8th Grade Earth Sciences Handouts

Unlock the mysteries of ocean currents with a unique and engaging classroom lesson that brings science to life! This lesson uses adorable rubber ducks to illustrate how ocean currents function and impact the planet. Great for visual and kinesthetic learners.

Looking for a inquiry based investigation ready to go lesson for teaching ocean currents? This activity includes...

• Google slides to go through with students.
• Student handout link
• Tips in the Speaker notes on the Slides
• Exit ticket to assess learning
• Rubber ducks!

Tennessee State Standards

• 6.ESS2.1 - Gather evidence to justify that oceanic convection currents are caused by the sun’s transfer of heat energy and differences in salt concentration leading to global water movement. 

NGSS - Middle School

• MS-ESS2-6 - Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.

Very fun and interactive activity for students learning about ocean currents and density.

Fossil formation processes can be hard (and dull!) to teach, but they don't have to be! Spark your students' curiosity and engage their creative minds with this STEM Fossil Formation Project - STEM Research Activity. This product includes everything you need to create an interesting and meaningful Earth Science summative individual or group project.

What's Included in this fun project based learning assignment?

★ Clear and easy to follow editable student directions- digital and printable

★ Exemplar student projects

★ Quick Prep Info and Instructor Directions

How To Use This Resource

★ This group research and presentation activity can be used with multiple age groups and requires 3-4 class periods to complete.

★ Use this activity as a review or introduction to fossils and fossil formation.

★ The is meant to be a group project, but can be completed individually.

Topics Addressed

★ Earth Science, History of the Earth and Paleontology

★ Fossil Formation Process Research & Presentation Skills

Nitty Gritty:

*Do your students need an entertaining way of showing their understanding of Earth Science and Fossils? With this editable and printable project (pdf and Google), students learn and reinforce important NGSS earth science concepts.

The Kicker:

This Earth Science individual and group project will be a hit with your kids! It forces students to think critically about the how our planet works and the fossil formation processes that occur. It highlights the different types of fossils and the processes that form them in a creative and entertaining way.

What other teachers have said about Super Star Science products:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Stephanie C.H. Loved it!! What an engaging engineering challenge to use in online school and with younger grades! This activity is so well explained and set up. The visuals are very clear and the instructions make it easy to use this challenge without much work ahead of time.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Laurel D. What a great resource. I was able to modify it to fit my curriculum easily. I will be using this weekly, as our school goal is to improve reading across the curriculum. I look forward to more resources from this author. Thanks!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Ann H. This is one of the most original and creative project-based lessons I have seen. Students are highly engaged in the subject matter and produce some truly amazing presentations.

★_________________________________★

Check out a few of my other science and engineering resources.

*Marshmallow Catapults

*Science Careers & Fields Research Project- "Science 'Ology"

*The Rainbow Lab- Detailed Lab Procedures Practice

*Fun Video Claim, Evidence & Reasoning Analysis Activity Middle School

Purchase a Bundle and SAVE!

*EZ Engineering Bundle

Please visit my at my TeachShare Store: Super Star Science: https://www.TeachShare.com/Store/Super-Star-Science

❣️If you and your kids enjoyed this activity, please leave me a review to get TeachShare credits to buy more great products!❣️

Be sure to FOLLOW me on:

✓ TeachShare to receive notifications of sales, new products and more!

✓Facebook for new products, fun photos and science teaching ideas!

Terms of Use: ©Super Star Science. 

All rights reserved by Kim Karper. This single user product is to be used by the original purchaser only. Please do not share this product with other teachers. If you would like to have multiple users for this document, please note that TeachShare offers multiple license options.

Includes a set of 10 questions for each of the 8 episodes from season 1 of Blue Planet. Each episode comes with a separate answer key.

Written at a 9th grade level.

