Nitrogen Cycle Station Lab - MS

This modular, student-led activity about the nitrogen cycle keeps your middle school class engaged and learning throughout this ecosystems lesson. These comprehensive materials will save you a TON of prep time while allowing students to take charge of their own learning.

In this interactive station lab, students will identify and compare the key processes and characteristics of the nitrogen cycle and explore how nitrogen moves through Earth’s atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere.

The station lab activities are also included in the Nitrogen Cycle 5E Lesson Plan, which features editable presentations, note templates, interactive notebook activities, student projects, assessments, and more to support your middle school science curriculum.

Texas teachers: This resource aligns with the 2017 TEKS and will not be updated for the 2021 TEKS.

DIFFERENTIATED, MODULAR, STUDENT-LED

Each station lab includes eight core differentiated activities plus a ninth challenge station for early finishers. Students work independently or collaboratively to explore the nitrogen cycle through multimodal learning opportunities, while teachers facilitate rather than direct instruction.

All signage, resources, task cards, and reading materials are included. The Explore It! station may require simple classroom materials you already have on hand.

This resource is designed for both in-person and virtual learning and is fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides.

THE STATIONS

INPUT Stations

Offer multimodal ways for students to learn new nitrogen cycle concepts:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or activity connecting real-world applications to key processes in the nitrogen cycle.

• Read It! – Differentiated passages (English & Spanish) with vocabulary and comprehension questions.

• Research It! – Web-based exploration with images, data, and graphs to deepen understanding.

• Watch It! – Short, engaging video with guiding questions.

OUTPUT Stations

Provide multiple ways for students to demonstrate their understanding:

• Organize It! – Printable or digital card sorts and categorization activities.

• Illustrate It! – Student-created sketches or diagrams of the nitrogen cycle to reinforce visual learning.

• Write It! – Open-ended written prompts to summarize and apply learning in complete sentences.

• Assess It! – Task cards and paragraph-writing exercises using academic vocabulary in context.

Bonus Station – Challenge It!

Perfect for advanced learners or early finishers! Includes extension activities such as crosswords, puzzles, mini-projects, or games to encourage deeper learning.

Why Teachers Love It

• Fully differentiated to support all learners

• Works digitally or in print

• Promotes student independence and collaboration

• Minimal prep—just print, organize, and teach!

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