Dear parents/Guardians:

This year, students taking 8th grade comprehensive science 3 are required to complete a long term project as part of their science course. This year 8th grade students will be required to put together an ABC book. Students will be required to explain, describe, identify and illustrate a topic for each letter of the Alphabet with science ideas covered in 6th, 7th, and 8thgrade. Students are to use their superlative creative ideas and vast knowledge of the content to put together the ABC book as it will also serve as a review for the upcoming FCAT exam. This project will be done individually by each student. Students will be graded based on accuracy of science content in their books, creativity of materials used, oral presentation, and a rough draft that will be turned in prior to the final submission of the project. This project will count as four (4) grades for the 3rd grading period. The breakdown of the 4 grades is explained below. This project will be assigned the week of November 5th and final projects will be turned in Early February. Final submission dates will be posted online by Individual teachers.

Grading expectations:

This project will be worth 4 grades for the third grading quarter. Students will receive one grade for the creative presentation of the book and materials used. A second grade will be assigned for the oral presentation of the project. Students are to choose 6 letters they would like to present to the class. Students must be fully knowledgeable of the content that they are presenting. The third grade will be assigned for a blueprint of the book a couple weeks before the final draft is due. Students are to sketch out their ideas for the project for every letter and illustrations of what their final project might look like along with a list of materials that will be used. The last grade will be an average of the three prior assigned grades based on the rubric.

Feel free to contact your child’s 8th grade science teacher for any additional questions you may have regarding the project. All guidelines and rubrics will be posted online on each teachers homework page with rough draft due dates and final due dates along with any other important information regarding the project.

- Sincerely 8th grade Science Teachers.

8TH GRADE

ABC BOOK

ABC BOOK GUIDELINES:

A is for AtmosphereExplain the 5 layers of Earth’s Atmosphere (be sure to include the relationship between elevation and temperature)

B is for being a scientistList all the steps of the scientific method and explain each one.

C is for chemical reactions and equations Explain what a synthesis, decomposition, combustion, single replacement and double replacement reactions is and define the terms endothermic reaction, exothermic reaction, activation energy, catalyst, and inhibitor.

D is for DNAExplain the process of transcription and translation

E is for The Energy we need!Answer the following questions: how do potential energy and kinetic energy differ? How are mechanical energy and thermal energy similar? What two forms of energy are carried by waves?

F is for fossilsDefine fossils. Draw a picture of a fossil that shows where the oldest fossil can be found in a layer of rock. What type of rock are most fossils found?

G is for graduated cylinders that we use in science!Different tools are used in a lab. Identify 6 of the most common tools used in a science classroom. (be sure to identify what each tool measures.)

H is for heredityExplain how these terms are all interrelated…. Genetics, dominant trait, recessive trait, allele, genotype, phenotype, homozygous, heterozygous, codomiance and mutation.

I is for Igneous rocksDraw the rock cycle for the three types of rocks we have studied and explain how each one is formed.

J is for joining together….Identify how bonds hold atoms together (you must use the word valence electron to explain) and explain what a covalent bond. Ionic bond and metallic bond is.

K is for Keplers lawExplain Keplers law and give a brief description of all the planets in our solar system (including dwarf planets). Draw and label a diagram of our solar system with the planets orbiting the sun in order from the sun outward.

L is for layersDiagram the layers of the Earth. Name all of the layers and write a brief description about each one.

M is for Metric SystemName the standard unit of length, mass, and volume. Be sure to Include a diagram of “King Henry Came Over For Good Soup”

N is for newtonDescribe Newton’s three laws of motion and give an example of each. Define force and describe two things that decide how much force is needed to mover an object. Describe and illustrate three facts about motion.

O is for OrganellesExplain the difference between a Prokaryotic cell and a Eukaryotic cell. Show an illustration of a typical Eukaryotic cell with its Organelles and their functions.

P is for periodic TableWhat is the periodic table? How is it organized? Write down 5 facts on the periodic table. Make sure to Show a Diagram of a periodic table and how it is organized.

Q is for questionAnswer the following questions…. What is an acid? What is a base? What is the pH scale and how is it organized? Give an Illustration of a sample pH scale and label common acids and bases.

R is for refraction and reflectionDefine and draw a picture of reflection. Define and draw a picture of Refraction. Define opaque, transparent, and translucent. Draw and label an opaque object, a translucent object, and a transparent object.

S is for states of MatterDefine Matter. Draw and label an example of each of the three states of matter. Explain how the particles are arranged in Each state and explain how water can be changed from one state to another.

