Science

From the Wellesley Middle School Program of Studies: 

Students in 8th grade science use the lab bench extensively to learn about the physical properties of matter, chemistry, weather systems, and Earth processes that lead to major events like earthquakes and volcanoes.  Students’ ability to understand the discoveries of others that led to scientific laws and theories depends on having real experiences themselves. They profit most by making their own observations and drawing their own conclusions; therefore, the course is designed such that students first collect evidence about a scientific concept that they then describe in their own words using the evidence they’ve collected. They then practice their nonfiction reading skills and notetaking strategies to learn about the discoveries of others and the vocabulary that is assigned to the concepts. Students continue to practice a variety of laboratory techniques and project-based learning principles and are expected to keep careful and accurate records of their laboratory work in a lab notebook.