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.

Material resiliency in safety harnesses

In On track learning: Safety through technology and design, page 5

In this lesson, students will test their hypotheses about the type of fabric most suitable for a safety harness.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–10 English Language Arts and 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.

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.

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

Word connections

In this Science NetLinks lesson, students will explore how ideas are formed, how associations are made, and how they contribute to learning and memory. The lesson makes reference to research conducted at the Institute for Research in Cognitive Science at... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

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

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