T is for transferring Heat Energy. Define conduction, convection, and radiation. Explain how Each process occurs and draw an example of Each.

U is for UmbrellaDifferent tools are used for measuring weather conditions. Draw a picture and label six weather tools. Identify what each tool measures. Also be sure to explain different weather patterns.

V is for valence Electrons.Explain the Theory of Atoms. Describe Each component of an Atom and label them on a diagram of an atom. (protons, neutrons, Electrons, Nucleus, Orbitals)

W is for waxing and waningExplain each phase of the moon and provide a diagram of what the moon looks like during each of its phases.

X is for X-plain plate tectonics.Give a brief explanation of the theory of continental drift (use must use the words Alfred Wegener, Pangaea, subduction, volcano, mountain, rift valley, sea floor spreading, mid ocean ridge, and deep ocean trench in your explanation) describe the three types of plate boundaries and include a diagram of each.

Y is for Yellow.When we look up at the sun it appears yellow. Explain what a solar flare is and State 5 facts about our sun. Include a drawing with labels of the suns interior layers

Z is for zodiac signs. Zodiac signs are categorized by constellations of stars. Describe what a star is. What are stars made of? And explain the life cycle f stars. (Include a diagram of the life cycle)

Book Presentation Rubric

TOTAL Number of points: ________________

Oral Presentation Rubric Category 4 3 2 1 Points

Earned

Organization

Student presents information in

logical, interesting

sequence which evaluator can

follow.

Student presents information in

logical sequence which evaluator

can follow.

Evaluator has difficulty following

presentation because student jumps around.

Evaluator cannot follow

presentation because there is no sequence of

information.

Content Knowledge

Student demonstrates full knowledge (more

than required) with

explanations and

Student is at ease with

required content, but fails to elaborate.

Student is only able to present

basic facts

Student does not have grasp of information;

student cannot answer questions

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1

Layout of Pages

Pages include all required elements and space is used very well. Pages are pleasing to the eye.

Pages are missing 1 required element, or either space is not used well or the layout is hard to read.

Pages are missing 2 required elements or pages are hard to read due to layout.

Pages have no required elements or layout is difficult to read.

Ideas and Details

All ideas are scientifically correct (26).

Most ideas are scientifically correct.(>20)

Some ideas are scientifically correct (>15)

Few ideas are scientifically correct (14 or less)

Use of Alphabet All 26 letters of the alphabet are included and in proper order.

At least 24 letters of the alphabet are included and in proper order.

At least 22 letters of the alphabet are included and in proper order.

Less than 20 letters of the alphabet are included in proper order.

Illustration Book contains all 10 or more drawings

Book contains between 9-8 drawings

Book contains between 7-6 drawings

Book contains between 5-0 drawings

Spelling and grammar

The book has no errors, corrections or erasures and is easily read. It appears the student spent a lot of effort getting things just right.

Capitalization, punctuation, and spelling are mostly correct. (2-4 errors)

Capitalization, punctuation, and spelling are somewhat correct. (5-7 errors)

Capitalization, punctuation, and spelling make the text hard to read. (8 or more errors)

elaboration. about subject.

Delivery

Student uses a clear voice with

good volume and correct, precise pronunciation of

terms.

Student’s voice is clear. Student pronounces most words correctly.

Student incorrectly pronounces

terms. Hard to hear at times.

Student mumbles, incorrectly pronounces terms, and speaks too

quietly for all to hear.

Eye Contact

Student maintains eye contact with

audience, seldom returning to

notes.

Student usually maintains eye

contact but frequently

returns to the report.

Student occasionally uses eye contact, but

reads most information

Student reads all information with no eye contact.

Time LimitPresentation

takes between 5 and 7 minutes.

Presentation takes less than 5

minutes.

Presentation takes less than 3

minutes.

Presentation takes less than 2

minutes.

Total--

Teacher Comments:

ABC Book Rough Draft Planning Packet

Name ______________________________________________ Period: ________

Please create a rough draft for your ABC book using this packet. Each page should include the text and a rough sketch of the illustration. Each letter is worth 2 points and the front/ back cover is worth 4 points

each.

Front Cover

Letter A-B

Letter C-D

Letter E-F

Letter G-H

Letter I-J

Letter K-L

Letter M-N

Letter O-P

Letter Q-R

Letter S-T

Letter U-V

Letter W-X

Letter Y-Z

Back Cover

Student Grade Sheet

Grade # 1 (book blueprint) __________

Grade #2 (book presentation) _______

Grade #3 (Oral presentation) ________

Grade # 4 (Average of prior three grades) __________

Teacher Comments:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________