The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have been adopted by many states, including Iowa. Within NGSS each grade level in Iowa is required to cover specific disciplinary core ideas. Here are the following topics required for 8th grade:
*Life Science: biodiversity, natural & artificial selection, & evolution adaptations
*Earth Science: water cycle, weather, & humans impact on the environment
*Physical Science: Newton’s Laws, energy, & waves.
*Within all areas of science Engineering will be incorporated through a variety of activities.
August-End of September Science Process Skills
October-December Waves , Newton's Laws, & Energy
mid-December Biodiversity
January-February Natural & Artificial Selection with Evolution with adaptations
end of February-March Water Cycle & the Weather
April-May Human Impact on the Environment
Students must come prepared every day with the proper materials for science. These materials include:
Laptop
Earbuds/Earphones
Pencil(s)
Composition Book-one just for Science
Highlighters (ideally green, yellow, & pink)
All supplies can be in your backpack
Each of the standards incorporates 1-3 of the eight different Science & Engineering Principles (SEP’s) outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards.
For 8th grade Science the standards will be as follows:
*Standard 1: Developing & Using Models
*Standard 2: Scientific Investigations
2A: Interpreting & Analyzing Data
2B: Planning & Conducting Investigations
*Standard 3: Scientific Writing
3A: Constructing Explanations
3B: Communicating Information through Argumentation
Throughout the year within the DCI’s the standards will be practiced, scrimmaged (assessment like situation) and assessed (Game Time). Within the Powerschool Gradebook you will only be able to see the assessments for each skill. The practice & scrimmage time will be for feedback purposes and to allow the students to understand where they are at with their learning in order to prepare for the assessment (Game Time)
Link to more information about SEP's (standards)
Throughout the course the DCI & the SEP's (standards) will be weaved together along with the Crosscutting Concepts. Here is more information about the CCC's.
Link to information about CCC's
Link To more information about CCC's (Questions to Ask Yourself)
Link to more information about the Three Dimensions of Science in NGSS
Students will have time each week to explore areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) that are of interest to them. Some examples would be coding, robotics, CANstruction, Science Olympiad, online game creation, hands on creative activities, makey makey, aurdino, etc. Students will have the opportunity to practice completing standards with content of their choice. Each quarter it will be required that each student submit at least one standard of their choice with their chosen project for a formal grade in Genius Hour. Each student will conference with Mr. Hanson 1-2 times per quarter in order to determine the standard(s) that will work best for the project chosen.
If you are absent it is your responsibility to get the work that was missed including scheduling to make up an assessment. After you have looked at the 8th grade website to check what we did for that day, you may email me or talk to me about any questions you may have or anything you need to pick up. You will have two days for every excused absence to make up the work.
If at any time you have a question and/or you need to discuss something with me please do so. Here are the options for communication with me:
*Before school, I am usually here by 7:45 am
*My team time in 9th period & my prep time is 10th period, feel free to stop by
my room.
*After school, I am usually here until 4:00 pm.
*Email anytime, I check my email throughout the day and even each evening until around 8:00 pm, especially when something is due soon (project, paper, homework).
This website will be used to refer to occasional information and for Genius Hour ideas. Refer to the 8th grade website for daily assignments which are usually posted in my Google Classroom page.