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Eighth Grade Science Resources
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Properties of Matter | Chemistry Matters
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video and Lab *see lab in Toolkit*
In this segment, our students learn about physical properties of matter using the densities of pennies as a model.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the structure and properties of matter.
Georgia Standard: S8P1
Density Lab Results and Crush Lab | Chemistry Matters
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video and Lab *see lab in Toolkit*
Our students continue their discussion of penny densities in this segment and begin a crushing experiment to examine the different physical properties of chemicals.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the structure and properties of matter.
Georgia Standard: S8P1
Phase Change Demonstrations | Chemistry Matters
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video and Experiment *see experiment in Toolkit*
Dr. Adrian Elliott from the Fernbank Science Center joins us in this segment for a special interview, and our students discuss sublimation and deposition.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the structure and properties of matter.
Georgia Standard: S8P1
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video and Lab *see lab in Toolkit*
Homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures are the focus of this segment as well as solutions and alloys.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the structure and properties of matter.
Georgia Standard: S8P1
Separating Mixtures | Chemistry Matters
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video and Experiment *see experiment in Toolkit*
In this segment, students learn how to separate particles from a mixture while completing a candy chromatography lab.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the structure and properties of matter.
Georgia Standard: S8P1
The Periodic Table | Chemistry Matters
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video and Lab *see lab in Toolkit*
The periodic table is the focus of this segment. The students explore periodic trends as well as atomic number and average atomic mass.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the structure and properties of matter.
Georgia Standard: S8P1
Characteristics of Electrons | Chemistry Matters
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video and Lab *see lab in Toolkit*
In this segment, students build models of atoms as they learn about characteristics of electrons. They also explore how quantum levels affect fireworks by performing a flame test.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the structure and properties of matter.
Georgia Standard: S8P1
Source: Dig Into Mining
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Students become immersed in a classroom investigation to separate several materials and track them back to their original pure substance.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the structure and properties of matter.
Georgia Standard: S8P1
Source: PBS Learning Media Design Squad
Resource Type: Activity
Find out how to create and test an insulated lunch box. Experiment with the design process and conducting heat in this activity from Design Squad Nation.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the law of conservation of energy to develop arguments that energy can transform from one form to another within a system.
Georgia Standard: S8P2
Heat Transfer | Chemistry Matters
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video and Lab *see lab in Toolkit*
In segment C, students learn about thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity and see if their predictions for how fast the ice cubes melt were correct. Our host explains how heat capacity affects the earth's climate, and the students begin an experiment using samples of greenhouse gases.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the law of conservation of energy to develop arguments that energy can transform from one form to another within a system.
Georgia Standard: S8P2
Source: STEM Careers
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Students investigate the different ways electricity can be generated from different types of energy sources. They will consider the efficiency, reliability, cost, and environmental impact of each, and work together to propose an optimal power solution for a ranger station in rural Alaska.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the law of conservation of energy to develop arguments that energy can transform from one form to another within a system.
Georgia Standard: S8P2
Source: Navigating Nuclear
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Students will explore the science behind nuclear power and apply what they learn to examine actual examples of the uses of nuclear power in electricity generation, space probes, and nuclear submarines.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the law of conservation of energy to develop arguments that energy can transform from one form to another within a system.
Georgia Standard: S8P2
Kinetic Energy and Gravitational Potential Energy | Physics in Motion
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video and Practice Problems *see Practice Problems in Toolkit*
Gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy are defined and explained mathematically through multiple example problems.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the law of conservation of energy to develop arguments that energy can transform from one form to another within a system.
Georgia Standard: S8P2
Conservation of Energy | Physics in Motion
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video and Practice Problems *see Practice Problems in Toolkit*
We explore the inner workings of a hydroelectric dam as we learn about the law of conservation of energy. The difference between conservative and non-conservative forces is illustrated and we work through an example problem involving gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the law of conservation of energy to develop arguments that energy can transform from one form to another within a system.
Georgia Standard: S8P2
Graphing Motion | Physics in Motion
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video and Practice Problems *see Practice Problems in Toolkit*
We stop by a food truck to investigate three different ways to graph motion: position versus time, velocity versus time, and acceleration versus time.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about cause and effect relationships between force, mass, and the motion of objects.
Georgia Standard: S8P3
Newton's Laws Overview | Physics in Motion
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video, Practice Problems, and Lab *see Practice Problems and Lab in Toolkit*
We introduce Newton's three laws of motion as we explore what causes objects to move.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about cause and effect relationships between force, mass, and the motion of objects.
Georgia Standard: S8P3
Newton's Second Law - Part 1 | Physics in Motion
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video, Practice Problems, and Lab *see Practice Problems and Lab in Toolkit*
Newton's second law is explained as we examine the forces of gravity, tension, friction, spring, and the normal. We use an example problem to analyze the forces acting on an object resting on a surface.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about cause and effect relationships between force, mass, and the motion of objects.
Georgia Standard: S8P3
How Does a Remote Control Work?
