LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Science — Grade 8

Goal 1: The learner will design and conduct investigations to demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry.

Objective 1.08. Use oral and written language to:

  • Communicate findings.
  • Defend conclusions of scientific investigations.
  • Describe strengths and weaknesses of claims, arguments, and/or data.

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

Water quality
In Critical thinking in science, page 5
Students will experiment with water quality and several common pollutants. They will focus on their local water source and determine the effects of their actions on the quality of their water source and the organisms that rely on it. Students will design a water-monitoring plan to evaluate the health of the water source.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Science)
By Daniell DiFrancesca.
The story of pi
In Critical thinking in science, page 3
In this lesson, students design an experiment to test the importance of decimal places by rounding the value of pi. The collected data is used to answer questions and write a short editorial.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science)
By Daniell DiFrancesca.
Microbiology and infectious disease
In Critical thinking in science, page 8
Students will research the different causes of infectious diseases. They will look at North Carolina-specific data on a disease and use this information to create a monitoring plan and an eradication plan for the disease.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)
By Daniell DiFrancesca.
Introduction to experimental design
In Critical thinking in science, page 2
Students will take the Pepsi-Coke Challenge and, at the same time, learn about the scientific method. While practicing their critical-thinking skills in an inquiry-based experiment, students will define and apply experimental design vocabulary . This lesson is written using the 5E learning model.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Science)
By Daniell DiFrancesca.
Experimenting with pH
In Critical thinking in science, page 4
This lesson introduces pH, and the effect of concentration and volume on pH. Students will use common foods for the experiment, helping them to make connections between pH, real-life things, and even the relationship between pH and taste. Students design their own experiment, which strengthens their inquiry skills.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8–10 English Language Arts and Science)
By Daniell DiFrancesca.
Change over time
In Critical thinking in science, page 6
Students will use satellite images, population data, and local city data to study human impact on the environment.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies)
By Daniell DiFrancesca.
Cells
In Critical thinking in science, page 7
This lesson introduces students to organelles, cells, and characteristics of the kingdoms. Students will begin their investigation at the organelle level and work up to the kingdom level. Students will use the observations and information they gather to make conclusions.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7–9 English Language Arts and Science)
By Daniell DiFrancesca.
A case study of "A Civil Action"
In Bringing current science into the classroom, page 3
This is a short, culminating activity that can be used to assess your students' understanding of the steps needed to determine if a water source is contaminated and how it got that way, and to suggest possible methods of cleanup or remediation. Students review a portion of the film “A Civil Action” and identify the problem and the people involved. Students then take the role of environmental scientist and apply their knowledge of water and hazardous waste contamination to create a plan to help lawyer, Jan Schlichtmann, try the case.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8–12 Science)
By Michele Kloda and Dana Haine.

Resources on the web

When natural hazards become human disasters
In this Xpeditions lesson, students gain a better understanding of natural events and consider the dangers that natural hazards and natural disasters pose to humans. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
Wheelchairs
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about an organization that counts on some of the world's poorest countries to develop some of the most innovative new ideas in wheelchair design and manufacturing. (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
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
What's in a graph?
The purpose of this lesson is to help students learn how to use and interpret graphs. The graphs will be pulled from a variety of sources, and the activities ask the students to interpret graphs. The students need to start this lesson with the knowledge... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics and Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
West Nile weather
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear how hot summers can mean a higher risk for West Nile virus epidemics from an atmospheric scientist at the Illinois State Water Survey. (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 8 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Vanilla medicine
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about how a modified form of vanilla may someday help treat sickle-cell disease. (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 8 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
A trip to the beach?
Students investigate the truth behind common myths about sharks and shark attacks, learning why sharks are important members of the ecosystem. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8–12 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
Tree core models
In this Science NetLinks lesson, students make models of three tree core samples using data collected from trees that grew in the same general area of Alaska. They analyze their models and make predictions about the trees' growing conditions based on their... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Time flies
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about why people feel like time flies when engaging in stimulating activities. (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Threats to ocean life: Can marine sanctuaries help?
is lesson, from Xpeditions, provides an opportunity for students to learn about environmental problems in the oceans and how marine sanctuaries can help protect ocean habitats. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
Thought-controlled robotics
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about research into the development of robotic limbs that can be controlled by thought alone. (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
T. Rex bully
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about research into whether T. rex was a hunter or a scavenger. Science Updates are audio interviews with scientists and are accompanied by a set of questions as well as links to related science... (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science