Science – Grade 8 Earth Science

District 2853

Month

Content

Performance Standards Addressed

Skills for Student Achievement

Assessment

 

 

·         Astronomy – Original Science

 

IA

·         Evaluate calendars from different ancient civilizations

·         Explain how our modern calendar evolved

·         Identify early astronomers

·         Tests

·         Note taking

 

 

·         Mapping Stars

 

IA

·         Describe constellations and explain how astronomers use them

·         Demonstrate how to measure altitude using an astrolabe

·         Explain right ascension and declination

·         Evaluate the scale of the universe

·         Tests

·         Note taking

·         Astrolabe lab project

 

 

5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4

·         Compare and contrast reflecting telescopes with retracting telescopes

·         Explain why the atmosphere is an obstacle to astronomers and how they over come it

·         Tests

·         Note taking

 

Weeks 3-5

 

5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4

·         List the names of the planets and the order in which they orbit the sun

·         Describe 3 ways that the inner and outer planets are different from each other

·         Tests

·         Note taking

·         Rubric scoring for solar system events poster

 

 

5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4

·         Describe the current theory for the origin of the Earth’s moon

·         Describe and diagram the causes and phases of the Earth’s Moon

·         Describe the differences between a solar and a lunar eclipse

·         Tests

·         Note taking

·         Rubric scoring for solar system events poster

 

 

5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4

·         Explain why comets, asteroids, meteoroids are important in the study of the formation of the solar system

·         Compare the different types of asteroids with the different types of meteoroids

·         Tests

·         Note taking

·         Rubric scoring for solar system events poster

Weeks 6-8

 

4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4

·         Identify and describe the layers of the Earth by their composition and by their physical characteristics

·         Define tectonic plate

·         Describe Wegener’s Theory of continental drift and why it was not accepted

·         Explain how sea-floor spreading provides a way for continents to move

·         Describe how new oceanic crust forms at mid-ocean ridges

 

·         Describe the 3 forces thought to move tectonic plates

·         Describe the 3 types of tectonic boundaries

·         Describe the major types of folds

·         Explain how the 3 major types of faults differ

·         Describe the various types of mountains and how they form

·         Explain how earthquakes and tectonic  boundaries are related

·         Note taking

·         Tests

·         Geopatterns globe

·         A voyage through a time lab

·         Geoblocks:  pie slice of earth

Weeks 9-10

 

 

·         Describe mechanical weathering and its agents

·         Describe chemical weathering and its agents

·         Explain the various factors that affect the rates of weathering

·         Define soil and 3 important benefits it provides

·         Describe the 3 soil horizons

·         Explain the difference between residual and transported soil

·         Describe 3 methods of preventing soil erosion

·         Note taking

·         Tests

·         Lab:  Soil Testing

Weeks

10-12

 

1, 2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5

·         Describe a drainage basin

·         Explain the major factors that affect the rate of stream erosion

·         Identify the stages of river development

·         Describe the different types of stream deposits and erosional features

·         Note taking

·         Tests

·         Geoblock:  Drainage patterns

 

 

 

·         Describe and Explain:

               Shoreline Erosion and deposition

               Wind Erosion and deposition

               Isle erosion and deposition and the

               features caused by each            

·         Explain how gravity affects erosion and deposition

·         Agents of erosion and deposition newsletter

Week 15

·         Hydrosphere Project

1, 2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5

·         Clearly explain the process of the hydrosphere and its connection to land formations

·         Rubric scoring:  Hydrosphere Project

·         Oral presentation

Weeks

16-17

·         Weather

4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4

·         Define relative humidity

·         Explain what dew point is and its relation to condensation

·         Describe the 3 major cloud formations

·         Describe the 4 types of precipitation

·         Describe the 4 major types of air masses and what characterizes each

·         Describe the 4 major types of fronts and how they relate to weather changes

·         Describe the formation and characteristics of tornadoes, thunderstorms, and hurricanes

·         Describe the different types of weather instruments used to take weather measurements

·         Explain how to interpret a weather map and why they are useful

·         Notes

·         Tests

·         Weather instrument construction lab

·         Weather journal

 

Revised 10-7-04