Learning Resources — Dr. Ijezie's Science Website

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Study Habits & Homework Help

Build the routines that lead to success

1

Create a "No-Phone Zone"

Designate a specific time and place for homework free from phones, TV, and games. Research shows even having a phone visible reduces focus by up to 20%.

2

Ask Questions, Don't Give Answers

Instead of solving the problem, ask: "What does the question ask?" or "Where in your notes could you find a clue?" This builds critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

3

Break Big Projects Down

Help your child divide large assignments into smaller steps with a checklist. "Read the chapter" becomes: skim headings, read section 1, take 3 notes, read section 2, etc.

4

Sunday Night Calendar Check

Spend 5 minutes each Sunday looking at the class calendar together. Knowing what's ahead reduces anxiety and prevents last-minute scrambles.

5

The Pomodoro Technique

Study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After 4 rounds, take a longer 15-minute break. This method prevents burnout and keeps focus sharp.

6

Teach It Back

Ask your child to explain what they learned today. Teaching a concept to someone else is one of the most powerful ways to solidify understanding — scientists call it the "protege effect."

7

Use Note Studio

Our class uses Note Studio — 12 structured note-taking templates (Cornell, Outline, Mind Map, Lab Notebook, Feynman, SQ3R, and more). Ask to see their notes weekly and which template they chose for each subject!

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Science at Home

Easy experiments and activities using household items

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Kitchen Chemistry

Mix baking soda + vinegar to explore chemical reactions. Have your child predict what will happen, observe, and explain why — just like in class!

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Thermal Energy Hunt

Challenge your child to find examples of conduction, convection, and radiation around the house. A metal pan on the stove? Conduction. Hot air rising? Convection!

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Backyard Ecosystem Map

Go outside and map the food web in your yard. What eats what? How does energy flow from the sun to the grass to the grasshopper to the bird?

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Water Cycle in a Bag

Seal water + blue food coloring in a zip-lock bag and tape it to a sunny window. Watch evaporation, condensation, and precipitation happen in real time!

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Plate Tectonics with Graham Crackers

Float graham crackers on frosting to model convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries. Delicious AND educational.

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Force & Motion Ramps

Build ramps from books and roll different objects. Predict which goes farthest! Explore friction by changing surfaces (carpet vs tile vs wax paper).

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Free Online Tools

Trusted websites and apps for extra practice

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CK-12

Free textbooks, videos, and practice exercises aligned to 7th grade science standards.

Visit CK-12 →

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Khan Academy

World-class science lessons with videos, quizzes, and progress tracking — completely free.

Visit Khan Academy →

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PhET Simulations

Interactive science simulations from CU Boulder. Perfect for exploring force, energy, and waves visually.

Visit PhET →

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Quizlet

Create flashcards for science vocabulary or find sets already made by other 7th grade students.

Visit Quizlet →

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National Geographic Kids

Engaging articles, videos, and quizzes on animals, ecosystems, earth science, and space.

Visit NatGeo Kids →

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NASA Kids' Club

Explore the solar system, rockets, and space science through games and interactive activities.

Visit NASA Kids →

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Crash Course Kids (YouTube)

Fun, animated science videos that break down complex topics into 5-10 minute episodes.

Watch on YouTube →

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BrainPOP

Animated educational videos with quizzes on every science topic. Some content is free; school may have a subscription.

Visit BrainPOP →

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IXL Science

Standards-based practice questions with immediate feedback. Great for targeted review.

Visit IXL →

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"The Martian" (Classroom Ed.)

Andy Weir

An astronaut uses science to survive on Mars. Problem-solving at its finest!

Space & Survival

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"The House of the Scorpion"

Nancy Farmer

A gripping tale about cloning, identity, and ethics in a future world.

Science & Ethics

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"The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind"

William Kamkwamba

A true story of a boy who built a windmill to save his village. Engineering + resilience.

Engineering & Hope

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"Hatchet"

Gary Paulsen

A boy survives alone in the wilderness using observation and resourcefulness.

Survival & Nature

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"A Wrinkle in Time"

Madeleine L'Engle

A classic that blends physics, space travel, and the power of love.

Physics & Adventure

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"Hidden Figures" (Young Readers)

Margot Lee Shetterly

The true story of Black women mathematicians who helped NASA land astronauts on the moon.

STEM & History

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Dinner Table Science

Conversation starters to get your child talking about science

You don't need to know the answers — the goal is curiosity! Ask one of these at dinner and watch your child light up.

If you could live on any planet in our solar system (besides Earth), which would you choose and why?

What's one thing you learned in science this week that surprised you?

If you had to design a bridge using only spaghetti and marshmallows, what shape would be strongest?

Why do you think some animals can see in the dark but humans can't? What would you need to change about our eyes?

What would happen to life on Earth if all the bees disappeared tomorrow?

If heat always moves from hot to cold, why does a thermos keep hot things hot AND cold things cold?

What's the difference between weather and climate? Can you explain it to grandma?

If you discovered a new element, what would you name it and what would its superpower be?

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Test Prep Strategies

Help your child study smarter, not harder

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Start 3 Days Before, Not the Night Before

Cramming doesn't work for science. Spread studying over 3 short sessions (20-30 min each) for much better retention. The brain needs sleep to consolidate memories!

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Review Notes First (Cornell method)

If your child used the Cornell template in Note Studio, cover the right column and quiz using the left-column questions. This is exactly how Cornell is designed to work — built-in self-testing! Works similarly with the SQ3R and Feynman templates.

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Play the Arcade Games

Our Scientist's Arcade has games for every chapter. Playing games is one of the most effective (and fun) ways to review — it's practice without the pressure!

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Watch a Review Video

Sometimes hearing it explained a different way clicks. Try Khan Academy or Crash Course for the topic they're studying — even 10 minutes helps.

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Be the Student

Ask your child to teach YOU the material. "Explain plate tectonics to me like I'm 5." If they can teach it, they know it.

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Social-Emotional Wellbeing

Supporting the whole child, not just academics

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Normalize Struggle

Science is hard! When your child is frustrated, say: "This is your brain growing. Struggle means learning is happening." Avoid "You're so smart" — praise effort instead.

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Protect Sleep

Middle schoolers need 8-10 hours of sleep. A well-rested brain learns 40% more effectively. Set a "screens off" time 30 minutes before bed.

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Fuel the Brain

A balanced breakfast improves test scores by up to 17%. Protein + complex carbs (eggs + toast, yogurt + granola) beat sugary cereals every time.

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Growth Mindset Language

Replace "I can't do this" with "I can't do this yet." The word "yet" is powerful — it tells the brain that ability grows with effort.

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Stay Connected

Ask open-ended questions: "What was the best part of your day?" instead of "How was school?" (which always gets "fine"). Connection reduces anxiety.

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Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection

Did they go from a 62 to a 74? That's growth! Celebrate the improvement, not just the A. Progress builds intrinsic motivation.

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Resources on This Site

Tools we've built for your child's success

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Scientist's Arcade

Educational science games for every chapter. Play, learn, and compete on the Hall of Fame leaderboard!

Play Now →

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Hall of Fame

See how your child ranks against their classmates. Period vs Period battles and global leaderboards!

View Scores → NEW

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Note Studio

12 structured note-taking templates (Cornell, Outline, Mind Map, Lab Notebook, and more). Ask your child to show you which template they use for which subject!

Explore Studio →

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