Molecules Complete Lesson Plan - MS

Bring chemistry to life in your classroom with this engaging, ready-to-teach unit on molecule models and identifying pure substances.
This fully editable, multiday resource includes presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, and assessments—everything you need for an interactive, differentiated lesson that requires minimal prep.

With student-led, multimodal learning, your students will explore molecular structure and composition through hands-on activities while you focus on guiding their success.

Essential Questions

• What is a pure substance?

• What can be represented with chemical symbols?

Why Teachers Love This Kesler Science Complete Lesson

• Differentiated materials for students who need additional support

• Multimodal learning keeps middle school students engaged and focused

• Maximum flexibility – use it digitally, on paper, or both!

• Editable PowerPoints for easy customization

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

Aligned with 2017 TEKS standards, this lesson follows the proven **5E Instructional Model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—**to promote deep, inquiry-based understanding of key science concepts.

Note: This lesson aligns with the 2017 TEKS and will not be updated for the 2021 standards.

What’s Included in Each 5E Stage

Engage

Kick off your chemistry unit with interactive and thought-provoking materials:

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards in English and Spanish

• Teacher guide with discussion ideas, activities, and common misconceptions

Explore

Students take the lead in learning through a student-led, differentiated station lab designed for all learning styles.
With nine interactive stations, students build models and investigate how molecular structure relates to substance classification.

Input Stations help students absorb new information through multiple modes of learning:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or experiment connecting real-world examples to key concepts

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

• Research It! – Guided online exploration with structured questions

• Watch It! – Short, engaging video with follow-up prompts and discussion

Output Stations provide opportunities for students to demonstrate understanding:

• Organize It! – Classify examples using printable or digital card sorts

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

• Illustrate It! – Draw or model molecule structures for visual comprehension and retention

• Assess It! – Demonstrate mastery through vocabulary-based questions and written reflections

Bonus Station – Challenge It!
Extension tasks for early finishers and advanced learners, including puzzles, mini-projects, and games that reinforce and extend understanding.

Explain

Help students connect their exploration to key science concepts:

• Editable PowerPoints (standard and interactive versions)

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

• Note-taking templates to guide comprehension and organization

Elaborate

Encourage critical thinking and creativity with student-choice projects where students explore molecule modeling and the classification of pure substances.
Projects can be completed in class or as homework to extend learning beyond the lesson.

Evaluate

Assess and reinforce understanding with:

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

• Review worksheets for class discussions, test prep, or homework assignments

Perfect for In-Class or Virtual Learning

This resource is built for maximum flexibility—ideal for in-person, hybrid, or online classrooms.
Both the station lab and interactive notebook materials are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making implementation simple in any learning environment.

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.