8th Grade Science and Social Studies Class Overview: 

Welcome to 8th Grade Science and Social Studies! These courses are designed to help students build the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to succeed in high school and beyond. Throughout the year, students will participate in hands-on activities, class discussions, collaborative projects, reading and writing assignments, and assessments aligned with Tennessee academic standards.

8th Grade Science: 

In 8th Grade Science, students will explore important concepts related to physical science, life science, Earth and space science, and engineering. Students will investigate topics such as matter, chemical reactions, forces and motion, energy, waves, heredity, natural selection, Earth’s systems, and human impacts on the environment. 

Students will regularly use the scientific method and engineering design process to ask questions, develop models, analyze data, conduct investigations, and support claims with evidence. Laboratory safety, critical thinking, problem-solving, and scientific communication will be emphasized throughout the course.

8th Grade Social Studies: 

In 8th Grade Social Studies, students will examine major events, people, ideas, and developments in United States history. The course will focus on the growth of the United States, including westward expansion, reform movements, sectional conflict, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and other important political, economic, geographic, and social changes. 

Students will analyze primary and secondary sources, maps, timelines, political cartoons, speeches, and historical documents. They will practice identifying cause-and-effect relationships, comparing different perspectives, evaluating evidence, and explaining how events from the past continue to influence society today.