Why do some structures float while others sink? How do forces determine the motion of an object? Why do some processes absorb energy while others release it? In STEAM 8, students build on the investigative foundation of STEAM 7 while thinking more abstractly, designing controlled experiments, and communicating ideas with greater precision and independence. Topics are drawn from earth science, physical science, and life science, spiraling upward from the content and skills developed in STEAM 7. Throughout the year, students strengthen their ability to analyze data, refine procedures, and construct evidence-based explanations, communicating their findings through lab reports and research papers. The course culminates in a long-term engineering challenge: designing, building, testing, and refining a cardboard boat for passengers to race across the school pool. Applying principles of forces, buoyancy, and structural design, students engage in iterative prototyping and collaborative problem-solving before competing in a spirited final race. By the end of the year, students demonstrate growing technical fluency and independence as investigators and engineers, prepared to tackle increasingly complex problems with creativity, rigor, and confidence.