8th Grade Pre-AP Science
End-Of-Year Project
Project Idea Guidelines
Group Brainstorming Session(s)
1.
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5.
You may have up to three people per group. Melka pre-AP students
only in 2nd, 4th or 5th period. As always, you may choose to work alone.
You will select ONE experimental question from slides #6-7 to
investigate further OR you may choose your own testable question. If
you choose your own question, it must relate to concept(s) learned in
6th, 7th, or 8th grade science.
Once you decide on a topic, you will conduct background research
over it. Then, you’ll design an experiment, conduct the experiment,
collect your data, analyze it, and write a conclusion.
Your entire project will be recorded in a formal lab report. There is a
template you will follow – just open it in Microsoft Word and fill in
your information. The instructions for each section are noted on the
template.
You will turn in ONE formal lab report per group no later than Friday,
May 29, 2015.
Project Idea Guidelines
Group Brainstorming Session(s)
6. Your group is responsible for purchasing/getting supplies. If you
need to use any of the school’s science equipment for your
experimentation, you must do so AT school. NO equipment will be
checked out to you to conduct testing at home.
7. Keep the overall experiment short as you’ll only have about 10 days
to research, design, test, collect data, and prepare your final lab
report. Important dates to remember: 5/15 (athletics field trip),
5/19 (8th grade field trip).
8. You must complete sections I. through IV. on the formal lab report
template BEFORE you begin your experiment.
9. This project will result in two major summative assessment grades.
Keep up with deadlines, requirements, etc. as your group members
are counting on you.
Concepts & Labs in 8th Grade Science
1.
Chemistry
 Atoms (Rutherford Lab, Atomic Models)
 Periodic Table (Periodic Table Trends demos)
 Chemical Reactions (H Gas Lab, Endo/Exothermic Lab – Precipitate
Formation, Flame Test Lab, Chemical Reaction in Bag Lab, Peroxidase
Lab)
 Chemical Equations / Balancing (Law of Conservation of Matter)
2. Physics
 Balanced/Unbalanced Forces (Types of Forces Demos, Tug-of-War,
Arm Wrestling, Chair Push)
 Newton’s Laws (Car Crash Lab, Sling Shot Lab, Rockets)
 Speed, Velocity, Acceleration (Sling Shot Lab, Speed Challenge Lab,
Motion Sensor Lab)
3. Geology
 Plate Tectonics (Plate Tectonics Lab, Simulating Plasticity Lab,
Convection Currents Lab)
 Topography (Play-Doh Mountain, Topographic Model Lab, Chemical &
Mechanical Weathering)
Concepts & Labs in 8th Grade Science
4. Meteorology
 Oceans / Air Movement (Oceans Currents Labs)
 Weather Maps, Symbols, and Plots (Weather Station Plots Lab)
 Oceans / Hurricanes
5. Astronomy
 Earth – Space Cycles & Seasons (Seasons Models, Sunlight
Angles, Rotation/Revolution)
 Lunar Cycle & Tides (Moon Phases Labs)
 Electromagnetic Waves (EM Spectrum, Wave Demos,
Spectroscopy Lab)
 Universe (Theories of Origin and Parts)
6. Ecology
 Relationships in Ecosystems (Competition, Predation,
Symbiosis)
 Food Chains / Webs
 Effects of Environmental Change
 Human Impact on Water (Water Pollution)
Possible Testable Questions
Your group does NOT have to use one of these questions. You may decide on
your OWN testable question. Just make sure whatever you decide to do,
it’s something that you are capable (and have the supplies) to actually
test!
Note: If you decide you want to test with Chia plants, the seeds can be purchased at a grocery store (e.g.
Kroger). Chia plants are FAST growing and great to use in such a short time period.
1.
How does decreasing the temperature affect the growth of a Chia plant ?
2.
Does music affect the growth rate of a Chia plant?
3.
What is the effect on a Chia plant’s growth when it’s exposed to different colored light?
4.
How do different types of fertilizers (natural vs. man-made) affect the growth of Chia plants?
5.
What is the effect on a Chia plant’s growth when sugar (or salt) is added to the water?
6.
What is the effect on a Chia plant’s growth when grown in soil vs. paper towels (or another growth
medium)?
7.
What effect does soap in water have on the growth of a Chia plant?
8.
What is the effect of salt on the evaporation rate of water?
9.
What is the effect of candle color on the rate at which it melts?
10. What is the effect of decreasing the temperature of a magnet on its ability to attract metal?
11. What is the effect of gender on reaction times?
12. What is the effect of age on reaction times?
13. How does the brand (or type) of soda affect the rate at which your teeth (bone) decay?
14. How does sugar or salt mixed in water affect the rate at which ice melts?
15. How does sugar or salt mixed in water affect the rate at which water freezes?
16. How does listening to music affect one’s ability to __________________________ (decide on a task
– such as driving, playing a game, etc.).
17. What is the effect of different solvents (e.g. water, alcohol, vinegar, detergent) on permanent
(Sharpie) markers?
Possible Testable Questions
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What is the effect of air temperature on how long soap bubbles last?
Does the color of plastic wrap affect the rate of water evaporation?
How does the shape of an ice cube affect how quickly it melts?
What is the effect of soda brand on how much soda spews out when the can is shaken
__________ number of times?
What is the effect of diaper brand on the amount of water it can absorb?
What is the effect of changing/removing ________ (list specific ingredient) when baking
brownies? (or baking a cake/bread)
How is a person’s heart rate affected while holding his/her breath for ___ seconds?
What is the effect on the ripening of fruit when stored in a sealed bag vs. stored outside of a
bag?
What is the effect of dishwashing detergent brand and the production of bubbles?
What is the effect of fruit type to the percentage of water it contains? (Which fruit contains
the most water?)
What is the effect on oobleck viscosity (thickness) when comparing water to other liquids?
Can soda affect the rate at which meat dissolves?
What is the effect on water’s surface tension when salt/sugar is added to it?
What is the effect on water’s surface tension when soap is added to it?
Does a magnetic field have an effect on how water flows through a narrow passage?
Does the shape of the parachute affect the speed at which an egg falls?
Does the angle of windmill blades affect its speed of rotation?
How does the type of surface of an inclined plane affect the speed of an object rolling down
it?
Project Summary
Your final formal lab report is due
Friday, May 29, 2015! You only need
to submit ONE formal lab report
per group.
Use the formal lab report template
I provide and just fill it in with your
information!
Helpful Links…
Formal Lab Report Template
(Google Doc)
Formal Lab Report Rubric (I’ll use
this when I grade it.)