Physical & Chemical Changes Station Lab - MS

Keep your middle school students engaged, curious, and learning with this modular, student-led activity on physical and chemical changes.
This ready-to-use, differentiated resource saves you hours of prep time while allowing students to take charge of their learning through hands-on investigation and interactive exploration.

In this station lab, students will identify the formation of a new substance by using evidence of a possible chemical change, learning how to distinguish between physical and chemical processes.
Perfect for in-class or virtual learning, this flexible activity seamlessly supports your middle school physical science curriculum.

This lab is also part of the Physical and Chemical Changes 5E Lesson Plan, which includes editable presentations, note templates, interactive notebook activities, assessments, student projects, and more for your complete chemistry unit.

Texas Teachers: This station lab aligns with the 2017 TEKS and will not be updated for the 2021 standards.

Differentiated, Modular, and Student-Led

Each station lab features eight differentiated activities that give students a personalized learning experience, plus a ninth Challenge Station for early finishers or advanced learners.
In this student-centered approach, the teacher facilitates learning rather than directs it, promoting independence and critical thinking.

All nine modular stations include signage, reading passages, task cards, and resources, allowing students to work independently or in small groups.
The Explore It! station may require a few common classroom materials you likely already have on hand.

Ready for In-Class or Virtual Learning

This resource is designed for maximum flexibility.
Students can complete all stations in the classroom or online, and all digital versions are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making them easy to implement in any learning environment.

The Stations

Input Stations – Learn and Explore

Students encounter new concepts about physical and chemical changes through multimodal, interactive learning experiences.

• Explore It! – A hands-on demonstration or experiment connecting new concepts through application. In the digital version, students manipulate images and text in PowerPoint or Google Slides.

• Read It! – A short, accessible reading passage with comprehension and vocabulary questions. Differentiated texts in English and Spanish support diverse learners.

• Research It! – Guided online investigation using visuals, data, and text to strengthen conceptual understanding.

• Watch It! – Students watch a short, focused video and answer comprehension questions to reinforce new learning.

Output Stations – Apply and Demonstrate Understanding

Students show what they’ve learned through a variety of creative and analytical activities that support retention and mastery.

• Organize It! – Use manipulatives or digital drag-and-drop tools to classify and compare examples.

• Illustrate It! – Sketch or model physical and chemical changes to visually represent understanding.

• Write It! – Respond to short-answer prompts using academic vocabulary and complete sentences.

• Assess It! – Apply learning through task cards and written responses using lesson vocabulary in context.

Bonus Station – Challenge It!

Designed for early finishers and advanced learners, this enrichment station offers crosswords, mini-projects, and games that extend learning and reinforce core concepts in a fun, engaging way.

Why Teachers Love This Resource

• Comprehensive and ready to use – minimal prep required

• Student-centered and differentiated – supports all learning levels

• Flexible – perfect for traditional, hybrid, or virtual classrooms

• Engaging and multimodal – promotes active learning through exploration

• Compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides – easy to integrate anywhere

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.