Science Skills IEP goals for middle school (grades 6 to 8)
31 of the science skills templates in the library are written for middle school (grades 6 to 8). Each opens in the builder, where the grade band is a starting point and the baseline comes from your own assessment.
31 templates · 1 skill · 6–8 · How we write and review goals
Goals by skill
Numbers are illustrative; set targets from the student's own baseline.
Science Skills Science, Social Studies & Digital Literacy
Complete sentences with unit science words
Science vocabulary
By the annual IEP review date, given 10 cloze sentences about the current science unit and a word bank of 12 unit words, the student will write or select the unit word that completes each sentence independently with at least 80% accuracy on cloze sentences, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by curriculum-based measurement probes collected weekly.
Follow lab safety steps from start to finish
Lab safety steps
By the annual IEP review date, during each hands-on science lab with a lab safety checklist posted at the station, the student will complete each lab safety step on the checklist at the right point in the lab, performing all 9 steps independently, across 3 consecutive labs, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected at each lab.
Record lab measurements in a data table
Recording observations
By the annual IEP review date, during a science investigation with a pre-made data table of at least 6 cells and labeled rows and columns, the student will write each measurement in the correct cell of the data table with its unit at the time it is taken independently with at least 85% accuracy on data table entries, on 3 of 4 consecutive labs, as measured by work-sample analysis collected at each lab.
Write an if-then-because prediction
Making a prediction
By the annual IEP review date, before a science investigation, given the investigation question and a prediction frame (if, then, because), the student will write a prediction that names the change being tested, the expected result and a reason based on something they have seen or read independently, earning a score of at least 5 out of 6 on a 3-row prediction rubric scored 0 to 2 per row, on 3 of 4 consecutive scored predictions, as measured by a defined scoring rubric collected every two weeks.
Answer questions from a class investigation bar graph
Reading data from an investigation
By the annual IEP review date, given a bar graph of results from a class investigation and 8 questions about it, the student will answer each value, comparison and results question by reading the graph independently with at least 75% accuracy on graph questions, in 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected every two weeks.
Write a CER response with sentence frames
Claim, evidence and reasoning
By the annual IEP review date, after a science investigation, given the investigation question, the class data and a claim, evidence and reasoning frame, the student will write a claim that answers the question, one piece of evidence from the data or text, and one reasoning sentence that links them independently, earning a score of at least 7 out of 9 on a 3-row CER rubric scored 0 to 3 per row, on 3 of 4 consecutive scored responses, as measured by a defined scoring rubric collected every two weeks.
Middle school science skills goals account for multiple teachers, changing classes, and more independent work. They often pair the skill with a strategy or tool, and the data can be collected across settings by different staff or by the student.
Matching data sheets
Each goal above links to the blank sheet built for its measure. These are the sheets this set of goals uses:
- Accuracy trackerNumber correct out of number attempted, with percent accuracy and support level.Used by 15 goals here
- Task-analysis checklistMarks each step of a routine as independent, with support, or not completed across sessions.Used by 5 goals here
- Rubric trackerScores each rubric criterion and totals the score for each sample.Used by 9 goals here
- Opportunity trackerRecords each opportunity as independent, prompted, or not demonstrated.Used by 2 goals here
Frequently asked questions
How are science skills goals measured across several middle school classes?
By defining the task and the observation period so any teacher can use the same sheet, or by work samples collected from more than one class. Student self-monitoring with a weekly check is common.
Should middle school goals include study skills?
When assessment shows that organization, planning, or test preparation limits the student's progress, yes. Those goals are measured with task-analysis checklists and percent of assignments completed.
When does transition planning start?
The IEP in effect when the student turns 16 must include postsecondary goals and transition services, and many states start at 14. Middle school goals can build the self-advocacy and independence those plans rely on.
IEP Atlas Pro
Turn these goals into progress reports
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Count trials, prompts, and minutes live in the session; the graph and trend line draw themselves; progress reports are drafted from your data.