Science — Grade 8

Vehicle safety features

In On track learning: Safety through technology and design, page 4

In this lesson, students will learn about car safety features and apply some of their new knowledge as they continue with their car designs.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–10 Science)

By Roxanne Moses.

Paint lab

In On track learning: Safety through technology and design, page 8

In this lab, students create colors for their car designs. Students must precisely record the formula for their color creations so that others could replicate the color exactly.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–9 Visual Arts Education and Science)

By Roxanne Moses.

On your mark

In On track learning: Safety through technology and design, page 1

In this lesson, students will get organized for the rest of the lessons in the On Track Learning unit. They will learn about the requirements for the car design, form into teams, and decide on member roles.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8–10 Science)

By Roxanne Moses.

Egg transport vehicle

In On track learning: Safety through technology and design, page 2

In this lesson, students will learn about car design features that help to protect passengers in a crash. They will transfer this knowledge to their car designs as they continue working as a group.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–10 Science)

By Roxanne Moses.

Designing for speed and distance

In On track learning: Safety through technology and design, page 3

In this lesson, students will learn about factors engineers must balance when designing a car. Students will find that not only must engineers consider the actual car design, but also road design and fuel limitations. Students will apply some of their new knowledge as they continue to work on their own car designs.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8–10 Science)

By Roxanne Moses.

Car tests

In On track learning: Safety through technology and design, page 11

In this culminating lesson, student will test their car designs for safety and either speed or distance. They will evaluate their success at working as a team and consider what changes they'd make if they did the project all over again.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–10 Science)

By Roxanne Moses.

Resources on the web

What's my hypothesis?

In this Science NetLinks lesson, students explore how descriptive epidemiological clues can be used to make educated guesses as to what might be the cause of a disease. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Mummy's curse

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about a scientific investigation that tested the Egyptian legend of the mummy's curse. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Introducing static electricity

Students perform simple experiments creating static electricity. They will demonstrate how opposite charges attract each other and like charges repel each other. Then students will explore a website that further explains these concepts. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–12 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Introducing atoms

In this lesson from Science NetLinks, students will be asked to review websites to learn about the atom's basic structure and the positive and negative charges of its subparticles. This is the first of a series of four lessons about static electricity. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–12 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

How scientists study aging

In this lesson, students will explore a website to learn how scientists are studying the relationship between aging and caloric restriction. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Cell phones & driving

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about how cell phones could cause tunnel vision in drivers. Research indicates that when someone is talking on a phone, their vision narrows considerably. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Bioluminescence: Living light

In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students learn about bioluminescent creatures and the underwater world in which they live. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

Asymmetry and aggression

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about a study that has found a link between aggression and body symmetry that may go back to the womb. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science