SCIENCE  🦋
GRADE 8 steels curriculum framework

genetics

STANDARD 3.1.6-8.A

• Conduct an investigation to provide evidence that living things are made of cells, either one cell or many different numbers and types of cells.

STANDARD 3.1.6-8.B

• Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and the ways that parts of cells contribute to the function.

STANDARD 3.1.6-8.C

• IUse arguments supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells.

BIG IDEA

• Organisms have characteristic structures that enable functions and behaviors that allow them to grow, reproduce, and die.

CORE IDEAS

• In multicellular organisms, the body is a system of multiple interacting subsystems. These subsystems are groups of cells that work together to form tissues and organs that are specialized for particular body functions.

Systems and System Models

• Systems may interact with other systems; they may have sub-systems and be a part of larger complex systems. 

common ancestry

STANDARD 3.1.6-8.A

• Conduct an investigation to provide evidence that living things are made of cells, either one cell or many different numbers and types of cells.

STANDARD 3.1.6-8.B

• Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and the ways that parts of cells contribute to the function.

STANDARD 3.1.6-8.C

• IUse arguments supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells.

BIG IDEA

• Organisms have characteristic structures that enable functions and behaviors that allow them to grow, reproduce, and die.

CORE IDEAS

• In multicellular organisms, the body is a system of multiple interacting subsystems. These subsystems are groups of cells that work together to form tissues and organs that are specialized for particular body functions.

Systems and System Models

• Systems may interact with other systems; they may have sub-systems and be a part of larger complex systems. 

Natural selection

STANDARD 3.1.6-8.A

• Conduct an investigation to provide evidence that living things are made of cells, either one cell or many different numbers and types of cells.

STANDARD 3.1.6-8.B

• Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and the ways that parts of cells contribute to the function.

STANDARD 3.1.6-8.C

• IUse arguments supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells.

BIG IDEA

• Organisms have characteristic structures that enable functions and behaviors that allow them to grow, reproduce, and die.

CORE IDEAS

• In multicellular organisms, the body is a system of multiple interacting subsystems. These subsystems are groups of cells that work together to form tissues and organs that are specialized for particular body functions.

Systems and System Models

• Systems may interact with other systems; they may have sub-systems and be a part of larger complex systems. 

contact forces

STANDARD 3.2.5.D

• Measure and graph quantities to provide evidence that regardless of the type of change that occurs when heating, cooling, or mixing substances, the total weight of matter is conserved.

STANDARD 3.2.5.E

• Conduct an investigation to determine whether the mixing of two or more substances results in new substances. 

BIG IDEA

• All forms of matter exist as a result of the combination or rearrangement of atoms.  

CORE IDEAS

• Matter of any type can be subdivided into particles that are too small to see, but even then the matter still exists and can be detected by other means. A model showing that gasses are made from matter particles that are too small to see and that are moving freely around in space can explain many observations, including the inflation and shape of a balloon and the effects of air on larger particles or objects. 

SCALE, PROPORTION & QUANTITY

• Natural objects exist from the very small to the immensely large

Sound waves

STANDARD 3.2.5.A

• Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen. 

STANDARD 3.2.5.B

• Make and communicate observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.  

STANDARD 3.2.5.C

• Interpret and analyze data to make decisions about how to utilize materials based on their properties

BIG IDEA

• All forms of matter exist as a result of the combination or rearrangement of atoms.  

CORE IDEAS

• Matter of any type can be subdivided into particles that are too small to see, but even then the matter still exists and can be detected by other means. A model showing that gasses are made from matter particles that are too small to see and that are moving freely around in space can explain many observations, including the inflation and shape of a balloon and the effects of air on larger particles or objects. 

SCALE, PROPORTION & QUANTITY

• Natural objects exist from the very small to the immensely large

forces at a distance

STANDARD 3.2.5.F

• Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down. 

BIG IDEA

• All forces between objects, regardless of size or direction, arise from only  a few types of interactions.  

CORE IDEAS

• The gravitational force of Earth acting on an object near Earth’s surface pulls that object toward the planet’s center. 

CAUSE & AFFECT

• Cause and effect relationships are routinely identified and used to explain change.

ound Waves + Computer Science

STANDARD 3.2.5.F

• Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down. 

BIG IDEA

• All forces between objects, regardless of size or direction, arise from only  a few types of interactions.  

CORE IDEAS

• The gravitational force of Earth acting on an object near Earth’s surface pulls that object toward the planet’s center. 

CAUSE & AFFECT

• Cause and effect relationships are routinely identified and used to explain change.

Contact Forces + Computer Science

STANDARD 3.2.5.F

• Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down. 

BIG IDEA

• All forces between objects, regardless of size or direction, arise from only  a few types of interactions.  

CORE IDEAS

• The gravitational force of Earth acting on an object near Earth’s surface pulls that object toward the planet’s center. 

CAUSE & AFFECT

• Cause and effect relationships are routinely identified and used to explain change.

earth in space

STANDARD 3.3.5.E

• Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.

BIG IDEA

• Human activities in agriculture, industry, and everyday life have had major impacts on the land, rivers, ocean, and air. 

CORE IDEAS

• Human activities in agriculture, industry, and everyday life have had major effects on the land, vegetation, streams, ocean, air, and even outer space. But individuals and communities are doing things to help protect Earth’s resources and environments.

SYSTEMS & SYSTEM MODELS

• Systems and System Models A system can be described in terms of its components and their interactions.

CONNECTIONS TO NATURE OF SCIENCE

• Science addresses questions about the natural and material World.  Science findings are limited to questions that can be answered with empirical evidence.