8.PS: Physical Science

8.PS.1: Create models to represent the arrangement and charges of subatomic particles in an atom (protons, neutrons and electrons). Understand the significance that the currently 118 known chemical elements combine to form all the matter in the universe.

Element Builder

8.PS.2: Illustrate with diagrams (drawings) how atoms are arranged in simple molecules. Distinguish between atoms, elements, molecules, and compounds.

Element Builder

8.PS.3: Use basic information provided for an element (atomic mass, atomic number, symbol, and name) to determine its place on the Periodic Table. Use this information to find the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom.

Element Builder

8.PS.5: Investigate the property of density and provide evidence that properties, such as density, do not change for a pure substance.

Density Laboratory

8.PS.6: Compare and contrast physical change vs. chemical change. Analyze the properties of substances before and after substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred.

Chemical Changes

8.PS.7: Balance chemical equations to show how the total number of atoms for each element does not change in chemical reactions and as a result, mass is always conserved in a closed system. (Law of Conservation of Mass.)

Balancing Chemical Equations
Chemical Equations

8.ESS: Earth and Space Science

8.ESS.2: Create a diagram or carry out a simulation to describe how water is cycled through the earth's crust, atmosphere and oceans. Explain how the water cycle is driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.

Water Cycle

8.LS: Life Science

8.LS.3: Create and analyze Punnett squares to calculate the probability of specific traits being passed from parents to offspring using different patterns of inheritance.

Mouse Genetics (One Trait)
Mouse Genetics (Two Traits)

8.LS.4: Differentiate between and provide examples of acquired and genetically inherited traits.

Inheritance

8.LS.7: Recognize organisms are classified into taxonomic levels according to shared characteristics. Explain how an organism’s scientific name correlates to these shared characteristics.

Dichotomous Keys

8.LS.8: Explore and predict the evolutionary relationships between species looking at the anatomical differences among modern organisms and fossil organisms.

Human Evolution - Skull Analysis

8.LS.9: Examine traits of individuals within a species that may give them an advantage or disadvantage to survive and reproduce in stable or changing environment.

Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Evolution: Natural and Artificial Selection
Rainfall and Bird Beaks - Metric

8.LS.11: Investigate how viruses and bacteria affect the human body.

Digestive System
Virus Lytic Cycle

6-8.E: Engineering

6-8.E.3: Analyze data from investigations to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.

Trebuchet

6-8.E.4: Develop a prototype to generate data for repeated investigations and modify a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.

Trebuchet