LEARN NC

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

Science — Grade 8

Goal 3: The learner will conduct investigations and utilize appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of the hydrosphere.

Objective 3.02. Explain the structure of the hydrosphere including:

  • Water distribution on earth.
  • Local river basin.
  • Local water availability.

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.

Resources on the web

Why is oceanography important?
In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students learn about some of the important discoveries that oceanographers have made and some areas that they are investigating. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
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
Water, water everywhere
In this Xpeditions lesson, students examine differences in the availability of fresh drinking water around the world. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
Rivers: Lifelines of the land
This Xpeditions lesson introduces students to river ecology and addresses the societal and environmental impacts associated with dams and their construction. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
Ecosystem Services - Water Purification
This lesson teaches students the importance of healthy ecosystems by investigating the example of natural water purification. Students will learn how ecosystems remove pollution from the water and how much it costs humans to do this artificially once ecosystems... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Contaminants in the water cycle
In this Xpeditions lesson, students review the water cycle and investigate how a region's water supply can become contaminated. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic