Science

Welcome to 8th grade Science! 

We are excited to welcome your child to our 8th Grade Science at School of the Future. This course is about engaging students with authentic science learning activities that fit within the 6-12 grade scope of work in the science department at SoF. The purpose of this course is to facilitate the continued development of scientific practice in our students through the lens of Earth and Space Science. In this course we will examine the question “What makes the Earth such a unique and special place in our solar system and the universe?” We will examine aspects of our immediate environment,  including human-impacted ecosystems, to ask questions about how our natural world is changing. We will also spend time continuing to hone our student’s scientific communication and writing skills through class  discussion, reading, writing and mathematical assignments.

During the course of this year, as part of our long-term science investigations, we will explore earth’s place in the solar system, dig into the history of our planet, and investigate the causes and consequences of earth’s rapidly changing climate. Students will engage in experiments and investigations of their own design. Learning science means doing science. Students will be actively engaged in the practice of science every day. This means asking and defining questions, developing models, completing investigations, interpreting data and writing and communicating scientific explanations. 

Essential Questions:

• How can we make use of formal science practices to make sense of our world? 

• How did the Earth become such a remarkable planet (certainly unique in our solar system) and what makes it so? 

• How can we, as scientists and engineers, use an understanding of Earth and Space Science to develop solutions to local and global challenges?