Extra Credit Opportunities

8^th Grade Science Extra Credit Opportunities

(up to 10 points each…one opportunity per quarter)

 

Ground Rules:                                                                                                                                

1. In order to complete extra credit assignments, you must have turned in 80% of your work.

2. To be accepted, extra credit must be submitted one week before the end of the quarter.

3. Incorrect extra credit will not be accepted if it does not meet the requirements as stated in the description. (Common mistakes: A full page goes from top to bottom. Please do not waste space with a large title and spaces between paragraphs; copying or stealing others’ work is plagiarism, so don’t do it…if you’re going to do extra credit, do it right!)

 

1.      Participate in the La Entrada Science and Invention Fair.

The Science and Invention Fair is a fun event that allows you to work in groups with your friends, to experiment and present your ideas. This self-driven project gives you the opportunity to be creative and think out of the box. Start imagining what you would like to discover and what friends you would like to work with. Please register your project online. All 6th - 8th grade finalists will go to the San Mateo County Science Fair. The finalist from the San Mateo County Science Fair will go to the California State Science Fair. (NOTE: This opportunity can only be used once during the second quarter)

 

2.      Visit a scientific museum.

Create a high quality poster, presentation or TYPE a two page report (double spaced, 12 point font, Times New Roman).  The project must answer the following questions:
a. What is the main field of science studied in the museum?
b. Give 3 examples of the use of scientific inquiry.
c. Describe 3 things you already knew (about the scientific subject) before you went to the museum.
d. Describe 3 things you learned at the museum. DON'T JUST LIST 3 FACTS!! Present at least one paragraph's worth of information for each thing.
e. Write 3 questions you have about the field of science or something you saw at the museum. THEN…try to answer those questions!

 

3.      Watch a movie/documentary/educational TV show (e.g. NOVA, Nature) that involves science.

Create a high quality, typed two page report (double spaced, 12 point font, Times New Roman) that answers the following questions:
a. What is the main field of science studied in the movie?
b. Give 3 examples of the use of scientific inquiry.
c. Describe 3 things you already knew (about the scientific subject) before you watched the movie.
d. Describe 3 things you learned (about the scientific subject) because you watched the movie. DON'T JUST LIST 3 FACTS!! Present at least one paragraph's worth of information for each thing.
e. Write 3 questions you have about the field of science or something you saw in the movie. THEN…try to answer those questions!
f. Identify and describe ANY false scientific ideas you saw, or "bad" scientific processes found in the movie.
    ** Be aware that there is a lot of "bad" science in many movies.  Just because it is in a movie, does not make it true or even reasonable, sometimes.  Enjoy finding the distinction!! :)

 

4.      Read a newspaper/ magazine article (2 points each; you may read up to 5 articles for a total of 10 points).

Create a high quality, typed two page report (double spaced, 12 point font, Times New Roman) that answers the following questions:
a. What is the main field of science studied in the articles?
b. Give 3 examples of the use of scientific inquiry.
c. Describe 3 things you already knew (about the scientific subject) before you read the articles.
d. Describe 3 things you learned (about the scientific subject) because you read the articles. DON'T JUST LIST 3 FACTS!! Present at least one paragraph's worth of information for each thing.     
e. Write 3 questions you have about the field of science or something you read in the articles. THEN…try to answer those questions!
f. Identify and describe ANY false scientific ideas you saw, or "bad" scientific processes found in the articles.
g. Document the author, date, and place where you found the article.

 

Here are some great websites to find current science news:

Science News - Magazine of the Society for Science & the Public

Science News for Students

DOGO News - Kids News - Science Articles

Science Friday

News ELA - Science News for all levels of readers

Cosmos Magazine - The Science of Everything

 

5.      Research the life and studies of a scientist. 

Create a high quality poster, presentation or TYPE a two page (double spaced, 12 point font, Times New Roman) report about their contribution to science and humanity. Only use 1/2 of one page for biographical statistics (birth, death, family, etc).  The project must answer the following questions:
a. What was/is the scientist's main fields of study?
b. What major contributions to society did/has the scientist make/made?
c. Any interesting or unique facts about the scientist?
d. Any problems that the scientist faced in his/her research?
e. How have other scientists built on his/her research?

f. Include a properly formatted bibliography that cites the sources you used in your research.

   Famous Scientists - The Art of Genius

(do not copy and paste your reports-- that is plagiarism. Read and summarize IN YOUR OWN WORDS!!!)

 

6.      Create a Multimedia Presentation. 

Your assignment is to create a video, audio, interactive website presentation, app, mini graphic novel, or other creative arts venue in which you research and present a science topic of your choice in a creative and entertaining way. The project must answer the following questions:
a. What is the science topic you chose?
c. Describe 3 things you already knew (about the scientific subject) before you started your research.
d. Describe 3 things you learned (about the scientific subject) because you did your research. DON'T JUST LIST 3 FACTS!! Present at least one paragraph's worth of information for each thing.
e. Write 3 questions you now have about that science topic. THEN…try to answer those questions!
f. Include a properly formatted bibliography that cites the sources you used in your research.

 

You may use an online formatting tool to help you, such as Easy Bib.

 

7.      Research and explain how scientists know what they know.   

Do you have a deep, detailed, burning question about a specific topic that we have studied? Have you ever wondered HOW scientists know what they know? What's the evidence? What kinds of observations were made? What experiments were done? Your assignment is to report in detail the story of how this topic "became science". The project must answer the following questions:
a. What is the science topic you chose?
c. Describe 3 things you already knew (about the scientific subject) before you started your research.
d. Describe 3 things you learned (about the scientific subject) because you did your research. DON'T JUST LIST 3 FACTS!! Present at least one paragraph's worth of information for each thing.
e. Write 3 questions you now have about that science topic. THEN…try to answer those questions!
f. Include a properly formatted bibliography that cites the sources you used in your research.

 

You may use an online formatting tool to help you, such as Easy Bib.