Categorizing Galaxies Complete Science Lesson - New TEKS 8.9B

Everything you need for an engaging, ready-to-teach unit on galaxies is included in this resource! Students will learn to classify galaxies as spiral, elliptical, or irregular and locate Earth’s solar system within the Milky Way galaxy. With editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, and assessments, this multiday lesson is comprehensive yet low-prep.

Through differentiated, student-led activities, your middle schoolers stay engaged while you focus on student success.

Essential Questions

• What are the three main types of galaxies in the universe?

• Where is Earth’s solar system located within the Milky Way galaxy?

Aligned with 2021 TEKS Standard 8.9B

Why Teachers Love This Lesson

• Differentiated materials to support all learners

• Multimodal activities to boost engagement

• Maximum flexibility—works digitally or in print

• Editable PowerPoints to customize for your class

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

This lesson follows the 5E Instructional Model (Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration, Evaluation), giving you a structured and effective framework for instruction.

What’s Included

Engagement

• Lesson objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

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

Exploration – Student-Led Station Lab
Nine differentiated stations guide students through galaxy classification and scale in the universe:

Input Stations (absorb content)

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or experiment

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

• Research It! – Online activity with guided questions

• Watch It! – Short video with reflection prompts

Output Stations (show understanding)

• Organize It! – Printable or digital card sorts

• Write It! – Open-ended short-answer responses

• Illustrate It! – Sketches/diagrams to reinforce recall

• Assess It! – Task cards + vocabulary-in-context activity

Bonus Station – Challenge It!
Extension activities for early finishers, such as games, crosswords, and mini-projects

Explanation

• Editable PowerPoints (standard & interactive versions)

• Interactive notebook templates (digital & print, English & Spanish)

• Note-taking templates

Elaboration

• Student-choice projects on galaxy classification to extend learning

Evaluation

• STAAR 2.0–style assessments (standard & modified versions)

• Review worksheet for practice, homework, or discussion

Flexible for Any Classroom

This lesson is designed for both in-person and virtual learning. Station labs, interactive notebooks, and presentations are fully compatible with Google Slides and PowerPoint.

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.