If you’re searching for NGSS-aligned science lessons that go beyond worksheets and actually get students thinking, building, and investigating — this is your moment.
Khan Academy is launching brand-new, hands-on science activities for 5th grade and middle school, plus interactive science lessons and ready-to-use unit guides — all made possible through the generous support of the Amgen Foundation.
This isn’t just new content. It’s science students can experience.
NEW: 5th Grade Hands-On Science Activities
For the first time, Khan Academy now offers hands-on science activities for elementary classrooms.
Students investigate real scientific questions like:
- Where does a plant’s mass come from?
- How much energy does a carnivore need to survive?
- How do Earth’s major systems interact?
These 5th grade science lesson plans are:
- Fully aligned to NGSS
- Built around real-world phenomena
- Designed with low-cost, accessible materials
- Supported by interactive student guides and detailed teacher guides
Students model systems. Analyze data. Explain cause and effect. Revise their thinking.
Get started hereSix New Middle School Biology Hands-On Investigations
Looking for a middle school biology curriculum support that emphasizes science practices?
We’ve added six new, phenomenon-based biology activities exploring:
- Harmful algal blooms
- Population dynamics
- Genetic variation
- Fossil evidence and whale evolution
- Ecosystem health
Each investigation supports three-dimensional learning by integrating:
- Disciplinary core ideas
- Science and engineering practices
- Crosscutting concepts
Students aren’t memorizing definitions. They’re building models, analyzing evidence, and constructing explanations.
Make these part of your lesson planInteractive Middle School Science Lessons Across Domains
We’ve also expanded our middle school science lesson plans with new, interactive article-and-exercise experiences in:
Students explore abstract concepts like natural selection, heat capacity, climate change, and conservation of energy by changing variables, observing patterns, and using evidence to explain what happens.
It’s structured exploration designed to support whole-class instruction, small-group investigation, independent practice, and homework assignments — all fully aligned to NGSS.
New NGSS-Aligned Middle School Biology Unit Guides
To make implementation seamless, we’re launching new, NGSS-aligned unit guides for middle school biology.
Each guide includes:
- Essential questions
- Learning objectives
- Standards alignment
- Teaching strategies
- Misconception support
- Phenomena connections
If you’ve been looking for ready-to-use, middle school science unit plans, these guides help you integrate phenomenon-driven instruction with clarity and confidence.
Thanks to the support of the Amgen Foundation, more teachers and students now have access to high-quality, free science curriculum for grades 5–8.
