Middle School (6th - 8th) Archives - Greenacres Foundation

08 Feb 2025

Horses and Forces (8th Grade)

August-June

Horses motion and mass create forces that can be investigated. Students will explore different types of forces found in our equine center, such as Newton’s 1st and 2nd laws of motion, friction, and gravity.

Ohio Science Standards:

8.G.8 Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to find the distance between two points in a coordinate system.
8.G.7 Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to determine unknown side lengths in right triangles in real-world and mathematical problems in two and three dimensions.
8.LS.3 The characteristics of an organism are a result of inherited traits received from parent(s).
8.PS.1 Objects can experience a force due to an external field such as magnetic, electrostatic or gravitational fields.
8.PS.2 Forces can act to change the motion of objects.
- 8.PS.2.a The motion of an object is always measured with respect to a reference point.
- 8.PS.2.b Forces can be added. The new force on an object is the sum of all of the forces acting on the object.
- 8.PS.2.c If there is a nonzero net force acting on an object, its speed and/or direction will change.
- 8.PS.2.d Kinetic friction and drag are forces that act in a direction opposite the relative motion of objects.

Vocabulary:

mass, force, balanced, unbalanced, gravity, friction, newton’s laws of motion, stationary, non zero net force, drag, speed, direction, reference point, electrostatic

08 Feb 2025

Linear Equations (8th Grade)

August-June

From running to grazing, activities at the stables happen at different rates. Students will explore relationships among horses and their management practices to create linear equations and graphs.

Ohio Math Standards:

8.SP.1 Construct and interpret scatter plots for bivariate measurement data to investigate patterns of association between two quantities. Describe patterns such as clustering; outliers; positive, negative, or no association; and linear association and nonlinear association.
8.SP.2 Understand that straight lines are widely used to model relationships between two quantitative variables. For scatter plots that suggest a linear association, informally fit a straight line, and informally assess the model fit by judging the closeness of the data points to the line.
8.EE.5 Graph proportional relationships, interpreting the unit rate as the slope of the graph. Compare two different proportional relationships represented in different ways.
8.EE.8 Analyze and solve pairs of simultaneous linear equations graphically.
- a. Understand that the solution to a pair of linear equations in two variables corresponds to the point(s) of intersection of their graphs, because the point(s) of intersection satisfy both equations simultaneously.
- b. Solve real-world and mathematical problems leading to pairs of linear equations in two variables. For example, given coordinates for two pairs of points, determine whether the line through the first pair of points intersects the line through the second pair.

Vocabulary:

coordinate pairs, linear, equation, x-axis, y-axis, proportional, model, intersection, variable, scatter plot, outlier, line of best fit, bivariate, clustering, non-linear

08 Feb 2025

Pythagoras Horseplay (8th Grade)

August-June

There are hidden triangles in our everyday world. Students will practice applying Pythagoras theorem in equine sports, care, and management to understand how it helps Equestrians be more successful.

Ohio Math Standards:

8.G.8 Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to find the distance between two points in a coordinate system.
8.G.7 Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to determine unknown side lengths in right triangles in real-world and mathematical problems in two and three dimensions.
8.LS.3 The characteristics of an organism are a result of inherited traits received from parent(s).

Vocabulary:

coordinate plane, Pythagorean Theorem, hypotenuse, base, equation, variable, trait, inheritance, characteristics, 2D, 3D, triangle

08 Feb 2025

Equine Energy Flow (7th Grade)

August-June

Within a natural system, the transfer of energy drives the motion and/or cycling of matter. Students will design a horse farm and explore the types of energy and energy transfers to determine the most efficient management practices.

Ohio Science Standards:

7.PS.2 – Matter can be separated or changed, but in a closed system, the number and types of atoms remains constant.
7.PS.3 – Energy can be transformed or transferred but is never lost.
7.PS.4 – Energy can be transferred through a variety of ways.
7.LS.1 – Energy flows and matter is transferred continuously from one organism to another and between organisms and their physical environments.
7.LS.2 – In any particular biome, the number, growth and survival of organisms and populations depend on biotic and abiotic factors.

Vocabulary:

matter, conservation, system, mechanical energy, elastic potential energy, electrical potential energy, chemical energy, gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, photosynthesis, transform, transfer

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