th

8 Grade

Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 145
 Physical Science
8th Grade Standard 1.1
8.Physical Science.1.1 Identify and calculate the direction and magnitude of forces that act on
an object, and explain the results in the object's change of motion.
Essential Questions - 21st Century Skills Evidence Outcomes:
and Readiness Competencies:
a. Predict and evaluate the movement of an
1. What relationships exists among force, object by examining the forces applied to it.
mass, speed, and acceleration?
b. Use mathematical expressions to describe
2. What evidence indicates a force has acted the movement of an object.
on a system? Is it possible for a force to act on
a system without having an effect? c. Develop and design a scientific
investigation to collect and analyze speed and
3. What are the similarities and differences acceleration data to determine the net forces
between distance and displacement? acting on a moving object.

4. What are the similarities and differences

between mass and weight?

5. What relationships exist among force, mass,

speed, velocity, and acceleration?

6. What is the relationship between friction

and the motion of an object?
Academic Vocabulary: Assessment:

acceleration 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, & 7. Assessments are built into

displacement the lessons.
distance
force 3. Assess the journal content for evidence of
friction understanding.
gravity
inertia
mass
motion
Newton's Laws of Motion
speed
velocity
weight
Suggested Activities/Strategies: Resources/Technology:

1. Granny on a Ramp Activity: Students The Science Queen

identify balanced and unbalanced forces,
observe the effect of various ramps on Free Clip Art
potential and kinetic energy, and determine

Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 146
 Physical Science
8th Grade Standard 1.1
height, slope, and velocity. Free I-pad Apps

2. Newton Car: In this activity, students test a Free PowerPoints

slingshot-like device that throws a wooden
block causing the car to move in the opposite Free Interactive Games
direction.
Middle School Science Link
3. Newton's First Law of Motion Activities: Multiple Science Lesson Plans
This site has several demonstrations that
Newton's First Law of Motion
students can perform. Have them explore and
then write their findings in a journal. Physics for Kids
Velocity/Acceleration PowerPoint
4. Design a Luge: By applying the physical Newton's Laws Unit
forces of friction and gravity students can Several Force and Motion Lesson Plans
design faster luges and exciting luge courses.

5. Newton's Laws: Students conduct balloon

races to observe Newton’s Third Law.

6. Force and Motion Lesson Plan: The focus

of this unit is on Newton's Three Laws of
Motion. Students discuss, explain, and
demonstrate the three laws. The culminating
activity requires students to create a fan-
powered vehicle.

7. Science of Energy Motion Introduction:

This unit introduces students to motion
(mechanical energy) through reading and a
worksheet.

1. Granny on a Ramp Activity

2. Newton Car
3. Newton's First Law of Motion Activities
4. Design your own Luge
6. Force and Motion Lesson Plan
7. Science of Energy Lesson

Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 147
 Physical Science
8th Grade Standard 1.2
8.Physical Science.1.2 There are different forms of energy, and those forms of energy can be
changed from one form to another but total energy is conserved.
Essential Questions - 21st Century Skills Evidence Outcomes:
and Readiness Competencies:
a. Gather, analyze, and interpret data to
1. Which forms of energy can be directly describe the different forms of energy and
observed and which must be inferred? energy transfer.

2. What evidence supports the existence of b. Develop a research-based analysis of

potential and kinetic energy? different forms of energy and energy transfer.

3. Is there a limit to how many times energy
can be transferred? Explain your answer.
4. In which direction does thermal energy
move?
Academic Vocabulary:
c. Use research-based models to describe
energy transfer mechanisms and to predict
amounts of energy transferred.
Assessment:

chemical energy 1, 3, 4, 6, & 7. Assessments are built into the

conduction lessons.
convection
energy 2. A working Roller Coaster design is
kinetic energy evidence of content understanding and
Law of Conservation of Energy application.
mechanical energy
nuclear energy
potential energy
radiation
solar energy
thermal
Suggested Activities/Strategies: Resources/Technology:

1. Students do an activity in which heat is Energy Audit

transferred from hot water to metal washers
and then from hot metal washers to water. Conservation of Energy YouTube Video

2. Make Your Own Roller Coaster: The StudyJams

physics behind coasters, carousels, bumper
cars, and other amusement park rides is Free Clip Art
explained here. Students design their own
virtual roller coaster. Free I-pad Apps

Free PowerPoints

Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 148
 Physical Science
8th Grade Standard 1.2
3. Bouncing Poppers: This is an activity Free Interactive Games
involving poppers and measurement of
distance. Energy Lessons from Class.net

4. Toy Car Activity: In this activity, students Renewable Energy Activities

perform an exercise using different toy cars to Science of Energy Lesson Plans
illustrate the effect mass has on kinetic and
Forms of Energy Worksheet
potential energy.
Energy Booklet
5. Share My Lesson has multiple lesson plans Energy Transfer Resource
over energy. Video on Kinetic and Potential Energy
Energy Activities
6. Conduction, Convection, Radiation Lesson:
Students consider heat transfers that occur in Energy Transfer Site
everyday situations and investigate Middle School Math and Science Portal
conduction, convection, and radiation. Renewable Energy Activities
Energy and Science Lesson Plans
7. Converting Energy Lesson: This lesson
Free Lesson Plan Page Hot Chalk
develops student ideas of what energy is and
how it can be measured and introduces them
to energy transformations and conversions.