Source: PBS Learning Media Design Squad
Resource Type: Video
See how a transmitter sends radio waves to a receiver, which turns them into electrical signals used to operate and control devices. Learn more in this animation from Design Squad Nation.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to support the claim that electromagnetic (light) waves behave differently than mechanical (sound) waves.
Georgia Standard: S8P4
How Does a Wireless Camera System Work?
Source: PBS Learning Media Design Squad
Resource Type: Video
See how a digital camera captures an image and sends it as radio waves to a receiver, which turns it into digital information that can be displayed on a computer screen.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to support the claim that electromagnetic (light) waves behave differently than mechanical (sound) waves.
Georgia Standard: S8P4
The Nature of Waves | Physics in Motion
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video, Practice Problems, and Lab *see Practice Problems and Lab in Toolkit*
Properties of waves are introduced as we explore the wave velocity equation by finding the frequency and wavelength of different types of waves. Simple harmonic motion is introduced with a discussion of spring force and spring potential energy and how that motion relates to waves.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to support the claim that electromagnetic (light) waves behave differently than mechanical (sound) waves.
Georgia Standard: S8P4
Sound Wave Properties | Physics in Motion
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video, Practice Problems, and Lab *see Practice Problems and Lab in Toolkit*
We visit a recording studio to explore the properties of sound. We explore the speed of sound as well as how our ears interpret changes in frequency and amplitude of a sound wave.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to support the claim that electromagnetic (light) waves behave differently than mechanical (sound) waves.
Georgia Standard: S8P4
Electromagnetic Wave Properties | Physics in Motion
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video, Practice Problems, and Lab *see Practice Problems and Lab in Toolkit*
We explore electromagnetic wave properties and the electromagnetic spectrum. The wave nature and particle nature of light are compared. We also examine how the wave velocity equation is applied to light.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to support the claim that electromagnetic (light) waves behave differently than mechanical (sound) waves.
Georgia Standard: S8P4
Reflection | Physics in Motion
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video, Practice Problems, and Lab *see Practice Problems and Lab in Toolkit*
The law of reflection is introduced as we learn about the difference between specular and diffuse reflection and discover the difference between real and virtual images.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to support the claim that electromagnetic (light) waves behave differently than mechanical (sound) waves.
Georgia Standard: S8P4
Refraction | Physics in Motion
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video, Practice Problems, and Lab *see Practice Problems and Lab in Toolkit*
Refraction is explained by looking into a pool and seeing Snell's law in action. We also explore the concepts of total internal reflection and formation of the critical angle.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to support the claim that electromagnetic (light) waves behave differently than mechanical (sound) waves.
Georgia Standard: S8P4
Spherical Lenses | Physics in Motion
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video, Practice Problems, and Lab *see Practice Problems and Lab in Toolkit*
The properties of spherical lenses are discussed as we learn terms such as center of curvature, focal point, and principal axis. The properties of images formed by concave and convex lenses are also examined through ray diagrams.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to support the claim that electromagnetic (light) waves behave differently than mechanical (sound) waves.
Georgia Standard: S8P4
Source: Georgia Aquarium
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Students will describe different uses for sound in the human and animal world.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to support the claim that electromagnetic (light) waves behave differently than mechanical (sound) waves.
Georgia Standard: S8P4
Source: PBS Learning Media Design Squad
Resource Type: Activity
Use a toothbrush, pager motor, and battery to build a simple robot. Experiment with the design process and circuits in this activity from Design Squad Nation.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about gravity, electricity, and magnetism as major forces acting in nature.
Georgia Standard: S8P5
Can You Get Power from a Lemon?
Source: PBS Learning Media: Science-U
Resource Type: Activity
Batteries consist of two different metals suspended in an acidic solution. Is it possible to use the acid in a lemon make a battery strong enough to power an LED? Try it yourself with our step-by-step instructions and guided scientific questions available in the downloadable support materials, or on the Science-U.org website.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about gravity, electricity, and magnetism as major forces acting in nature.
Georgia Standard: S8P5
Introduction to Electricity | Physics in Motion
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video, Practice Problems, and Lab *see Practice Problems and Lab in Toolkit*
We introduce electricity with overviews of current and static electricity. We discuss electricity's place among the fundamental forces of the universe and discuss how it influences our daily lives.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about gravity, electricity, and magnetism as major forces acting in nature.
Georgia Standard: S8P5
Static Electricity | Physics in Motion
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video, Practice Problems, and Lab *see Practice Problems and Lab in Toolkit*
We explore static electricity as we learn about charging by friction, conduction, and induction.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about gravity, electricity, and magnetism as major forces acting in nature.
Georgia Standard: S8P5
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video, Practice Problems, and Lab *see Practice Problems and Lab in Toolkit*
We look at Earth's magnetic field and calculate magnetic force to introduce magnetism.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about gravity, electricity, and magnetism as major forces acting in nature.
Georgia Standard: S8P5
Generators and Motors | Physics in Motion
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Resource Type: Video, Practice Problems, and Lab *see Practice Problems and Lab in Toolkit*
We see the relationship between electricity and magnetism in action as we learn about generators and motors at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.
Skill: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about gravity, electricity, and magnetism as major forces acting in nature.
Georgia Standard: S8P5