Dive into the dynamic world of meteorology with the FREEBIE “The Fury of Nature: Understanding Hurricanes” reading passage, Q & A, and Note-Taking Sheets!  This educational resource offers a captivating reading passage that explores the science, impact, and fascinating facts about hurricanes.  Accompanied by a comprehensive set of questions and answers, it provides a thorough framework for assessing student understanding and encouraging critical thinking. The note-taking sheets are designed to help students organize information effectively and develop strong study habits.  Ideal for middle to high school students, this freebie is an invaluable addition to any science curriculum or classroom library.

Each Reading passage(done in the first person) also includes a Did You Know? fun fact section, map skill activity, comprehension questions and extension activities.

Women Includes:

Mary Anning (Fossil Hunter)

Caroline Herschel (Astronomer)

Sophie Brahe:(Astronomer and Horticulturist)

Joan of Arc(Military Leader/Heroine of France)

Artemisia (Naval Commander)

Hildegard of Bingen (composer, religious leader, writer)

Hypatia (First Female Mathematician)

Enheduanna (First Known Poet)

Sojourner Truth(Abolitionist)

Ada Lovelace(Computers)

Check out my other bundle of TEN Famous Women Reading Teacher's Scripts: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/WOMENS-HISTORY-A-BUNDLE-of-10-READERS-THEATER-SCRIPTS-4409951.

Earth Science color and doodle page covering the structure of the Earth

crust, upper mantle, lower mantle, outer core and inner core

INB homework test prep review activity

black and white + colored version

Credits:

Cover icons designed by Freepik from Flaticon

Terms of Use:

Purchase of this product is for single classroom use by the purchaser only. It is a violation for individuals, schools, and districts to redistribute, edit, sell or post this item on the Internet or to other individuals. Disregarding the copyright is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and subject to legal action.

By purchasing this product you acknowledge that you have read and understood the Terms of Use.

Dive into the dynamic world of meteorology with the FREEBIE “The Fury of Nature: Understanding Hurricanes” reading passage, Q & A, and Note-Taking Sheets!  This educational resource offers a captivating reading passage that explores the science, impact, and fascinating facts about hurricanes.  Accompanied by a comprehensive set of questions and answers, it provides a thorough framework for assessing student understanding and encouraging critical thinking. The note-taking sheets are designed to help students organize information effectively and develop strong study habits.  Ideal for middle to high school students, this freebie is an invaluable addition to any science curriculum or classroom library.

Looking for a ready to go made lesson for ocean density and salinity? This activity include:

• slides presentation to present to students.
• lab/demonstration directions for students and teachers
• handout for student lab worksheet

Great for homeschool or school setting! Videos are included!

Tennessee State Standards

• 6.PS3.4 - Conduct an investigation to demonstrate the way that heat (thermal energy) moves among objects through radiation, conduction, or convection.
• 6.ESS2.1 - Gather evidence to justify that oceanic convection currents are caused by the sun’s transfer of heat energy and differences in salt concentration leading to global water movement.
• 6.ESS2.3 - Construct an explanation for how atmospheric flow, geographic features, and ocean currents affect the climate of a region through heat transfer.

NGSS - Middle School

• MS-ESS2-6 - Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.

Are you searching for an awesome and realistic way to teach your students about the water cycle? Spark their curiosity and engage their creative minds with this STEM Water Cycle in a Baggie Hands-On Model Activity. This products includes everything you need for your students to make in-class, colorful and interesting water cycle models. It also makes an EZ Sub Plan.

What's Included in this fun project based learning assignment?

★ Clear and easy to follow editable student directions- digital and printable.

★ Exemplar student projects

★ Quick Prep Info and Instructor Directions.

How To Use This Resource?

★ This hands-on activity can be used with multiple age groups and requires 1-2 class periods to complete.

★ This lab that requires easy-to-access edible materials (baggies, a window, markers, hot water).

★ Use this as a scaffolded science inquiry investigation or as an introduction to ecology, weather or the water cycle.

Topics Addressed:

★ Water Cycle Processes

★ Importance of the Water Cycle

Nitty Gritty:

*Do your students need an entertaining way of showing their understanding of Earth Science and the Water Cycle? With this editable and printable project (pdf and Google), students learn and reinforce important NGSS Earth Science concepts.