1. Heat, Temperature, and Conduction

2. Make Your Own Roller Coaster
3. Bouncing Poppers
4. Potential and Kinetic Energy Toy Car
Activity
6. Conduction, Convection, Radiation Lesson
7. Converting Energy Lesson

Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 149
 Physical Science
8th Grade Standard 1.3
8.Physical Science.1.3 Distinguish between physical and chemical changes, noting that mass
is conserved during any change.
Essential Questions - 21st Century Skills Evidence Outcomes:
and Readiness Competencies:
a. Identify the distinguishing characteristics
1. What are the characteristics that distinguish between a chemical and a physical change.
physical and chemical changes?
b. Gather, analyze, and interpret data on
2. Is it easier to observe the conservation of physical and chemical changes.
mass in physical or chemical changes? What is
the evidence? c. Gather, analyze, and interpret data that
show mass is conserved in a given chemical or
3. What would happen if mass were not physical change.
conserved?
d. Identify evidence that suggests matter is
always conserved during physical and
chemical changes.

e. Examine, evaluate, question, and ethically

use information from a variety of sources and
media to investigate physical and chemical
changes.
Academic Vocabulary: Assessment:

chemical change 1. & 2. Use activity sheets below.

chemical property
gas 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8. Assessments are built into
Law of Conservation of Mass the lessons.
liquid
mass
matter
physical change 1. Student Activity Sheet
physical property 1. Answer Key
plasma
solid 2. Student Activity Sheet
states of matter 2. Answer Key
Suggested Activities/Strategies: Resources/Technology:

1. Chemical Reaction Activity: Students Middle School Chemistry

explain that for a chemical reaction to take
place, the bonds between atoms in the Free Clip Art
reactants are broken, the atoms rearrange, and
new bonds between the atoms are formed to Free I-pad Apps
make the products.

Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 150
 Physical Science
8th Grade Standard 1.3
2. Chemical Change Activity: Students Free PowerPoints
analyze the chemical equation for the reaction
between vinegar (acetic acid solution) and Free Interactive Games
baking soda (sodium bicarbonate.)
Reactions PowerPoint
3. Do Molecules Change Their Nature?: It's a Chemical Reaction Opener
Students observe chemical changes, identify
Physical and Chemical Reactions Activities
chemical properties, and review the distinction
between chemical changes and physical Physical and Chemical Change Foldable
changes, both in terms of the production of Multiple Chemical Reactions
new substances and changes in molecules. Virtual Lab on Physical and Chemical
Changes
4. Several Experiments: This lesson plan has
several different experiments for the students
to perform.

5. Share My Lesson: This Chemical Reactions

lesson has student activity sheets and
PowerPoints.

6. Physical Chemical Change Activity: Using

what they know about physical and chemical
changes, students place each card into the
correct category and record data in a chart.

7. Pop the Top: The students experience what

happens when there is a buildup of gas and
pressure, providing a contrast between a
physical and chemical change.

8. Slime and Goo Activities: This link

contains multiple hands-on activities to
demonstrate Chemical Reactions.

1. Chemical Reaction Activity

2. Chemical Change Activity
3. Do Molecules Change Their Nature?
4. Several Experiments
5. Share My Lesson
6. Physical and Chemical Change Activity
7. Pop the Top
8. Slime and Goo Activities

Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 151
 Physical Science
8th Grade Standard 1.4
8.Physical Science.1.4 Recognize that waves such as electromagnetic, sound, seismic, and
water have common characteristics and unique properties.
Essential Questions - 21st Century Skills Evidence Outcomes:
and Readiness Competencies:
a. Compare and contrast different types of
1. What are some different ways to describe waves.
waves?
b. Describe for various waves the amplitude,
2. What are the properties of waves? frequency, wavelength, and speed.

3. What is the difference between pitch and c. Describe the relationship between pitch and
frequency in sound? frequency in sound.

4. What are the differences among light d. Develop and design a scientific
absorption, reflection, and refraction? investigation regarding absorption, reflection,
and refraction of light.
Academic Vocabulary: Assessment:

amplitude 1. No written assessment for this hands-on

electromagnetic wave activity.
frequency
pitch 2, 4, & 7. The assessments are built into the
reflection activities.
refraction
seismic wave 3. The worksheet from the activity can be used
sound wave as assessment.
speed
wave 5. Use answers to the questions as assessment.
wavelength
6. Use a teacher-developed test as assessment.

3. Waves Worksheet
5. Waves Assessment
Suggested Activities/Strategies: Resources/Technology:

1. Use the Kinesthetic Activity to show the Share My Lesson

difference between transverse and longitudinal
waves. Better Lesson

2. Demonstrate the difference between pitch Free Clip Art

and frequency with homemade guitars.
Free I-pad Apps
3. Transverse Wave Activity: Students classify

Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 152
 Physical Science
8th Grade Standard 1.4
waves as mechanical or electromagnetic Free PowerPoints
and describe longitudinal and transverse
waves. Students examine a transverse wave Free Interactive Games
using a slinky.
Sound PowerPoint
4. Relationship between Wavelength and YouTube Video on Nodes
Frequency: The students discover and verify
Wave Demonstrations
the relationship between wavelength and
frequency on the Electromagnetic Spectrum. Better Lesson
YouTube Wave Video
5. Wave Online Activity: Students read an Multiple Wave Resources
article about waves and answer questions Wave Simulations
online about what they read. There are also
links on the properties of waves. Wave Activity
Sound Experiments
6. Sound in the Air: The focus of this unit is
sound, how sounds behave, the two types of
sound waves, and how sound waves move.

7. The Vibrational Nature of Sound

Experiment: Students explore sound
frequency, pitch, and conduction using the
string telephone, tuning fork, and musical
glasses experiments.

1. Kinesthetic Activity
2. Pitch and Frequency Activity with Guitar
3. Transverse Wave Activities
4. Wavelength and Frequency Lesson
5. Wave Online Activity
6. Sound in the Air
7. Vibrational Nature of Sound Experiment

Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 153