About this resource
3 mystery-driven Science Unlocked lesson sets for middle school (grades 6-8), about 3 weeks of evidence of evolution instruction. Each set opens with a real, surprising phenomenon, builds the science one level at a time, and ends with students cracking the case in a claim-evidence-reasoning (CER) write-up.
Topics: fossils, evidence of evolution, claim evidence reasoning (CER), science phenomenon, review games.
Bundle price: $7.50 for 3 sets ($2.50 a set). Bought one at a time, these sets cost $9.
Sets in this bundle
- The Fossil Forecast (MS-LS4-1, Fossil Record Patterns). In 1999, fossil hunters began searching bare, frozen rocks in the Canadian Arctic for one thing: a fish that was starting to look like a four-legged animal. In 2004, they found it. How did they know where — and in which rocks — to look?
- The Whale’s Hidden Hand (MS-LS4-2, Anatomical Similarities & Evolution). A whale has no arms and no legs. Yet its flipper hides an upper arm bone, forearm bones, wrist bones, and finger bones, and many whales carry tiny hip bones that are not joined to the backbone. Why would a sea animal have a hidden hand and leftover hips?
- Hidden Family Ties (MS-LS4-3, Embryo Development Evidence). A squishy blob glued to a dock squirts water when you poke it. It has no head, no eyes, no legs, and no bones. Yet scientists say its family ties are a big surprise. Who is the sea squirt related to — and how could anyone tell?
Every set includes
- An editable Teacher Deck with answers highlighted and speaker notes (what to say, support and GT tips).
- An interactive Student Deck (PowerPoint + PDF) where students type, drag and rate their confidence.
- Google Slides versions of both decks, with make-a-copy links.
- A Teacher Guide with a run-of-show for every level, materials, misconceptions, answer keys and sources.
- A Student Printable in 12 pt type, plus a low-ink greyscale copy, for paper days and sub days.
- A self-grading digital activity: SCORM 2004, SCORM 1.2, a web package and a single HTML file.
- Two whole-class review games (Jeopardy-style and Trashketball), plus Kahoot! and Blooket import files with an answer key.
- Leveled lessons with "I can" targets, notes, practice, checkpoints, exit tickets, a Mini Quiz and a Stretch beyond grade level.
By the numbers
- 3 one-week units, each with 5-6 levels (about one 45-50 minute class per level).
- 3 of the 3 sets include a hands-on lab with a materials list and safety notes.
- 144 Kahoot!/Blooket review questions across the bundle.
Try the digital activity first
- Not sure the self-grading activity will work in your LMS? Download the FREE HTML & SCORM Sample and test it with your students before you buy.
Save more
- Middle School Life Science (21 sets, $42)
- Science Unlocked Mega Bundle (89 sets, $133.50)
More from Mystery Lab Learning
- See every Science Unlocked set, and follow to hear when new ones are added, at Mystery Lab Learning.
Good to know
- When a set in this bundle is updated, you get the update for free in My Purchases.
- The illustrations in these resources were created with AI image tools, and AI tools helped draft the lesson text. Every slide, answer key and lab step was then fact-checked against the sources listed in each Teacher Guide and proofread.
- Kahoot!, Blooket, Jeopardy!, Google Slides and PowerPoint are trademarks of their owners. These resources are not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
- License: one teacher, for use with their own students. Please buy an additional license for each colleague who uses it.
