Grade 8 Sections - NGSS
Course of Study
Introduction to Science
Lab Safety
- In the Lab
- In the Field
- Safety Symbols
Metric System
- Balances – Grams (Weight/Mass)
- Metric Ruler – Meters (Length)
- Graduated Cylinder – Liters (Volume)
Science/Engineer Fair Project and Abstract
Unit 1 – Energy, Forces, and Collisions
- Unit 1 Project: Design a Model Roller Coaster
- Performance Task: Can you improve the design of a toy hula hoop? (pp. 115-116)
- Case Study: Gathering Evidence about an Ancient Collision (pp. 4-25)
o Asking Questions and Defining Problems
o Exploration I: Identifying Patterns in the Fossil Record
o Exploration 2: Gathering Evidence about Asteroid Impacts
o Exploration 3: Describing the Effects of the Chicxulub Asteroid Collision
- Energy Causes Change (pp. 26-49)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Analyzing Energy
o Exploration 2: Relating Energy and Work
o Exploration 3: Analyzing Kinetic and Potential Energy
o Exploration 4: Analyzing Energy in Systems
- Forces Affect the Motion of Objects (pp. 50-69)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Analyzing How Forces Act on Objects
o Exploration 2: Investigating Examples of Forces
o Exploration 3: Determining the Strength of a Force
- Newton’s Laws of Motion Relate Energy, Forces, and Motion (pp. 70-93)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Describing Motion
o Exploration 2: Analyzing Newton’s First Law of Motion
o Exploration 3: Analyzing Newton’s Second Law of Motion
o Exploration 4: Analyzing Newton’s Third Law of Motion
- Engineer It: Collisions between Objects (pp. 94-111)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Applying Newton’s Laws to Collisions
o Exploration 2: Engineering a Solution to a Collision Problem
Unit 2 – Non-Contact Forces
- Unit 2 Project: Build an Electric Charge Detector
- Performance Task: What is the best design for a maglev train? p. 209
- Electric Forces Act on charged Objects (pp. 120-139)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Analyzing Electric Charge
o Exploration 2: Measuring the Electric Force
o Exploration 3: Explaining Electric Current
- Magnetic and Electromagnetic Forces Act on Certain Objects (pp. 140-163)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Describing Magnets and the Magnetic Force
o Exploration 2: Analyzing Current and the Magnetic Force
o Exploration 3: Measuring the Current Due to a Magnetic Field
- Fields are Areas Where Forces Act at a Distance (pp. 164-181)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Analyzing Non-Contact Forces
o Exploration 2: Modeling Fields
- Gravity Affects All Matter in the Universe (pp. 182-205)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Exploring Gravity
o Exploration 2: Modeling Gravity
o Exploration 3: Exploring Gravity’s Role in Earth’s Motion
o Exploration 4: Explaining the Motions of Objects in Space
Unit 3 – Space Science
- Unit 3 Project: Build a Museum Model of Properties of Objects within Galaxies or the Solar System
- Performance Task: What role does gravity play in a lunar landing? P. 305
- Observations Provide Evidence for the Structure of the Solar System (pp. 214-237)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Analyzing Patterns in the Sky
o Exploration 2: Developing Models of the Solar System
o Exploration 3: Incorporating New Discoveries
o Exploration 4: Exploring the Structure of the Solar System
- Case Study: Explaining Eclipses and Lunar Phases (pp. 238-255)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Analyzing Moon Phases
o Exploration 2: Exploring Eclipses
- The Solar System Formed from Colliding Matter (pp. 256-277)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Exploring Gravity in the Solar System
o Exploration 2: Building A Hypothesis of How the Solar System Formed
o Exploration 3: Gathering Data on the Formation of Star Systems
- The Solar System and Galaxies Can Be Modeled (pp. 278-302)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Modeling the Solar System
o Exploration 2: Modeling the Milky Way
o Exploration 3: Analyzing Other Galaxies
o Exploration 4: Modeling Scales in the Universe
Unit 4 – Earth through Time
- Unit 4 Project: Construct a Family Tree
- Performance Task: How did marine fossils end up in the desert? p. 389
- Rocks and Fossils are Evidence of Earth’s History (pp. 310-327)
o Exploration 1: Describing the Formation of Sedimentary Rocks and Fossils
o Exploration 2: Studying the Ages of Fossils
o Exploration 3: Using Absolute and Relative Age
- The Geological Time Scale Organizes Earth’s History (pp. 328-345)
