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Notes for Teachers
I hope you will find these links useful. I have tried to select resources that either directly address the benchmarks, or that work well for supporting them. If you use a different resource from my site when you cover a topic, please click the "Suggest a video" link to let me know, so I can add it to the list. Also, if you find that one of the resources that i suggested really does not work for the topic, let me know that too.
Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science.
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SC.8.N.1.1 Define a problem from the eighth grade curriculum using appropriate reference materials to support scientific understanding, plan and carry out scientific investigations of various types, such as systematic observations or experiments, identify variables, collect and organize data, interpret data in charts, tables, and graphics, analyze information, make predictions, and defend conclusions.What is Science? video, ClosedCaptions -
SC.8.N.1.2 Design and conduct a study using repeated trials and replication.What is Science?: Repeat and Replicate video Review Scientific Process-6 practice Review Scientific Process-5 practice Review Scientific Process-7 practice Review Scientific Process-10 practice -
SC.8.N.1.3 Use phrases such as "results support" or "fail to support" in science, understanding that science does not offer conclusive 'proof' of a knowledge claim.What is Science?: Objective video I Saw It on the Internet, part two text page -
SC.8.N.1.4 Explain how hypotheses are valuable if they lead to further investigations, even if they turn out not to be supported by the data.What is Science?: Objective video Science Fair Panic, part 4 video, checked Hypothesis text page -
SC.8.N.1.5 Analyze the methods used to develop a scientific explanation as seen in different fields of science.The Right Answer video -
SC.8.N.1.6 Understand that scientific investigations involve the collection of relevant empirical evidence, the use of logical reasoning, and the application of imagination in devising hypotheses, predictions, explanations and models to make sense of the collected evidence.What is Science? video, ClosedCaptions Scientific Thinking and Creative Thought, part 3 video, checked Scientific Thinking and Creative Thought, part 2 video, checked Scientific Thinking and Creative Thought, part 1 video, checked Floating Cups video, checked
Teacher notes
You can illustrate the need for repetition and replication by using an activity such as using static charges to stick a balloon to their hair. ( Static Charges) Students will quickly see that the wide range of variables (hair length, hair type, humidity, etc.) cause different results for different students. For some, it will instantly work wonderfully, while others may need help from a hair drier, or may need to use a piece of clothing instead of their hair.
Even when researchers work hard to manage variables, there is always the possibility of one being overlooked, skewing the results. That is why repetition and replication are important. If the results vary from one test to another, that is an indication that some other variable is influencing the result.
Suggest a video or experiment from my site for this benchmark
Big Idea 2: The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge
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SC.8.N.2.1 Distinguish between scientific and pseudoscientific ideas.What is Science? video, ClosedCaptions Feeding Bread to Birds text page Fact checking GMOs text page I Saw It on the Internet, part four text page I Saw It on the Internet, part three text page I Saw It on the Internet, part two text page I Saw It on the Internet, part one text page Review Scientific Process-3 practice Review Scientific Process-4 practice Review Scientific Process-8 practice -
SC.8.N.2.2 Discuss what characterizes science and its methods.What is Science? video, ClosedCaptions Floating Cups video, checked The Right Answer video
Big Idea 3: The Role of Theories, Laws, Hypotheses, and Models
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SC.8.N.3.1 Select models useful in relating the results of their own investigations.How Does a Butterfly Fly? text page, free -
SC.8.N.3.2 Explain why theories may be modified but are rarely discarded.When Does a Theory Become a Law? text page, free, checked
Big Idea 4: Science and Society
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SC.8.N.4.1 Explain that science is one of the processes that can be used to inform decision making at the community, state, national, and international levels. -
SC.8.N.4.2 Explain how political, social, and economic concerns can affect science, and vice versa.
