LEARN NC

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

Science — Grade 8

Goal 5: The learner will conduct investigations and utilize appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of evidence of evolution in organisms and landforms.

Objective 5.01. Interpret ways in which rocks, fossils, and ice cores record Earth's geologic history and the evolution of life including:

  • Geologic Time Scale.
  • Index Fossils.
  • Law of Superposition.
  • Unconformity.
  • Evidence for climate change.
  • Extinction of species.
  • Catastrophic events.

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

Stratigraphy and cross-dating
In Intrigue of the Past, page 2.3
Students will use an activity sheet to interpret archaeological strata using the law of superposition and apply cross-dating to determine the age of other artifacts.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)
Analyzing North Carolina's natural history
In Two worlds: Educator's guide, page 1.4
These two short activities will allow students to examine the changes that occurred as the earth formed and assess their impact on what is now North Carolina.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science and Social Studies)
By Pauline S. Johnson.

Resources on the web

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
The rise and fall of the mammoths
This Science NetLinks lesson is designed to help students develop an understanding of the evolution of species. Specifically, students will use web resources to explore the evolution and extinction of the wooly mammoth. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Paleoanthropology: A complex career choice
In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore the field of paleoanthropology. They consider how National Geographic Emerging Explorer Dr. Zeray Alemseged chose paleoanthropology as his career as they learn more about the multifaceted field itself. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
Mass extinction
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about a study that may cast doubt on the belief that a giant asteroid wiped out most of life on earth almost 250 million years ago. (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Fossils and geologic time
This Science NetLinks lesson helps students understand the development of the geologic time scale. It also introduces students to the major time periods in Earth's history, as well as to the role fossils play in helping us understand this history. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Fossilized dinosaur heart
Students will distinguish between ornithischian and saurischian dinosaurs and identify traditional distinctions between reptilians and mammals focusing on heart physiology and metabolism. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8–12 Science)
Provided by: Cable News Network
Dinosaur detectives
Students learn that discoveries about dinosaurs have a long history and that each paleontologist adds his or her work to a body of fossil evidence used to support theories about dinosaurs. Students will form groups to conduct research about a particular paleontologist... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)
Provided by: Discovery Channel School
Crocs, then and now
Students investigate the geographical distributions, habitats, and other features of modern crocodilians and the so-called SuperCroc (Sarcosuchus imperator). Students will consider the things they can learn about one species by studying the other. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8–12 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic