do atoms, molecules, chemical symbols, and chemical formulas help us distinguish elements and compounds?

Why Teachers Love This Kesler Science Complete Lesson

• Differentiated materials to support every learner

• Multimodal learning experiences to keep middle schoolers engaged

• Maximum flexibility – works in both print and digital formats

• Editable PowerPoints to customize for your classroom

• Spanish translations for vocabulary, reading passages, and interactive notebook pages

• Aligned with 2021 TEKS standard 7.6A

Built around the **research-based 5E Instructional Model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—**this complete lesson makes teaching science interactive, inquiry-based, and effective.

What’s Included in Each 5E Stage

Engage

Hook students and build curiosity with:

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards in English and Spanish

• Teacher guide featuring discussion prompts, classroom activity ideas, and notes on common misconceptions

Explore

Students take the lead in learning with a student-driven, differentiated station lab that accommodates all learning styles.
With nine interactive stations, your students will explore how elements and compounds are alike and different through hands-on investigation, reading, and collaboration.

Input Stations help students absorb content through multiple learning modes:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or experiment connecting students to real-world science

• Read It! – Short reading passage with comprehension questions (English and Spanish versions included)

• Research It! – Guided online activity to collect and analyze information

• Watch It! – Short video with guided questions and class discussion prompts

Output Stations give students opportunities to demonstrate understanding:

• Organize It! – Classify and sort examples using printable or digital tools

• Write It! – Respond to open-ended questions using evidence and complete sentences

• Illustrate It! – Draw or diagram atomic structures and formulas to reinforce retention

• Assess It! – Apply knowledge through vocabulary and mastery questions

Bonus Station – Challenge It!
A fun extension station for early finishers or advanced learners, featuring enrichment activities, mini-projects, and review games to deepen understanding.

Explain

Guide students to connect their discoveries with key science concepts:

• Editable PowerPoints (standard and interactive versions) for whole-class instruction

• Interactive Notebook Templates in both printable and digital formats (English and Spanish)

• Note-taking templates to support comprehension and retention

Elaborate

Encourage critical thinking and creativity with student-choice projects that expand understanding of how atoms, molecules, and chemical symbols distinguish elements from compounds.
Projects can be completed in class or as independent assignments.

Evaluate

Assess learning and reinforce understanding with:

• STAAR 2.0–style assessment questions in both standard and modified versions

• Review worksheets for classroom discussion, test prep, or homework assignments

Perfect for In-Class or Virtual Learning

This lesson is designed for maximum flexibility, whether you’re teaching in person or online.
The station lab and PowerPoint/interactive notebook components are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, allowing students to engage and complete work in any environment.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.