Big Idea 5: Earth in Space and Time
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SC.8.E.5.1 Recognize that there are enormous distances between objects in space and apply our knowledge of light and space travel to understand this distance.Sunprints video Making a Scale Model of the Solar System video, ClosedCaptions Global Science video, ClosedCaptions Sunglass Science: Birefringence video, free, Updated Sunglass Science: Polarized Light video, free, Updated A Color You Can't See video, free, checked How Far is That Planet? text page CD Spectrum text page Review Space-1 practice Review Light-3 practice -
SC.8.E.5.2 Recognize that the universe contains many billions of galaxies and that each galaxy contains many billions of stars. -
SC.8.E.5.3 Distinguish the hierarchical relationships between planets and other astronomical bodies relative to solar system, galaxy, and universe, including distance, size, and composition.Making a Scale Model of the Solar System video, ClosedCaptions Planets and Pennies video, ClosedCaptions How Far is That Planet? text page Review Space-3 practice Review Space-2 practice Review Space-10 practice -
SC.8.E.5.4 Explore the Law of Universal Gravitation by explaining the role that gravity plays in the formation of planets, stars, and solar systems and in determining their motions.Planets and Pennies video, ClosedCaptions -
SC.8.E.5.5 Describe and classify specific physical properties of stars: apparent magnitude
(brightness), temperature (color), size, and luminosity (absolute brightness).Twinkle, Twinkle, Distant Star text page -
SC.8.E.5.6 Create models of solar properties including: rotation, structure of the Sun, convection, sunspots, solar flares, and prominences. -
SC.8.E.5.7 Compare and contrast the properties of objects in the Solar System including the Sun, planets, and moons to those of Earth, such as gravitational force, distance from the Sun, speed, movement, temperature, and atmospheric conditions.Making a Scale Model of the Solar System video, ClosedCaptions Global Science video, ClosedCaptions Planets and Pennies video, ClosedCaptions Review Space-4 practice Review Space-11 practice -
SC.8.E.5.8 Compare various historical models of the Solar System, including geocentric and heliocentric. -
SC.8.E.5.9 Explain the impact of objects in space on each other including: 1. the Sun on the Earth including seasons and gravitational attraction 2. the Moon on the Earth, including phases, tides, and eclipses, and the relative position of each body.Global Science video, ClosedCaptions Why is a Full Moon So Bright? text page, free, checked Review Space-13 quest Review Space-12 practice -
SC.8.E.5.10 Assess how technology is essential to science for such purposes as access to outer space and other remote locations, sample collection, measurement, data collection and storage, computation, and communication of information. -
SC.8.E.5.11 Identify and compare characteristics of the electromagnetic spectrum such as wavelength, frequency, use, and hazards and recognize its application to an understanding of planetary images and satellite photographs.Sunprints video Sunglass Science: Birefringence video, free, Updated Sunglass Science: Polarized Light video, free, Updated A Color You Can't See video, free, checked CD Spectrum text page Review Light-3 practice -
SC.8.E.5.12 Summarize the effects of space exploration on the economy and culture of Florida.
Big Idea 8: Properties of Matter
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SC.8.P.8.1 Explore the scientific theory of atoms (also known as atomic theory) by using models to explain the motion of particles in solids, liquids, and gases.A Bouncing Water Balloon video Egg States video, checked Experimenting with Dry Ice video, free, checked Ice Cream Science video, checked Expansion of Solids video, ClosedCaptions, checked Review Matter-1 practice Review Matter-3 practice -
SC.8.P.8.2 Differentiate between weight and mass recognizing that weight is the amount of gravitational pull on an object and is distinct from, though proportional to, mass.The Difference Between Weight and Mass video, checked -
SC.8.P.8.3 Explore and describe the densities of various materials through measurement of their masses and volumes.The Pool, the Boat, and the Anchor, part 1 video Making a Density Column video, checked Density: Ice, Oil, and Water video, checked Cartesian Diver video, ClosedCaptions, checked Fish in a Bucket text page Air has Weight text page 946 photo challenge 945 photo challenge -
SC.8.P.8.4 Classify and compare substances on the basis of characteristic physical properties that can be demonstrated or measured; for example, density, thermal or electrical conductivity, solubility, magnetic properties, melting and boiling points, and know that these properties are independent of the amount of the sample.Growing Crystals Under the Microscope video, free, learnalong, checked Stale Bread video Floating Bubbles video, checked Candles in a Jar, part 2 video, ClosedCaptions, checked Candles in a Jar, part 1 video, ClosedCaptions, checked Microscopes: Growing Crystals video, free, learnalong, Updated Density: Ice, Oil, and Water video, checked Wax and Wood, part 1 video, checked Wax and Wood, part 2 video, checked Identifying Minerals video, learnalong Making Turmeric Paper video, checked Testing for Tannic Acid video Cartesian Diver video, ClosedCaptions, checked Review Matter-5 practice -
SC.8.P.8.5 Recognize that there are a finite number of elements and that their atoms combine in a multitude of ways to produce compounds that make up all of the living and nonliving things that we encounter. -
SC.8.P.8.6 Recognize that elements are grouped in the periodic table according to similarities of their properties. -
SC.8.P.8.7 Explore the scientific theory of atoms (also known as atomic theory) by recognizing that atoms are the smallest unit of an element and are composed of sub-atomic particles (electrons surrounding a nucleus containing protons and neutrons).Making a Cloud Chamber video, Updated, checked Radioactive video, Updated, checked -
SC.8.P.8.8 Identify basic examples of and compare and classify the properties of compounds, including acids, bases, and salts.Investigating Acid Rain video, checked Cabbage Indicator video, checked The Science of Rubber Bands video, checked Science and the Haunted Pumpkin video, free, checked Making Turmeric Paper video, checked Testing for Tannic Acid video Color Changing Flowers video, checked Acid Hunt text page -
SC.8.P.8.9 Distinguish among mixtures (including solutions) and pure substances.Iron Cereal video, ClosedCaptions, checked Microscopes: Growing Crystals video, free, learnalong, Updated Making Butter video, free, ClosedCaptions, Updated Fats and Emulsions video, ClosedCaptions, checked Growing Crystals Under the Microscope video, free, learnalong, checked Changing How We Look at Changing text page, free
Big Idea 9: Changes in Matter
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SC.8.P.9.1 Explore the Law of Conservation of Mass by demonstrating and concluding that mass is conserved when substances undergo physical and chemical changes.Making Butter video, free, ClosedCaptions, Updated Review Matter-2 practice Review Matter-6 practice -
SC.8.P.9.2 Differentiate between physical changes and chemical changes.Changing Colors, part 1 video Changing Colors, part 2 video Making Butter video, free, ClosedCaptions, Updated Polymers and Slime video, free, ClosedCaptions, checked Silver Pictures video, checked Chemical and Physical Changes video, ClosedCaptions, checked Changing How We Look at Changing text page, free Review Matter-4 practice -
SC.8.P.9.3 Investigate and describe how temperature influences chemical changes.Why Wet Things Don't Burn video, checked Silver Pictures video, checked
Big Idea 18: Matter and Energy Transformations
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SC.8.L.18.1 Describe and investigate the process of photosynthesis, such as the roles of light, carbon dioxide, water and chlorophyll; production of food; release of oxygen.Measuring Photosynthesis video, checked Testing a Leaf for Starch video, ClosedCaptions -
SC.8.L.18.2 Describe and investigate how cellular respiration breaks down food to provide energy and releases carbon dioxide.Yeast and Sugar, part 2 video, checked Yeast and Sugar, part 1 video, checked Calories: Measuring the Energy text page, free -
SC.8.L.18.3 Construct a scientific model of the carbon cycle to show how matter and energy are continuously transferred within and between organisms and their physical environment.Scavengers and Decomposers video, free, ClosedCaptions, Updated Secondary Consumers video, free, ClosedCaptions, Updated, checked Producers video, free, Updated, checked Primary Consumers video, ClosedCaptions, Updated, checked Measuring Calories video, ClosedCaptions, checked -
SC.8.L.18.4 Cite evidence that living systems follow the Laws of Conservation of Mass and Energy.Thoughts on Trees text page What is a Food Web? text page, free, checked Review Food Web-10 practice