o Exploration 1: Describing Geologic Change
o Exploration 2: Compiling Evidence of Earth’s Past
o Exploration 3: Organizing Earth’s History
- Fossils are Evidence of Changes in Life over Time (pp. 346-365)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Analyzing Evidence about the History of Life
o Exploration 2: Analyzing Patterns in the Numbers of Life Forms Over Time
- Fossils and Living Organisms Provide Evidence of Evolution (pp. 366-385)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: identifying Similarities Among Organisms
o Exploration 2: Inferring Evolutionary Relationships Among Organisms
Unit 5 – Evolution and Biochemistry
- Unit 5 Project: Explore Biotechnology and Crops p. 392
- Performance Task: How does the use of insecticides lead to insecticide resistance? p. 475
- Natural Selection Explains How Populations Can Change (pp. 394 – 415)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Explaining the Diversity of Life
o Exploration 2: Modeling Natural Selection
o Exploration 3: Relating Genetic Variation to the Distribution of Traits
o Exploration 4: Analyzing Patterns of Natural Selection
- Natural Selection Requires Genetic Variation (pp. 416 - 433)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Describing the Relationship Between Genes and Traits
o Exploration 2: Exploring the Causes of Genetic Change
o Exploration 3: Explaining the Relationship Between Genetic Change and Natural Selection
- Artificial Selection Influences Traits in Organisms (pp. 434 – 451)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Analyzing Human Influence on the Inheritance of Traits
o Exploration 2: Modeling the Genetic Basis for Artificial Selection
o Exploration 3: Applying Artificial Selection to Solve Problems
- Genetic Engineering Influences Traits in Organisms (pp.452 – 471)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Expectation 1: Exploring Genetic Engineering Techniques
o Expectation 2: Evaluating Genetic Modification
o Expectation 3: Evaluating Gene Therapy
Unit 6 – Waves
- Unit 6 Project: Design Wave Interactions p. 478
- Performance Task: Will your audience be able to hear you? p.563 - 564
- Waves Transfer Energy (pp. 480 – 497)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Exploring Waves
o Exploration 2: Comparing Longitudinal and Transverse Waves
o Exploration 3: Identifying the Properties of Waves
- Waves Interact with Matter (pp. 498 – 515)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Investigating Mechanical Waves
o Exploration 2: Analyzing How Waves Interact with a Medium
o Exploration 3: Explaining the Behavior of Waves at Media Boundaries
- Light Can be Modeled as a Wave (pp. 516 - 539)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Exploring the Nature of Light
o Exploration 2: Modeling Light Waves
o Exploration 3: Analyzing Human Perception of Light Waves
o Exploration 4: Exploring Interactions of Light and Matter
- Energy from Sunlight Causes Earth’s Seasons (pp. 540 – 559)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Analyzing Energy from the Sun in the Earth System
o Exploration 2: Analyzing an Earth-Sun Model to Explain Seasons
Unit 7 – Technology and Human Impact on Earth Systems
- Unit 7 Project: Monitor Biodiversity p. 565
- Performance Task: How does population change affect energy consumption in Japan? p.663 - 664
- Changes in Human Population Affect Resource Use (pp. 568 – 589)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Analyzing Human Population Data
o Exploration 2: Investigating Rates of Resource Use
o Exploration 3: Analyzing Per Capita Consumption
- Human Activities Affect Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (pp. 590 – 613)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Relating Rates of Resource Use to Impacts on Earth’s Systems
o Exploration 2: Analyzing the Impact of Human Use of Water
o Exploration 3: Analyzing the Impact of Human Use of Land Resources
o Exploration 4: Analyzing the Impact of Human Use of Plants and Animals
- Humans Use Waves to Collect and Communicate Information (pp. 614 – 637)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Analyzing Waves in Communication
o Exploration 2: Analyzing Analog and Digital Information
o Exploration 3: Encoding Information in Waves
o Exploration 4: Explaining How Noise Affects Signals
- Engineer It: Using Digital Technologies to Sustain Biodiversity (pp. 638 – 659)
o Investigative Phenomenon
o Exploration 1: Monitoring Biodiversity
o Exploration 2: Analyzing Solutions for Monitoring and Sustaining Biodiversity
o Exploration 3: Developing Solutions for Monitoring Biodiversity