Grade 8 Science Overview

Term 1: September - January

1.    Science Introduction

       Safety in the Lab

       Technology and Science

       Scientific Inquiry

       Lab Report Writing

2.    Life Systems – Cells

       Characteristics of Living Things

       Cell Theory

       Compound Microscope

       Biological Drawings

       Parts of Plant and Animal Cells

       Cell Membrane

       Diffusion and Osmosis

       Endo/Exo/Phagocytosis

       Classifying Organisms

       Uni/Multicellular Organisms

3.    Understanding Structures and Mechanisms – Systems in Action

       System Components

       Inputs and Outputs

       Simple Machines

       Forces

       Work

       Mechanical Advantage

       Mechanical Efficiency

 

 

Term 2: February - June

4.    Earth and Space Systems – Water Systems

       What is water?

       Water Cycle

       Water Filtration – Natural

       Waste Water Treatment

       Contaminants

       Watershed

       Water Issues and Society

       Water footprint

       Climate Change

5.    Understanding Matter and Energy – Fluids

       Characteristics of Fluids

       Flow Rate and Viscosity

       Controlling Fluid Flow

       Weight, Mass and Volume

       Density and Buoyancy

       Pneumatics and Valves

       Pressure, Volume and Temperature

 

 

 

 

 

Science Journal Evaluation

Every two weeks students will be responsible for making a response to question, problem or article posted by the instructor. Student responses will be assessed using a four level rubric on the three areas of content and substance, connections made, and application of concept. Their responses will be chosen at random and a mark will be given for each semester’s response.

	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4
Contents and substance - Answering the question or problem - Length of answer - Depth of response	- Response does not answer original question or answer is irrelevant - Answer incomplete or short	- Response answers original question but lacks sufficient content - Ideas are superficial and don’t show connections	- Response answers the question and is well developed - Ideas are interesting and show some creativity	- Response answers the question and is thoroughly developed - Ideas are creative and show extended thinking
Connections made - Links with other concepts in unit - Quality of the links made	- Does not link concept learned in unit with question - Connections are superficial	- Makes superficial links between concepts learned and question - Some societal connections made	- Links between concepts learned and question are made clearly - Some good connections made to society	- Links between concepts learned and question are thorough - Many good connections made to society
Application of Concept - Appropriate use of scientific language - Applied the lessons learned in response	- No scientific language used in response - No lessons learned were applied in response	- Some scientific language used in response - Some lessons learned were applied in response	-  Scientific language used in response - Lessons learned were applied to the response and new ideas formed	- Thorough use of scientific language used in response - Lessons were thoroughly applied throughout the response and new questions posed