Science North's Floating Dock at the Ramsey Lake Boardwalk is currently decommissioned. Reopening is expected in Spring 2025. Please access via Paris or Elizabeth Street.

Grade 8

Classroom videos, student handouts, and offline lesson plans will be made available on the days listed below. 
 
You will be able to send these videos and handouts to your students to provide them with key concepts and activities that link to the curriculum.

The offline lesson plans provide a detailed explanation of the concepts and the procedure. You can use this to help teach the lesson. These will also be made available to students without internet access.


matter and energy
  • Density!

    Students will learn how to calculate the density of objects, and construct and calibrate a homemade hydrometer to measure the relative density of different liquids.


    MATERIALS

    Object Density:

    • Basin with water
    • Objects of different sizes / shapes
    • Measuring cup
    • Ruler
    • Scale (*There are free scale apps for Android and IOS!)

    Hydrometer:

    • Straw
    • Scissors
    • Paperclip
    • Marker
    • Ruler
    • Various liquids

    HANDOUT

    HANDOUT ANSWERS

    DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES

    CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS


  • Buoyancy!

    Students will learn about buoyancy and density while completing the Cartesian Diver experiment.


    MATERIALS

    • A plastic bottle with sealable lid (1L or 2L pop bottle)
    • A straw (alternative: pen cap)
    • Paperclips (or other small weights)
    • An elastic (alternative: paper clip)
    • Water

    Note: if using a pen cap, make sure there are no holes on the top. If it does, cover holes with tape or clay.

    HANDOUT

    HANDOUT ANSWERS

    DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES

    CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

structures and mechanisms
  • Let's Get to Work!

    In physics, the term “work” means something different than the way we use it in everyday life. In this activity, you will learn what we mean when we use the term in physics and will explore how to calculate it.


    MATERIALS

    • Heavy object (e.g. a book, large full water bottle, small dumbbell weight, etc.)
    • Kitchen, bathroom or luggage scale
    • Ruler
    • Let’s Get to Work! Handout

    HANDOUT

    DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES

    CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS


  • Mechanical Advantage of Levers!

    Learn about the three classes of levers and investigate how they help us do work by experimenting with your own levers at home.


    MATERIALS

    • 2 rulers (at least 1 that is not bendy) or 1 ruler and 1 wooden paint stir stick
    • Pencil
    • 2 plastic cups or containers (should be the same)
    • Tape
    • Many identical small objects to serve as small weights (ex: coins, buttons, legos, marbles) - something pourable like sand, lentils, or sugar may also work but might make a mess
    • Mechanical Advantage of Levers! handout

    HANDOUT

    DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES

    CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

earth and space systems
  • Drinking Water Treatment!

    Discover how municipalities treat their drinking water and create your own filtration system at home.


    MATERIALS

    • Plastic pop bottle
    • Two cups
    • Scissors
    • Food colouring
    • Earth or dirt
    • Coffee grinds or tea leaves
    • Cotton balls
    • Coffee filter or paper towel or napkin or old sock
    • Gravel
    • Sand
    • Timer (you can use one from a watch or cell phone)
    • Activated charcoal or carbon* (optional but you can get it from aquarium filters at pet stores)

    * Activated charcoal or carbon is a form of carbon (chemical) that has lots of holes within it that allows it to react or stick to other chemicals and to remove these from water. It helps to clean water by getting rid of certain chemical impurities found within it.

    HANDOUT

    DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES

    CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS


  • Watersheds!

    Understand the geography of a watershed and how the effects humans can have on them.


    MATERIALS

    • Tray (such as a baking sheet)
    • Piece of white paper
    • Water-soluble markers (4 different colours)
    • Spray-bottle filled with water

    HANDOUT

    DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES

    CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

life systems
  • What Are You Made Of? : Cells!

    In this lesson, students will learn about the cells and investigate functions and processes of plant and animal cells. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the basic structures and functions or organelles within plant and animal cells and their processes.


    MATERIALS

    • Towel or blanket or bed sheet
    • 4 pairs of coloured socks
    • 1 pair of black socks
    • String, charger, cord
    • Pencil or pen
    • Hat
    • Coins
    • Pipecleaner
    • Toilet paper roll
    • Ping pong balls or tennis balls

    HANDOUT

    HANDOUT ANSWERS

    DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES

    CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS


  • What Are You Made Of? : DNA!

    In this lesson, students will identify DNA in the nucleus. Cells are the basic unit of life. All cells come from pre-existing cells with the nucleus holding all of the information needed to make every cell in the body. Students will also explore genetic phenology in fingerprint patterns.


    MATERIALS

    Fingerprints:

    • Carbon tip pencil, washable markers or ink pad
    • Piece of paper
    • Your fingers

    Strawberry DNA:

    • 1 tbsp rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol 70%
    • 3 clear cups or small bowls
    • 1⁄3 cup water
    • 2 tsp dish soap
    • 1⁄2 tsp salt
    • 1 strawberry (frozen or fresh)
    • Small wire strainer, paper towel or coffee filter
    • Toothpick
    • Fork

    HANDOUT

    HANDOUT ANSWERS

    DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES

    CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

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