Science — Grade 8

Maintaining safe water: Whose job is it?

In CareerStart lessons: Grade eight, page 5.3

In this lesson plan, students learn about careers that are involved in maintaining water quality.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)

By Tammy Johnson and Martha Tedrow.

The case of the disappearing pitcher plants

This lesson addresses the cause and effect relationship between human interaction and a North Carolina endangered plant species. A role-playing scenario allows students to view the situation from a variety of positions and to collectively arrive at a solution to the problem.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts, Information Skills, and Science)

By Eddie Hamblin.

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

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

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

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

Seal cam

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about how nature photographers have recruited Weddell seals to help them shoot film under the Antarctic ice. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 8 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

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

Pilot whales' social behavior

In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students learn about pilot whales' sociability and bonding and consider how National Geographic's Crittercam (a camera worn by wildlife to provide information about animal behavior) might help scientists learn more about ocean... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

Marine sanctuaries

Students learn about the national marine sanctuaries found in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and off the coast of American Samoa. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 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

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

Diving in to save the monk seal

In this Xpeditions lesson, students use the Internet to learn about monk seal research and an ecosystem reserve that has been established in part to protect the seals. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

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