Grade 8
Physical Science
When students study Chemistry, they learn about states of matter, phase changes, the periodic table and its elements as well as chemical bonding. Students practice balancing chemical equations and learning about macromolecules. Students have the opportunity to participate in labs, completing chemical reactions and examining the physical and chemical changes. Students practice their investigative skills, develop critical thinking skills, and practice researching and presenting science topics.
Life Science
In life science students study Cells, Human body systems, Genetics and Evolution. During Cells, students examine plant, animal and bacterial cells to understand the structure and function of different cell parts. Students also have the opportunity to participate in labs, learning lab safety, practicing looking at cells under microscopes. Students also learn about the different human body systems. They learn the functions of the Muscular and Skeletal systems, how the body processes food in the Digestive system and how the Circulatory and Respiratory systems function together. Students explore the nervous and immune systems as well as the reproductive system. Students complete labs studying the effects of exercise on heart rate and breathing rate. During Genetics and Evolution, students learned how genes are combined and passed from parents to offspring. Students also learn about the cause and effects of mutations, as well as how this genetic variation over time leads to evolution. Students practice their investigative skills, develop critical thinking skills, and practice researching and presenting science topics.
Earth and Space Science
During the unit on climate change students research how humans impact the climate. They also look at how the climate has changed over geologic time compared to the modern day. This is followed by researching, designing and building models of potential solutions to human impacts on climate change.