The Kicker:

This water cycle assignment will be a hit with your kids! It forces students to think critically about important Earth processes. It highlights the parts of the water cycle in a creative and interesting way.

What other teachers have said about Super Star Science products:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Stephanie C.H. Loved it!! What an engaging challenge to use in online school and with younger grades! This activity is so well explained and set up. The visuals are very clear and the instructions make it easy to use this challenge without much work ahead of time.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Laurel D. What a great resource. I was able to modify it to fit my curriculum easily. I will be using this weekly, as our school goal is to improve reading across the curriculum. I look forward to more resources from this author. Thanks!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Ann H. This is one of the most original and creative project-based lessons I have seen. Students are highly engaged in the subject matter and produce some truly amazing presentations.

★___________________________________★

Check out a few of my other science and engineering resources.

*Marshmallow Catapults

*Science Careers & Fields Research Project- "Science 'Ology"

*The Rainbow Lab- Detailed Lab Procedures Practice

*Fun Video Claim, Evidence & Reasoning Analysis Activity Middle School

Purchase a Bundle and SAVE!

*EZ Engineering Bundle

Please visit my at my TeachShare Store: Super Star Science: https://www.TeachShare.com/Store/Super-Star-Science

❣️If you and your kids enjoyed this activity, please leave me a review to get TeachShare credits to buy more great products!❣️

Be sure to FOLLOW me on:

✓ TeachShare to receive notifications of sales, new products and more!

✓Facebook for new products, fun photos and science teaching ideas!

Terms of Use: ©Super Star Science. 

All rights reserved by Kim Karper. This single user product is to be used by the original purchaser only. Please do not share this product with other teachers. If you would like to have multiple users for this document, please note that TeachShare offers multiple license options.

This bundle includes a detailed 2-week lesson plan, a structured 2-week scope and sequence, and a PowerPoint presentation on hurricanes. Ideal for middle and high school educators, it covers hurricane formation, impact, safety measures, and scientific significance.

August 12th is World Elephant Day. Save the Elephant Day is April 16th. Use this information to share facts about elephants with kids. There are also several extension activities as well as links you may find of interest.

Possible Interactive Notebook Activity.

Check out my Elephant Safari Webquest: Elephants! A Webquest

Fun facts about the Rhino with several extension activities.

Save the Rhino Day is May 1st!

Fun facts about the Rhino with several extension activities.

Save the Rhino Day is May 1st!

August 12th is World Elephant Day. Save the Elephant Day is April 16th. Use this information to share facts about elephants with kids. There are also several extension activities as well as links you may find of interest.

Possible Interactive Notebook Activity.

Check out my Elephant Safari Webquest: Elephants! A Webquest

Mary Anning (1799-1847) was a famous fossil hunter. Some people gave her the title, “The Greatest Fossilist the World has ever Known.” Back in her time, the study of paleontology didn’t yet exist. Some people also call Mary, one of the very first paleontologists!

Part of my Let's Meet... Series, there is a reading passage, a Did You Know? Section, a map activity, comprehension questions and a teacher page with extension activities and key.

I have a number of similar reading passages on famous people in this series, “Let’s Meet…” including:

Caroline Herschel(Astronomer)

Hildegard of Bingen(writer/composer)

Artemisia(Female Naval Commander during the Battle of Salamis)

Sophie Brahe(Astronomer)

Enheduanna(first known Poet)

Hanno(Sea Explorer of the Phoenicians)

Agnodice(First Female Doctor of Ancient Greece)

Hypatia(First female mathematician)

Aglaonike(astronomer), Alexander the Great(famous general)

Aesop(Fable Writer of Ancient Greece)

Hannibal(famous general)

Ramses(Great Pharaoh)

Hatshepsut(Female Pharaoh)

Socrates(Philosopher of Ancient Greece)

Reading Passages:

