LEARN NC

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

Science — Grade 8

Goal 2: The learner will demonstrate an understanding of technological design.

Objective 2.02. Use information systems to:

  • Identify scientific needs, human needs, or problems that are subject to technological solution.
  • Locate resources to obtain and test ideas.

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.

Newspaper coverage of the first flight
In North Carolina in the early 20th century, page 1.8
In North Carolina History: A Sampler, page 4.6
Newspaper article about the Wright brothers' first flight in December 1903, written from an intercepted telegram sent by the brothers to their father in Ohio. Historical commentary points out the differences between the version of events that reached the public and what actually happened.
Format: newspaper/primary source
Commentary and sidebar notes by L. Maren Wood.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

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.
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.
Fire retardation and fabrics
In On track learning: Safety through technology and design, page 6
In this lesson, students will determine the fire retardation level of several fabrics.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7–10 English Language Arts, Healthful Living, 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.
Egg drop to test barrier design
In On track learning: Safety through technology and design, page 7
In this lesson, students will construct an egg catcher that will catch an egg from the greatest possible height without cracking or breaking the egg.
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.
Calculating slope of a ramp
In On track learning: Safety through technology and design, page 9
In this lesson, students build a ramp and calculate its slope at different heights. They will also test cars to see how the height of the ramp affects speed.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7–10 English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science)
By Roxanne Moses.

Resources on the web

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
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
Smelling diseases
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about how doctors are developing a kind of sniff test to screen for diseases. (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Sleuthing for a lost ship
In this Xpeditions lesson, students consider the ways in which geography is not merely an academic discipline but also a field of study with interesting and practical applications. Students will: learn about Ballard's work by exploring... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
Robotic arm
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, you'll hear about a real-life robotic arm that may help stroke victims regain control of their movement. (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–7 and 9–12 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
The pros and cons of artificial reefs
This lesson asks students to consider whether artificial reefs are good for marine ecosystems. Students will look at pictures of artificial reefs and read articles describing the pros and cons of these structures. They will conclude by writing paragraphs explaining... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8–12 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
Pottery quest
In this Science NetLinks lesson, the first in a two-part series on pottery making, students learn that the production of ceramic pottery requires detailed knowledge of the physical properties of different clays and tempering materials, as well as knowledge... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
An introduction to remote sensing
This lesson combines several resources from NASA's Observatorium to teach about remote sensing. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8–12 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Harvesting the ocean for medical science
In this Xpeditions lesson, students are introduced to two marine species, one (the horseshoe crab) that is currently invaluable in the field of medicine and another (Bugula neritina) that is likely to prove beneficial in the future. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
Extending human ability through technology
The purpose of this lesson, from Science NetLinks, is to explore how technology has been used to enhance human abilities. Students also learn something about human capabilities and limitations. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science