Grade 08 Science - EC: S8.A.3.1.1

Continuum of Activities

The list below represents a continuum of activities: resources categorized by Standard/Eligible Content that teachers may use to move students toward proficiency. Using LEA curriculum and available materials and resources, teachers can customize the activity statements/questions for classroom use.

This continuum of activities offers:

Instructional activities designed to be integrated into planned lessons
Questions/activities that grow in complexity
Opportunities for differentiation for each student’s level of performance

Grade Levels

8th Grade

Course, Subject

Science

Related Academic Standards / Eligible Content

S8.A.3.1.1 S8.A.3.1.1

Describe a system (e.g., watershed, circulatory system, heating system, agricultural system) as a group of related parts with specific roles that work together to achieve an observed result.

Activities

Define a system.
List 3 examples of systems you encounter each day.

Draw a model of one of your body systems. Write a paragraph to summarize how at least 5 of its parts work together.

If a heating system fails, a technician can easily fix the problem. However, if a watershed system is interrupted, the consequences would affect populations of plants, animals, and humans. Explain one consequence that an interruption in a watershed’s system could have and discuss two possible solutions.

Answer Key/Rubric

A system is a set of things that are connected to form a whole and work together to perform a function.
Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
- A car
- A heating system
- An air conditioning system
- An oven
- A computer
- A microwave
- Body systems

Student should accurately model the body system they have chosen.
Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
- Circulatory system: Your heart acts as the motor for your circulatory system. You red blood cells carry nutrients and oxygen to your different body part. Your white blood cells help your body fight infection. Blood travels away from your heart through arteries and back to your hearty through veins.
- Digestive system: Digestion starts in your mouth. Your tongue, teeth, and saliva help break down your food. The chewed food travels down your esophagus to your stomach where it is mixed with stomach acid. Then it travels to your small intestine where nutrients are absorbed. Then, in the large intestine, water is absorbed. Finally, any waste products exit the body through the anus as feces.

Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
- Flooding: build a dam; create better drainage systems
- Loss of food sources: plant young trees, bushes, and grasses; release young animals
- Loss of habitat: plant young trees, bushes, and grasses; protect area until these plants are able to act as shelter for animals