Science – Grade 8

District 2853

Month

Content

Performance Standards Addressed

Skills for Student Achievement

Assessment

 

 
GEOLOGY

·         Rock and Minerals

III A

·         Identify and classify minerals

·         Describe rock cycle in terms of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks

Worksheets, quizzes, tests

 

·         Plate Tectonics

III A

·         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

Worksheets, quizzes, tests

 

·         Volcanoes and Earthquakes

III A

·         Describe motion in the Earth’s crust

·         Describe the measurement of earthquakes

·         Describe volcanic activity and volcanic landforms

Worksheets, quizzes, test

 

·         Earth’s Changing Surface

III A

·         Interpret and draw topographic maps

·         Describe weathering and soil formation

·         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

·         Describe and explain agents of erosion and deposition

·         Describe and Explain:

               Water Erosion and deposition

               Shoreline Erosion and deposition

               Wind Erosion and deposition

               Ice erosion and deposition and the

               features caused by each            

·         Explain how gravity affects erosion and deposition

·         Describe water cycle as related to being a force that reshapes the Earth’s surface

 

 
Astronomy

·         Earth, Moon and Sun

III B

III C

I D

·         Describe the current theory for the origin of the moon

·         Describe phases of the moon and solar and lunar eclipses

Worksheets, quizzes, test

 

·         The Solar System

 

III C

 

·         Describe the structure and features of the sun

·         Describe Kepler’s Laws of Planetory Motion

·         List the names and general characteristics of planets going out from the sun.

·         Describe comets and asteroids

·         Describe some difference between the inner and outer planets

Worksheets, quizzes, test

 

·         Stars, Galaxies and the Universe

III C

·         Describe the tools of astronomy

·         Describe the characteristics and life cycle of stars

·         Describe star systems and galaxies

Worksheets, quizzes, test

 
Environment

·         Weather and Climate

III B

·         Describe the structure and composition of the atmosphere

·         Know factors used to determine air quality

·         Know and describe weather patterns

·         Describe climate and climate change

·         Know and describe the problems concerning ozone depletion

Worksheets, quizzes, test

 

·         Energy Resources

I A, B, C

 

·         Discussion of Fossil Fuels

·         Introduction to wind and water energy

·         Introduction to the potential and problems with nuclear energy

·         Alternative energy sources

·         Discussion of renewable and nonrenewable resources

Worksheets, quizzes, test

 

·         Pollution

I A,B,C

III A

III D

·         Land pollution, pollution from mining and hazardous waste

·         Discussion of techniques to reduce air pollution

·         Introduction to water pollution

·         Discussion of specific pollutants

·         Problems caused by specific pollutants

·         Control measures for pollutants

Worksheets, quizzes, test

 

·         Water Underground

 

·         Identify and describe the location of a water table

·         Describe the characteristics of a water table

Worksheets, quizzes, test

 

 

Revised 10-7-04