When choosing science books for middle school, I like a good mix of textbooks and living books. Also, look at my page How to Successfully Homeschool Middle School for more ideas.
Besides choosing the right science books for your middle school kid can feel overwhelming, biology here, physics there, and suddenly you’re drowning in options. However, with the right mix of engaging reads, hands-on resources, and go-to references, science can become one of the most exciting parts of your homeschool.
Additionally, science doesn’t have to be intimidating. With the right resources, students can feel confident exploring everything from microscopic cells to distant galaxies. The goal isn’t just to cover content, it’s to encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love for discovering how the world works.
And as with the rest of homeschooling, science should be taught to your child’s learning style and interests to have the most significant impact.
For example, this might mean including science comics (yes, they have those), a Minecraft-themed science notebook, AND a textbook on human anatomy and physiology.
Too, this guide will help you understand what science topics are typically taught in middle school and how different types of books-from textbooks to living books-can support your child’s growing curiosity.
WHAT SCIENCE IS USUALLY TAUGHT IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Next, middle school is a time when students move from simple observation to deeper investigation. Many curricula cycle through the major branches of science during grades 6–8, providing students with a foundation in several topics.
Let’s break those down and see what is generally taught in 6th-8th grade.
Earth & Space Science- This branch taps into big, awe-inspiring questions and natural systems.
Topics often include:
- Earth’s layers and plate tectonics
- Rocks, minerals, and soil
- Weather vs. climate
- Water cycle
- Oceans and marine life
- Sun, Moon, and planets
- Stars, galaxies, and the universe
Earth and space science gives middle school kids a sense of scale, how enormous the universe is, yet how precisely our planet is designed.
Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics Foundations)- This is usually the most “hands-on” science for middle school.
Topics often include:
- Matter and its states
- Atoms, molecules, and introductory chemistry
- Chemical reactions
- Forces and motion
- Simple machines
- Energy forms (light, heat, sound, electrical)
- Newton’s laws
Physical science introduces cause and effect, helping students understand why things behave the way they do.
Scientific Inquiry & the Nature of Science
Topics often include:
- Drawing conclusions
- Asking questions and defining problems
- Forming hypotheses
- Designing experiments
- Collecting and analyzing data
MORE MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOK LISTS
- 3 Tips for Raising Homeschooled Middle School Book Lovers
- 11 Best Science Fiction Books For Middle Schoolers
- How to Put Together a Middle School Nature Study With Book List
- Free Middle School Science Curriculum and Magazines
- Human Body Books for Middle and High School Homeschooled Kids
MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE BOOKS
Finally, look at these fun books I’ve rounded up.
10 Science Books for Middle School
While not an exhaustive list, here is a good start on all three types of books to fill your bookshelves and offer your 6-8th graders brain food.
The BIG FAT NOTEBOOK™ series is built on a simple and irresistible conceit—borrowing the notes from the smartest kid in class. There are five books in all, and each is the only book you need for each main subject taught in middle school: Math, Science, American History, English Language Arts, and World History. Inside the reader will find every subject’s key concepts, easily digested and summarized: Critical ideas highlighted in neon colors. Definitions explained. Doodles that illuminate tricky concepts in marker. Mnemonics for memorable shortcuts. And quizzes to recap it all.
What melts in your mouth and not in your hands, plumps when youcook it, and comes in more than forty-eight scrumptious flavors?Give up? The correct answer is: Science!With The Science Chef you'll learn loads of basic science by doingfun, easy-to-perform cooking projects. And you get to eat theresults when you're finished!Why do onions make you cry? How does yeast make bread rise? Whatmakes popcorn pop, whipped cream frothy, and angel food cakefluffy? You'll discover the scientific answers to these and dozensof other tasty mysteries when you prepare kid-tested recipes foreverything from Cinnamon Toast and Basic Baked Potatoes toStromboli Pizzoli and Monkey Bread.Whether you're a beginner or an experienced cook, you can become agreat Science Chef. All 100 experiments and recipes require onlycommon ingredients and standard kitchen utensils. And The ScienceChef includes rules for kitchen safety and cleanup, plus a completenutrition guide.
Learn how the microwave oven works, conduct experiments with static electricity, and discover the truth about toast!
Science is vital for every inhabitant of today’s world, and being scientifically informed and literate is a crucial part of any child’s education. Science can seem daunting –- especially as scientific knowledge advances so quickly –- and this volume is the perfect purchase for any family. It will bear repeated use by all the family from 10+ through the teenage years.Fully updated for this new 4th edition with the very latest facts and data; clear text and more than 1000 photos and illustrations will inform and amaze.
Learning is an adventure both inside and outside of the classroom with the How to Survive Middle School study guide series!These colorful, highly visual books cover all the essential info kids need to ace important middle school classes. Large topics are broken down into easy-to-digest chunks, and reflective questions help kids check understanding and become critical thinkers.Written by middle school teachers and vetted by curriculum experts, thisseries is the perfect school supplement or homeschool resource—and a great way to help create independent learners.
Get ready to play (and learn) with your food! Discover the truth about the problems with plastic and recycling, learn how to read the periodic table, conduct experiments with soda rockets, and more.The Chemistry of Cola uses applied science for a fun and interactive approach to learning for the whole family.
7 Subject Science Portfolio - Minecraft & The Real World: Ages 10 to 17 - Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Meteorology, Physics, Technology and Zoology ... Homeschooling Workbooks by Thinking Tree)
Your guide to the gut is a friendly bacterium who will take you on a journey beyond imagination. Uncover how food is transformed into nutrients! Explore strange and dangerous glands! Behold the wonders of saliva, mucus, and vomit! Writer Jason Viola and illustrator Andy Ristaino provide a trip to the toilet you will never forget!Every volume of Science Comics offers a complete introduction to a particular topic―dinosaurs, the solar system, volcanoes, bats, robots, and more! Whether you're a fourth grader doing a natural science unit at school or a thirty-year-old with a secret passion for airplanes, these graphic novels are for you!
The Stargazers Guide to the Night Sky offers everything you need to explore the remarkable beauty of the stars, moon, and planets. Dr. Jason Lisle, a research scientist with a masters and Ph.D. in astrophysics provides a very thorough, practical and easy to read resource to fuel the curiosity of amateur astronomers ages 10 to 100.
- Understand how the eye works to enhance your views of the night sky
- Study the 150 stunning, full-color star charts to learn the names and placement of constellations
- Discover how to observe the galaxies with the naked eye
- Learn how to choose and use a telescope
- Investigate the celestial motions and events
- Learn best practices for astrophotography
These simple tips and tricks from Dr. Lisle will make your stargazing sessions go from mediocre to spectacular. The Stargazers Guide to the Night Sky is the size of a hardcover textbook, boasting 240 glossy pages of education for the hobby astronomer or science student. This resource is excellent for the family, couples, or individuals who like to learn and explore
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