8th Grade: Science

Activity #2: Measuring Water Quality

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In this lesson, students complete water quality tests such as pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, phosphates, and salinity for a water sample. After following these activities, students should understand the purpose of these tests, know how to run accurate water quality tests, and see how these parameters relate to the quality of the water in an estuary.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve

Patterns of Interactions: What Relationships Exist Between Organisms in an Ecosystem?

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Students begin by brainstorming a list of ways that organisms may interact within an ecosystem. Then students will have an opportunity to share their list with a peer and with the class. Next, students will create a jot chart that will detail the five relationships that may exist between organisms in an ecosystem: competition, predation, mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. At the conclusion of the lesson, students will examine food webs and predict the patterns of interactions that may exist between and among organisms in an ecosystem.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Lesson : Renewable Energy

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In this lesson, students are introduced to the five types of renewable energy resources by engaging in various activities to help them understand the transformation of energy (solar, water and wind) into electricity. Students explore the different roles engineers who work in renewable energy fields have in creating a sustainable environment – an environment that contributes to greater health, happiness and safety.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Ocean Explorer Multimedia Discovery Missions: Lesson 11 - Energy from the Oceans

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In this multimedia lesson, students learn about energy resources that can be harvested from the oceans. Associated interactive activities include "Wave Power," where students view the wave-energy generation process, "Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion," where students examine and compare two diagrams of OTEC facilities, and "Methane Hydrates," where students investigate the conditions that affect the stability of methane hydrates.

Material Type: Interactive