Vanessa Walline
vanessa_walline@roundrockisd.org
8th Grade Science/Department Chair
The panther is a symbol of courage, valor, and power.
"Everyday courage has few witnesses. But yours is no less noble because no drum beats for you and no crowds shout your name." - Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 - 1894), Scottish Novelist, Poet, and Essayist
"Valor is a gift. Those having it never know for sure whether they have it till the test comes. And those having it in one test never know for sure if they will have it when the next test comes." - Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821), Military and Political Leader of France
“Never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep.” –Pam Beasley, The Office
This Resource section below can be used for many of our units and should be practiced all year!
8th Grade Science STAAR Reference Material (Periodic Table and Formula Chart)
Vocabulary Glossary (Not all of these words will be tested. See the Quizlet for each unit for the unit vocabulary list.)
Science Grade 8 is a course that will incorporate space, weather, chemistry, ecology, physics, and geology. This will help prepare students for their high school science courses which are just around the corner!
Class Information Docs
CER Grading Rubric: Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning-writing for investigations.
This calendar will change occasionally based on the needs of my students. The links on the right will take you to notes we have completed and some of the activities we do in class. The links located below the calendar are some of the assignments students will need to complete for this unit.
1st Semester Past Units
1.2 Atoms & Periodic Table
Unit Overview:
Topic 1: Inside the Atom Students will need to know where each subatomic particle is located, and the mass and charge of each of these particles. Also, students will have to explain the properties of the nucleus and the electron cloud based on the properties of the subatomic particles that each part holds. They will use the periodic table to determine the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons of each atom using Atomic Mass and Atomic Number. They will need to know that protons determine an atoms identity.Topic 2: Valence Electrons and ReactivityStudents will need to understand what a valence electron is, where it is found, and how we can determine this using the periodic table. They will have to determine which elements would likely bond with other elements on the table. They have to understand that the number of valence electrons determines whether an element is not reactive, slightly reactive, or highly reactive. They will need to know that valence electrons determine an atoms reactivity.
Topic 3: Periodic TableStudents will need to use the periodic table to determine the properties of elements. They will have to recognize the patterns within the structure of the elements as we move across and down the table. They have to recognize periods and groups and use this information to determine an unknown atom.
Notes and Study Materials:
Vocabulary: Atomic Structure Quizlet PRINTABLE QUIZLET VOCABULARYEXTRA: Atomic Structure PPT
9/9 History of Atomic Model & Dalton's Atomic Model-Bohr Model
9/10 Matter All Around Reading & Questions, Atoms Reading & Questions, Atomic Structure Doodle Notes
9/11 Nucleus and Electron Cloud Foldable, APE MAN/Bohr Model Doodle Notes
9/12 APE MAN for Determining Subatomic Particle Numbers, Element Basics
9/17 Organizing the Elements Reading and Questions, Bohr Models for first 20 elements
9/20 PROTONS DETERMINE IDENTITY, Periodic Table Brain-dump
9/23 Major Parts of the Periodic Table Foldable
EXTRA: VALENCE ELECTRON PPT
1.1 Components of the Universe
Testing Schedule:
September 6, 2019 (DCA and Vocabulary)
Notes and Study Materials:
Vocabulary: Universe QuizletNOTES 8/26: Our Place in Space
NOTES 8/26: Light Years
NOTES 8/27: Galaxies Critical Thinking
NOTES 8/27: Star Life Cycle Infographic Notes
NOTES 8/27-8/28: Star Life Cycle Foldable
NOTES 8/28-8/29: Temperature and Color of Stars
NOTES 8/29: HR Diagram Infographic Notes
NOTES 8/29: HR Diagram Practice NB
NOTES: 8/30 Parts of a Wave
NOTES: 9/3 Electromagnetic Spectrum
CW for NB: 9/3 Electromagnetic Spectrum Reading and Questions
NOTES: 9/4 Big Bang Theory, Visible Spectrum, Red Shift/Doppler ShiftTEST REVIEW: Find someone who...
Current Unit 1.3
Formulas, Equations, & Reactions
Testing Schedule:
Topic 1 Quiz-10/22Topic 2 Quiz-11/5DCA & Vocabulary Tests: 11/11Unit Overview
Topic 1 Formulas and Equations
Identify the parts of chemical formulas and equations, such as elements, compounds, atoms, molecules, reactants, products, subscripts, and coefficients. Count the total number of atoms and the number of atoms for each element in a chemical formula with subscripts and coefficients.Describe the law of the conservation of mass and recognize when it is being demonstrated by a chemical equation.Analyze unbalanced chemical equations to identify an error.Topic 2 Chemical Reactions
Describe the difference between physical and chemical changes. Recognize the signs that a new substance has formed.Analyze the results of an experiment to explain the evidence that a new substance has formed.Explain how the law of conservation so mass relates to the forming of a new substance during a chemical reaction.Notes and Study Materials:
Vocabulary: Printable Quizlet
Molecules Foldable
Elements VS Compounds
Interpreting Chemical Formulas: Subscripts, Coefficients, & Parenthesis
EXTRA PRACTICE: PPT for interpreting Chemical Formulas
Parts of a Chemical Equation (R. A. P.) & Law of Conservation of Mass Roldable
EXTRA PRACTICE: PPT for Chemical Reactions & Equations
Physical/Chemical Properties/Changes Foldable & Card Sort
Signs of a Chemical Reaction