Eighth Grade Lesson Plans (Page 12)

How Big is Big? Understanding Scale in Nature

Lesson Plan Grade: 6th-12th

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"He's too tiny to measure up."© 2006 Patty O'Hearn Kickham Some organisms, like whales and redwood trees, are so large that it's hard for us to picture just how big they are! In this lesson, students practice mathematics and computational thinking to create scale models of themselves, and then apply these skills to create models of other large organisms. This activity works best when stretched out… Read more

How R Naught (R₀) Shapes an Epidemic

Lesson Plan Grade: 6th-12th

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What is R naught (R₀), what factors influence it, and how does it shape the infection curves of an epidemic? Students will explore these questions and more in this lesson plan. They will then use SimPandemic, a free online tool, to model what a COVID-19 outbreak looks like in communities with different R₀ values. Remote learning adaptation: This lesson plan can be conducted remotely. Students can work independently on the Explore section of the lesson plan using the Student… Read more

NGSS Performance Expectations:

MS-LS2-4. Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
HS-LS2-8. Evaluate evidence for the role of group behavior on individual and species' chances to survive and reproduce.

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Birthday Stars

Lesson Plan Grade: 3rd-8th

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"Star" © 2014 Tom Hall Constellations have been used for centuries for navigation and time keeping. In this interactive lesson, students will learn the difference between their sun sign and their birthday stars. Read more

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Mars Opposition Dance

Lesson Plan Grade: 2nd-8th

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"The Plane of the Ecliptic" © 2017 NASA Because of the different amounts of time it take for Mars and the Earth to each orbit the sun, it sometimes may look like Mars is traveling backwards. In this interactive lesson, students will learn what "retrograde" and "opposition" means in astronomy while modeling this phenomenon. Read more

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Moon Phases

Lesson Plan Grade: 3rd-8th

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"Full Moon 2010" © Gregory H. Revera You'll be surprised at how many misconceptions you can debunk by modeling the phases of the moon with a light and a styrofoam ball! Read more

Measuring Earthquakes

Lesson Plan Grade: 4th-8th

Modeling Biologic Manufacturing

Lesson Plan Grade: 6th-9th

In this lesson plan, students will model the complex biologic manufacturing process. First, they will model the cellular expansion process that occurs in a bioreactor. Then, students will lyse the cells to isolate the proteins from the dyed cell debris. Lastly, they will model the advanced filtration process to purify proteins so they can be used as medicines. Read more

NGSS Performance Expectations:

MS-LS1-2. Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways the parts of cells contribute to the function.

Preventing Outbreaks with Herd Immunity

Lesson Plan Grade: 6th-12th

What is herd immunity, how is it achieved, and what impact does it have on outbreaks? Students will explore these questions and more in this lesson plan. They will then use SimPandemic, a free online tool, to model different levels of viral immunity in communities to understand how a population can reach the herd immunity threshold and the impacts that has on individuals and populations during a COVID-19 outbreak. Remote learning adaptation: This lesson plan can be conducted remotely. … Read more

NGSS Performance Expectations:

MS-LS2-4. Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
HS-LS2-8. Evaluate evidence for the role of group behavior on individual and species' chances to survive and reproduce.

Purposeful Packaging

Lesson Plan Grade: 6th-8th

Students will play the role of packaging engineers, exploring how to protect shipped items in innovative ways. Students will use data analysis of consumer surveys to inform the iteration of their materials and designs. Learning Objectives Students will: Design a more sustainable way of packing items for shipment. Collect consumer feedback using surveys. Calculate averages, analyze survey data and evaluate the effectiveness of their design. NGSS Alignment The 3 dimensions… Read more

Rapid Trash Assessment

Lesson Plan Grade: 4th-12th

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By conducting their own survey of an outdoor environment, students will examine a method for assessing litter, identify how humans impact the environment, and design solutions for preventing marine debris. Read more

NGSS Performance Expectations:

4-ESS2-2. Analyze and interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth's features.
5-ESS3-1. Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth's resources and environment.
MS-ESS3-3. Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
HS-LS2-7. Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.

Eighth Grade Lesson Plans (129 results)

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