8^th GRADE SCIENCE CURRICULUM

We have an integrated science program for the Middle School. Our 8th grade curriculum content is broken down as follows: 50% Physical Science, 40% Earth Science, and 10% Life Science concepts to be covered. We are working closely with the 7th grade teachers for a more coordinated scope and sequence in which we build on higher level skills after the introduction of the topics in 7th grade.

Our basic scope is as follows:                                                           

 I. Physical Science (Physics and Chemistry) 

    a. Atoms

    b. Periodic table

    c. Fusion/fission

    d. isotopes

    e. electrical properties of matter and thermal conductivity

    f. magnetism and electricity

    g. chemical reactions

               1. molecules

               2. compounds

               3. atoms

               4. changes

   h. Newton’s Laws

               1. action/reaction—review 3

               2. at rest/in motion—1

               3. acceleration=mass + force—2

 II. Earth and Space Systems (Geology, Meteorology, Astronomy)

      a. Plate Tectonics

      b. earthquakes

      c. volcanoes

      d. geologic time

      e. energy resources

      f. atmosphere, air pressure, catastrophic storms,

      g. astronomy- stars, galaxies, history of universe, and

 III. Biology (Ecological Cyles)

    a. carbon cycle

    b. hydrogen cycle

    c. water cycle

    d. ecology—predator/prey, limiting factors

 III. Nature of Science (Scientific Method, Classification, Metrics)

    a. scientific method and all that goes with it

    b. systems as part of a whole system—chemical attributes

    c. classification with periodic table

    d. use of models

    e. changes of matter—

    f. metric usage

    g. debate alternative explanations—environmental issues

Susan Augustyn  Room 31