George Washington and the Camel

Calvin Coolidge and the “Pennsylvania Avenue Zoo”

John Quincy Adams Takes a Swim

Thomas Jefferson and the Mammoth Cheese

Sojourner Truth

Santa Fe Trail: Wind WagonThomas

Revolutionary War Heroine: Catherine “Kate” Moore

Barry(Battle of Cowpens)

Enheduanna, First Known Poet in History

Artemisia(Female Naval Commander during the Battle of Salamis)

Hanno: Phoenician Explorer

Ramses the Great

Hatshepsut

Hammurabi

Alexander the Great

Aesop

Socrates

Hannibal

Hypatia: First Woman Mathematician

Aglaonike(Greek astronomer)

Agnodice(First Female Doctor of Ancient Greece)

Julius Caesar

Archimedes

Sparticus

Diocles

Joan of Arc

Phillis Wheatley

Mary Anning

Caroline Herschel

Sophie Brahe: Astronomer and Horticulturist

Hildegard of Bingen(Middle Ages)

Aida de Acosta(First Woman to Fly a Powered Aircraft)

Women’s Suffrage: The Silent Sentinels

History of Pretzels

History of Marshmallows

History of Tulips

Snowmen in History

History of April Fools’ Day

Great Wall of China

Eiffel Tower

Ayres Rock(Uluru)

Taj Mahal

Travel to Iceland

Travel to Greece

Travel to Japan

Mary Anning (1799-1847) was a famous fossil hunter. Some people gave her the title, “The Greatest Fossilist the World has ever Known.” Back in her time, the study of paleontology didn’t yet exist. Some people also call Mary, one of the very first paleontologists!

Part of my Let's Meet... Series, there is a reading passage, a Did You Know? Section, a map activity, comprehension questions and a teacher page with extension activities and key.

I have a number of similar reading passages on famous people in this series, “Let’s Meet…” including:

Caroline Herschel(Astronomer)

Hildegard of Bingen(writer/composer)

Artemisia(Female Naval Commander during the Battle of Salamis)

Sophie Brahe(Astronomer)

Enheduanna(first known Poet)

Hanno(Sea Explorer of the Phoenicians)

Agnodice(First Female Doctor of Ancient Greece)

Hypatia(First female mathematician)

Aglaonike(astronomer), Alexander the Great(famous general)

Aesop(Fable Writer of Ancient Greece)

Hannibal(famous general)

Ramses(Great Pharaoh)

Hatshepsut(Female Pharaoh)

Socrates(Philosopher of Ancient Greece)

Reading Passages:

George Washington and the Camel

Calvin Coolidge and the “Pennsylvania Avenue Zoo”

John Quincy Adams Takes a Swim

Thomas Jefferson and the Mammoth Cheese

Sojourner Truth

Santa Fe Trail: Wind WagonThomas

Revolutionary War Heroine: Catherine “Kate” Moore

Barry(Battle of Cowpens)

Enheduanna, First Known Poet in History

Artemisia(Female Naval Commander during the Battle of Salamis)

Hanno: Phoenician Explorer

Ramses the Great

Hatshepsut

Hammurabi

Alexander the Great

Aesop

Socrates

Hannibal

Hypatia: First Woman Mathematician

Aglaonike(Greek astronomer)

Agnodice(First Female Doctor of Ancient Greece)

Julius Caesar

Archimedes

Sparticus

Diocles

Joan of Arc

Phillis Wheatley

Mary Anning

Caroline Herschel

Sophie Brahe: Astronomer and Horticulturist

Hildegard of Bingen(Middle Ages)

Aida de Acosta(First Woman to Fly a Powered Aircraft)

Women’s Suffrage: The Silent Sentinels

History of Pretzels

History of Marshmallows

History of Tulips

Snowmen in History

History of April Fools’ Day

Great Wall of China

Eiffel Tower

Ayres Rock(Uluru)

Taj Mahal

Travel to Iceland

Travel to Greece

Travel to Japan